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Nominations for the 2009 Evelyn Nicholson Award for International Caregiver are now open

The Evelyn Nicholson Award for International Caregiver gives national MS societies the opportunity to recognise the work of caregivers in the global fight against MS.

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New international research vacancy now online

Details of a new research vacancy at the University of British Columbia, Canada are now on MSIF's World of MS website.

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Could your national MS society gain from twinning?

Through its recently launched Twinning Programme, MSIF hopes to extend its facilitative role to MS societies throughout the global MS movement and further foster its continued commitment to supporting "the exchange of skills, knowledge and practical support" between MS societies, as underlined in the MSIF Strategic Plan 2008-2011.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Adrijana Nikolić

Country: Montenegro
Connection with MS: Mother has MS
Profession: Executive Director, Montenegro MS Association(Udruženje Multiple Skleroze Crne Gore-Podgorica)
Age: 38

After my personal experience with MS I wanted to help other people in a similar situation so I decided to set up a national MS society in Montenegro.

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The contribution of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands to the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Oligoclonal bands are antibodies found in the spinal fluid of most people with MS. The authors studied whether doing a lumbar puncture to look for them helped in the diagnosis of MS and they found that it did improve accuracy.

authors: Zipoli V, Hakiki B, Portaccio E, Lolli F, Siracusa G, Giannini M, Pantoni L, Pescini F, Sorbi S, Amato M

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Jan 19 [Epub ahead of print]

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Effects of infectious mononucleosis and HLA-DRB1*15 in multiple sclerosis

The cause of MS is not known but many factors are implicated including genes and possibly viruses. The authors investigated the relationship between a specific gene, Epstein-Barr virus and MS. They found that people with this gene who also had had an Epstein-Barr virus infection may be more susceptible to MS.

authors: Nielsen T, Rostgaard K, Askling J, Steffensen R, Oturai A, Jersild C, Koch-Henriksen N, Sørensen P, Hjalgrim H

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Jan 19 [Epub ahead of print]

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The burden of mental comorbidity in multiple sclerosis: frequent, underdiagnosed, and undertreated

This study showed that depression is a common symptom in MS, which is sometimes not recognised, and that people with lower socioeconomic status tend to be more depressed.

authors: Marrie R, Horwitz R, Cutter G, Tyry T, Campagnolo D, Vollmer T

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Jan 19 [Epub ahead of print]

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Incidence of acquired demyelination of the CNS in Canadian children

The authors studied the frequency of MS in Canadian children and found that it is about 1 per 100,000 population.

authors: Banwell B, Kennedy J, Sadovnick D, Arnold DL, Magalhaes S, Wambera K, Connolly MB, Yager J, Mah JK, Shah N, Sebire G, Meaney B, Dilenge ME, Lortie A, Whiting S, Doja A, Levin S, MacDonald EA, Meek D, Wood E, Lowry N, Buckley D, Yim C, Awuku M, Guimond C, Cooper P, Grand'Maison F, Baird JB, Bhan V, Bar-Or A

source: Neurology. 2009 Jan 20;72(3):232-9

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The effect of levetiracetam on tremor severity and functionality in patients with multiple sclerosis

This study showed no benefit from levetiracetam, an antiepileptic drug, in treating tremor in people with MS.

authors: Feys P, D'hooghe M, Nagels G, Helsen W

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Jan 23 [Epub ahead of print]

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Interferon Beta for primary progressive multiple sclerosis

Beta-interferon is a useful treatment for relapsing-remitting MS, but it is generally thought to be ineffective in primary progressive MS. The objective of this article was to review studies of beta-interferon in primary progressive MS. Although it reduced inflammation in the brain, there was no effect on disability progression. The authors concluded that further and larger studies are needed to determine whether it has any role in the treatment of primary progressive MS.

authors: Rojas JI, Romano M, Ciapponi A, Patrucco L, Cristiano E

source: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD006643

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Researchers report good results from small study of stem cell therapy to “reboot” immune system in MS

source: US National MS Society

According to a new study a group of people with relapsing-remitting MS have shown improvements in their condition after being injected with stem cells.

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Media reports focus on Botox® as a symptomatic treatment for MS

source: US National MS Society

Recent media reports have focused on the use of Botox® for treating specific symptoms of MS.

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Blood-cleansing treatment could make Tysabri safer

source: MS Trust UK

A blood-washing treatment may whisk Tysabri from the bloodstreams of people with MS, potentially neutralising a rare side effect before it turns deadly.

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MS Decisions website relaunched

source: MS Decisions UK

An interactive decision aid website for people with MS considering drug treatment, in the UK, has been fully updated and relaunched.

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