Teva says "Copaxone sales rise in 4Q...": "The company added that Copaxone held its spot as market leader, accounting for 34.3 percent of total prescriptions and 35.2 percent of new prescriptions in the United States."

Serono has oral MS pill Mylinax, which it hopes to file for approval in 2008: "Serono's most important product is Rebif, an injectable drug for MS. Its long-term future is in doubt, however, as scientists work to develop more convenient oral treatments.Serono has its own oral MS pill Mylinax, which it hopes to file for approval in 2008, while Glaxo has a less-advanced rival, dubbed '699, that is currently stalled in Phase II clinical development.Merging the two companies would therefore give Glaxo two 'shots on goal' in a potentially lucrative new business area....Glaxo executives are already familiar with some of Serono's operations, since Glaxo Wellcome sold its research centre in Geneva to the Swiss group in 1997.On the downside, analysts noted that Serono currently has a U.S. marketing arrangement for Rebif with Glaxo's arch-rival Pfizer Inc. , which may have to be unwound."

Elan 'optimistic' on Tysabri return, earmarks cash for relaunch UPDATE - Forbes.com: "Elan Corporation PLC has earmarked 150-170 mln usd to spend on the development and marketing of its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri in 2006, which it is hoping to relaunch later this year.
"

Rebif & Novatrone: "Johnson & Johnson , which recently lost a bid battle for Guidant Corp. could be in the running for Serono!": "The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reported that the
Bertarelli family was working toward settling on an agreement
that could be disclosed on the company's February 6 earnings
announcement. Johnson & Johnson , which recently lost a bid battle
for Guidant Corp. , could also be in the running for
Serono, the paper added."

Kim Strydom, a 31 year old MD who does full time pharmaceutical research, shares her first trimester with us.

I've had a fairly high relapse rate in the year or 2 leading up to the pregnancy - about 3 new symptoms per 12-month period. I had only 1 new (sensory) symptom early on in the pregnancy, around the time I had … a cold. Other "buzzies and tinglies" have been well-behaved, I can't exercise hard enough to trigger muscle fatigue due to "pregnancy-related shortness of breath", so all's well at this stage

CLICK FOR KIM'S STORY

[ABSTRACT] "Functional MRI and MS: "There is increasing evidence that the severity of the clinical manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS) does not result simply from the extent of tissue destruction, rather it represents a complex balance between tissue damage, tissue repair and cortical reorganization. Functional magnetic resonance imaging provides information regarding the extent and nature of brain plasticity following MS-related structural injury, with the potential to limit the clinical manifestations of the disease."

[Study Abstract] "Health problems and health-related quality of life in MS patients: "Results: Seventy four per cent of the sample experienced four or more of the selected problems. The extent and severity of problems increased with the level of disease impact (P < 0.001). Fatigue, pain, employment, depression and relationship problems were all found to have negative effect on the SF-36 scales independent to the effect of disease impact. SF-36 scores were most compromised in patients experiencing multiple problems. The data suggest an interdependent relationship between depression, fatigue and pain.....[more"

[ABSTRACT OF STUDY] "Effect of high-dose methylprednisolone treatment....in MS exacerbation: "Therapy of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis (MS) with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) has shortened the recovery period after relapses, but the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of IVMP in attacks have not been clearly established. Our purpose was to analyze the effect of IVMP .....A tendency to a reduction of CCR5-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ blood cells induced by IVMP suggests inhibition of their potential to transmigrate into the central nervous system, which is consistent with the short-term beneficial effect of IVMP in acute exacerbation of MS."

[ABSTRACT] "Patient satisfaction with Rebif injection devices for MS".: "The MS Treatment Concerns Questionnaire (MSTCQ) was developed and tested with pain assessments before and 3 months after patients changed devices from Rebiject to Rebiject II. .... Conclusions... These statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in MSTCQ and pain measures show the value of technologically advanced devices in domains of concern to patients."

READ MORE...Reuters.co.uk: "GlaxoSmithKline has restarted talks to buy Europe's biggest biotech company Serono for a lower price, after an auction for up to $15 billion (8.5 billion pounds) failed to find buyers, people familiar with the situation said on Sunday.Serono of Switzerland, which specialises in multiple sclerosis and infertility treatments, said in November it had received a number of bid approaches and had hired U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs to run a sale.But no bids were received by an auction deadline of January 20, as potential buyers balked at the high cash price being demanded by Ernesto Bertarelli, the chief executive of Serono, whose family holds 62 percent of the capital."

Geron's protocol enhances stem-cell yield:........ 'What we're suggesting here is we have a good uniform, plentiful supply of clean, young functional islet cells,' David Greenwood, Geron's executive vice president and chief financial officer, told United Press International.
...'Science is great, but it's got to be translational into a viable product,' Greenwood said, noting that the efficiency of this protocol pushes them closer to that goal. ...This might not be the final protocol Geron uses to produce a commercial product, 'but this is a big (step),' he said. 'This is the first time we're saying we think we have a therapeutic cell.' ...Geron, which presented the protocol at the Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Meeting in San Francisco, said in a statement that animal studies using islet cells made by the new method are currently underway at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.....[MORE]"

Montreal woman who killed her seriously ill son spared jail time

Cancer drug helps treat MS patients: "There may be help for MS patients when nothing else works. It's a cancer drug that also seems to stop the progression of multiple sclerosis...The cancer drug rituximab (Rituxan) is the first treatment to target the B cells in patients with MS, and it could be the first effective treatment for patients when nothing else works.
"The response to the Rituxan in those patients were really dramatic, in terms of not only stopping disease progression, but really helping the patient to recover some of the neurological function," said neurologist Dr. Olaf Stuve"

Breakthrough in brain injury study could lead to better treatments for MS: "A breakthrough by scientists at the University of Leicester in understanding mechanisms within the brain which cause injury could lead to better treatments in the future for conditions such as as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Drs Robert Fern and Mike Salter of the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmocology at the University of Leicester had their findings published in the science journal Nature.Their study is particularly important as it identifies the cause of damage to the brain and the mechanism by which this occcurs - thereby raising the possibility of drugs being developed in the future which may help to reduce injury and the disease states that follow.
"

Insights into the molecular pathogenesis of progression in MS: potential implications for future therapies: "This article discusses the emerging molecular evidence for the progression of multiple sclerosis with particular focus on alterations in the local central nervous system microenvironment of neural and glial cells."

