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The Great New Zealand trek

The Trek is New Zealand’s most ambitious outdoor event taking an army of trekkers the length of the country. Participants can choose to mountain bike ride, ride a horse, or walk the distance, finishing each evening at the traveling campsite complete with gourmet mess hall, bar and hot showers.

The Great New Zealand trek is held over 12 stages (one each year) and traverses from the far North to the deep South of New Zealand in a ‘Race Towards a Cure’ for Multiple Sclerosis.

For more infomation visit www.greatnewzealandtrek.com.

Three more editions have been added to the UK MS Society’s MS Essentials series.

Issues 23, 24 and 25 now available for download:

MS Essentials 23: Speech difficulties offers practical advice and techniques on managing the symptom to ensure those affected can continue to communicate effectively.

MS Essentials 24: Swallowing difficulties discusses how to recognise and best manage the symptom

MS Essentials 25: Managing the bowel in MS looks at how the bowel works, how it is affected by MS and how to deal with problems that may occur.

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Are we making an impact?

MSIF is currently asking the question, are we making an impact? Are our projects improving the quality of life of people with MS and stimulating international MS research?

We believe we are making a difference, but what do you think? Please tell us by taking part in our 5 minute survey. Your feedback - whether you are a person affected by MS, someone who works or volunteers at an MS society, or you work as an MS health professional or scientist - will help make sure we are doing the best we can for people with MS around the globe.

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Profile of the Month : January 2008

Chris Baker

Country: New Zealand
Occupation: Writer

"Being diagnosed with MS was almost a relief. At least I had an official, medical reason for feeling the way I did."

English Italiano Espanol Deutsch Francais Russian

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White matter plasticity and enhanced remyelination in the maternal CNS

This study investigates whether MS remission during pregnancy could be due to enhanced remyelination, with positive results. The hormone prolactin is identified as a potential therapeutic agent.

authors: Gregg C, Shikar V, Larsen P, Mak G, Chojnacki A, Yong VW, Weiss S.

source: J Neurosci. 2007 Feb 21;27(8):1812-23

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Helminths as governors of immune-mediated inflammation

This paper summarises recent studies which have found that parasitic worms may stimulate our immune sytems and protect us against inflammatory conditions.

authors: Elliott DE, Summers RW, Weinstock JV

source: Int J Parasitol. 2006 Dec 28; [Epub ahead of print]

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A secondary progressive clinical course is uncommon in neuromyelitis optica

This study in 96 patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a condition involving inflammation in the spinal cord and optic nerves, shows that a secondary progressive course is very rare. The authors suggest that this demonstrates a dissociation between relapses and progression in demyelinating conditions.

authors: Wingerchuk DM, Pittock SJ, Lucchinetti CF, Lennon VA, Weinshenker BG

source: Neurology. 2007 Feb 20;68(8):603-5

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Cerebral Cortical Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis Detected by MR Imaging at 8 Tesla

This post-mortem study in one patient demonstrates that high field MR scanning can demonstrate cortical lesions which may not be clearly visible otherwise, even pathologically.

authors: Kangarlu A, Bourekas EC, Ray-Chaudhury A, Rammohan KW

source: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007 Feb;28(2):262-6

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APOE epsilon4 is associated with impaired verbal learning in patients with MS

This Greek study in 125 MS patients investigated the association of the 4 allelle of the gene APOE, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, with cognitive function. Having the gene was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.

authors: Koutsis G, Panas M, Giogkaraki E, Potagas C, Karadima G, Sfagos C, Vassilopoulos D.

source: Neurology. 2007 Feb 20;68(8):546-9

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