Botox Soothes Overactive Bladder
[ABSTRACT: CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today]
"....Botox (botulinum toxin type A) injected directly into the bladder's detrusor muscle at 30 different sites not only tamed an overactive organ but kept the bladder calm for almost a year, according to Swiss researchers.

Unlike Botox treatments in other muscular disorders or for cosmetic repair, where injections must be repeated at frequent intervals, one injection could provide a long-term cure, Daniel Schmid Jr., M.D., of the University of Zurich reported at the American Urological Association meeting here.

"We were very surprised that we didn't have to re-inject these people after three months or six months," Dr. Schmid said.

Nine months after the initial treatment, 82% of 150 patients, refractory to anticholinergics, who were treated with Botox, were continent, a statistically significant improvement (P<.001 level), Dr. Schmid said. "We can now say that the mean effectiveness of one series of injections is 11 months," he added....At 11 months, 43% of the patients did not require any further treatment, while 23% of the patients have required re-injections. Thirty-one percent of patients have been able to control the return of urgency with anticholinergic drugs...."

Harvard Medical: The Skinny on Fat
"It’s especially easy these days to feel that the gurus of health don’t know what they’re talking about. What else would explain the recent results from the large, 8-year-long Women’s Health Initiative study showing that a low fat diet—long a mainstay of government healthy eating recommendations—does almost nothing to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, or colon cancer?....."

ORAL MS MEDS: Biogen Idec To Acquire Fumapharm AG: "...'This acquisition supports our goal of developing innovative therapeutic options for people living with MS,' said James C. Mullen, Biogen Idec's president and chief executive officer. 'We look forward to continuing the development of BG-12, a promising oral compound in MS...."

OUR NEW WEBSITE: "TYSABRI NEWS"....click here

Elan says aims for clarity on Tysabri by June 28
"Speaking at the group's annual general meeting in Dublin, Chief Executive Kelly Martin said he hoped that the group would have more of an idea of the drug's future prospects by June 28."

Increased axonal mitochondrial activity as an adaptation to myelin deficiency in the Shiverer mouse
[Abstract: Wiley InterScience: Journal]
Journal of Neuroscience Research
Volume 83, Issue 8, Date: June 2006, Pages: 1533-1539

Balance and gait improved in patients with MS after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept:
[Abstract: Wiley InterScience: Journal] "Conclusion: The findings indicate that balance and gait can be improved after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, but this should be further evaluated in larger controlled trials of patients with MS "

Natalizumab and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: migrating towards safe adhesion molecule therapy in MS
[Abstract: Doctors Guide]
"This review examines how the inhibition of alpha4beta1-mediated adhesion might establish a unique milieu for the development of PML and how future approaches to selective adhesion molecule therapy in multiple sclerosis might avoid a similar fate."

Plasma cerebrosterol and magnetic resonance imaging measures in MS
[Abstract: National Institutes of Health]..."RESULTS: By multiple-regression analysis, we uncovered negative correlations between the cerebrosterol-cholesterol ratio in plasma and both age at sampling (beta=-0.35 and p=0.079 in RRMS; beta=-0.76 and p=0.006 in PPMS) and volume of T(2)-weighted lesions (beta=-0.52 and p=0.078 in RRMS; beta=-0.50 and p=0.247 in PPMS). CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that decreases in plasma cerebrosterol may reflect the total spatiotemporal burden of MS-the cumulative effects of its dissemination in space and its duration in time"

Marina to host MS fishing tourney in June:
GOOD IDEA FOR OTHER CITIES:"Port Clinton, will host the 17th annual Multiple Sclerosis Fishing Tournament Wednesday, June 14, with more than 100 men and women participating."

"Receptor revision and atypical mutational characteristics in clonally expanded B cells from the cerebrospinal fluid of recently diagnosed MS patients.

"Very early treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) -- before doctors have even confirmed their diagnosis of the nerve disease -- can significantly delay its progression, a Canadian-led study shows":
" Usually, doctors don't start treatment until a person has had two separate attacks, but Dr. Mark Freedman of the University of Ottawa and his colleagues found they could delay the development of the disease by starting people on a drug called interferon beta-1b (brand name Betaseron) after just one episode of symptoms suggestive of MS. Freedman describes the treatment benefits as 'remarkable.' The study involved 468 people who'd had just one MS-like attack, as well as at least two areas of nerve damage visible on a brain scan."

HERO'S = PERSEVERANCE: Golf a lifeline in battle with MS - Tony Johnstone is a Senior PGA Championship player:

HERO'S = PERSEVERANCE: MS won't bench Chris Kieser

Cytokine-Suppressor Gene Protects Mice From MS-Type Damage:
[Abstract: Journal of Neuroimmunology] "The expression of a gene, known as suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 gene (SOCS1), protects oligodendrocytes from the deleterious effects of interferon gamma. This, researchers report in the May 10th issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, may block the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS)...."Our results suggest that stem cells engineered to be resistant to the harmful cytokines present in the extracellular milieu of the breached CNS of MS patients would stand a better chance of surviving and accomplishing remyelination," Dr. Popko concluded."

Early multiple sclerosis treatment has 'remarkable' benefits - Starting drug therapy before a confirmed diagnosis of the nerve disease can delay its progression:
"...Usually, doctors don't start treatment until a person has had two separate attacks, but Dr. Mark Freedman of the University of Ottawa and his colleagues found they could delay the development of the disease by starting people on a drug called interferon beta-1b (brand name Betaseron) after just one episode of symptoms suggestive of MS. Freedman describes the treatment benefits as 'remarkable.'....The study involved 468 people who'd had just one MS-like attack, as well as at least two areas of nerve damage visible on a brain scan...."

TorontoSun.com - Canada - Genetics link to MS disputed:
"Asad Wali jokes that he can't blame his parents anymore now that a new study shows MS may be caused by place of residence during childhood rather than ancestry..."

