MS in the Media
This is an archive of news and feature stories from the internet that may be of interest to people in the UK.
These stories are transcripts from the original sources (indicated on each page) and appear as published. They have not been edited by the MS Trust and views expressed are those of the authors or originating journal. The MS Trust does not endorse their content nor any claims made in them.
Stories are held on these pages for three months.
If you have any comment on the range or type of stories collected here, please contact the MS Trust.
Recent news stories
Medicinal cannabis review highlights dilemmas facing healthcare professionals
02 September 2010
Nurses have a responsibility to respect and support patients who use cannabis for medicinal purposes, but must stay within the law and follow professional guidance at all times, according to a research review in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer attempted to scale Ben Nevis
01 September 2010
A woman with multiple sclerosis who attempted to reach the peak of Ben Nevis in a wheelchair has vowed to take on the mountain again - after being thwarted by a dead battery.
Most neurologists plan to prescribe oral multiple sclerosis drugs, but will proceed with caution
01 September 2010
Study indicates that neurologists' apprehension regarding side effects won't stop them from prescribing new oral MS drugs, but concerns will likely relegate their use to second- or third-line therapy
Health experts warn of "stem cell tourism" dangers
01 September 2010
Thousands of people are putting their health and life savings at risk to travel to private clinics around the world for unproven and potentially dangerous stem cell treatments, British experts said on Tuesday.
Stem cell firms defend record after criticism
01 September 2010
Cell therapy companies in China and Germany who were criticized by British experts warning of the dangers of "stem cell tourism" defended themselves on Wednesday, saying their safety records were good.
JK Rowling gives £10m for Edinburgh MS centre
31 August 2010
Author JK Rowling has donated £10m to the University of Edinburgh to set up a multiple sclerosis research clinic.
New role for pharmacists to aid patients with long-term conditions
31 August 2010
The role of pharmacists in the treatment of patients will be increased under a new care scheme launched by [Scottish] Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.
Multiple sclerosis activity changes with the seasons
31 August 2010
New research shows that multiple sclerosis (MS) activity can increase during spring and summer months. The research is published in the August 31, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
[Canadian] Health agency dampens MS patients' hopes by rejecting clinical trials
31 August 2010
The federal agency that funds health-care research says it is too soon to begin clinical trials on a contentious new treatment for multiple sclerosis, deflating the hopes of many patients who want to believe it will end their suffering.
Cannabis for nerve pain studied
31 August 2010
"Smoking cannabis from a pipe can significantly reduce chronic pain in patients with damaged nerves," reported the BBC. It added that improvements in sleep and anxiety were seen.
Teriflunomide significantly reduced annualized relapse rate and was well tolerated in MS patients
30 August 2010
First results from the TEMSO phase III trial to be presented during the ECTRIMS congress in October 2010.
Multiple sclerosis changes with the seasons
30 August 2010
MRI-detected brain lesions more common in spring, summer, study finds.
Cannabis may relieve chronic nerve pain
30 August 2010
Smoking cannabis from a pipe can significantly reduce chronic pain in patients with damaged nerves, a study suggests.
Study pinpoints factors that may contribute to faster progression to secondary progressive MS
30 August 2010
In a study of over 5,000 people with MS, researchers pinpointed motor symptoms at onset (such as muscle stiffness known as spasticity) and male gender as factors associated with a faster progression from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary-progressive MS.
Multiple sclerosis program
27 August 2010
A specialty care management program for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may improve medication compliance and reduce both MS-related hospitalizations and MS-related medical costs, though total costs may still increase over time, according to research published in the August issue of Multiple Sclerosis.
MS trials not on horizon
26 August 2010
Saskatoon researcher Dr Katherine Knox says she is not immediately pursuing clinical trials of the "liberation treatment" for multiple sclerosis, but the provincial health minister says the government still hopes to see studies start within the next year.
Disability benefit claimants asked for help with survey
25 August 2010
The MS Society is calling for people claiming disability benefit to take part in a new survey.
Researcher cautions trial for MS 'liberation' therapy years away
25 August 2010
Saskatoon researcher Dr Katherine Knox urged multiple sclerosis patients to have patience Wednesday, as a clinical trial of the so-called "liberation treatment" is years down the road, despite promised funding from the Saskatchewan government.
Northern Neurological Alliance launches website for patients with neurological conditions
25 August 2010
The North East Neurological Partnership has launched a new website to support people living with neurological conditions.
Vitamin D found to influence over 200 genes, highlighting links to disease
24 August 2010
The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in research published today.
Preliminary data in support of investigational anti-JCV antibody assay published
24 August 2010
Clinical studies underway to further evaluate assay's potential to stratify risk in Tysabri-treated patients
Genetic effects of vitamin D studied
24 August 2010
"Stocking up on vitamin D supplements and enjoying the summer sun could cut the risk of a host of diseases," reported the Daily Mail.
MS and arthritis may be linked to lack of sun, say scientists
23 August 2010
Vitamin D found to exert an influence over genes associated with certain diseases more common in the northern hemisphere.
New research may impact treatment of MS
20 August 2010
The removal of PTP-PEST can prevent overactive immune responses and could eventually help treat autoimmune diseases.
No respite
19 August 2010
At one fell swoop, the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society is set to close four superb centres that give more than 1,300 people a year an enjoyable break and their carers a little time off.
Care Quality Commission publishes NHS guide
19 August 2010
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a leaflet which informs patients, their carers and families, what they can expect from the new essential standards of quality and safety.
