Current Treatments
BETASERON® (interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis

AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) is a 166 amino acid glycoprotein with a predicted molecular weight of approximately 22,500 daltons. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells into which the human interferon beta gene has been introduced. The amino acid sequence of AVONEX® is identical to that of natural human interferon beta.

COPAXONE is the brand name for glatiramer acetate (formerly known as copolymer-1). Glatiramer acetate, the active ingredient of COPAXONE, consists of the acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides, containing four naturally occurring amino acids: L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, and L-lysine with an average molar fraction of 0.141, 0.427, 0.095, and 0.338, respectively. The average molecular weight of glatiramer acetate is 5,000 – 9,000 daltons. Glatiramer acetate is identified by specific antibodies.

Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) is a purified 166 amino acid glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 22,500 daltons. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells into which the human interferon beta gene has been introduced. The amino acid sequence of Rebif® is identical to that of natural fibroblast derived human interferon beta. Natural interferon beta and interferon beta-1a (Rebif®) are glycosylated with each containing a single N-linked complex carbohydrate moiety.

Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody that affects the actions of the body's immune system. Monoclonal antibodies are made to target and destroy only certain cells in the body. This may help to protect healthy cells from damage. Tysabri is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. 		Gilenya™ is a new class of medication called a phingosine 1-phosphate receptormodulator, which is thought to act by retaining certain white blood cells (lympohcytes) in the lymph nodes, thereby preventing those cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system (CNS). Preventing the entry of these cells into the CNS reduces inflammatory damage to nerve cells.

Early Symptoms
The most common early symptoms of MS include:
* Tingling * Numbness
* Loss of balance
* Weakness in one or more limbs
* Blurred or double vision

Less common symptoms of MS may include
* Slurred speech
* Sudden onset of paralysis
* Lack of coordination
* Cognitive difficulties
Listed above, the early symptoms. I tend to be a poster child for these. The symptoms that occur later on are too numerous just to list. There will be a link included that will get you to a site where these symptoms are listed and explained. Keep in mind that someone may have some of these or many of these, there is no way to tell.
Multiple sclerosis statistics show that approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with this disease. The life expectancy for people with multiple sclerosis is nearly the same as for those without MS. Because of this, multiple sclerosis statistics place the annual cost of MS in the United States in the billions of dollars. MS is five times more prevalent in temperate climates -- such as those found in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe -- than in tropical regions. Furthermore, the age of 15 seems to be significant in terms of risk for developing the disease. Some studies indicate that a person moving from a high-risk (temperate) to a low-risk (tropical) area before the age of 15 tends to adopt the risk (in this case, low) of the new area and vice versa. Other studies suggest that people moving after age 15 maintain the risk of the area where they grew up.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

MS Awareness Week

MS Awareness Week 2010 LogoMove It During MS Awareness Week.

Mark your calendars and get ready to move it closer to a world free of MS. March 8-14, 2010 is MS Awareness Week and is a great opportunity to spread the word and raise awareness for MS.

So many ways to move it.
Step one: awareness.
Step two: action.
Step three: a world free of multiple sclerosis.


Activities in and around
MS Awareness Week:

March 5 Women on the Move Luncheon - Plymouth
March 6 Puzzle-a-thon
March 18 Savor the Flavors
March 26 Women on the Move Luncheon - Nashua

Chapter Calendar at a Glance
You can move it too.
Multiple sclerosis can stop people from moving forward in their lives. Join us and let's make sure it doesn't. No matter what you do, no matter how you do it, you'll keep all of us moving forward.

To find out ways to be a part of MS Awareness Week and to encourage others to move it too, check out the activities listed below, or contact the Central New England Chapter office, and ask for Steve Sookikian at 1-800-344-4867 or steve.sookikian@mam.nmss.org.

Here are just a few ways to be a part of MS Awareness Week, and encourage others to move it too:

* Download web banners and widgets for your social network pages
* Post your videos on YouTube from MS Awareness Week showing how you are moving it and encourage people to post there too! http://www.youtube.com/group/MSmoveit
* Share your story about how you are “moving it?
* Sign up to volunteer at an upcoming chapter event
* Form a team for a Bike MS, Walk MS, or Challenge Walk
* Email a legislator about an issue important to people with MS
* Tell five people it’s MS Awareness Week and ask them to tell five more people
* Support the Society — every donation moves us closer to a world free of MS
* Raise MS aWEARness by wearing orange; need something new? Visit http://www.msstoreipp.org/index.php.
* Visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/msawarenessweek every day during MS Awareness Week for new tips and ideas

Remember, Move it...
Move it, during MS Awareness Week.
It is the perfect time to join and help build the MS Movement.

Start Date: Monday, March 8, 2010
End Date: Monday, March 15, 2010
Posted by Steve at Thursday, January 14, 2010

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About Me

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North Grafton, Massachusetts, United States
Well-educated, disabled at this point with Multiple Sclerosis. I am very glad that I was able to do the things that I have been able to do over the years. had to change the picture, this one's more realistic.