Elan targets June for Tysabri future:
"Elan is hoping to clarify the future of its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri by the end of June, it confirmed today. Speaking at the group's annual general meeting, Elan's Chief Executive Kelly Martin said he hoped that Elan would have a better idea about the controversial drug's future prospects by June 28. The company is hoping to get the goahead from regulators in June, allowing them to begin relaunching the drug in the third quarter...."

HERO'S - PERSEVERANCE: Dad's MS spurred teen to launch research project & attend Harvard:
"Lev Shaket, 17, who will attend Harvard University this fall, began doing research on MS with scientists at Emory and Georgia State universities three years ago, after learning that his father had the disease...This fall he's heading to Harvard University. His scholarship includes free tuition. But all that's secondary to helping his father. "I just look at it in terms of positive side effects," he said of his father's illness. "That it launched my career and that it made me try to treat [MS] and cure it." The Shaket family includes 17-year-old Lev and parents Alexander and Janna. In 1990, they came to the United States from St. Petersburg (then Leningrad), Russia; Lev was 2 years old. When Lev was an eighth-grader, in 2000, Alexander Shaket was diagnosed with MS. He eventually stopped working at a paper mill.

Immediately after learning of his father's MS, Lev began reading voraciously online about the disease. Soon he was writing e-mails to neurological researchers at Emory, expressing his wish to do research with them. He left out the detail about his fatherYue Feng, an Emory professor with a doctorate in cellular biology, took him under her wing, first curious and then impressed by the ambitious 10th-grader. "He'd come in after 4 o'clock and stay as late as possible," she said."......"

HERO'S - PERSEVERANCE: 'Gina's Giants' Raise Nearly $5,600 for MS

MS Drug Trial Had Shortfalls, U.K. Probe Finds :
"Parexel International Corp., which ran a drug trial in London that left six men with multiple organ failure earlier this year, didn't have a doctor with adequate training screening the patients...."

HERO'S - PERSEVERANCE: Former Miss America contestant 'puts it all in the Lord's hands'

Patients Play Russian Roulette With Health to Pay for Medicines:
MS patients must play 'Russian roulette' with their health as financial pressures force them to gamble on which prescribed drugs to pay for and which to reject.

HERO'S - PERSEVERANCE: "Slugger excels after overcoming adversity:
"Johanna Iwasaki can't help but laugh about it now. Playing her first full year on varsity, she is one of the best hitters in her school's lineup..."

HealthTalk - MS - Treating MS: The Disease and Its Symptoms: "Hear how medications are improving, both to slow long-term progression of MS and manage day-to-day symptoms."
When: June 22, 2006 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific)
Where: On the phone - On the Internet
George Hutton, M.D. - George Hutton, M.D.
[The site is owned by a Biogen/Avonex - it is very good]

Recently Published Patent Application for detecting MS

Recently Published Patent Application
The invention described in this patent application is a method for treating MS. The method includes giving a patient a combination of substances. The invention is combining CAMPATH with either REBIF, AVONEX, BETASETON, ROFERON, INTRON, PEG-INTRON, or COPAXONE, to treat multiple sclerosis. The patent application gives examples and models to detail that this combination is an effective treatment.

DenverPost.com - Senate sitting on stem-cell act: "During the past year, more than 1.5 million people were diagnosed with diabetes, 55,000 were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and roughly 8,700 were diagnosed with MS. Embryonic stem-cell research may hold the key to one day unlocking a cure for these and many other horrible diseases, but sadly that research has been stymied....."

Tysabri: A RAISE IN IT'S PRICE?: "Chief Executive Kelly Martin said Thursday there is future 'headroom' to raise the price of MS drug Tysabri after its anticipated return to the market in the U.S. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration will make a final decision on Tysabri's re-entry by June 28, and most analysts see it back on the market in the U.S. inthe third quarter of 2006. 'Clearly there's headroom and a business legitimacy for one to raise the price,' Martin told a press briefing after the company's annual general meeting, adding the issue will be discussed with Elan's Tysabri partner Biogen Idec Inc...."

WTOP: Doctor Who Gave NFL players Steroids loses license:
"Shortt also faces a state criminal investigation in the death of a woman who died three days after receiving intravenous hydrogen peroxide to help her MS...."

Cannabinoid trial for progressive MS - MS Society of UK:
"CUPID stands for Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease. CUPID is a clinical trial which will evaluate whether THC, one of many chemical compounds (cannabinoids) found in the cannabis plant, might slow the development of disability in MS..."

Aaron Solowoniuk of Billy Talent rocks on with MS
"Aaron Solowoniuk is the drummer of the hit band Billy Talent which is recognized around the world for their spirit, attitude and explosive rebel music. Aaron has been with the group from the beginning. He recently posted a letter to fans describing his experiences with MS - you can view the whole letter by clicking above.

"The first song on our first record is called "This Is How It Goes". It's a song about one of Ben's friends who has multiple sclerosis. Today I would like to let you know that I am that friend with MS.

It was November of 1997, I had just started a new job at Daimler Chrysler building the new Intrepid, Concorde and 300M. I was making more money, and I could take off more time to play shows with my band Pezz. Days after starting my new job I got a strange numbness in my legs. I couldn't walk for more than five minutes without having to sit down because of this pain in my legs. I thought it was just because this job was a lot more physically demanding then my last job.

After months of tests I was told that I probably had MS but a full diagnosis couldn't be made until I had another symptom within two years.

In November of 1998 the numbness in my legs was gone but I could make it come back by bending my neck forward. This would also send a feeling of an electrical shock to my feet. Just a couple months later in January of 1999, I suddenly got an awful pain in my left eye. It was like being punched in the eye by a ghost. I went straight to my eye doctor; he told me I had optic neuritis.

