Category Archives: MS Treatment

Eleven years ago, Megan Quinn had just gotten married and was the picture of health. "I used to run five miles a day. All of a sudden on my third mile, I started dragging my foot and I didn't understand. I thought, I'm just getting old and I'm getting tired. I was 27 years old," she said. "Nothing ever clicked to me that something was wrong." The diagnosis was multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself and damages myelin, the protective covering surrounding nerve cells. With that insulation compromised, the nerves deteriorate and can cause a wide range of symptoms including vision problems, fatigue and weakness. The disease affects as many as 350,000 Americans. "For the past year I've had a really bad time with this disease, just with my hip not working. One night I woke up and I couldn't feel either of my legs," Quinn said. "Right now, my biggest problem is my hamstring. I cannot get my hamstring to cooperate when I have to walk, so that's my battle right now," she said. Current treatments only try to stop progression of the disease. Quinn is about to test a … Continue reading →

January 21, 2014 Karen Feldscher, Harvard School of Public Health For patients in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), low levels of vitamin D were found to strongly predict disease severity and hasten its progression, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) investigators in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare. The findings suggest that patients in the early stages of MS could stave off disease symptoms by increasing their vitamin D intake. Because low vitamin D levels are common and can be easily and safely increased by oral supplementation, these findings may contribute to better outcomes for many MS patients, said lead author Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH. The study was published online January 20, 2014 in JAMA Neurology. MS is a central nervous system disease that causes problems with muscle control and strength, vision, balance, feeling, and thinking. Its estimated by the World Health Organization that roughly 2.5 million people in the world have MS. Previous research indicated a connection between low levels of vitamin D and risk of developing MS or having MS symptoms worsen, but those studies included patients with longstanding MS whose vitamin D levels could partly … Continue reading →

Published: Monday, 1/20/2014 - Updated: 30 seconds ago BY IGNAZIO MESSINA BLADE STAFF WRITER Sometimes when its David vs. Goliath, a teapot gets broken. Elaine Terman, owner of Elaines Tea Shoppe in West Toledo, has been embroiled for months in a battle with the city of Toledo about a sign a conflict that has raised the issue of municipal code enforcement versus the treatment of small businesses in a city striving to appear more business-friendly. At issue is a teapot-shaped sign Ms. Terman has placed on the grass between the sidewalk and the street in front of the tea shop at 3115 West Sylvania Ave. The city of Toledo is again harassing us about our teapot sign out front! Ms. Terman wrote in a letter posted on Facebook and reposted by dozens of customers. Ms. Terman moved her business from Sylvania Township back into Toledo in June. She had previously been in Toledo but spent nine years in the township. I was a little leery about moving back into Toledo because inspectors in Toledo versus Sylvania Township are a different story, she said. I started hearing from customers about how hard it was to spot the shop, Ms. Terman said, … Continue reading →

A TRULY groundbreaking event took place in Canterbury this week, as the first scoop of earth was dug from the site of a new multiple sclerosis support centre for Kent. The 1.5million Kent MS Centre had its turf-turning ceremony, performed by patron of the charity Frank Brake, on the site at Merton Lane, directly opposite the old and dilapidated centre at Canterbury Rugby Club. DIGGING DEEP: Frank Brake (centre) with supporters at the site of the new multiple sclerosis centre GIIS20140113A-004_C Canterbury. FIRST SPOIL. The first sod is dug at the site of the new Multiple Sclerosis site in Canterbury. Frank Brake, Patron of the Centre and fundraiser pound for pound digs the first soil. Hundreds of fundraisers, supporters and users of the centre turned out for the event, which was a culmination of 15 years of fundraising and planning to finally get to this stage. Mr Brake, of food empire Brake Bros, match-funded every penny that was raised after the first 300,000 was reached, and now 1.6million has been raised overall. Rentahandymanlocal is offering to work 5 days for the price of 4 up to the end of February. All materials are an extra cost. Contact: 07858 875425 Valid … Continue reading →

There is intense speculation about the real cause of her death that seems to have something to do with the hospital systems around the country and globe. The ICUs and ITUs of big and expensive super-specialty hospitals that provide expensive life-saving Medicare to their patients, using high-end exorbitantly expensive antibiotics, are fast turning into killing zones. Ms. Suchitra Sen's was not the first death of its kind in this hospital. There was yet another case of death just 20 days ago. A leading and highly respected Income Tax lawyer of Kolkata also breathed his last in the same hospital in exactly similar circumstances as Ms. Sen with minor variations here and there. He was admitted to the ITU in the beginning of December 2013 and he passed away 24 days later in the early morning hours after the same see-saw battle for life Ms. Suchitra Sen went through. The team of doctors in both the cases was also the same. According to the hospital sources, who may not come on record now, the cause of his death was the dreaded Super Bug about which the WHO has been issuing constant warnings to Indian hospitals and doctors. His family also confirms … Continue reading →

