Category Archives: MS Treatment

Newswise SAN DIEGO The drug natalizumab is effective for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), but it increases the risk of a rare but potentially fatal brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). A study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013, suggests that early detection of PML may help improve survival and disability levels. The study examined 319 people with MS who were treated with natalizumab and diagnosed with PML. Because of the risk of PML, people taking natalizumab are monitored by their physicians for possible symptoms of the brain infection. The study compared people who had symptoms of PML at the time of diagnosis to people who had no symptoms of the infection, but who were diagnosed with the disease by brain scans and tests in the spinal fluid for the virus that causes the infection. The level of disability for the people in the study was assessed before the PML diagnosis, at the time of diagnosis, and again six months and one year after the diagnosis. A total of 21 people had no PML symptoms at the time of their diagnosis, while 298 … Continue reading →

By Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Besides problems with gait and vision, people who have multiple sclerosis often complain they have trouble remembering things, and now new research may explain why. According to a small study from the Netherlands, people with MS who report memory and thinking problems have more extensive damage to the white matter in their brains than their counterparts with MS who don't report such problems. Up to 70 percent of all people with MS will experience a mental decline at some point, said study author Hanneke Hulst at the VU University Medical Center, in Amsterdam. And the new research "confirmed that cognitive symptoms in MS have a biological basis," Hulst said. The findings were published online March 6 in Neurology. MS is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body attacks myelin, a fatty substance that insulates the nerve fibers of the central nervous system. The brain's white matter is surrounded by myelin. Symptoms range in severity and may include problems with gait, balance, vision, memory and thinking abilities. To get a better picture of what was going on in the brains of people with MS, Hulst and colleagues used a … Continue reading →

March 7, 2013, 9:30 p.m. THE University of Ballarats Human Movement and Sports Science head Sue Brown said women in sport face much tougher times than men. Even women at a national level cant earn enough money, and thats where the struggle comes in, Ms Brown said. I dont think it is really recognised by the sporting community that women are successful at sport. Women are supposed to stay home and look after the family and its not recognised that they can have a working career and a successful sporting career and often be parents too. Ms Brown said the situation facing Ballarat Rush basketballer Andrea McMahon, who has been sacked by Ambulance Victoria for taking unpaid leave to play sport, was disappointing. They havent recognised that she is a role model in the community. She has a career, she plays sport at an elite level, what more could you ask for in a role model? Olympian Rachel Jarry, who played for the then Ballarat Lady Miners in 2010, also spoke out in support of Ms McMahon and said achieving the work-life balance was tough. I study because I need to have a career in mind for after basketball, Ms … Continue reading →

Denver, CO (PRWEB) March 06, 2013 With 2.5 million MS patients worldwide looking for a cure or a treatment that doesnt carry side-effects, alternative therapies have become more appealing. According to http://www.SclerosisTreatment.com health experts are still piecing together the mind-boggling Multiple Sclerosis causes and development, a permanent cure has yet to be found. Conventional therapies for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis include several types of medications such as antidepressants, interferons, mioxantrone and steroids. There are seven MS-modifying treatments that have been approved for usage: two classes of interferonbeta-1 (Avonex, Rebif, CinnoVex, ReciGen and Betaseron), Copaxone, Novantrone, Tysabri, Gilenya and Aubagio. Most of these are meant to reduce the intensity of an attack and help the patient return to a level of normal function after the attack. SclerosisTreatment.com report reveals that natural treatments for Multiple Sclerosis have shown effective results in reducing episodes and improving overall health. For the patients relying only on aggressive medicine to decrease the intensity of a MS episode, herbal therapies are an alternative that needs looking into, particularly since these dont carry the side-effects of the drugs. As seen on Everydayhealth.com most of the drug-based treatments for MS carry side effects that range from mild and … Continue reading →

Janelle Meares always knows when her four-year-old son Riley's ''naughty bone'' is out. But only hours after he sees his chiropractor, Tim*, ''he'll be back to the old Riley,'' she says. Ms Meares takes Riley to his chiropractor for help with behavioural issues, although she first used the treatment for her children when her eldest daughter, Kaitlyn, was diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies. She and her husband had both seen chiropractors in the past, and when she read online that it could help with food allergies, she decided to take Kaitlyn along. Advertisement ''It did improve her allergies but whether or not that is a coincidence I don't know,'' she said. She believes it is wrong to say parents like her would take their children to a chiropractor instead of seeking medical treatment. ''I would always go to my GP first - not that I don't trust Tim, but at the end of the day Tim is a chiropractor, not a GP,'' she said. ''You want to make sure that your kids are fine and healthy, and [the treatment] is a real positive for Riley.'' She said she saw improvements in behaviour and sleep after her children saw the chiropractor. … Continue reading →

