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, July 1, 2011

FINAL REQUEST: Invitation to Participate in Housing Needs Survey

OUR HOUSING SURVEY WILL CLOSE ON JULY 15TH! IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE SURVEY EITHER ON LINE OR HARD COPY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE. PLEASE DO NOT COMPLETE IT A SECOND TIME. If you’d still like to participate, there is still some time left. You may access the survey questions online at the link below or you may request a hard copy by responding to this email.

Dear Friend of the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter:

We are very excited to announce that we are beginning a movement to answer your needs for accessible independent housing. As you are aware, we take pride in listening to your concerns and then work diligently for you, our friends who have MS. The awareness of these needs has led the Chapter to partner with other interested organizations and to explore the development of housing alternatives.

To learn more about the needs of people who live with MS everyday, we have developed a survey and we ask for your participation. This will add to our understanding of issues that have been reported in previous surveys that you and others have completed. Your answers will provide us with information about the many needs and desires regarding appropriate housing arrangements for people who are disabled from the effects of MS. Your input is valuable and we look forward to tabulating the results and sharing it with funding resources, government agencies and partnering organizations in moving toward our goal of providing housing opportunities.

Please know that this survey is confidential and at this time we cannot guarantee housing. This is our first step in assessing the housing needs of people who live with MS of all income levels. This information is absolutely crucial in our efforts to influence state and federal funding sources to help create housing.

Certainly, as the Chapter moves forward with any housing plans, we will contact those that have completed this survey. You may access the survey via the following link:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/MAMHousingSurvey

The deadline for participation is JULY 15, 2011. If you prefer, we can send you a hard copy of the survey to complete and return via US Mail. Please call me to receive the printed version or if you have any questions. Thank you for taking the time to help us to collect the information we need about the housing needs of people with MS.

Sincerely,

Linda R. Guiod, RN, MSSMC
National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter
101 A First Ave.
Waltham, MA 02451
781.693.5124
Posted by Steve at Friday, July 01, 2011

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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.