Making Connections

German and Spanish editions of MS in focus on stem cells now available

Issue 11 of MS in focus is now available to download for free in German and Spanish.

Issue 11 cover This edition presents a comprehensive picture of what is currently known about stem cells and how the different types may be used in the future of MS research and treatment.

English editions of all editions of MS in focus are available to download and can be viewed online by clicking here. Subscribe to receive a print copy here.

MSIF News


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

MSIF and EMSP meeting

MSIF's Sarah Phillips, Chairman, and Peer Baneke, Chief Executive, met with the European MS Platform's President Dorothea Pitschnau-Michel, and Vice President John C. Golding in Frankfurt on 1 July 2008.

EQUATOR Network meeting: "Transparency in Reporting Health Research"

Dr Dhia Chandraratna, International Medical and Scientific Research Officer, represented MSIF at the first meeting of the EQUATOR Network on 26 June 2008 in London.

Change of staff at MSIF

Melanie Hook has left MSIF after covering the maternity leave of Lucy Summers.

Profile of the Month


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

Profile of the Month : August 2008

Fabiola Claret 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 Русский

Research News


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

A 3-year diffusion tensor MRI study of grey matter damage progression during the earliest clinical stage of MS

The authors studied grey matter damage with MRI in people with a first attack suggestive of MS. They found some evidence of subtle grey matter damage in the early stages of the disease but it is not associated with future relapses.

authors: Rovaris M, Judica E, Ceccarelli A, Ghezzi A, Martinelli V, Comi G, Filippi M.

source: J Neurol. 2008 Jun 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Reduction of Disease Activity and Disability With High-Dose Cyclophosphamide in Patients With Aggressive Multiple Sclerosis

In this preliminary study from America, the authors investigated the safety and effectiveness of high-dose cyclophosphamide, a treatment which strongly suppresses the immune system, in people with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS. They found that this treatment was generally well tolerated and reduced disability and inflammation on MRI. Further larger studies are needed.

authors: Krishnan C, Kaplin AI, Brodsky RA, Drachman DB, Jones RJ, Pham DL, Richert ND, Pardo CA, Yousem DM, Hammond E, Quigg M, Trecker C, McArthur JC, Nath A, Greenberg BM, Calabresi PA, Kerr DA.

source: Arch Neurol. 2008 Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Strong EBV-specific CD8+ T-cell response in patients with early multiple sclerosis

The cause of MS is not known but many factors are implicated including possibly viruses. The authors investigated the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and MS. They found an increased immunological response to the virus in people with MS and this was higher in people with a first attack of the disease, suggesting that it might be associated with the onset of the disease in susceptible people.

authors: Jilek S, Schluep M, Meylan P, Vingerhoets F, Guignard L, Monney A, Kleeberg J, Le Goff G, Pantaleo G, Du Pasquier RA.

source: Brain. 2008 Jun 11. [Epub ahead of print]

Memory decline evolves independently of disease activity in MS

The authors studied cognitive functions such as memory in people with MS. They found that memory problems were not associated with other measures of disease activity.

authors: Duque B, Sepulcre J, Bejarano B, Samaranch L, Pastor P, Villoslada P.