Making Connections

MSIF News


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

MSIF Research Alumni page now live

Every year, we award a range of grants and fellowships to MS researchers around the world, to support our commitment to stimulating research into the understanding, treatment and cure of MS.

Research News


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

Cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis

In recent years it has been shown that the grey matter, and not only the white matter, is affected in MS. This paper gives an overview of cortical pathology and its involvement in MS.

authors: Stadelmann C, Albert M, Wegner C, Brück W.

source: Curr Opin Neurol. 2008 Jun;21(3):229-34.

Activity, tolerability and efficacy of levetiracetam on cerebellar symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients: a pilot kinematic study.

In this negative study, the authors used levetiracetam to treat cerebellar symptoms like tremor and incoordination in people with MS. Although no improvement in clinical scales was observed, they concluded that levetiracetam needs to be tested in a larger group of subjects to verify whether it works.

authors: Solaro C, Brichetto G, Capello E, Abuarqub S, Sanguineti V

source: Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jun;15(6):619-26.

Smoke exposure increases the risk for multiple sclerosis.

The pathogenesis of MS is complex and multiple factors seem to be involved. The authors found an association between smoking and MS suggesting that it is a risk factor. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

authors: Sundström P, Nyström L, Hallmans G.

source: Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jun;15(6):579-83.

Gelsolin concentration in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

This preliminary study shows that a protein called Gelsolin is reduced in the spinal fluid of people with MS. Further studies are needed to clarify whether this may be useful in the diagnosis of MS.

authors: Kulakowska A, Drozdowski W, Sadzynski A, Bucki R, Janmey PA.

source: Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jun;15(6):584-8.

Autoimmune disease concomitance among inflammatory bowel disease patients in the United States, 2001-2002.

This study shows an increased risk of developing MS and other autoimmune diseases in people who have inflammatory bowel disease. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and investigate the nature of this relationship.

authors: Cohen R, Robinson D Jr, Paramore C, Fraeman K, Renahan K, Bala M.

source: Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2008 Jun;14(6):738-43.

MS News


	Summaries of MS news from websites around the world.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enters into force

The 20th ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has triggered the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol 30 days later.

A commemorative event was held at the UN headquarters on 12 May 2008 to celebrate the entry into force of the Convention.

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