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New PwMSIC Executive Committee

Following MSIF’s April 2009 Board and Committee Meetings, the PwMSIC has undergone a number of structural changes, including the establishment of an Executive Committee.

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MSIF report from UK MS Society’s MS Life conference, 12-14 June, Gateshead, UK

1800 people took part in the UK MS Society’s MS Life conference in Gateshead, UK from 12-14 June 2009. Helen Regan, MSIF Advocacy and Communications Manager, reports.

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Paul Rompani, Deputy CEO, leaving MSIF

MSIF’s Deputy CEO Paul Rompani will be leaving us at the end of June, after working at MSIF for over nine years.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Lori Schneider

Country: USA
Age: 52
Type of MS: rapidly progressing
Year of Diagnosis: 1999

"It was an amazing feeling to go step by step by step up Mount Everest with the World MS Day flag in my pack. Each step was hard and I had to concentrate on every aspect, and I had to really convince myself to keep going. It gave me a whole new feeling for people with MS who may have a hard time walking across a room. My difficulty on the mountain was short-lived, but I realised that some people with MS experience this level of difficulty with every step they take. I encourage them not to give up hope and to keep following their dreams!"


Deutsch English Español French Italiano Русский

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Genetic association between polymorphisms in the BTG1 gene and multiple sclerosis

MS is a chronic inflammatory-demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is a complex disease where genes may play a role. The authors of this study have found that certain variations of a specific gene related to inflammatory processes in the brain may confer a higher risk of developing MS.

authors: Camiña-Tato M, Morcillo-Suárez C, Navarro A, Fernández M, Horga A, Montalban X, Comabella M

source: J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Jun 8

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Effect of statins on clinical and molecular responses to intramuscular interferon beta-1a

Statins have been used to reduce cholesterol levels in the general population and have recently also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, despite this anti-inflammatory effect, it had been suggested in previous studies that people with MS who were taking statins could have a higher risk of developing new MS lesions and relapses. Nevertheless, in this study the authors have demonstrated that treatment with statins in people receiving interferon beta is not causing a reduction of the therapeutic effect of the interferon.

authors: Rudick RA, Pace A, Rani MR, Hyde R, Panzara M, Appachi S, Shrock J, Maurer SL, Calabresi PA, Confavreux C, Galetta SL, Lublin FD, Radue EW, Ransohoff RM

source: Neurology. 2009 Jun 9;72(23):1989-93

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Exclusive breastfeeding and the risk of postpartum relapses in women with multiple sclerosis

It is well known that women are more frequently affected by MS, suggesting that sexual hormones play a part in the development of inflammatory-demyelinating reactions occurring in the central nervous system of people with MS. It is also known that during pregnancy, the rate of relapses tends to be strongly reduced in women with MS, again suggesting an important role of sexual hormones in this condition. The authors of this work have shown that exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first two months after giving birth would protect against further relapses in at least the following year postpartum. The authors suggest that this protection against relapses may be due to the lack of menstruation while breastfeeding.

To read the full research article on Pub Med click here.

authors: Langer-Gould A, Huang SM, Gupta R, Leimpeter AD, Greenwood E, Albers KB, Van Den Eeden SK, Nelson LM

source: Arch Neurol. 2009 Jun 8

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Assessing the clinical efficacy of sildenafil for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction

Sildenafil citrate (sold as Viagra and various other trade names) is a drug commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction. The authors of this study reviewed the clinical data regarding the efficacy and safety of sildenafil for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in diverse neurological diseases. They concluded that, although there is some evidence coming from different clinical trials favouring sildenafil treatment in women with neurological disorders including MS, this data should be considered with caution and further studies were needed to assess sildenafil’s beneficial effects.

authors: Brown DA, Kyle JA, Ferrill MJ

source: Ann Pharmacother. 2009 Jun 9

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Bolivian MS Association’s first MS workshop to take place on 19 June 2009

source: Bolivian MS Association

On Friday 19 June 2009, the Asociación Boliviana contra la Esclerosis Múltiple (Bolivian MS Association) is holding its first MS workshop in La Paz.

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US National MS Society visit to new Palestine Multiple Sclerosis Society headquarters

source: US National MS Society

On 23 May 2009, Cathy Goodrich, a volunteer from the National MS Society’s (NMSS) Greater Washington Chapter, visited the Palestine Multiple Sclerosis Society (PMSS) headquarters in Nablus City.

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MS Society of Canada commends federal government’s research investment in neurological diseases

source: MS Society of Canada

The MS Society of Canada has praised the Canadian government’s announcement of CA$15 million to study the impact of a wide variety of neurological conditions, including MS.

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Two medical meetings (ACTRIMS and CMSC) focus on MS risk factors and quality of life issues

source: US National MS Society

Environmental risk factors in MS was the topic of the 14th annual meeting of ACTRIMS (Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS) on May 30 in Atlanta. For the second time, ACTRIMS was held in conjunction with the Consortium of MS Centers' annual meeting.

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Estimated number of people with MS in the UK up from 85,000 to 100,000

source: UK MS Society

New research released by the UK MS Society has for the first time revealed an accurate estimate of the number of people living with a diagnosis of MS in the UK.

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