Great Britain: "U-turn on cannabis-based medicine Sativex": "The Home Office has performed a dramatic U-turn, by signalling that disabled people with conditions other than MS could apply......"

BioMS Medical retains ICON for pivotal MS trial: "BioMS Medical Corp (TSX: MS), a leading developer in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), today announced that it has signed a letter of intent establishing ICON as the global clinical research organization (CRO) for the Company's ongoing pivotal phase II/III clinical trial for MBP8298 for the treatment of MS...... 'ICON has identified additional clinical trial sites in Europe that will ensure the timely completion of enrollment of our trial in mid-2006. We now anticipate up to an estimated 50 sites will be participating across Canada and Europe.'"

[Breaking News] BrainStorm Files Patent Application for Stem Cell Procedure with Potential for MS Therapy: "'Developing the capability to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells is a major step forward because of the important role that oligodendrocyte cells are believed to have in restoring cell function in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases,' said Yoram Drucker, Principal Executive Officer.

'Now that we have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can be
induced to differentiate in vitro to oligodendrocyte lineage and form
functional cells, our next goal will be to test the oligodendrocyte-like cells in animal models of Multiple Sclerosis,' said Dr. Daniel Offen, BrainStorm's Chief Scientist......"

[STUDY] The mVEP test is a sensitive and specific tool for detecting optic neuritis-suggest a role in identifying a patient's risk for future MS.": CONCLUSIONS: The mVEP test is a sensitive and specific tool for detecting optic neuritis. There was a significant difference in latency analysis findings between patient groups as classified according to the McDonald MS criteria. Latency results suggest a role in identifying a patient's risk for future MS.

Across-country trip to raise MS awareness

Striking a pose: Tai chi proves to be good for what ails him.....MS

Trucker pleads no contest in traffic-stop death: "An Ohio truck driver who hid his MS to keep his job has pleaded no contest to vehicular homicide after a fiery crash that killed a woman who had been pulled over for a speeding violation."

Mother says she assisted in son's suicide: "A 60-year-old Canadian woman admitted in a Montreal court that she assisted in the suicide of her 36-year-old son, who was stricken with MS.
"

[Wall Street Journal] TYSABRI- FDA Will Weigh Return to Market Of Drug for MS: "The Food and Drug Administration will convene a panel of outside medical experts on March 7 to help determine whether Tysabri, a treatment for multiple sclerosis, should be allowed to return to the market.

The FDA typically follows its panels' advice but isn't required to. The FDA is expected to make a final decision on Tysabri's fate by the end of March.
Biogen, Cambridge, Mass., and Elan, based in Ireland, said yesterday a review of about 3,000 patients who had taken Tysabri showed no new cases of PML"

Managing the Side Effects of Disease Modifying Agents....National MS Society Webcast

Medicare Part D Information...he National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York City Chapter: "People who currently have Medicare and choose to purchase one of the new Part D prescription drug plans will begin selecting a specific plan this fall after information about their choices is made available. Before that time, the Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to identify and process Medicare beneficiaries who will be eligible for the subsidy assistance offered in the program (known as extra-help).

Therefore, Medicare and the SSA are now reaching out to low-income Medicare beneficiaries who might be eligible to receive financial assistance with their Plan D out-of-pocket costs such as premiums, deductibles, and co-payment amounts. The process of being "deemed eligible" (qualified) for the subsidy is expected to generate many questions about who is eligible for the subsidy, how to document income and assets, what are the expected costs, and how and where to apply. Special efforts are being made now and through the summer to address these needs. "

Reading books to raise MS funds: "Deerfield Township School students are reading lots of books this month to help raise funds for MS.....It's just another way that the students are learning through community service and helping others. It's the MS READaTHON, sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which is in its 31st year. The kids have to read as many books as they can in 30 days, and raise money through pledges from the community......"

REBIF - Big Drug Makers Take a Pass on Serono: WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Swiss biotechnology titan Serono SA might struggle to find a buyer, after several big drug makers that had held preliminary talks with the company failed to bid by last Friday's auction deadline, according to people familiar with the matter.
It remains possible that a surprise contender entered the fray at the last minute. But the lack of interest from many of the world's biggest drug companies means Serono, a maker of fertility treatments and a popular multiple-sclerosis drug, might be forced to lower its asking price. The company had been seeking as much as $15 billion in cash. The company also could look outside the auction process for a buyer or merger partner.
The Geneva-based company had held talks in recent months with Novartis AG, of Switzerland; GlaxoSmithKline PLC, of London; New York-based Pfizer Inc. and others.
The companies were given a deadline of last Friday to submit their final bids for an acquisition of Serono, which was put up for sale last year by the Bertarelli family, holder of 62% of the company's shares. Family scion Ernesto Bertarelli is Serono's chief executive."

Copaxone may offer protection from axonal injury: "Clinical research data, published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis, provided evidence that Copaxone ( Glatiramer ) may offer protection from axonal injury and induced neuronal metabolic recovery in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis ( RRMS ).

In a pilot study of 18 RRMS patients using brain imaging techniques, Copaxone was found to produce significant increases in n-acetylaspartate/creatine ( NAA/Cr ) ratio, an indicator of neuron and axon integrity, compared to four untreated control patients after one year of treatment............"

MS...Senior-proofing help is available: "Susan Mason of Flemington faced a frightening dilemma last fall. Her multiple sclerosis had advanced to the point she could not climb the stairs in her duplex or get in and out of the bathtub. Help came from an agency she had never heard of: the Housing Accessibility and Repair program run by...."

Initial Evaluation of Vertigo -- January 15, 2006 -- American Family Physician"Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, acute vestibular neuronitis, and Ménière's disease cause most cases of vertigo; however, family physicians must consider other causes including cerebrovascular disease, migraine, psychological disease, perilymphatic fistulas, MS...."

