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World leader in MS research dies

MSIF is deeply saddened to inform you of the death of Professor Ian McDonald, a world leader in MS research and former Chairman of MSIF’s International Medical and Scientific Board.

Memories from friends and colleagues of Professor McDonald have come flooding into the MSIF office remarking on his fine intelligence, his work as an innovative and practical researcher, and, for many of you, as the most generous and kindest of friends.

The funeral will be held at 12:00 noon on 21 December at St. James Church, Prebend Street, London N1. There is a request that instead of flowers, donations be made to the UK MS Society.

Read more about Prof McDonald

MSIF Evelyn Nicholson Award for International Caregiver of the Year 2006

The Evelyn Nicholson Award for the International Caregiver of the Year 2006 has been awarded to Maria Fleta from Poland. This annual award recognises a volunteer caregiver who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and devotion in their support of someone with MS.

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Online survey on pain and MS

Do you experience pain as part of your MS? If so, please take part in our survey and help inform the next edition of our magazine, MS in focus.

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Online UK survey of the impact of MS

MSIF has agreed to help Galen Research in its efforts to involve people with MS in the UK in the development of questionnaires to assess how treatment improves the quality of life of people with MS.

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MSIF Chief Executive retires

Christine Purdy retires this week after seven years as MSIF's CEO. A dinner was held on 7 December 2006 to thank Christine for her work for MSIF, and to welcome Peer Baneke, the new CEO.

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Last Making Connections for 2006

This is the last edition of Making Connections for 2006. The next one will be published on January 2, 2007. If you have news we should include in this newsletter next year, please email Lucy Hurst, MSIF's Information and Communications Manager.

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Profile of the Month : January 2008

Yukari Niwa

Country: Japan
Year of diagnosis: 2001
Occupation: Volunteer at Japanese MS Society

"For me, the most important thing is to be happy in all I do."

English Italiano Deutsh Espanol Francais Russian

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Multiple sclerosis and the hygiene hypothesis

This paper reviews evidence for the hygiene hypothesis, a theory that lack of exposure to common childhood infections may result in an abnormal immune response that contributes to the pathogenesis of MS.

authors: Fleming JO, Cook TD.

source: Neurology. 2006 Dec 12;67(11):2085-6.

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High seroprevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in children with multiple sclerosis

This study looked at rates of infection with EBV, a virus that has been suggested as a trigger for the abnormal immune response in MS, in children. They found higher rates of previous infection in children with MS compared with paired controls.

authors: Pohl D, Krone B, Rostasy K, Kahler E, Brunner E, Lehnert M, Wagner HJ, Gartner J, Hanefeld F.

source: Neurology. 2006 Dec 12;67(11):2063-5.

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Intravesical atropine compared to oral oxybutynin for neurogenic detrusor overactivity: a double-blind, randomized crossover trial

This randomised double blind cross-over trial found that atropine instilled directly into the bladder was as effective for urinary symptoms in MS as oxybutynin and resulted in fewer side effects.

authors: Fader M, Glickman S, Haggar V, Barton R, Brooks R, Malone-Lee J.

source: J Urol. 2007 Jan;177(1):208-13.

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Associations of the Expanded Disability Status Scale with anxiety and depression in multiple sclerosis outpatients

This cross-sectional study explores further the interaction between levels of disability and depression in a group of people with MS and found level of disability to be a moderate predictor of mood symptoms.

authors: Tsivgoulis G, Triantafyllou N, Papageorgiou C, Evangelopoulos ME, Kararizou E, Sfagos C, Vassilopoulos D.

source: Acta Neurol Scand. 2007 Jan;115(1):67-72.

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Clinical relevance of antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in different clinical types of multiple sclerosis

The authors studied the use of antibodies to a component of myelin to see if it was a marker for different types of MS but found that it was not sensitive or specific enough to be useful clinically.

authors: Zadro I, Brinar V, Horvat G, Brinar M.

source: Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2007 Jan;109(1):23-6. Epub 2006 Jun 5.

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Complex gene-gene interactions in multiple sclerosis: a multifactorial approach reveals associations with inflammatory genes

This study clarifies further the complex gene interactions leading to risk of MS using advanced statistical techniques.

authors: Motsinger AA, Brassat D, Caillier SJ, Erlich HA, Walker K, Steiner LL, Barcellos LF, Pericak-Vance MA, Schmidt S, Gregory S, Hauser SL, Haines JL, Oksenberg JR, Ritchie MD.

source: Neurogenetics. 2007 Jan;8(1):11-20. Epub 2006 Sep 22.

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Employment opportunities in IT

source: US National MS Society

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), an IT company, is undertaking targeted outreach to hire qualified individuals with disabilities, including people with MS.

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MS Days in Portugal, Greece and Spain

This month, MS Days have been recognised by the Portugese MS Society (Sociedade Portuguesa de Esclerose Múltipla) on 4 December, the Greek MS Society on 18 December and the Spanish MS Society (Federación Española de Esclerosis Múltiple), also on 18 December.

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