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Invitations sent for the first meeting of the MSIF Research Alumni

The first meeting of all past recipients of MSIF research awards (including the Du Pré Grants and Fellowships and the McDonald Fellowships) will take place during the World Congress on Treatment and Research in MS in Montreal on 18 September 2008.

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Profile of the Month : August 2008

Country: Argentina
Age: 37
Occupation: Social Communication Trainer, publicist, designer
Type of MS: Relapse remitting
Year of diagnosis: 2001

Throughout our lives, with or without MS, we face frustrating situations, disappointments and sadness, but we always find a way to keep going.

Read the full article here:

English Francais Espanol Italiano Deutsch Русский

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A voxel-based morphometry study of grey matter loss in MS patients with different clinical phenotypes

This study showed a different distribution of changes in grey matter depending on the type of MS.

authors: Ceccarelli A, Rocca MA, Pagani E, Colombo B, Martinelli V, Comi G, Filippi M.

source: Neuroimage. 2008 Aug 1;42(1):315-22. Epub 2008 Apr 20.

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Cannabinoid-induced effects on the nociceptive system: A neurophysiological study in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Pain can be a complex symptom which is sometimes difficult to treat. There is some evidence that cannabis might be useful when other medications have failed, although it is not licensed in the UK at present. The authors used neurophysiological techniques to assess its role in treating pain in people with secondary progressive MS and found some benefit in nerve thresholds but its effect on symptoms was less clear.

authors: Conte A, Bettolo CM, Onesti E, Frasca V, Iacovelli E, Gilio F, Giacomelli E, Gabriele M, Aragona M, Tomassini V, Pantano P, Pozzilli C, Inghilleri M.

source: Eur J Pain. 2008 Jul 4. [Epub ahead of print]

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Evidence of platelet activation in multiple sclerosis

This study showed an increase in platelet activation in people with MS compared with controls. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this and whether it is significant in MS.

authors: Sheremata WA, Jy W, Horstman LL, Ahn YS, Alexander JS, Minagar A.

source: J Neuroinflammation. 2008 Jun 27;5(1):27. [Epub ahead of print]

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Early anisotropy changes in the corpus callosum of patients with optic neuritis

The authors used diffusion tensor imaging, a new MRI technique, to study changes in the brain after an episode of optic neuritis, which can be the presenting symptom of MS. They found changes at baseline in all patients and these progressed more over time in the subgroup which developed MS.

authors: Bester M, Heesen C, Schippling S, Martin R, Ding XQ, Holst B, Fiehler J.

source: Neuroradiology. 2008 Jul;50(7):549-57. Epub 2008 May 6.

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Lithium prevents and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The authors investigated the role of lithium in treating the animal model of MS. They found that this medication markedly reduced symptoms of the disease in mice.

authors: De Sarno P, Axtell RC, Raman C, Roth KA, Alessi DR, Jope RS.

source: J Immunol. 2008 Jul 1;181(1):338-45.

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Oral prednisone taper following intravenous steroids fails to improve disability or recovery from relapses in multiple sclerosis

Steroids are often given intravenously to shorten the duration of relapses in people with MS. The authors investigated the effect of adding a course of oral steroids afterwards. They found no additional benefit.

authors: Perumal JS, Caon C, Hreha S, Zabad R, Tselis A, Lisak R, Khan O.

source: Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jul;15(7):677-80. Epub 2008 May 6.

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US: Caffeine protects mice from MS-like disease, but more research required to translate results to people

source: US National MS Society

Researchers report that administering caffeine – the equivalent of six to eight cups of coffee per day – to a small number of mice protected them from developing the MS-like disease EAE.

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UK: Survey finds National Health Service failing people with MS

source: Royal College of Physicians

A survey of services for people with MS by the Royal College of Physicians and the MS Trust shows that the NHS is still failing to implement the 2003 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of MS patients.

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Ireland: MS Ireland launches €1.5 million physiotherapy programme

source: MS Ireland

‘Getting The Balance Right’ is a nationwide, exercise-based, health promotion and research programme for people with MS.

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Argentina: Mandalas and Horoscope Tea fundraising event

source: Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina

The MS Society of Argentina (Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina) held a fundraising event on 25 June 2008.

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