Elan: TYSABRI NEWS RELEASE..the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee will review TYSABRI for the treatment of MS

TYSABRI: "Serono Suitors Likely To Wait Till April": "Anyone bidding for Serono (SRA) is likely to wait until after March, says Credit Suisse. Bases view on Rebif being the major fundamental valuation for Serono and that the approval/non-approval of rival product Tysabri is the biggest sensitivity for Rebif revenues going forward."

TYSABRI NEWS RELEASE: "FDA panel to discuss recalled drug Tysabri": "Partners Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals said early Monday that the Food and Drug Administration will meet in early March to discuss the fate of their recalled multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.

According to the companies, the FDA's panel on neurology drugs will meet on March 7 to discuss what sort of prescribing restrictions the drug, which had been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of MS, should carry if it is put back on the market......"

MS Collaboration reports avian transgenic breakthrough: "Oxford Biomedica and Viragen have announced a breakthrough in transgenic research in which scientists have successfully achieved expression of significant quantities of a human protein in hens that is a key component of the human immune system and is the active ingredient in several leading multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies.

Certain biotech drugs require post-translational modifications in order that the drug retains its full efficacy and is well tolerated when used as a human therapeutic and this latest achievement could well have implications in developing a viable, cost-effective, transgenic bio-manufacturing system.

The collaborators managed to express significant quantities of the human protein, interferon beta-1a, in the whites of eggs laid by transgenic hens using the OVAT System (Avian Transgenic Biomanufacturing) that employs Oxford BioMedica's LentiVector technology......."

TYSABRI: "...It gives the treatment a 75% chance of getting the nod from the FDA: "PITY poor Kelly Martin. The Elan chief executive was only getting used to reading rosy analysts’ reports about the group’s prospects again, when Lehman Brothers spoilt the party.
Reading some of the reports coming from Dublin brokerages over the past few months, you’d have thought that the return of Tysabri to the market was as good as a done deal.

The multiple sclerosis drug was withdrawn from the market at the end of last February due to safety concerns. But, following a review of clinical data, it has been given priority status by America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for further review.

Lehman believes the market may have lost the run of itself in fully pricing in a return by Tysabri to the market. It gives the treatment a 75% chance of getting the nod from the FDA. Even if it does, the broker believes some of the peak sales forecasts for the drug are just pie in the sky. ....."

[Research Bulletin] "Recent media reports have suggested that an agent called rituximab may be an effective therapy for MS": Rituxumab is currently being studied in a multi-center Phase II/III trial involving primary progressive MS, and a Phase II trial in secondary progressive MS, and results from these studies are not yet available.....About Rituximab: This agent, which is given as an infusion into the vein, binds to a molecule (CD20) on the surface of B cells and depletes them from the circulation.........."

Study explores reactions of children whose parents have MS: "The children of parents with MS reported a greater degree of obligation, responsibility and concern for their parents. The children worried that their parents would not be able to take care of the household needs; they even felt that they had to hide their personal problems, so as not to impose a burden upon their parents. Daughters noted a greater sense of responsibility when fathers were ill, as did sons when it was the mother who had MS"

New walking device helping people get back on their feet: "TheAutoAmbulator is designed to rehabilitate people who experience difficulty walking...."

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OVER 600 PHOTOS THAT THE MS NEWS CHANNEL TOOK AT THIS GREAT EVENT! COME TO THE 2006 "WALK ON THE WILD SIDE" AT THE PHOENIX ZOO ON APRIL 8TH....6AM TO 10 AM

Antisense Therapeutics Receives Approval to Restart Phase IIa Trial of ATL1102 for Patients with MS: Antisense Therapeutics Limited has received approval from the Ethics Committee of the University of Essen in Germany to restart the Phase IIa trial of its antisense compound, ATL1102, for patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis. The University of Essen is the primary trial site for the Phase IIa clinical trial. Patient enrollment and dosing are expected to commence at this center in the February/March timeframe.

This multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase IIa clinical trial is designed to assess the activity and safety of ATL1102 in 80 MS patients. The drug will be delivered by subcutaneous injection on a twice-a-week dosing schedule at a dose of 400 mg per week. The goal of the Phase IIa trial is to obtain preliminary evidence of the drug's effectiveness, which will be evaluated using MRI indices. MRI's will be conducted at monthly intervals over the eight-week dosing period and at monthly intervals during the eight-week period following completion of dosing....more

Viragen.com >[Press Release] Viragen Reports Avian Transgenic Breakthrough: OVA(TM) System Expresses Interferon-Beta: Viragen, Inc. today announced that the Company's scientists, along with its collaborators at the Roslin Institute and Oxford BioMedica plc, have successfully achieved expression of significant quantities of the human protein, interferon beta-1a, in the whites of eggs laid by transgenic hens using the OVA(TM) System (Avian Transgenic Biomanufacturing). Interferon-beta is a key component of the human immune system and is the active ingredient in several leading multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. These results are the first in a series of anticipated milestones demonstrating "Proof-of-Principle" with an avian-expressed version of interferon-beta, and it is expected that the OVA(TM) System will be capable of cost-effectively expressing many types of therapeutic proteins.

Viragen and Roslin are conducting avian expression studies on various protein candidates including interferon beta-1a, which is currently marketed under two competing brand names for the treatment of MS. These MS products are Avonex®*, marketed by Biogen Idec, and Rebif®**, marketed by Serono, with combined annual global sales over $2.5 billion.

Drug maker Schering AG said Thursday it is still mulling whether to acquire completely the rights to multiple sclerosis treatment Betaferon.
Schering has to decide whether it wants to buy the complete rights from U.S. biotech Chiron Corp., which Novartis AG is planning to take over by mid-2006.

In an agreement between Schering and Chiron, Schering has worldwide marketing rights to the drug, while Chiron, which manufactures the drug for the United States, gets 22 percent of worldwide Betaferon revenue.