When I told this to my neurologist, I found out that it's very common for people with MS and the disease was progressing. He wanted me to start a new type of medicine. I had to self-inject myself three times a week in the arm, thigh, stomach or butt – and do this for the rest of my life.

I practically ran out of the doctor's office and into the stairwell with my girlfriend close behind me. We cried in the stairwell for a while and then went right over to my parents' house. Through all of this madness, I was so lucky to have my girlfriend, who is now my wife and the mother of our amazing daughter, beside me.

Coming to terms with the fact that I had to start giving myself needles forever was really hard. A couple of the side effects really hit me once I started the medication. I fell into a deep depression and started seeing a psychiatrist. I really felt like my life was falling apart. I had always wanted to be a drummer in a rock band but was told I should "take it easy". I remember saying "ya right" in my head: none of my dreams had come true and I now had an incurable disease.

It was really rough for the first year and a half but the new medicine started to work. The MS Society of Canada helped me get all the information and tools to get my life back on track. My symptoms were gone, and when they did come back they were just minor set backs.

We changed the name of the band from Pezz to Billy Talent and continued writing music. We released a four song EP and got a record deal. I quit my job and started playing drums full time.

After recording our first record it was time to go on tour. Our first record took us across Canada five times, America four times, Germany five times, the UK four times and a weekend in Japan. I've also met a lot of my musical heroes and even become friends with a couple of them.

I guess the reason I'm telling you this is because I didn't let something like MS get in the way of me becoming who I was suppose to become.

Please share this story with anyone you think it would help. There are a lot of people young and old that are fighting some sort of disease and thinking that they can't win. You really can win if you believe in yourself."

Aaron"

News Release - "MS risk influenced by childhood environment - MS Society of Canada
Study of children and adults sheds new light on MS - The Multiple Sclerosis Society
of Canada announced findings from a Canadian study that shows the risk of MS may be influenced by place of residence during childhood rather than ancestry. The study results were published in a recent edition of Neuroepidemiology. The study puts into question the belief that MS is a disease targeted primarily at Caucasians or those with ancestral ties to areas north of the equator such as Northern Europe...."

Betaseron: EU says approves Bayer bid for Schering

TYSABRI - Forbes.com:
".....Another study of Tysabri, which included 2,248 patients with either Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid
arthritis, found the risk of developing the PML brain infection wasvery low, according to Dr. William Sandborn of the Mayo Clinic, who led the study. Before the voluntary recall of the drug, threepatients were identified with the infection, and four more
infections were initially reported in post-marketing reviews. Sandborn's analysis, in which his team checked spinal fluid and
blood, found no additional cases among the patients studied, and the four post-marketing cases did not have the infection after
all......."

Neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis: therapeutic strategies and clinical trial design"

[Abstract: Pub Med] SUMMARY: These advances mean that neuroprotection is emerging as a potentially important strategy for preventing disability in multiple sclerosis. It is likely that a range of neuroprotective strategies will be tested alone and in combination in future trials, and that trial design will be refined as experience accumulates.

Antibiotic use and risk of MS - Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health
[Abstract: National Institutes of Health] "Some reports suggest that bacteria, including Chlamydophila pneumoniae, could be involved in the etiology of multiple sclerosis. If that is true, persons who used antibiotics active against these bacteria, compared with nonusers, might be at lower risk of multiple sclerosis......In conclusion, use of antibiotics active against C. pneumoniae was not associated with a decreased risk of short-term multiple sclerosis. The observed lower risk of multiple sclerosis for penicillin users needs to be confirmed in other populations."

Possible Method of Action for Copaxone Discovered:
[J Immunol. 2006 Jun 1 - "Therapeutic Induction of Regulatory, Cytotoxic CD8+ T Cells in MS"] ["This is MS"]
"Copaxone, manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, has long been an alternative for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients that do not want to take any of the interferon-class of medications such as Avonex, Rebif or Betaseron. While its efficacy has been shown in numerous clinical trials, its mode of action has always been somewhat of a mystery.

A new study sheds some light on what Copaxone might actually be doing to accomplish its beneficial effect. While the particulars of the research go far beyond the complexity any of us will care to delve into, or perhaps even understand, the basic finding are as follows:

Copaxone administration elevates a particular type of immune system cell. These cells are of the CD8 class, known as the killer T cells for their ability to destroy infected cells. These killer cells, in the presence of Copaxone, regulate the immune system by killing another type of immune system cell known as CD4 . CD4 cells are usually considered 'helper' cells in that they do not actually kill other cells but 'help' the rest of the immune system in doing so by, among other things, activating and directing the killer cells

Why the killing of CD4 cells by CD8 cells turns out to be a good thing is not quite clear. The immune system is exceedingly complex and any number of theories could be presented, such as that the particular 'helper' cells that are killed were the ones directing the attack on the central nervous system. However, what can be deduced is that Copaxone has some immune-system modulating effect that is generally beneficial to MS patients, and a rising number of at least this particular type of killer cell is not detrimental to an MS patients (at least overall)-- otherwise, Copaxone would have likewise had a negative effect on patients. For so many years, the mantra has been that boosting an MS patient's immune system would be a bad idea... as research continues to unfold the puzzle that is MS, it is become clear that that is not entirely the case."

