4 September 2007

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MSIF News

Profile of the Month

Research News

MS News

Making Connections

MSIF News


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

2008 Global Dinner Party

The 2008 MS Global Dinner Party (GDP) will take place on Saturday 23 February 2008 and is a great chance to raise funds for international research.

MSIF in Second Life

On 11 September 2007 the Netherlands VU Medical Centre, in conjunction with MSIF, Stichting Research (the Dutch MS Society), MS Vereniging and MS Web, will launch the MS Island in the online virtual world Second Life.

MSIF welcomes new Information and Communications Manager

MSIF extends a warm welcome to new Information and Communications Manager, Melanie Hook.

Profile of the Month


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

Profile of the Month : June 2008

Ann Langley

Country: Australia
Occupation: Musician and retired teacher
Year of diagnosis: 1988
Type of MS: RRMS

"My primary emotion on being told I had multiple sclerosis was one of relief..."

English Espanol Deutsch Russian

Research News


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

Exploring recombinant human erythropoietin in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis

This small preliminary study looked at the possibility of using recombinant erythropoietin to treat progressive types of MS. This is a naturally occurring growth factor usually produced by the human kidney to stimulate production of blood cells, but may also have neuroprotective effects. It was shown to be safe and now large trials are needed.

authors: Ehrenreich H, Fischer B, Norra C, Schellenberger F, Stender N, Stiefel M, Sirén AL, Paulus W, Nave KA, Gold R, Bartels C

source: Brain. 2007 Aug 29; [Epub ahead of print]Germany.

Interleukin 7 receptor alpha chain (IL7R) shows allelic and functional association with multiple sclerosis

This paper contributes to our knowledge about the complex genetic risk factors for developing MS.

authors: Gregory SG, Schmidt S, Seth P, Oksenberg JR, Hart J, Prokop A, Caillier SJ, Ban M, Goris A, Barcellos LF, Lincoln R, McCauley JL, Sawcer SJ, Compston DA, Dubois B, Hauser SL, Garcia-Blanco MA, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL; for the Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Group.

source: Nat Genet. 2007 Sep;39(9):1083-91. Epub 2007 Jul 29.

Risk alleles for multiple sclerosis identified by a genomewide study

This paper reports more important work into the way genes contribute, in a complex way, to the risk of developing MS.

authors: International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium, Hafler DA, Compston A, Sawcer S, Lander ES, Daly MJ.

source: N Engl J Med. 2007 Aug 30;357(9):851-62. Epub 2007 Jul 29.

The incidence and significance of anti-natalizumab antibodies. Results from AFFIRM and SENTINEL.

The authors report that patients treated with natalizumab, a newer therapy for severe MS, occasionally produce antibodies against the drug. It seems that these antibodies may sometimes alter its effectiveness.

authors: Calabresi PA, Giovannoni G, Confavreux C, Galetta SL, Havrdova E, Hutchinson M, Kappos L, Miller DH, O'connor PW, Phillips JT, Polman CH, Radue EW, Rudick RA, Stuart WH, Lublin FD, Wajgt A, Weinstock-Guttman B, Wynn DR, Lynn F, Panzara MA; for the AFFIRM and SENTINEL Investigators.

source: Neurology. 2007 Aug 29; [Epub ahead of print]

Botulinum toxin a improves the quality of life of patients with neurogenic urinary incontinence

This randomised controlled trial showed that botox injected into the bladder wall was an effective treatment for resistant urinary symptoms in MS, improving patient’s reported quality of life scores.

authors: Schurch B, Denys P, Kozma CM, Reese PR, Slaton T, Barron RL.

source: Eur Urol. 2007 Sep;52(3):850-9. Epub 2007 Apr 19.

Assessing atrophy of the major white matter fiber bundles of the brain from diffusion tensor MRI data

This technical paper describes how to measure loss of white matter in the brain, which can be a problem in MS, using MRI. The technique may help us to understand better what happens during the course of the condition over time.

authors: Pagani E, Horsfield MA, Rocca MA, Filippi M.

source: Magn Reson Med. 2007 Aug 30;58(3):527-534 [Epub ahead of print].

MS News


	Summaries of MS news from websites around the world.

Argentina marathon success

source: Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina

1,900 people took part in Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina's "Marathon Solidaria" to help raise funds and awareness for the society.

New MS society in Montenegro

source: MS Society of Montenegro

An MS Society was established in Montenegro in July 2007 with the aim of supporting people affected by MS in the country and to raise awareness of the disease.

Sunshine and MS talk - view online

source: UK MS Society

Professor George Ebers from the University of Oxford gave a lecture on the effects of environmental factors (such as exposure to sunshine) and genetics on MS.

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