Novartis' offer to take over Chiron at the end of October triggered a clause in the agreement, according to which Novartis would have the right to produce and market the drug in parallel with Schering from 2008 if Schering does not buy the exclusive rights.

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with relapsing-remitting MS: "........Significant associations were found between cognitive and clinical characteristics. However, due to the large sample size, clinically irrelevant relationships may also have emerged. Even with the limitations imposed by the sample selection and the possible underestimation of the prevalence and severity of cognitive dysfunction, these results seem to provide further evidence that information processing speed deficit may be an early and important marker of cognitive impairment in MS patients."

Intrathecal baclofen for treatment of spasticity of MS patients: ".......IT baclofen is a safe and effective treatment to reduce spasticity in MS patients. Despite an advanced stage of the disease at the time of pump placement, the complication rate was low and the efficacy of this treatment was maintained over time."

Every-other-day interferon beta-1b versus once-weekly interferon beta-1a: "Conclusions The development of MRI active lesions is strongly reduced by EOD-IFN03B2-1b compared with OW-IFN03B2-1a, indicating that it is more effective in reducing ongoing inflammation and demyelination in MS. Logistic regression showed that NAb status did not affect the risk of MRI activity."

Linda Hunt, president of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, will be honored with the Hope Award at the Arizona Chapter's 14th annual Dinner of Champions, March 9. To honor Linda and St. Joseph’s Hospital will be recognized for their inspirational leadership, community generosity and commitment to cutting-edge treatment and study of neurological diseases. For more information or to puchase tickets, call 480-968-2489

"Hope for young MS victims": Four doctors examined Melissa Harris before she got the correct diagnosis for her double vision: pediatric multiple sclerosis.
That was two years ago. After many visits to the University at Buffalo's Jacobs Neurological Institute, in Buffalo General Hospital, and treatment that included chemotherapy and now a disease-modifying drug called Rebif, the Fredonia 15-year-old is holding her own.

My balance is a little off, but not by much," she said....When Melissa was diagnosed at 13, her parents, Linda and Scott Harris, were stunned. But since the Fredonia Central High School sophomore began injecting herself with Rebif, one of a group of drugs called beta-interferons, her symptoms have not worsened. "She's doing wonderfully," her mother said. "She's a trouper."

[MS TIPS] Constipation

[MS MEDS] Feds warn of more Medicare problems: "Federal officials said Tuesday that they were moving to solve problems that have plagued seniors' access to drugs in the first month of the Medicare prescription-drug benefit but warned that they expect some of the problems to continue.

Health officials said they are asking insurance companies administering the benefit to give more help to pharmacists filling prescriptions for seniors using the benefit, amid reports that tens of thousands of beneficiaries in more than 20 states have been unable to get promised drugs.

Officials also said they would begin facilitating private insurance repayments to several states --"

{Clay Aiken}..."Caregiving: Servants -- and autocrats": "My series on the U.S. nursing shortage and my articles on Clay Aiken being a role model have come full circle. I was deep into writing the nursing shortage when I began getting a deluge of responses to the articles on inclusion and Dick Clark's comeback on New Year's Eve....My "ah ha" moment came when I realized Aiken was the example I had been looking for and why he stands out -- outside all of that singing. We don't see a lot of servant leaders in action. Maybe this is why so many in healthcare -- and family caregivers -- are Aiken fans and why so many wrote."

Lack of sleep leads to fewer brain cells, in rats

Britain rejects calls to toughen cannabis law: "Britain has rejected calls to toughen the law on cannabis, despite new evidence of its links with mental illness.The government ruled in 2004 that possessing small amounts should generally no longer lead to arrest, downgrading the drug to Class C, putting it in the same legal category as tranquilisers and anabolic steroids....."

"Diet and MS": "There is no hard evidence currently to prove a connection of diet and MS...in fact most Doctors have told me that they do not believe there is any connection...but...this is an interesting article from the UK"

UB's JNI to Establish Pediatric MS Center

‘I live for today with hope for tomorrow’

Desilynn MS Foundation Under Investigation: "The director of a Salt Lake City multiple sclerosis foundation who sold art, supposedly to raise money for MS patients, pocketed thousands of dollars for day-spa treatments, Internet gambling and liquor, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection says."

Mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of axonal degeneration in MS patients:"Researchers looking at actual human brain tissue found a discrepancy in gene expression of the mitochondria between people with MS and controls. The mitochondria are organelles in our cells that have their own genes (separate from what you inherit from both parents, the mitochondria come from only the mother). They control energy production in the cell, and dysfunction can result in the death of the cell."

FDA Notice On Elan's Tysabri Imminent? | newratings.com: "[Dow Jones] The FDA could provide Elan (ELN) and Biogen Idec (BIIB) with an advisory panel meeting on their suspended MS drug Tysabri within the next few days, says Davy Stockbrokers, assuming a 45-day notice period. Adds March 7 is the most likely date for an FDA advisory panel meeting"

Oxford BioMedica and Viragen report avian transgenic breakthrough: Viragen and Roslin are conducting avian expression studies on various protein candidates including interferon beta-1a, which is currently marketed under two competing brand names for the treatment of MS. These MS products are Avonex®*, marketed by Biogen Idec, and Rebif®**, marketed by Serono, with combined annual global sales over $2.5 billion.

Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) announced today that its partner Viragen, Inc (AMEX: VRA), along with Viragen’s collaborators at the Roslin Institute, have successfully achieved expression of significant quantities of the human protein, interferon beta-1a, in the whites of eggs laid by transgenic hens using the OVA™ System (Avian Transgenic Biomanufacturing) that employs Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector® technology. Interferon-beta is a key component of the human immune system and is the active ingredient in several leading (MS) . These results are the first in a series of anticipated milestones demonstrating “Proof-of-Principle” with an avian-expressed version of interferon beta, and it is expected that the OVA™ System will be capable of cost-effectively expressing many types of therapeutic proteins.