What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which causes demyelination of the brain and spinal cord nerve cells. When this occurs, axons (the parts of the nerve cells which conduct impulses to other cells), don't work as well. Myelin acts like insulation on electrical wires. As more areas or nerves are affected by this loss of myelin, patients develop symptoms because the impulses are diminished or lost. The specific symptom that someone experiences is related to the area of injury. In some cases, the axon of the nerve may be affected as well. As demyelination takes place, areas of inflammation and subsequent injury can be identified; these areas of injury are called lesions or plaques and are readily apparent on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. While multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disorder, the exact cause hasn't yet been found. There are many theories regarding the reason that people develop multiple sclerosis; these theories range from vitamin D deficiency to a viral infection. Even consuming too much salt is being looked at as possible cause of multiple sclerosis. However, these theories have not been proven. Multiple sclerosis is not a contagious condition and cannot be passed from … Continue reading →

A TRULY groundbreaking event took place in Canterbury this week, as the first scoop of earth was dug from the site of a new multiple sclerosis support centre for Kent. The 1.5million Kent MS Centre had its turf-turning ceremony, performed by patron of the charity Frank Brake, on the site at Merton Lane, directly opposite the old and dilapidated centre at Canterbury Rugby Club. DIGGING DEEP: Frank Brake (centre) with supporters at the site of the new multiple sclerosis centre GIIS20140113A-004_C Canterbury. FIRST SPOIL. The first sod is dug at the site of the new Multiple Sclerosis site in Canterbury. Frank Brake, Patron of the Centre and fundraiser pound for pound digs the first soil. Hundreds of fundraisers, supporters and users of the centre turned out for the event, which was a culmination of 15 years of fundraising and planning to finally get to this stage. Mr Brake, of food empire Brake Bros, match-funded every penny that was raised after the first 300,000 was reached, and now 1.6million has been raised overall. Come in store and design your own jewellery and we will give you 10% off the quoted price. Terms: 10% discount excludes purchase by interest free credit. Contact: … Continue reading →

Dunedin woman Debbie Green. Photo by Gregor Richardson. Ms Green (54) paid the travel and accommodation costs, and she feared others might not be able to afford to do the same. Her GP initially told her there was no treatment for a debilitating hand condition called Dupuytren's contracture. He said she had to wait until the fingers on the affected hand were twisted permanently at a 45-degree angle, and then she would probably receive surgery. Not satisfied, she searched online, and discovered the Waikato District Health Board performed low-level radiation treatment for the condition. It is not a cure - but a few X-ray sessions knocked the progression of the tissue tightening hand disease back by a decade or more and restored the use of her left hand. Previously, simple tasks such as driving and preparing food were painful - and it was only going to get worse. The treatment itself was free, but she paid about $2500 for accommodation and airfares for three trips to Hamilton in January, February, and April. She contacted the Otago Daily Times wanting to alert others to the existence of the treatment. Ms Green was astounded after ODT inquiries revealed the treatment had been … Continue reading →

Aurora Banner A PhD at 27? It is not out of the question for Katie Di Sebastiano. Ms Di Sebastiano, a University of Waterloo PhD student, who grew up in Newmarket and Aurora, is turning heads in the medical research world with her prostate cancer project. She was one of five students from across Canada who received a $40,000 graduate student award from Prostate Cancer Canada. Her research focuses on body changes that occur during prostate cancer treatment that can include weight gain and muscle loss. The award will allow her to focus on her work, she said, offering thanks to Prostate Cancer Canada and Constantine Karayannopoulos. Similar to many people, cancer touched Ms Di Sebastianos life when her mother was diagnosed while Ms Di Sebastiano was an undergraduate kinesiology student at McMaster University. Her mother is now a breast cancer survivor, Ms Di Sebastiano said. The Cardinal Carter Catholic High School alumnus thought she would pursue a career in physiotherapy, but realized she really loved the research aspect of her studies, which led her to pursue a graduate degree. See the article here: York Region student earns grant to study cancer … Continue reading →

A new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) recently received a thumbs down from the FDA, citing the need for additional testing. The trials reviewed for MS drug Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) need to provide "adequate and well-controlled" data showing that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks. Before approval is given, the federal watchdog is asking for new data from one or more active comparator trials with a new design and different mode of execution. Active comparator trails are studies that contain a group where active drugs are being administered to study patients. Lemtrada works by targeting specific immune cell proteins and reducing their inflammatory response in patients with MS who have relapsed. As inflammation is diminished, the immune system is rebalanced, which lessens the activity of MS disease. One of the advantages of the drug is that, due to its action, it is administered infrequently an initial 5-day course of infusion treatments is followed by a 3-day course given a year later. FDA decision will be appealedGenzyme, a fully owned subsidiary of Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) and the manufacturer of the drug, said thatit understood that the FDA's decision to reject Lemtrada was based on the design of the completed Phase 3 trials … Continue reading →