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.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Federal Focus - February 2013

Take Action to Preserve Research Funding This week President Obama urged Congress to delay sequestration, which is set to take place March 1. Sequestration would impose across the board cuts to most government programs, including key research agencies/programs like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Take action now to preserve research funding! In 2011, a bipartisan group of Representatives and Senators was appointed to develop a detailed plan for long-term federal deficit reduction but since they failed to come to an agreement, sequestration was originally scheduled to take place January 2, 2013. Late last year, lawmakers punted the first scheduled implementation date of sequestration until March 2013 as part of the deal to avert the so-called ‘Fiscal Cliff’, in hopes of coming to a different agreement to address the federal deficit. With less than a month to go, Congress has not been able to agree on a strategy and the potential for sequestration to actually happen is becoming more likely by the day. The Society is partnering with Research!America and dozens of other groups to urge Congress to stop sequestration and the indeterminate cuts to research. A United for Medical Research study shows that up to 20,000 researchers could be impacted by sequestration. Cuts this deep will no doubt set our collective research efforts back in a measurable way! Our nation is facing growing health challenges and we must boost rather than slash investments in research to find new life-saving cures, treatments and prevention strategies. At a minimum, we should hold the line and keep the federal commitment at current levels. Please take action now and tell Congress to stop these cuts to research! Be a Digital MS Activist The MS Activist Network is over 70,000 strong. In 2012, MS activists sent tens of thousands of emails to Congress asking their support on a multitude of issues important to people with MS and their families. We will continue this type of advocacy this year, but wanted to provide MS activists with other exciting ways to engage. In the ever evolving world of social media, we urge you to become a digital MS activist! What does being a digital MS activist mean? Digital MS activists—like all MS activists—want to drive change and do so by amplifying their voice over social media. We’ve created this helpful website that has step-by-step instructions on how to get informed, Rise Up!, take action and recruit. It will teach you not only how to share your story and connect with other MS activists, but with elected officials who are in prime positions to drive change on a grand scale. We even have a special campaign around the Society’s upcoming Public Policy Conference, when over 300 MS activists will visit Capitol Hill to raise awareness about MS and urge support of our funding priorities. Not everyone can be there, but digital MS activists can participate virtually and help magnify our impact. Learn how to join and help shape the conversation today—we promise you, people will listen!
Posted by Steve at Saturday, February 09, 2013 0 comments
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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.