Roger Oliver is a volunteer at Multiple Sclerosis Helping Hands' Donor Closet in Edmonds, which restores and delivers wheelchairs and other medical equipment to people who need themMORE

Two-week trek through Ladakh in northern India to raise funds for MS

CLICK FOR MORE: "The DrugBank database is a unique bioinformatics and cheminformatics resource that combines
detailed drug (i.e. chemical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical) data with comprehensive drug
target (i.e. sequence, structure, pathway) information. The database contains nearly 4100 drug
entries including >700 FDA-approved small molecule drugs, 110 FDA-approved biotech (protein/peptide)
drugs, >100 nutraceuticals and >3200 experimental drugs. Additionally, more than 15,000 protein
(i.e. drug target) sequences are linked to these drug entries. Each DrugCard entry contains more
than 80 data fields with half of the information being devoted to drug/chemical data and the other
half devoted to drug target or protein data."

Daughter denies neglecting malnourished mother with MS

Facts about Autoimmune Disease: "The immune system provides protection against a variety of potentially damaging substances that can invade the body. These substances include disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. The body's ability to resist these invaders is called immunity. A key feature of the immune system is its ability to destroy foreign invaders while leaving the body's own healthy tissues alone. Sometimes, however, the immune system attacks and damages these healthy tissues. This reaction is called an autoimmune response or autoimmunity. All autoimmune diseases share much in common. They all have similar underlying causes and conditions. Let's start with a brief description....."

Block Of Fat Hormone Helps Halt And Heal MS: "Italian researchers have found that blockade of the hormone leptin, which is primarily produced in fats cells, has beneficial effects on the induction and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice -- the animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). In their study appearing online on January 12 in advance of print publication in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Giuseppe Matarese and colleagues from Università di Napoli "Federico II" suggest that leptin neutralization may be a potential way to both prevent and treat MS."

"Leptin is known to play a critical role in the regulation of food intake, metabolism, and the immune response. Since it had been previously shown that leptin is expressed in active inflammatory lesions of the central nervous system during EAE and MS, Matarese and colleagues investigated the effects of leptin blockade on the induction and progression of EAE in mice. They found that leptin blockade by the use of either anti-leptin antibodies or a form of the leptin receptor unable to bind leptin, either before or after disease onset improved clinical symptoms of disease, slowed disease progression, reduced disease relapses, and reduced the number of antigen-specific T cells. The authors delved further to unravel the cellular signaling events underlying these beneficial effects. Taken together, the data provide a basis for the development and testing of novel strategies of leptin-based targeting for the potential treatment of MS."

"Patients were prospectively studied neuropsychologically before and at days 6 and 60 after onset of the therapy, using a double-blind study design. Patients showed selective deterioration of declarative memory retrieval at day 6, which was fully reversible at day 60" READ MORE,,,Entrez PubMed

Approval to restart Phase IIa trial in MS patients: "Antisense CEO Mark Diamond said 'We are pleased to have received this approval to progress the further development of our MS drug, which as stated by the Medical Advisory Board, appears to have significant potential as a therapeutic agent in relapsing-remitting MS.'"

Tysabri ....Ex-Biogen Idec executive settles insider trading case - Boston.com: "Bucknum resigned as Cambridge-based Biogen Idec's legal counsel on March 9. The sudden move came amid a regulatory inquiry into his sale of 89,700 shares of Biogen Idec stock the same day the company says it learned of patient illnesses that led to the withdrawal of its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri from the market."

Fat Hormone Tied to MS: Blocking the hormone leptin may help slow MS: "Blocking the hormone leptin may help prevent or slow multiple sclerosis (MS).

The report comes from Italian researchers and appears in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The Italian study didn't include any people. Instead, the scientists studied female mice with an MS-like disease. Leptin is a hormone that's mostly made by fatty tissue of the body. Commonly associated with obesity, leptin plays a role in regulating weight and appetite. Leptin also affects the immune system and has been associated with MS-like lesions in mice. That's what interested the Italian researchers, who included Giuseppe Matarese, MD, PhD."

FDA issues advice to improve the process for bringing safe and effective drugs for....neurological disorders to the market: “Currently, nine out of ten experimental drugs fail in clinical studies because we cannot accurately predict how they will behave in people based on laboratory and animal studies,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. “The recommendations announced today will help more researchers conduct earlier, more-informed studies of promising treatments so patients have more rapid access to safer and more effective drugs."

READ MORE

READER'S POLL: MS NEWS CHANNEL: "E-MAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PATIENT SERVICE LIKE THE ONE FEATURED IN THE ARTICLE BELOW...BUT...NOT OPERATED BY MS DRUG COMPANIES (e-mail &/or phone)"

Stan Swartz@MSnewsChannel.com


"Toll-Free MS Hotline opens:
Bulgaria will open on Tuesday a toll-free hotline, informing people on the issues of MS.

Trained operators will inform the people who suffer from the disease and their relatives on the treatment methods. They will also try to offer psychological support and administrative and legal advice."

cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16376944&dopt=Abstract">MS ....Another Possible Biomarker: Upregulation of vascular growth factors in multiple sclerosis: Correlation with MRI findings....The results suggest that an increase in serum VEGF concentration might be involved in MS relapse and the formation of longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions.

Autologous stem cell transplant in MS: "We report the result of the Italian phase 2 GITMO study, a multicentre study in which 21 MS patients, who were rapidly deteriorating and not responding to the usual therapeutic strategies, were treated with this procedure. The clinical effect of the treatment is long lasting, with a striking abrogation of inflammation detected by MRI findings. These results support a role for intense immunosuppression followed by ASCT as treatment in rapidly evolving MS cases unresponsive to conventional therapies."

TYSABRI Loving Elan's Latest Comeback - Forbes.com: "..... two factors that should help Tysabri are that no patients taking just Tysabri came down with PML, and that existing drugs to fight multiple sclerosis don%u2019t work for 25% of MS patients. For those 100,000 or so patients in the U.S., Kam says Tysabri can greatly improve their quality of life.

These facts, according to Kam, mean that there is no good reason to withhold Tysabri from this group of patients. He says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will use this as their justification for returning Tysabri to the market as a monotherapy with a big 'black box' warning about the risk of PML on the label.