Early Treatment Favored For MS - An editorial accompanying a published debate:
[Archives of Neurology - consensus paper published by the National MS Society]
An editorial accompanying a published debate on the pros and cons of starting treatment early in the course of multiple sclerosis comes down in favor of early treatment for this potentially devastating disease. This opinion coincides with a consensus paper published by the National MS Society. The April issue of the Archives of Neurology features both sides of this debate on early treatment for MS

The Debate: E. M. Frohman, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas) and an international panel of coauthors present the following arguments in favor of early treatment in an article titled, "Most Patients with Multiple Sclerosis or a Clinically Isolated Demyelinating Syndrome Should Be Treated at the Time of Diagnosis" (Archive of Neurology 2006;63:614-619):
Most who have MS will develop significant disability over time, and when MS is initially diagnosed, it is impossible to determine whether its course will be disabling or benign (mild course of disease).
Studies show that injury to nerve fibers -- which leads to the progression of disability that can occur in people with MS -- begins early in the course of the disease. Even if a person appears to be doing well, with few clinical relapses, there may be evidence on MRI of tissue damage and loss that is associated with eventual disability.
The approved agents decrease the number and severity of relapses, the number and size of new lesions (areas of damage to nerve-insulating myelin), and progression of disability. These treatments work best early in the course of MS, and do not work as well during progressive stages.

Delaying treatment has been associated with more progression of disability and a larger volume of disease damage as seen on MRI.
The authors conclude that, given that therapies can significantly reduce MS disease activity, then "almost every" patient early in the course of
MS should be offered disease-modifying therapy.

On the other hand, Sean J. Pittock, MD, and colleagues (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) cite the reasons for delaying treatment until the course of MS becomes more apparent in an article titled, "Not Every Patient with Multiple Sclerosis Should Be Treated at Time of Diagnosis" (Archives of Neurology 2006;63:611-614): If left untreated, MS often runs a "favorable" course, but it becomes difficult to distinguish a favorable course from treatment success if people are treated for a long time. The approved treatments are only partially effective in the short-term; it has not been proven that they can prevent long-term disability. Drawbacks to treatment include the cost, adverse effects, neutralizing antibodies (immune system proteins that can interfere with the effectiveness of interferons), and some patients' reluctance to make a long-term commitment to taking injected medications. The authors suggest that monitoring people with MS regularly with clinical examinations and MRI scans may help to identify people whose course requires treatment with disease-modifying therapies. They conclude that well-designed studies are required to determine whether early, versus delayed, treatment of relapsing MS makes a clinically meaningful difference in terms of the development of disability.

In an accompanying editorial, E. S. Roach, MD (Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC) comments on the two reports and concludes in favor of early treatment (Archives of Neurology 2006;63:619). "One approach, as proposed by Pittock and colleagues, is to defer treatment until the patient's course is better established, possibly allowing those with less aggressive disease to avoid years of unnecessary treatment," comments Dr. Roach. "But as Frohman and colleagues counter, most people with newly diagnosed MS do progress, and we must consider that treatment could be less effective if started later in the course of the illness." Dr. Roach notes the necessity for finding specific evidence that some people do not need treatment. "Without such evidence for individuals with MS, it will be difficult to know for sure whether it is ever safe to defer treatment," he concludes. "While it would be wonderful if we could avoid treating some patients with MS, until we can distinguish these individuals from the others, it is probably better to offer treatment to all patients except in the setting of a clinical trial.

"But You Look So Good!" - [National Multiple Sclerosis Society]:
"People who have invisible MS symptoms have a unique set of problems. Some people assume that you don't really have a disease. This can undermine your confidence and your relationships, and discourage you from seeking treatment or help for problems. Add in living with all the other things that other people can't see your feelings of anger, uncertainty, frustration, and fear. Still, people will look right at you and say, You look so good!......."

NEWS RELEASE: Lead Exposure Leads to Brain Cell Loss and Damage Years Later...[MORE]:
"Eighteen years later, people who worked with lead have significant loss of brain cells and damage to brain tissue, according to a new study published in the May 23, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology......"

"Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis II - [Abstract: Doctors Guide]:

Dean Singleton: Newspaper Mogul received a diagnosis of MS in 1986 - New York Times
"...His company, the privately held MediaNews based in Denver, owns 55 dailies including The Denver Post, The Detroit News, The Daily News of Los Angeles and The Berkshire Eagle, plus more than 100 nondailies. With the addition of the Knight Ridder papers — The San Jose Mercury News, The Contra Costa Times and The Monterey County Herald, all in California, and The St. Paul Pioneer Press — MediaNews has become the nation's fourth-biggest newspaper company, up from seventh...."

BioMed Central | Abstract | 1471-2202-7-39 | Differential cognitive impairment for diverse forms of MS [Research article: BMC NEUROSCIENCE]: "
Conclusions: "The present results suggest a cognitive impairment in the information processing in all of these patients. Comparing both pathological groups, cognitive impairment was more accentuated in the BMS group compared to the RMSS group. This suggests a silent deterioration of cognitive skills for the BMS that is not usually treated with pharmacological or neuropsychological therapy."

Kannah Creek Makes New Brew To Help Raise Money For MSNBC VIDEO: "Kannah Creek Brewing Company whips up a special new brew, the Philanthropy Ale, to help raise money for the MS Society"

Keppra (Levetiracetam) shows Promise Against Tremor: "Intention tremor (or cerebellar tremor) is a common symptom in MS patients. It is characterized by a slow, broad shaking that occurs at the end of an intended movement. Of course, this can have a major impact on quality of life.

A new study examined the effect of the oral anticonvulsant drug Levetiracetam (better known by its brand name of Keppra (r)) on 11 MS patients with intention tremor. Happily, administration of Keppra was associated with an improvement in both subjective and objective tests. Furthermore, the degree of improvement was not associated with the underlying multiple sclerosis disease severity or duration....)

