{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MSIF News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MSIF News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "People With MS News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "People With MS News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "Research News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "Research News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MS Society News")}}

{{endif}}

{{if listFind(vars.channel_names, "MS Society News")}}

{{endif}}

Ataxia and tremor edition of MS in focus now in Spanish and German

Issue 13 is now available to download free from our website in Spanish and German.

read more

April 2009 MSIF Meetings update

Over 45 delegates attended MSIF’s biannual Board and Committee Meetings in London, UK, from 22-24 April 2009.

read more

MSIF’s 2008 Annual Review published

Read all about MSIF's success during 2008 in our Annual Review.

read more

World MS Day 27 May 2009 - register and show your support for the global MS movement today!

Have you registered with the World MS Day website to show you are part of the global MS movement?

read more

back to top

Profile of the Month : January 2010

Mandi Kingsbury

Nationality: New Zealand
Age: 37
Profession: Fashion stylist and designer
Type of MS: Relapsing remitting
Year of diagnosis: 2003


I have no intention of slowing down or stopping my career. I protest my MS every day and I would like people to do the same in a positive way. You can’t predict what is going to happen with MS and I’d hate it to take away anything from my life.


Deutsch English Español Français Italiano Русский

read more

back to top

Past environmental sun exposure and risk of multiple sclerosis: a role for the Cdx-2 Vitamin D receptor variant in this interaction

It is known that genes play a role in the pathogenesis of MS. On the other hand, the amount of sun exposure in childhood has also been related to the risk of having MS. In this study the authors found that certain variations of a specific gene related to the metabolism of vitamin D are related to a higher risk of having MS if the sun exposure during childhood was low.

authors: Dickinson J, Perera D, van der Mei A, Ponsonby AL, Polanowski A, Thomson R, Taylor B, McKay J, Stankovich J, Dwyer T

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Apr 21

read more

The search for responsive clinical endpoints in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

In primary progressive MS, one of the most important problems that appears when progression has to be evaluated, for example in longitudinal observational studies or clinical trials, is the lack of clinical measures sensitive enough to detect clinical worsening. In this study the authors have shown that the measure of the “Timed 25-Foot walk” (which measures walking speed) in combination with the current scale “EDSS” were the most sensitive (they detect clinical worsening) and specific (they do not show “false” improvement) measures within a set of tested measures. They also suggest that the efficacy of this combination is higher when longer follow-up periods are considered.

authors: Bosma L, Kragt J, Brieva L, Khaleeli Z, Montalban X, Polman C, Thompson A, Tintoré M, Uitdehaag B

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Apr 21

read more

Vitamin D status and effect of low-dose cholecalciferol and high-dose ergocalciferol supplementation in multiple sclerosis

Vitamin D metabolism has been frequently related to the risk of MS, though its relationship remains unknown. In this study the authors have seen that the levels of vitamin D in a large group of people with MS were insufficient in more than the 80% of them. Moreover, even with high doses of vitamin D, optimal levels were only achieved in less than the 40% of the people. The authors of this study suggest that further studies are needed to better understand the complex relationship between vitamin D and MS, and the possible need of vitamin D replacement.

authors: Hiremath G, Cettomai D, Baynes M, Ratchford J, Newsome S, Harrison D, Kerr D, Greenberg B, Calabresi P

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Apr 21

read more

CSF proteome analysis in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): Candidate markers for conversion to definite multiple sclerosis

Predictors of clinical outcome in MS are, still at present, far from being satisfactory. This is also true when a first episode suggestive of MS is assessed in clinical practice. This first episode is not always followed by further relapses, which would constitute what is known by relapsing-remitting MS. The authors of this study have identified a number of different proteins which could help to predict which people will finally develop MS after having had a first episode suggestive of MS.

authors: Tumani H, Lehmensiek V, Rau D, Guttmann I, Tauscher G, Mogel H, Palm C, Hirt V, Suessmuth SD, Sapunova-Meier I, Ludolph AC, Brettschneider J

source: Neurosci Lett. 2009 Mar 13;452(2):214-7

read more

Fine mapping of multiple sclerosis susceptibility genes provides evidence of allelic heterogeneity at the IL2RA locus

MS is a complex and multifactorial disease, where genes seem to play a role. A number of genes have been related with the risk of having MS, though the nature and strength of their relationship is still unknown. It is thought that certain variations of these genes may confer a higher risk of developing MS. The authors of this study have not only identified a gene related to MS, but, more interestingly, they have also shown that there is not only one genetic variant but there are at least two variants of the same gene which could confer this higher risk of developing MS.

authors: Perera D, Stankovich J, Butzkueven H, Taylor BV, Foote SJ, Kilpatrick TJ, Rubio JP

source: J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Apr 16

read more

back to top

Never let go of your dreams – Mount Everest update

source: www.empowermentthroughadventure.com and www.wendybooker.net

The two women with MS climbing Mount Everest are making good progress.

read more

Differential diagnosis of MS: US National MS Society international task force develops consensus-driven guidelines and invites their validation

source: US National MS Society

An international task force convened by the US National MS Society's (NMSS) International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials has published a landmark paper to guide neurologists through the complex process of distinguishing MS from other disorders.

read more

MS Society releases new advertising campaign

source: UK MS Society

The MS Society has launched it’s new 'Putting the Pieces Together' advertising campaign which is based on the theme of this year's MS Week – misconceptions.

read more

Investors to eye MS drug safety at neurology meeting

source: UK MS Trust

Data to be presented next week could give clues about how the next generation of MS drugs will stack up against existing treatments and against each other.

read more

back to top

Tell a friend

The email you subscribed with us is {{print email}}

Within this newsletter the following options are available: MSIF News; People with MS News; Research News and MS Society News. To amend your options please login to the 'My world of MS' online community where you can also read diary entries from people affected by MS, leave your own diary entries and send messages to other users. You can also change your email address, contact details and subscribe to our free publications.

If you have an RSS News Reader you can get the latest news syndicated to you by copying the following link to your Reader: Syndicate.

If you do not want to receive future issues of this newsletter or if you have received this in error, please accept our apologies and simply unsubscribe here

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
3rd Floor Skyline House, 200 Union Street, SE1 0LX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7620 1911
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7620 1922
Registered Charity: 1105321
Email: info@msif.org

 Click here to learn more about the work of the Making Connections sponsor.