Wall Street is beginning to agree that Tysabri will return, but Merril Lynch and Citibank both recently reiterated their sell recommendations, both citing their belief that Tysabri will be hard to sell to physicians and MS patients until the risks of PML are better understood,......"

Tysabri Could Hit $1.8B Sales: "Stockbrokers says $1.6B in peak sales for suspended MS drug Tysabri are factored into the share price of over $14. It says $1.8B sales are achievable and gives a sum-of-the-parts valuation of up to $15.96. As Tysabri is under review by the FDA, NCB cautions, 'The risk of negative commentary ahead of the (FDA) panel's decision could generate negative sentiment.'"

FIRST-OF-ITS KIND NETWORK OF PEDIATRIC MS CENTERS ESTABLISHED: "ALTHOUGH MS IS THE MOST COMMON NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE AFFECTING YOUNG TO MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS, MEDICAL EXPERTS NOW KNOW THE DISEASE AFFECTS UP TO 10,000 CHILDREN IN THE U-S. AND ANOTHER 15,000 HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT MAY BE SYMPTOMS OF M-S SUCH AS DOUBLE VISION, NUMBNESS AND UNEXPLAINED FATIGUE.THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY IS ESTABLISHING A FIRST-EVER NETWORK OF PEDIATRIC M-S CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AS PART OF ITS NEW $30 MILLION PROMISE 2010 INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT YET UNDER-EXPLORED AREAS OF MS RESEARCH AND PATIENT CARE."

Possible good news for Tysabri....FDA to rule on Tysabri by end of March: Executives for Biogen Idec said Tuesday that they expect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make a decision by the end of March to clear the market return of the company's recalled drug, Tysabri. In a presentation before investors at the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Biogen executives said that the FDA is scheduled to rule by March's end on whether to approve new labeling for Tysabri that would warn the drug has been linked to an extremely rare but deadly brain disease called PML.

Biogen says oral MS drug study meets target: "Biogen Idec Inc. said Monday that patients taking a multiple sclerosis drug it is developing showed significant reductions in brain lesions compared with those on a placebo. The mid-stage study included about 250 patients across 10 European countries. The drug, BG-12, is being developed by Biogen and Switzerland's Fumapharm AG for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The companies said the therapy significantly reduced patients' brain lesions after six months as viewed using an MRI scan...."

"Rhode Island: People who suffer from cancer, MS and a variety of other debilitating diseases now have a new medication option: marijuana": "In a series of lopsided votes cast even before they officially opened their 2006 sessions, the House and Senate Tuesday overrode Gov. Donald Carcieri's vetoes of identical 2005 bills that remove the threat of arrest, prosecution and forfeiture by state and local authorities of people who use marijuana to relieve pain, nausea and other symptoms as recommended by a doctor."

Managing spasticity can help improve your coordination and energy level. We’ll discuss how exercise, and sometimes medication, may help foster freedom of movement through reduced muscle tension and stiffness.
Speakers: Dr. Bruce L. Hughes Director, Ruan MS Center, Des Moines, IA..Clare M., MS Advocate....Dates:
Teleconference 1: January 24 at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT
Teleconference 2: January 25 at 9:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM CT
RSVP REQUIRED: Choose the time most convenient for you, and call 1-800-823-1880 to register for our upcoming teleconferences. After registering, you will receive instructions and a toll-free number you can call to participate in these informative discussions. MORE

Risks of Novantrone Treatment of MS: James Lehrich, MD, is a Neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Clinicl relevance: The authors call attention to new labeling for Novantrone use in treatment of patients with worsening MS. Review of postmarketing reports submitted to the FDA identified patients who experienced decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with and without clinically significant congestive heart failure, occurring at cumulative doses of less than 100 mg per square meter, and in some patients as low as 37.5. Because of the risk of cardiac toxicity, new package labeling mandated by the FDA now requires evaluation by echocardiogram or multiple gated radionuclide angiography (MUGA) prior to the first dose and before each subsequent dose of Novantrone, as well as whenever the patient develops symptoms and signs of heart failure.

Commercial relevance: Although Novantrone cardiotoxicity has been well known, these data suggest risks of decline in LVEF at cumulative doses well below the previously recommended cumulative threshold for monitoring. Neurologists may now recommend Novantrone treatment to fewer of their MS patients..

Stem Cell Dad Overawed By Support: "A dad who is selling his Mini Cooper to pay for his daughter's stem cell treatment said he cannot believe the amount of support shown to his family."

5 Copaxone Injection Tips

"The operation, unavailable in the UK, involves taking cells from an umbilical cord and injecting them. Julia Sandeman, a 33-year-old mother, has lost the use of her legs and is living in carer-assisted accommodation in Caterham, Surrey. She is hoping the private clinic in Rotterdam can help restore her health.

Clinically unproven...The operation is due to take place on 17 February...."BBC NEWS |READ MORE

LIVE BROADCAST - MS and Health Insurance: What You Need to Know About HMOs, Medicare D, COBRA and More: When: January 26, 2006 / 8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific
Where: On the phone/ On the Internet

MS STORIES: "Hi, I'm Bethany Hornbuckle. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the fall of 2002. I was about to turn 29 years old. I had taken a driving trip to another state in May to see my parents. When I got to my destination my feet were really bothering me.
The feeling was really hard to describe. They tingled and were kind of numb. I went to my primary doctor and he said he thought I needed to see a neurologist......"

Prompting Neurons to Protect ThemselvesA team of American and Japanese scientists has found a way to induce nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to release natural antioxidants that protect the cells from the damage that stress and free radicals can cause. The finding may help in the development of new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative disorders, the researchers said.: "'These findings provide support for further investigation of NEPP drugs to potentially treat MS,' Lipton said."

Automatic "pipeline" analysis of 3-D MRI data for clinical trials: application to MS

Sleep Disorders and MS: Sleep disorders are usually not caused by the changes of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet a number of people with MS complain of insomnia or broken sleep patterns.

