17 October

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MSIF News

People with MS News

Research News

MS News

Making Connections

MSIF News


	Summaries of new MSIF activities, events, projects, programmes, resources, publications and more.

MSIF appoints new Chief Executive

The Board of Trustees has appointed Mr Peer Baneke as the new MSIF Chief Executive, effective from January 2, 2007 when Christine Purdy retires.

MSIF Board and Committee Meetings October 2006

Representatives from 14 countries met in Washington DC, USA, last week for MSIF's Autumn 2006 Board and Committee meetings.

MS in focus on genetics now available in German

The latest edition of MS in focus, MSIF's biannual magazine, is now available in German.

MSIF welcomes Uruguay as an Associate Member Society

At the recent MSIF Board of Trustees meetings held in Washington DC, USA (11-13 October), the Board were pleased to approve the Uruguay MS Society's application for Associate Membership of MSIF.

People with MS News


	Summaries of news, views and achievements from people with MS around the world.

Profile of the Month : January 2008

Mohammad Tabiee

Country: Thailand
Age: 34
Year of diagnosis: 1998
Occupation: Quality Control Manager

English Spanish Italian German French Russian

Research News


	Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

The effect of cannabis on urge incontinence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multi-centre, randomised placebo-controlled trial (CAMS-LUTS)

This multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial showed that cannabis extract reduces the rate of episodes of urinary urge incontinence in people with MS but not the results of urodynamic studies.

authors: Freeman RM, Adekanmi O, Waterfield MR, Waterfield AE, Wright D, Zajicek J.

source: Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2006 Nov;17(6):636-41. Epub 2006 Mar 22.

Elevated CSF free kappa light chains correlate with disability prognosis in multiple sclerosis

This retrospective study looked at antibody levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and found that high levels predicted a more aggressive disease course.

authors: Rinker JR 2nd, Trinkaus K, Cross AH.

source: Neurology. 2006 Oct 10;67(7):1288-90.

Treatment with interferon beta-1b delays conversion to clinically definite and McDonald MS in patients with clinically isolated syndromes

This multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial showed that treating people with clinically isolated syndromes with interferon delays the onset of MS at two years. Ongoing work is looking at whether this effect is sustained at five years.

authors: Kappos L, Polman CH, Freedman MS, Edan G, Hartung HP, Miller DH, Montalban X, Barkhof F, Bauer L, Jakobs P, Pohl C, Sandbrink R.

source: Neurology. 2006 Oct 10;67(7):1242-9. Epub 2006 Aug 16.

High-dose cyclophosphamide for moderate to severe refractory multiple sclerosis

This small uncontrolled study looked at 13 people with worsening moderately severe relapsing remitting and secondary progressive MS which was not responsive to conventional treatments. It found that cyclophosphamide was safe and of some benefit in stabilising disease progression.

authors: Gladstone DE, Zamkoff KW, Krupp L, Peyster R, Sibony P, Christodoulou C, Locher E, Coyle PK.

source: Arch Neurol. 2006 Oct;63(10):1388-93. Epub 2006 Aug 14.

A model for the comprehensive investigation of a chronic autoimmune disease: The multiple sclerosis CLIMB study

The authors review MS as a model for autoimmune disease in general and describe their ongoing natural history study incorporating radiological, immunological, genetic and clinical data in an attempt to define disease subgroups.

authors: Gauthier SA, Glanz BI, Mandel M, Weiner HL.

source: Autoimmun Rev. 2006 Oct;5(8):532-6. Epub 2006 Mar 22.

The interleukin-10 levels as a potential indicator of positive response to interferon beta treatment of multiple sclerosis patients

Low blood levels of IL-10 but not IL-12, cytokines involved in control of lymphocyte proliferation, were found to predict a good clinical response to interferon in this study.

authors: Bartosik-Psujek H, Stelmasiak Z.

source: Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2006 Oct;108(7):644-7. Epub 2005 Dec 15.

Normal-appearing white matter changes vary with distance to lesions in multiple sclerosis

This study looks at the characteristics of the so-called “normal appearing white matter” in which it has been shown there are pathological changes that we can’t see on conventional MRI. They found differences in its characteristics depending on location with lower MTR closer to areas of visible MRI plaques.

authors: Vrenken H, Geurts JJ, Knol DL, Polman CH, Castelijns JA, Pouwels PJ,

source: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006 Oct;27(9):2005-11.

MS News


	Summaries of MS news from websites around the world.

ECTRIMS meeting highlights drug trials, MS in children

source: US National MS Society

Multiple sclerosis research took center stage at the 22nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), held September 27-30, 2006, in Madrid. Results were presented from numerous clinical trials, indicating the potential within the MS pipeline. Pediatric studies, including seven from investigators at three of six Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence, established and funded by the US MS Society were reported.

Promising new results for Fingolimod, an experimental oral treatment for people with relapsing remitting MS

source: UK MS Society

Novartis Pharmaceuticals have presented new positive results with Fingolimod (FTY720) and have initiated a worldwide phase III clinical study.

New caregivers project launched

source: Federación Española para la Lucha contra la Esclerosis Múltiple (FELEM)

The Federación Española para la Lucha contra la Esclerosis Múltiple (FELEM), one of the MS societies in Spain, is a partner in the recently launched Qualified Care project, funded by the European Union.

Improved walking speed and leg strength in people with MS taking Fampridine-SR

source: UK MS Society

Acorda Therapeutics reported positive results following a 14 week phase III clinical trial with a slow release tablet form of 4-aminopyridine (drug name: Fampridine-SR). The drug is thought to improve the conduction of nerve impulses, even if the nerve fibres' insulating coat of myelin has been damaged as a result of MS.

International fundraising!

Fleur Stafford, originally from New Zealand, and Rose Hewitt, originally from Australia, took part in the UK's Henley Half Marathon on 8 October and raised £1,000 for the New Zealand MS Society.

Delhi Chapter of the MS Society of India takes part in Hutch Delhi Half Marathon

source: MS Society of India

On October 15, the Delhi Chapter of the MS Society of India (MSSI) brought together 80 supporters to cheer and walk seven km for MSSI in the Hutch Delhi Half Marathon.

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