Mar. 6, 2013 People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have cognitive problems, or problems with memory, attention, and concentration, have more damage to areas of the brain involved in cognitive processes than people with MS who do not have cognitive problems, according to a study published in the March 6, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study used a type of MRI brain scan called diffusion tensor imaging along with regular MRI scans to compare brain measurements in 20 people with MS who had related cognitive problems, 35 people with MS who did not have cognitive problems and 30 healthy participants. The diffusion tensor images showed that, compared to the healthy control participants, 49 percent of the investigated brain white matter had impaired integrity in those with MS and no cognitive problems, while impaired integrity was evident in 76 percent of the investigated white matter of those with MS and related cognitive problems. In the people with MS-related cognitive problems, the extra white matter dysfunction was particularly seen in areas important for cognitive skills, such as the thalamus. "This state-of-the-art imaging technology confirms that cognitive symptoms in MS have a biological … Continue reading →

TV broadcasters are wearing orange as part of a national effort to raise awareness for the National MS Society. Richmond, VA (PRWEB) March 05, 2013 We wanted to find a fun and unique way to thank the Richmond media for its support, and help get the word out about multiple sclerosis and the work we do here at the Society, said Sherri Ellis, President of the Central Virginia Chapter of the National MS Society. MS Awareness Week is a nationwide initiative to share information about the disease, honoring those with MS and helping to raise funds for research. The news media, partner organizations and the society throughout the country join together each year to participate in MS Awareness Week. Last year, for instance, General Motors turned the Renaissance Center, the tallest building in Detroit, completely orange for MS Awareness Week. Nationwide, chapters of the National MS Society are constantly coming up with new ways to raise awareness of MS, said Ellis. Were excited to be working with the Richmond media to create our own way of reaching out to the public March 11-17th. To learn how you can get involved in MS Awareness Week, visit http://www.nmss.org. To join the movement … Continue reading →

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) recognizes March as MS Awareness Month. Throughout March, MSAA encourages individuals to expand their knowledge, understanding, and support of individuals whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). MSAA offers the following ways to learn and support the MS community: Interested in helping the MS community? About MSAA The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is a national nonprofit organization and leading resource for the entire MS community, improving lives today through vital services and support. MSAA provides free programs and services, such as: a Helpline; award-winning publications including a magazine, The Motivator; website featuring educational videos and research updates; S.E.A.R.C.H. program to assist the MS community with learning about different treatment choices; a mobile phone app, My MS Manager; a resource database, My MS Resource Locator; equipment distribution ranging from grab bars to wheelchairs; cooling accessories for heat-sensitive individuals; educational events and activities; MRI funding and insurance advocacy; and more. For additional information, please visit http://www.mymsaa.org or call (800) 532-7667. About Multiple Sclerosis The most common neurological disorder diagnosed in young adults, multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. This disorder damages … Continue reading →

MIAMI (CBS4) A baby born with the AIDS virus has been cured with aggressive treatment in Mississippi, and thats generating a huge reaction in South Florida. Florida has the second highest rate of pediatric HIV cases in the country and there isongoing research to eliminate the infection. The girl, who is now 2-and-a-half years old, was given three standard medications starting when she was 30 hours old. Its a proven concept you can cure HIV. For many years we have been searching for a cure, said Dr. Gwen Scott who is the Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases anda professor ofPediatrics at the University of Miami. The baby got three drugs because the doctor feltshe was at high risk and because the mother had no treatment. Dr. Scott told CBS4s Joan Murray that the breakthrough will cause doctors in South Florida to consider more aggressive treatments for children, and it could make a difference for adults who are diagnosed early. But she hopes the news wont deter those diagnosed with HIV from continuing their treatment. CBS4 News spoke with a 19 year old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, who was born HIV positive. She is overjoyed at news of a … Continue reading →

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (OPXA), a company developing Tcelna, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), today announced that Neil K. Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 6th Annual European Life Science CEO Forum on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. CET. The conference will be held at the Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. About Opexa Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. is dedicated to the development of patient-specific cellular therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as MS. The Companys leading therapy, Tcelna, is a personalized cellular immunotherapy treatment that is in late stage clinical development for MS. Tcelna is derived from T-cells isolated from peripheral blood, expanded ex vivo, and reintroduced into the patients via subcutaneous injections. This process triggers a potent immune response against specific subsets of autoreactive T-cells known to attack myelin and, thereby, reduces the risk of relapse over time. For more information, please visit the Companys website at http://www.opexatherapeutics.com. Excerpt from: Opexa Therapeutics to Present at the 6th Annual European Life Science CEO Forum … Continue reading →