{{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}}

"Join the global movement. End MS!" MSIF launch World MS Day website

MSIF have launched the website for the first World MS Day on May 27 2009 with a challenge to 100,000 people to sign up and "Join the global movement. End MS!"

read more

New edition of MS in focus on ataxia and tremor

Just published: Issue 13 of our biannual magazine looks in detail at the difficult MS symptoms of ataxia and tremor.

read more

back to top

Profile of the Month : January 2010

Ahmed Darwish

Country: Egypt
Age: 47
Type of MS: Secondary progressive MS
Year of Diagnosis: 1992

There is a quote by Gandhi that inspires me, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." I always have that quote in my mind and try to live by it.

Deutsch English Español Français Italiano Русский

read more

back to top

Assessing structure and function of the afferent visual pathway in multiple sclerosis and associated optic neuritis

Visual function is commonly affected in MS. In this article the authors have reviewed clinical, imaging and electrophysiological methods to assess the visual pathway. This assessment not only provides insights into the pathophysiology of MS, but also provides a method of investigating potential therapeutic measures in MS.

authors: Kolappan M, Henderson AP, Jenkins TM, Wheeler-Kingshott CA, Plant GT, Thompson AJ, Miller DH

source: J Neurol. 2009 Mar 18

read more

Inflammation triggers synaptic alteration and degeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

MS is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease. Nevertheless, a degree of degeneration of the brain and spine tissue has also been shown in people with MS, though the causes of this degeneration are not fully understood. In this study the authors have used an animal model (mice) of MS to investigate neurodegeneration. They have suggested that the inflammation can itself trigger degeneration of specific components of the nervous tissue. This finding is very important and may have therapeutic implications.

authors: Centonze D, Muzio L, Rossi S, Cavasinni F, De Chiara V, Bergami A, Musella A, D'Amelio M, Cavallucci V, Martorana A, Bergamaschi A, Cencioni MT, Diamantini A, Butti E, Comi G, Bernardi G, Cecconi F, Battistini L, Furlan R, Martino G

source: J Neurosci. 2009 Mar 18;29(11):3442-52

read more

Replication analysis identifies TYK2 as a multiple sclerosis susceptibility factor

MS is a complex disease of unknown cause. However, certain genes play a role in conferring susceptibility to suffer this disease. In this large study the authors have identified a novel association with a gene called TYK2. Though this gene had been associated with autoimmunity in general, it is the first time that its association with MS is shown.

authors: Ban M, Goris A, Lorentzen AR, Baker A, Mihalova T, Ingram G, Booth DR, Heard RN, Stewart GJ, Bogaert E, Dubois B, Harbo HF, Celius EG, Spurkland A, Strange R, Hawkins C, Robertson NP, Dudbridge F, Wason J, De Jager PL, Hafler D, Rioux JD, Ivinson AJ, McCauley JL, Pericak-Vance M, Oksenberg JR, Hauser SL, Sexton D, Haines J, Sawcer S

source: Eur J Hum Genet. 2009 Mar 18

read more

Pathway and network-based analysis of genome-wide association studies in multiple sclerosis

In spite of the obvious genetic involvement in the pathogenesis of MS, at present the number of identified genetic markers is still relatively low. On the other hand, it is known that in current models of MS rather than a single protein involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, there is a combination of proteins, which belong to the same biological pathway, involved in this pathogenesis. For these reasons, the authors of this study aimed to investigate not only the association of MS with individual genes but also the association with meaningful combinations of genes responsible for the mentioned biological pathways. As a result of this investigation, a number of genetic networks mainly associated with immunological and neural functioning pathways have been identified.

authors: Baranzini SE, Galwey NW, Wang J, Khankhanian P, Lindberg R, Pelletier D, Wu W, Uitdehaag BM; GeneMSA Consortium, Kappos L, Polman CH, Matthews PM, Hauser SL, Gibson RA, Oksenberg JR, Barnes MR

source: Hum Mol Genet. 2009 Mar 13

read more

Voxel-wise assessment of progression of regional brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

The authors of this study aimed to compare the volume of the cortical grey matter in a group of RRMS compared to healthy controls, by using different software techniques, and also to investigate the evolution over time of cortical volume in the group of RRMS. They found that people with MS had lower cortical volumes than controls. They also found that the cortical volume specifically localised in the fronto-parietal region showed a higher reduction over time, suggesting at least partially dependency upon the increase of lesion load.

authors: Battaglini M, Giorgio A, Stromillo ML, Bartolozzi ML, Guidi L, Federico A, De Stefano N

source: J Neurol Sci. 2009 Mar 14

read more

A randomized trial to investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercise on walking performance for people with multiple sclerosis

In this randomised trial, the authors have investigated the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation (FES) in people with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) who suffered from dropped foot, which is a common presentation in MS and which accounts for decreased mobility in these patients, by comparing this measure with a physiotherapy home exercise programme. The authors found that exercise may provide a greater effect on walking speed and endurance than FES for people with SPMS. However, they suggested that further investigations in combined orthotic-exercise treatment are needed to more accurately assess the usefulness and efficacy of FES.

authors: Barrett C, Mann G, Taylor P, Strike P

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Mar 12

read more

back to top

Fast Forward and EMD Serono announce collaboration to accelerate development of treatments for MS

source: US National MS Society

EMD Serono and Fast Forward, a subsidiary of the US National MS Society (NMSS), have announced a collaborative partnership to evaluate and fund MS research projects.

read more

"Roll for MS" - francophone countries unite for World MS Day

source: Ligue Française contre la Sclérose En Plaques

"Roll for MS" events are being organised in Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland from 27-31 May 2009.

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.