Sleep problems with MS are not a result of the disease itself but occur because of secondary factors such as stress, inactivity, or depression....

Why Rowling Made Harry an Orphan - New York Times: J. K. Rowling orphaned Harry Potter because her own mother was dying of multiple sclerosis 15 years ago as she outlined the early versions of the novels about the boy wizard that made her rich and world famous.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

THE MD HEALTH CHANNEL HAS PICKED THE BEST FOR YOU

Fifty percent of MS patients report that the quality of their sleep is inadequate. : "A common symptom of MS is general fatigue and this report discusses the relevance of underlying sleep disorders. Sleep disorders, as opposed to general tiredness, should be correctly diagnosed since the two complaints require different treatment strategies. For example, clinical studies have shown that the drug Modafinil used for excessive sleepiness has no effect on fatigue.

In order to determine a correct diagnosis it is important to recognise that a patient may use the term “fatigue” to describe sleepiness. A patient is initially required to fill out a sleep diary and give a symptom history to decide if there is a primary sleep disorder. It is possible that medications the patient is taking may affect sleep patterns.

Electrophysiological tests looking at electrical activity of the brain can be used to determine the quality of night time sleep and various day time tests are used to look at sleep drive though out the day. Similarities between the sleep disorder narcolepsy and MS have been reported, indicating that these patients have a predisposition to excessive sleepiness. Napping and sleeping throughout the day can affect the quality of night time sleep and these features need to be determined.

Patients with MS can also suffer sleeping disorders to the same extent as the general population, such as insomnia or sleep apnoea where breathing temporarily stops for example. Given that over 30% of the general population suffer from primary insomnia which is not related to any psychiatric, medical or identifiable reason, it is probable that some MS patients have the same issues. However, MS patients may have additional sleep disruption problems such as leg-jerking movements which affect their ability to sleep as seen in 36% of patients.

Fatigue issues can be reduced by avoiding excessive heat, modifying time management of daily activities, and identifying whether depression is an underlying factor. Certain drug strategies such as Amantadine can be used. However, it is important to obtain a correct diagnosis whether it is a sleep or fatigue problem.

Demyelination and white matter injury in MS: This study looked at the changes that occur in the brains of people during the different stages of MS. The researchers used brain tissue taken from 52 people with MS. 11 people had a very rare acute form of MS called Marburg’s where disease progression was sudden and severe leading to death within months after onset. Six had relapsing remitting, 15 primary progressive, 20 secondary progressive and 15 without any known disease as a comparison.....Results showed that acute MS had the highest number of ‘active lesions’ where large numbers of white blood cells were still entering into the brain to form localised areas of damage. Fewer lesions were seen in relapsing remitting type than in acute MS. Low numbers of “active lesions” were found in people with progressive MS.

In contrast, the progressive forms of the disease were characterised by more demyelination and axonal damage compared to the other types of MS. Higher levels of demyelinated areas and inflammation throughout the brain were found in secondary progressive disease compared to primary progressive. The level of widespead damage within the brain was found to be independent of the number of lesions seen.

This study reports that MS starts as a local inflammatory disease of the brain with localised demyelinated lesions. As the disease progresses, inflammation appears to become more widespread throughout the whole brain, causing further demyelination and damage to axons.

New Medicare Drug Plan Is Confusing for Some: "One man shares his struggles with the new plan: Larry Dean was diagnosed with MS nine years ago..."I have not got money to pay for perscription, and see if I don`t have money then I dont get it." It`s been a tough week for low-income individuals like Dean, who used to be on Medicaid, but were switched onto the new Medicare drug plan-- A plan that may not cover the medications they need to survive.NDean said he was running low on his medication, "I got enough for 3 more days, and after that..." Dean shrugged, not knowing what to say...."

J K Rowling talks about Harry Potter...her Mother & MS: "A tear slowly trickles down J K Rowling's cheek. She is sitting in her large and comfortable drawing room in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, recalling the most traumatising moment of her life.....Her mother's condition forged her own psychological strengths and vulnerabilities, as well as leading her to make Harry Potter suffer the death of his parents."

High Risk: Red/ Low Risk: Tan

Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you begin feeling depressed or anxious or if you have thoughts of suicide.

MS foundation can't get charity permit: "The director of a Salt Lake City multiple sclerosis foundation who sold art, supposedly to raise money for MS patients, pocketed thousands of dollars for day-spa treatments, Internet gambling and liquor, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection says. At a public hearing Friday, Corinne Turner - director of the Desilynn Multiple Sclerosis Foundation was denied an application for a charitable solicitations permit because it was 'incomplete or misleading.'"

Some MS Medicare Patients Caught in Limbo: "Six days into Medicare Part D, Lakeland resident Susan Paskert was out of two multiple-sclerosis medicines and running low on others.Pharmacies were willing to fill her prescriptions, but the co-payments they quoted ranged from $56 to $335 per medicine.Paskert, on disability, couldn't begin to afford that.She did without -- suffering symptoms the drugs could control -- until problems could get resolved in her transfer from Medicaid drug coverage to low-income assistance combined with a Medicare Part D drug plan.Confused by the changes in government funding?"

A pilot, open label, clinical trial using hydroxyzine in MS: "...Most patients on hydroxyzine (75%) remained stable or improved neurologically and all but one showed improved mood. Hydroxyzine could be used as an adjuvant in MS, but the small number of patients enrolled and the short duration of the study precludes any definitive conclusions. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study is warranted....."

Intense T cell depletion followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation for severe MS: "BACKGROUND: Certain stem cell transplantation procedures might slow down inflammatory pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS). AIMS: To halt disease progression in aggressive MS by a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) protocol aimed at maximum T cell suppression....CONCLUSIONS: This strong immunosuppressive regimen did not prevent clinical progression in patients with aggressive secondary MS. The lack of efficacy, together with some serious side effects, does not favour the use of similar rigorous T cell depleting protocols in the future..."