"Revised diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica" [Abstract: Neurology - Stanford University Libraries]:
"Conclusions: The authors propose revised diagnostic criteria for definite neuromyelitis optica (NMO) that require optic neuritis, myelitis, and at least two of three supportive criteria: MRI evidence of a contiguous spinal cord lesion 3 or more segments in length, onset brain MRI nondiagnostic for multiple sclerosis, or NMO-IgG seropositivity. CNS involvement beyond the optic nerves and spinal cord is compatible with NMO"

"Neuromyelitis optica diagnosis in clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of MS"-- [Abstract: American Academy of Neurology]:

"Tucson clinic uses alternative therapy - - hyperbaric chamber - to treat MS" - KVOA News 4, Tucson, Arizona

2 LEADING NEUROLOGISTS HAVE JUST IMFORMED US OF THE FOLLOWING REGARDING "HYPERBARIC OXYGEN":

"Large studies were done in MS - in fact there were three separate international studies and all demonstrated no effect of hyperbaric oxygen in MS"

The MS News Channel

"A new era in the genetic analysis of multiple sclerosis"
[Abstract: Department of Health & Human Services]

REBIF VIDEO: "People go, oh, my gosh. M.S., you're dead. You're out of here. .... You're in a wheelchair...None of that stuff is true"
“When I got a diagnosis for M.S., I go, ‘oh, this is not stopping me. I'm not letting this stop me.’

"And I think to go around and talk about it and tell people that that's what I did and that they can do it, too, it helps people. It helps a lot of people feel better. So that makes me happy.” - And if she can do it, so can others. - “I think it's good for me to be functioning and okay and come out there and say, look, I have M.S., And if you have M.S., it's not so bad.”

For the past four or five years, Garr has been taking a powerful immunity-boosting drug called Rebif. And it seems to be working. She says her most recent M.R.I.s show no there’s been no progression of the disease.

"Epidemiology and natural history of multiple sclerosis: new insights."
[Abstract: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA bDepartment of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ,]

"Neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis: therapeutic strategies and clinical trial design":
[Abstract: National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK]

"Emerging therapeutic targets in multiple sclerosis"
[Abstract: Curr Opin Neurol. 2006 Jun]

"Benign course in MS: a review":
[Abstract: National Library of Medicine] "Since the 1950s, it has been recognized that a subgroup of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exists that shows little or no progression in the severity of the disease over time. This group is referred to as 'benign' MS. Although a substantial amount of research in MS indicates a multifactorial background in disease severity, to date it is still difficult to predict whether the course will be benign at onset and it is difficult to find factors that influence the course of the disease over time. Maintaining or restoring neural conduction inside a central nervous system lesion seems to be the essence of staying 'benign'"

[Abstract: National Institutes of Health] "Treadmill training for individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomised trial.":
"This study showed that in individuals with MS, aerobic treadmill training is feasible and well tolerated. Walking speed and endurance increased following training with no increase in reported fatigue....."

"Barbara Steinfelder, who was diagnosed with MS in 2004, holds yoga classes for people who have MS. She is shown teaching a class...":

Online Creative Writing Workshop...MS Society of NYC:
"Whether you've been writing most of your life, have always dreamed of writing your memoirs, poetry or the great American novel, these online workshops are structured to make the process easy and available to everyone...Selected works may be published in MS Society publications..."

Open-label study : "Glatiramer acetate in treatment-naive and prior interferon-beta-1b-treated MS patients"

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children:
"CONCLUSIONS. ADEM is a demyelinating condition, usually with a monophasic course and good outcome. The only way to confirm a definite diagnosis is long-term follow-up"

"MS and me: Mark Auld, 31, will not be bowed by an illness that is 150 years old":
"Living life to the full. Mark leads an active life and is determined that MS will fit in with his life instead of his life fitting in with it...."

"Research article: Differential cognitive impairment for diverse forms of MS":

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Webcast
MS Learn Online Presents:

MS Research 2006: Part II
This two-part series on current research into MS treatments. The presenter is John Richert, MD, the Society’s Vice President of Research and Clinical Programs. Dr. Richert will continue his research discussion, focusing on the projects funded by the Society’s $30 million Promise 2010 campaign:
• Protection and repair of the central nervous system
• MS Lesion Project
• Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study
• Pediatric MS Centers
This webcast is pre-recorded and may be played at any time.
*****************************************************************************
Upcoming Series: Improving Independence
June 1 — Assistance for Mobility
June 14 — Options for Recreation and Rehabilitation

Clich Here

Forward "THE MS NEWS CHANNEL" to everyone in your address book who's been touched by MS:

Every patient! Every family member!

Thank you
The MS News Channel

"MS Active Source" Health Talk tonight! -"Increase your understanding of how cognitive issues may affect you"
Kathleen L. Fuchs, Ph.D./Tim K. Vartanian, M.D., Ph.D.
When: May 18, 2006/8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific)
Where: On the phone & On the Internet
(note: This site is owned by an MS drug company)

VIDEO - Interview: Teri Garr
PBS..."I figure if you get a diagnosis of something like this, there's one of two ways to go. You go down or you can go up. You can look at the funny side of it, you can laugh or you can cry. So I figured I might as well be up about it....."

Parenting with MS: "Sometimes, I'm mad at the MS"
How parents with MS and their kids - adapt and get stronger

AVONEX PRESS RELEASE: "Most Widely Prescribed Treatment for MS Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary"

The pathology of MS: a paradigm shift
Possible Shift in Thinking about how MS Develops

"Doctors Seen as Key to Tysabri Success: Makers of the pulled MS drug, which is widely expected to return, are wooing physicians who would prescribe it." - Los Angeles Times
"It was barely two hours after a panel recommended to the Food and Drug Administration that it allow the drug Tysabri back on the market when Dr. Joseph Berger got an e-mail inviting him to a special class.

Would Berger, a neurologist at the University of Kentucky's Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, be interested in earning credits toward updating his medical license by learning more about Tysabri, a treatment for multiple sclerosis?

'The marketing people at Biogen Idec are brilliant,' Berger said, 'I think every one of these companies has these various shadow organizations, and that's how they get their message out without being necessarily linked to it.....[more]'....."

