{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MSIF News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MSIF News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "People With MS News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "People With MS News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "Research News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "Research News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MS Society News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MS Society News")}}

{{endif}}

MSIF turns 40!

MSIF's 40th anniversary took place earlier this month.

read more

Take part in our survey on stem cells

Help inform the next edition of MS in focus magazine by taking part in our short survey on stem cell research.

read more

back to top

Profile of the Month : January 2008

Sophie Froger

Age: 50
Country: France
Occupation: Former attorney
Year of diagnosis: 2000

"Each day can bring us a few tiny moments of intense happiness."

English Espanol Deutsch Italiano Russian

read more

back to top

Effect of early versus delayed interferon beta-1b treatment on disability after a first clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis: a 3-year follow-up analysis of the BENEFIT study

The authors studied the effectiveness of early initiation of treatment with interferon-beta 1b after just one episode suggestive of MS and an abnormal MRI. Interferon is known to prevent relapses in established MS and the authors found that it also delays a proportion of second relapses (absolute risk reduction 14 percent), the occurrence of which is necessary to make a clinical diagnosis. They also found that there may be some benefit (absolute risk reduction 8 percent) in progression of disability at 3 years as measured by EDSS (difference of 0.26 points between the groups) but not in patient reported functional scores.

authors: Kappos L, Freedman MS, Polman CH, Edan G, Hartung HP, Miller DH, Montalban X, Barkhof F, Radu EW, Bauer L, Dahms S, Lanius V, Pohl C, Sandbrink R; BENEFIT Study Group.

source: Lancet. 2007 Aug 4;370(9585):389-97

read more

Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis: how much BENEFIT?

This is an interesting editorial by Prof. Pittock about the results of the BENEFIT trial published in the same issue. He comments on how this adds to our knowledge about early interferon beta treatment and the limitations of the study are discussed.

authors: Pittock SJ.

source: Lancet. 2007 Aug 4;370(9585):363-4

read more

Cell-oriented analysis in vivo using diffusion tensor imaging for normal-appearing brain tissue in multiple sclerosis.

The authors, using a new MRI technique, were able to look within the white matter in areas which appear normal with conventional MRI, distinguish different anatomical sites of damage in people with MS and comment on the possible pathology.

authors: Terajima K, Matsuzawa H, Tanaka K, Nishizawa M, Nakada T.

source: Neuroimage. 2007 Aug 3

read more

Clinical features and viral serologies in children with multiple sclerosis: a multinational observational study

In this natural history study looking at children with MS, the authors studied whether any exposure to viruses was associated with occurrence of the disease. They found that previous exposure to Epstein-Barr virus was slightly more common in children with MS suggesting a possible link.

authors: Banwell B, Krupp L, Kennedy J, Tellier R, Tenembaum S, Ness J, Belman A, Boiko A, Bykova O, Waubant E, Mah JK, Stoian C, Kremenchutzky M, Bardini MR, Ruggieri M, Rensel M, Hahn J, Weinstock-Guttman B, Yeh EA, Farrell K, Freedman M, Iivanainen M, Sevon M, Bhan V, Dilenge ME, Stephens D, Bar-Or A.

source: Lancet Neurol. 2007 Aug 2

read more

Multiple sclerosis: hyperintense lesions in the brain on nonenhanced T1-weighted MR images evidenced as areas of T1 shortening

The authors looked at a particular kind of lesion visible on a certain sequence of MRI scan (hyperintensities on non-contrast enhanced T1 scans) in people with MS. They found that this type of lesion was associated with the progressive form of the disease and the degree of disability.

authors: Janardhan V, Suri S, Bakshi R.

source: Radiology. 2007 Aug 9

read more

back to top

'DNA vaccine' for multiple sclerosis

source: UK MS Society

Scientists have reported that a newly developed DNA vaccine appears safe and may produce beneficial changes in the brains and immune systems of individuals with MS.

read more

New Urdu micro site

source: UK MS Society

The UK MS Society have recently launched a new Urdu language micro site on their website.

read more

back to top

Tell a friend

The email you subscribed with us is {{print email}}

Within this newsletter the following options are available: MSIF News; People with MS News; Research News and MS Society News. To amend your options please login to the 'My world of MS' online community where you can also read diary entries from people affected by MS, leave your own diary entries and send messages to other users. You can also change your email address, contact details and subscribe to our free publications.

If you have an RSS News Reader you can get the latest news syndicated to you by copying the following link to your Reader: Syndicate.

If you do not want to receive future issues of this newsletter or if you have received this in error, please accept our apologies and simply unsubscribe here

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
3rd Floor Skyline House, 200 Union Street, SE1 0LX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7620 1911
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7620 1922
Registered Charity: 1105321
Email: info@msif.org

 Click here to learn more about the work of the Making Connections sponsor.