Abnormalities in normal appearing tissues in early primary progressive MS and their relation to disability: a tissue specific magnetism transfer study: "BACKGROUND: Patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) often develop severe disability despite low levels of abnormality on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)....CONCLUSION: MTR abnormalities are seen in NAWM and NAGM in early PPMS and both are associated with disability. NAWM MTR abnormalities are more closely related to conventional MRI measures than those seen in NAGM...."

Free Publications From United Spinal Association - Publications Guide

Overview of MS: U.S. Pharmacist: This teaching module reviews the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis, disease-modifying drugs used to treat MS, symptomatic problems associated with MS and therapies for their management, and the role of pharmacists in care for patients with MS. Goal:To describe the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and discuss the various products used to treat acute exacerbations, slow the progression of the disease, and minimize symptomatic problems.

The Sonya Slifka Longitudinal Multiple Sclerosis Study: methods and sample characteristics: The Sonya Slifka Longitudinal Multiple Sclerosis Study follows a population-based cohort of approximately 2000 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to study demographic and clinical characteristics, course of illness, utilization and cost of health services, provider characteristics, use of MS specialists and disease modifying agents, and neurologic, economic and psychosocial outcomes. This report describes the study methodology, presents baseline demographic and clinical data, and evaluates the representativeness of the sample.

Measuring and evaluating interferon -induced antibodies in patien...

One family's fight against MS

"Brain's Own Cannabis Compound Protects Against Inflammation": BIO.COM:: "Some clinical studies have indicated that marijuana or its active cannabinoid ingredient alleviates symptoms of the inflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Also, researchers have found that the brain's natural "endocannabinoids" are released after brain injury and are believed to alleviate neuronal damage. However, scientists have not understood how such substances act within the brain's own immune system. Now, experiments by Oliver Ullrich and colleagues have pinpointed how one of the brain's endocannabinoids protects neurons from inflammation after such damage. They say their studies could lead to new drugs to treat the inflammation and brain degeneration from MS or other such disorders...."

"Brain Uses Marijuana-Like Substance, Study Shows: Bloomberg.com: "A substance in the body that resembles marijuana is used by the immune system to protect brain cells that transmit information from inflammation after an injury, a study has shown.

The study, which appears in tomorrow's issue of the journal Neuron, could lead to the development of drugs to treat brain inflammation and degeneration from multiple sclerosis and other disorders, according to the researchers led by Oliver Ullrich and others at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg in Magdeburg, Germany.

The researchers analyzed brain tissue from people with multiple sclerosis and found elevated levels of a marijuana-like substance called anandamide. They also chemically induced brain damage in studies with mouse brain slices and found an increase in anandamide levels. When they blocked the anandamide from reaching the cells, the inflammatory damage increased.

The role the marijuana-like substance plays in the brain's immune system is separate from the effect that cannabinoid, marijuana's active ingredient, can have on neuronal signaling, which results in the behavior changes associated with the drug, the study said."

"How pot eases MS": "AN international research team believes it has discovered how marijuana alleviates the pain and debilitating symptoms of diseases such as MS. The researchers claim the finding, reported today in the journal Neuron, promises new therapies to reduce pain and damage to brain cells. The German and US researchers found marijuana acts as a "gatekeeper", suppressing the biochemical reactions that cause pain and nerve damage."

Medicare expands tier pricing system for MS meds: Medicare's drug benefit, expanding on a practice now in limited use in the private sector, requires patients to pay larger co-payments for expensive treatments, including some drugs for MS.

While most working-age adults have insurance with two or three different "tiers" corresponding to how much they pay at the pharmacy for certain drugs — with generics the cheapest and brand-name drugs more — about 40% of the Medicare plans have four tiers, according to the analysis by Avalere Health, a for-profit research firm in Washington that did an analysis of the drugs earmarked for higher payments by patients. Fourteen percent have five tiers.

In comparison, 4% of workers with health insurance through their jobs have a fourth tier, according to a nationwide survey by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation.

In that fourth tier — where Medicare patients will most commonly pay 25% to 33% of the cost of the drug rather than a flat dollar amount — are such expensive treatments as Remicade and Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis, Procrit and Aranesp for anemia and Copaxone and Betaseron for MS

A study at the University of California in San Francisco is showing promise for MS patients: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS are typically treated with global immunosuppressive drugs. These target patients ' T-cells. Global immune suppression means that you really target all components of the immune system -- all cells that are involved in an immune response. And that means, according to Olaf Stuve, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas , Tex. , that you're likely shutting off parts of the inflammatory cascade that may actually be beneficial to multiple sclerosis patients. Dr. Stuve says, "We know very little about the immune response of multiple sclerosis. But clearly there are many unknowns or adverse affects associated with global immune suppression."Dr. Stuve is studying the use of the cancer drug rituximab (Rituxan) in MS patients. Rituximab targets B-cells. Dr. Stuve says there may be certain patients whose B-cells, as opposed to T-cells, play a dominant role in their disease. In those cases, Rituximab may work where other global immunosuppressive drugs haven't. It also targets just one aspect of the immune system, which makes it, according to Dr. Stuve, a "more rational sort of treatment than global immune suppression ." Dr. Stuve says side effects experienced from typical treatment and rituximab are fairly similar -- most commonly , flu-like symptoms. However, patients are often treated with chemotherapy, where side effects are much more severe than they appear to be with rituximab. Typical treatments also involve between once-daily and once-weekly injections . With the rituximab clinical trials, patients have one infusion and then around two weeks later, which is repeated every six months -- a big difference from daily or weekly injections. In patients who have been treated with rituximab and haven't responded to other treatments, Dr. Stuve says, "The response to the Rituxan was really dramatic, in terms of not only stopping disease progression but really helping the patients recover some of the neurological function that they had lost in previous month and years.

"Caregiving New Years Eve"..."MS is always impossible to predict. Armed with her new winter hat and mittens Patti was suddenly up for a street party with temps in the low 30’s and a ‘winter mix’ intermittently falling....."CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS AND TO READ MORE OF: "Caregiving New Years Eve".

Do you want us to feature your journal...or simply your thoughts...advice etc? E-mail: stanswartz@msnewschannel.com