Teri Garr received the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation's National Beacon Award in appreciation of her commitment to promoting greater awareness of MS

"Implication of Cannabinoids in Neurological Diseases":
[Abstract: Entrez PubMed]

"Quality of life in women with MS and overactive bladder syndrome"

[Abstract: National Institutes of Health]

"Online movement control in MS patients with tremor: Effects of tendon vibration"
[Abstract: National Library of Medicine]

"After Decades Of Battling MS, This Woman Still Sparkles": "A morning chat with Kathy Aeschliman, who has been battling MS since 1980, pretty much makes your day. 'I'm feisty,' she said. 'But then, I'm surrounded by all the right people.'She's been using a wheelchair lately, instead of her walker, but it is not the MS that put her there. It is a herniated disk in her back. Still, her 'my glass is half full, not half empty' attitude shines through in her sparkly voice."

My Pain, My Brain - New York Times (FREE REGISTRATION)
"Who hasn't wished she could watch her brain at work and make changes to it, the way a painter steps back from a painting, studies it and decides to make the sky a different hue? If only we could spell-check our brain like a text, or reprogram it like a computer to eliminate glitches like pain...."

"Segway Human Transporters (HTs) are available to try, rent or purchase throughout the country (and the world"

Segway transports folks with disabilities

"Mother with MS Does Double Duty on Mother`s Day":

The suffering should have right to whatever relieves their pain" ["Editorial-The Express-Times"]:

No health insurance? Program tries to fill gaps
A good idea for other cities

Caregiving Decisions for MS Caregivers: Is Home Care for you?

Children's book guides conversations about MS : " Berlex Canada Inc., in partnership with the MS Society of Canada, announced the Canadian launch of Benjamin: My Mum is Special, a children's book for families affected by MS. Benjamin, the book's hero, is an eight-year-old boy whose mother has MS. He is worried and frightened when his mother suddenly has trouble walking and dressing herself because of her MS. With the support of family and friends, Benjamin learns that it is okay to be worried, ask questions and talk about how he is feeling. "Benjamin provides a view of MS through the eyes of a child struggling to understand his mother's mysterious and sometimes frightening illness," says Dr. Banwell. "It is a beautiful story of coping, compassion and caring that should be shared between all parents with MS and their children."

"This book offers a platform for parents to talk to their children about MS and gives children the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask their questions," says Jon Temme, national vice president of client services for the MS Society. "MS is a disease that can be frightening for children and we are pleased to help families ease that fear and better understand MS."

To obtain a copy of Benjamin: My Mum is Special or for additional information about MS, please call MS Pathways at 1-800-977-2770, visit www.mspathways.ca, or contact your local office of the MS Society at 1-800-268-7582 or www.mssociety.ca.

Betaseron: New spin on old MS drug - NBC

“Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.” comic uses his MS battle for laughs:
"Katz was one of the creative minds behind the pop hit animated series “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.” He also starred as the voice of the therapist. Katz claims to be the only comic who uses his MS, for laughs. He was first diagnosed with MS in 1996"

Medicare Part D participants ask drug companies for help:
"MS patient Jeanine Piscotti said Friday that she doesn't know whether she will be able to afford the Avonex injections that used to cost her about $8 per month and helped ease her symptoms of MS. Under the new Medicare Part D program, the drug could cost Piscotti, 54, about $290 per month.

Laura Cohan, 40, of Steger said the prospect of paying more than $4,000 per year for Copaxone with Part D will put the drug out of reach for her. She doesn't look forward to the inevitable MS attacks she expects to face - attacks that could allow the degenerative disease to progress faster.

Roxanne Metz of rural Jacksonville at one point feared losing the help she received to afford the anti-MS drug Betaseron.....

The gap in coverage requires Part D enrollees to pay the full price of drugs after the first $2,250 expended; coverage kicks back in when their drug expenses exceed $5,100.

As a result, many MS patients who have been dropped from assistance programs that charge $120 to $600 per year for medicine will have to pay $3,600 to $5,000 per year for their medicine through Part D, according to the MS Society.....[more]"

We are currently adding security to our web-sites: some photos & news-stories will temporarily not be viewable!

I AM SORRY! WE HAD A PROBLEM YESTERDAY!

We are in the process of adding more security to our websites to prevent hackers from accessing them. We are converting all photos so that we can host them on our own website. The good news is that we have have had 92,200 visitors as of today!

Sincerely,
Stan Swartz

Poker Tournament To Benefit National MS Society
Good idea for other cities: Participants will be required to pay a $30 registration fee, all of which will be donated.

MS in Childhood: Presenting as Bilateral Optic Neuritis
Abstract - Case Studies

View Interactive Flash Program: "Experts SpeakOut - Side Effect Considerations with
[University of Cincinnati]
Disease-Modifying Therapies"
Download CME Monograph (PDF)
Download Program Presentation Slides (PPT)

Teva pins $1 billion loss on Ivax acquisition

"Selectively blocking inflammatory signals may protect mice from MS"...PRESS RELEASE: University of Chicago

"A new way to preserve the cells that surround and protect nerves could lead to new treatments for demyelinating diseases such a multiple sclerosis, a research team reports in the May 10, 2006, issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

The approach grew out of a novel explanation, quickly gaining followers, for the mechanism of nerve damage caused by multiple sclerosis. Instead of concentrating on the alterations that result in autoimmune assaults on the nervous system, researchers led by Brian Popko of the University of Chicago have focused on a set of factors that prevent recovery from the inflammatory attacks.

A series of papers from Popko’s lab has demonstrated that interferon-gamma -- a chemical signal used to activate the immune system -- plays a critical role in damaging the cells that produce myelin, the protective coating that lines healthy nerves. Interferon not only leaves these cells, called oligodendrocytes, incapable of repairing the damage but can also kill them directly.

"Interferon-gamma is not normally found in the nervous system," said Popko, the Jack Miller Professor of Neurological Diseases at the University of Chicago, "but it can gain entry after an inflammatory flare-up. We previously showed how it harmed oligodendrocytes. Here we confirm its direct harmful effects on those cells and demonstrate one way of protecting them.""

