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.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Federal Focus - May 2010

Urge Congress to Extend Three Important Policies to Preserve Medicare and Medicaid Services
Congress is currently contemplating a means to extend three policies that are vitally important to the care of people living with MS-preventing the reduction in payments to doctors participating in Medicare, extending the Medicare therapy cap exceptions process and continuing assistance to states' Medicaid programs. Email your Member of Congress today and ask him/her to act swiftly to pass legislation to address these issues.

Approximately 40% of people living with MS depend on public health insurance programs, like Medicare and Medicaid. Therefore, it's important that Congress takes steps to assure that these programs remain viable and robust by ensuring that the number and quality of providers and services are maintained in both programs. Extending these three current policies is essential to protecting access to comprehensive care for people living with MS and other chronic diseases and disabilities. Take action by sending an email to your Senators and Representative today!

National Institutes of Health Approved New Stem Cell Lines
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved nine new human embryonic stem cell lines for federally funded research, joining four others that had an earlier approval revoked after President Obama took office. The additions bring the number of stem cell lines to 64 now eligible to be used in research using federal dollars. An additional 100 lines are listed by NIH as under review.

Following this announcement by the NIH, MS researchers released an international consensus on the future of stem cell transplantation research for people with MS. These guidelines were developed by an international panel of MS experts and are expected to help encourage more coordinated global research efforts and potentially quicker patient access to stem cell clinical trials. The consensus statement is especially timely, since small-scale trials of stem cells, such as adult mesenchymal stem cells (from bone marrow and other bodily tissues), are already underway for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Additional background information and the Society's position on stem cell research can be found under the "MS Research" heading on this webpage.



To keep future MS activism messages out of your junk folder, add the following address to your contacts or safe sender list: MSActionNetwork@nmss.org
Posted by Steve at Friday, May 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.