06-09-2012 03:47 A controversial approach to treating multiple sclerosis is now gaining widespread attention. Debilitating headaches led to more research, specifically to a novel procedure: Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency or CCSVI. Here is the original post: Controversial MS treatment has Connecticut link - Video … Continue reading →

Singapore, Sept 6, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Scientists from A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), together with clinical collaborators from London(1), discovered for the first time that children and young patients with chronic Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV carriers) do have a protective immune response, contrary to current belief, and hence can be more suitable treatment candidates than previously considered. This discovery by the team of scientists led by Professor Antonio Bertoletti, programme director and research director of the infection and immunity programme at SICS, could lead to a paradigm shift in the current treatment of patients with chronic HBV. The findings were published in Gastroenterology on 1st September. Current guidelines from international liver associations recommend delaying therapy until HBV carriers show clear signs of active liver disease, which generally appear after the age of 30(2). This is based on two assumptions. One, young patients are unable to react to treatment because they are immune-tolerant to the virus. This means that there is no protective immune response(3) in their body to help them get rid of the virus, and therefore, they will not run the risk of liver damage or inflammation. Two, HBV infection is largely harmless in … Continue reading →

The ACT opposition has accused the government of putting a ''photo opportunity' at the Canberra Hospital ahead of patient treatment. Some patient appointments for radiation therapy at the hospital were rescheduled to a different time of day last month when Chief Minister Katy Gallagher officially launched a new linear accelerator device used to treat cancer. The government said yesterday the date of the launch had been changed at short notice because of the no-confidence motion moved by the Liberals against Ms Gallagher in the Assembly and there had been no intention to inconvenience patients. A Health Directorate spokesman said some appointments had been moved to a different time to protect patient privacy when the media and other visitors attended the launch on August 21. Advertisement Opposition health spokesman Jeremy Hanson said the rescheduling of patient appointments was disgusting and Ms Gallagher should take responsibility for what had occurred. ''I think it's actually disgraceful that she has prioritised her photo op over the cancer patients who have been disrupted by this,'' he said. Mr Hanson said he had spoken with a patient whose appointment time for radiation treatment had been changed to accommodate the ministerial visit to the hospital. The patient … Continue reading →

NORTHFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A controversial approach to treating multiple sclerosis is now gaining widespread attention. And a small group of Connecticut women diagnosed with MS had a part in it. Jennine Kelley has multiple sclerosis, an often disabling chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. "I started to lose the ability to speak clearly and then I started to lose the ability to use my right hand," Kelley said. Debilitating headaches led to more research, specifically to a novel procedure: Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency or CCSVI. And Joan Beal says, "I wrote about it online. And then other people found out about it." Beal's husband has MS and underwent CCSVI, which was first performed overseas. It gets blood flowing to the brain by using a balloon to open blocked jugular veins. Beal explains, "if you have slowed blood flow going through your brain, you're going to suffer for it." MS symptoms like heat fatigue disappeared. That convinced Kelley to follow suit. Kelley says her doctor, "found both my jugular veins had stenosis on both sides. And then where he found the stenosis, he ballooned it open. Since I had the procedure, I haven't had the headaches." Since … Continue reading →