"Seniors must act fast or pay the price" (Click to read full story - Chicago Tribune)

"6.5 million seniors have 6 days to make sense of the Medicare maze and pick a plan"

"....This is the first time Medicare is paying for prescription drugs, an essential and expensive treatment for most seniors, and the largest expansion of the government health plan in more than 40 years. But persuading seniors to sign up has been an uphill battle.

Like Mayer, large numbers of people are baffled by the complexity of Medicare's drug benefit, which is being administered by dozens of private companies. And like him, they're weighing the costs of joining against the benefits, and worrying about a financial penalty for people who don't sign up in time. The fine is 1 percent of an average drug plan's monthly premium.

Even critics of the drug program say this is reason enough to take the plunge.

"Select a plan now and avoid the penalty," said Vicki Gottlich, a senior attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy. "Insurance is important. You get car insurance and hope you never have an accident. So, get drug insurance even if you hope you won't need it."

Elaine Aulig, a MS patient, takes medications to keep the disease and its complications under control. Copaxone, costs more than $1,400 a month. Until February, Aulig's former company was paying for her prescriptions; now she belongs to Blue Medicare Rx Standard, a Medicare drug plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. But with a $250 deductible, the $2,850 doughnut hole, a $27 monthly premium, and drug co-payments, her expenses will still come to almost $5,000 a year, Aulig estimated....."

Mitoxantrone versus cyclophosphamide in secondary-progressive MS : A comparative study
Abstract..."Comparison of mitoxantrone (trade name Novantrone) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) in secondary progressive MS subjects showed a similar degree of benefit from each drug. (Both drugs are chemotherapies; mitoxantrone is already FDA-approved for treatment of SPMS.) This trial involved 50 SPMS subjects whose EDSS scores had decreased by at least one point in the past two years. Twenty-five subjects were assigned to each drug, and they were treated for two years with regular clinical and imaging evaluations. At the end of the two years, each group showed similar reductions in relapse rate and disability progression, with no major safety issues occurring. The authors recommend that cyclophosphamide be considered for treating people with rapidly progressive MS."

MR Imaging of Relapsing MS Patients Using Ultra-Small-Particle Iron Oxide and Compared with Gadolinium
American Journal of Neuroradiology

"MS: New Insights and Trends": American Journal of Neuroradiology
"From the Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine"

Da Vinci Fatigue?:
NEW BOOK: The BaLoney Code,' a book written by Davis Sweet who writes humor and political satire & has MS. Sweet says "people get confused over the title, thinking it's another ticked-off Catholic book debunking "The Da Vinci Code." It's not. It's just full-on irreverent humor, like Spike Milligan or "Blazing Saddles" or Monty Python. And like those, "The BaLoney Code" is solidly adult in its language and outlook. If you liked the movies “Airplane” or “The Naked Gun” then you’ll love "The BaLoney Code..."

DenverPost.com - MS opened door to 1-pot technique..plus a book: "Titled 'Recipes for Living with MS"
Article includes recipe for: Sesame-Soy Salmon

Copaxone: Canada - The PMPRB to Hold a Public Hearing Into the Price of Copaxone

VIDEO- PART 1: The Path Back from an MS Attack - Relapse Management and the Role of RehabilitationClick to View: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Webcast

VIDEO - PART 2: The Path Back from an MS Attack: Benefits of Rehabilitation Program Click to View: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Webcast

Magnetization Transfer Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Changes in Patients With Relapsing [Remitting MS, Archives of Neurology -- Abstract: May 2006]:
"Conclusion:This study indicates that a 'snapshot' MT MRI assessment detects subtle brain tissue changes that are associated with short-term disability accumulation in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. "

"Increase your understanding of how cognitive issues may affect you. Give us 60 minutes, and we'll give you a game plan"
[MS Active Source]
When: May 18, 2006 /8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific)
Where: On the phone/On the Internet

Mitochondrial D-Loop Variation in Persian MS Patients: K and A Haplogroups as a Risk Factor
[Abstract - National Library of Medicine]

"Newly Discovered Dendritic Cells Generate Crucial Cells Of The Immune System"

Nutra Pharma Announces Approval to Start Late Phase II Human Trials in England

Chromos signs deal with AppTec for its MS monoclonal antibody drug product candidate CHR-1103.

Her faith takes her to faraway places

"Questionable Prescription? " [CBS News-60 Minutes II]:
"...As Contributing Correspondent Anderson Cooper reported earlier this year, many of his longtime patients consider him a savior, a physician on the cutting edge of alternative treatments. But the death of one of his patients has been ruled a homicide, and investigators have been combing through his files, looking for more.....It turns out Shortt gave her an infusion of a chemical, hydrogen peroxide, that he's given a lot of his patients. It's normally used to clean cuts and scrapes, and has never been FDA-approved for internal use. ...."

MRI T2 lesion burden in MS: A plateauing relationship with clinical disability
[Abstract - American Academy of Neurology]

APOE epsilon variation in MS susceptibility and disease severity: Some answers
[Abstract - American Academy of Neurology]

In Collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society a New Guide for MS Caregivers Helps Avoid Caregiver Burnout
Download a chapter at no charge

"Long-Term Copaxone(R) Study Showed 92% of MS Patients Were Still Walking Unaided After a Mean of 10 Years on Treatment":

Teva >COPAXONE: Press Release...Teva Announces t First Quarter Sales of Copaxone Increased 29% to $329 Million

40-year old mom's vibrant energy encompasses MS

4-minute VIDEO: "I'm an M.D....my Mom has MS and we have a message for everyone."... Jennifer Hartmark-Hill MD
"MS Can Not Rob You of Joy........."
A MS News Channel Production

Glatiramer acetate in treatment-naive and prior interferon-beta-1b-treated MS patients*
[Abstract - PubMed]

"Anticholinesterasics in the treatment of cognitive impairment in MS."
[Abstract - National Library of Medicine]

"Sibship Characteristics and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark":
[Abstract - National Institutes of Health]

NEW BOOK: "MS: The History of a Disease" is Finalist for ForeWord 2005 Book of the Year Award:
"In this comprehensive history, Dr. Murray takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery, showing how the evolution of our understanding of MS has been part of the greater history of medical knowledge.... "

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Webcast: CLICK HERE
"The first webcast in a two-part series on current research into MS treatments. Our presenter is John Richert, MD, the Society’s Vice President of Research and Clinical Programs. Dr. Richert will discuss the drug Tysabri, as well as the progress of several MS therapies undergoing clinical trials, including:
• Retuximab for primary-progressive MS
• Combination Therapy with Avonex and Copaxone for relapsing-remitting MS
• Oral Therapies Fingolimod, Fumarate, Temsirolimus, and Pirfenidone

MSCan Strike At Any Age: NBC: "Samantha Hayton is a 16-year-old high school student who has modeled for the Ford Agency. She also has MS...she jogs....."

"Bayhill Therapeutics, Inc., has begun dosing patients with BHT-3009, the company's experimental drug candidate, in a phase II company sponsored trial for MS.":

A medical firm's plan to provide stem cell treatment on a Ferry - for MS patients has been met by firm opposition in Wales

Free Cooling Equipment
As the warm summer months are upon us, we are reminded of the ways in which heat affects the symptoms of MS. Several cooling devices exist to help keep you comfortable as the temperature and humidity rise. Anyone can qualify for a free cooling device, regardless of income. The only requirement is a doctor’s letter verifying a diagnosis of MS....(Tips from The Huega Center)

Incyte Press release: oral CCR2 antagonist:
"..Continued advancement of a lead follow on oral CCR2 antagonist, INCB8696, which we expect to advance into clinical development later this year. We intend to develop INCB8696 as a treatment for MS...."

TYSABRI:Elan CFO Sees Tysabri Rollout In EU, US Beginning In 3Q
"ELAN'S Chief Financial Officer Shane Cooke confirmed Thursday that the marketing of its multiple sclerosis Tysabri in the E.U. and U.S. will begin in the third quarter of 2006, following the likely approval by both continents' drug regulation agencies...."

Phase III Trial of Oral Cladribine Begins in the US:
"Serono announced today that recruitment in the U.S. is beginning for the Phase III CLARITY study (CLAdRIbine Tablets in Treating MS OrallY Study) of oral cladribine for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). This multi-national study was successfully initiated outside the U.S. in 2005, and will now expand to include 17 clinical trial sites in the U.S. The study is one of the largest MS trials ever conducted, and enrollment is on track to be completed in 2006.

Oral cladribine is a proprietary oral tablet formulation of cladribine that is being studied in an effort to demonstrate possible benefits as a treatment for patients with relapsing forms of MS. Cladribine is a purine nucleoside analogue that interferes with the behavior and the proliferation of certain white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, which are involved in the pathological process of MS. Through its differentiated mechanism of action, cladribine tablets may offer an effective new option to patients with MS.

"We all are looking forward to the day when there is an FDA approved oral therapy that can affect the underlying disease process in MS," said Dr. John Richert vice president research and clinical programs at the National MS Society. "Clinical studies, such as CLARITY, are an important part of the process leading to the development of these new medications....."

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR 2006 "MS Walk on the Wild Side" PHOTO ALBUM

TYSABRI: "Pharma Companies Advised To Build Buzz Before FDA Approval"

"Dr. Sidney Pestka, chairman of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, will receive the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award for his seminal work on interferons":

BioMS Medical's pivotal multiple sclerosis trial receives fourth positive review from Data Safety Monitoring Board: Financial News - Canada

Women Against MS to hold fund-raiser
Good idea for other cities!

Mood Symptoms of Depression Vary Over Time in MS Patients
While neurovegetative and negative symptoms of depression remain relatively stable over time in patients with MS, mood symptoms are significantly more variable, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.

Patients who had improvements in their mood used significantly more active coping strategies, whereas those whose mood symptoms worsened used significantly less active coping."

"Wife's MS diagnosis leads David Roskelley to Boston Marathon for funds":

TeGenero Drug Was Too Perilous to Test on Healthy Volunteers - Bloomberg

Pair To Ride 1000 Miles To Benefit MS Research

Estimated Number of Canadians with MS Re-Examined:
"Experts estimate 55,000 to 75,000 Canadians living with MS vs. 50,000"

"Schering receives recommendation for early use of Betaferon in MS from EU body" - Forbes.com:

Epstein-Barr Virus Might Kick-Start MS
Howard Hughes Medical Institute: "Scientists think that MS—which can cause vision problems, muscle weakness, and difficulty with coordination and balance—is a result of the immune system attacking the body's own nervous system. Not everyone who is infected with Epstein-Barr develops MS, but the results of the new study, published in the June 2006, issue of the journal Brain, suggest that some individuals' unusually strong reaction to the virus may trigger the disease. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies for better control of the damage caused in this autoimmune disorder....."

"Carol Gross celebrated a reunion with part of the group who participated in the experimental Betaseron treatment for MS between 1988 and 1993.":

"Breathing New Life: Tai chi exercises help Gary Paruszkiewicz fight MS":

Friends, families walk to raise funds to fight MS | The San Diego Union-Tribune
".... more than 10,725 people who helped raise money for multiple sclerosis research in the annual MS Walk yesterday. The event raised an estimated $1.8 million for the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society....[CLICK LINK ABOVE FOR FULL ARTICLE"

Research Article: Anti-IL-23 therapy inhibits multiple inflammatory pathways and ameliorates autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Journal of Clinical Investigation