Multiple sclerosis charity wins access road appeal
18 August 2010
A charity building a multiple sclerosis therapy centre in Bradley Stoke has won its appeal to build an access route to the site.
Five more cases of brain infection in Tysabri patients
18 August 2010
Biogen Idec Inc disclosed five more cases of a rare brain infection in multiple sclerosis patients on Tysabri, which it sells with Elan Corp bringing the total number of cases to 63 as of Aug 4.
NHS told to plan for new drugs
17 August 2010
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has issued an early warning to NHS organisations about new medicines for which, it says, policy decisions concerning provision should be made ahead of the publication of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Call for 'sunshine vitamin' in milk to help beat cancer
16 August 2010
Milk could be fortified with vitamin D to strengthen bones and prevent heart disease and cancer.
Team carry Cardiff man up Snowdon in his wheelchair
16 August 2010
A former hill walker with multiple sclerosis has been carried in his wheelchair up and down Snowdon, Wales' highest mountain
Leeds hospital beds face axe
13 August 2010
Inpatient beds could be reduced by a third and more treatments offered in people's homes as part of an overhaul of community neurology services at a Leeds hospital.
Social media drives MS controversy
11 August 2010
A controversial treatment that promises relief from the daily torment of multiple sclerosis has created a deep rift between its proponents and those who say it doesn't work.
MS treatment wait for Scarborough couple
10 August 2010
A North Yorkshire couple are facing an anxious wait to discover whether life-saving treatment for multiple sclerosis will be made available on the NHS.
Consultation on guidance about definition of disability in Equality Act 2010
09 August 2010
The Equality Act 2010 is a new piece of legislation that will replace the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
Science may prove angioplasty technique helpful in treating MS
09 August 2010
Multiple sclerosis occupies a particularly terrifying niche among chronic, disabling diseases [writes Dr David Katz].
Levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain controlled by newly discovered mechanism
09 August 2010
A newly discovered molecular mechanism helps control the amount and effectiveness of a substance that mimics an active ingredient in marijuana, but that is produced by the body's own nerve cells.
FDA advisory committee unanimously recommends approval of investigational treatment FTY720 to treat relapsing remitting MS
07 August 2010
An advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended approval of FTY720 (fingolimod) for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis risk and severity linked to OAS1 genotype
06 August 2010
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to carry the AA variant of the oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) gene than people without this disease, and having the GG genotype is associated with fewer relapses and less disease activity among MS patients undergoing beta interferon therapy.
The effect of microvascular decompression in patients with multiple sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia
05 August 2010
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be caused by demyelinating plaques within the nerve root entry zone, the trigeminal nucleus, or the trigeminal tracts.
Prescription for the right health cover
05 August 2010
As the National Health Service braces itself for cuts, we look at the cost - and the advantages - of private medical insurance.
Patients denied cannabis spray
05 August 2010
A cannabis-based drug that may relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis will be denied to Calderdale patients.
Critical studies will not dissuade province from funding [CCSVI] research
05 August 2010
Premier Brad Wall says he stands by his [Saskatchewan] government's stated willingness to fund clinical trials of a controversial new therapy for people with multiple sclerosis, even as two recent studies from Europe raise doubts about the theory behind the so-called "liberation" procedure.
The direct approach: the ultimate in personal health budgets
05 August 2010
Graduate financial management trainee Lucy Jones, on secondment to the Department of Health, explains why she is convinced giving patients budgets is the best way to put them in control of the services they receive.
Funding cut for Leamington Spa MS respite centre
04 August 2010
Trustees and users of a Warwickshire respite care centre for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are reeling at news it will close next year unless a buyer is found.
Vascular MS theory takes another hit
03 August 2010
The controversial theory that multiple sclerosis is caused by obstructed craniocervical veins - and that angioplasty might help - once again failed to stand up to another case-control study.
How Jeff's pub pals made his wheels a reality
03 August 2010
A multiple sclerosis sufferer has been handed a new specialist wheelchair after more than a year of fundraising and support from a whole community.
The wheels come off Sally's Ben Nevis bid
03 August 2010
An Edinburgh woman's bid to become the first wheelchair user to climb Britain's highest mountain unaided has had a rocky set-back.
New book from Judy Graham - Managing Multiple Sclerosis Naturally
03 August 2010
Judy Graham has written a completely updated book on multiple sclerosis called Managing Multiple Sclerosis Naturally. The line she takes is that - with lifestyle changes - MS can be controlled.
New studies question vascular multiple sclerosis hypothesis and treatment
02 August 2010
Conclude blood flow insufficiency not found to contribute to MS development.
Multiple sclerosis: antihypertensive drug ameliorates inflammation in the brain
30 July 2010
Researchers in Heidelberg and Stanford have discovered a new signalling pathway of brain cells that explains how widely used antihypertensive drugs could keep inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) in check.
Store giant HMV under fire over disabled access
30 July 2010
A music-lover is taking on entertainment giant HMV because he says it is discriminating against disabled people. Martin Long, who has multiple sclerosis, says the firm's store in Commercial Road, Portsmouth, is letting disabled people down by putting DVDs and CDs on the second floor.
Scientists use noses to help disabled write, surf, move
29 July 2010
Severely disabled people may soon be able to use their noses to write, drive a wheelchair or surf the Internet, thanks to a device developed and tested by doctors in Israel.
New benefits system forces three-quarters of claimants back to work
28 July 2010
A controversial new system for assessing whether the sick and disabled are capable of working has seen more than three-quarters of benefit claimants either told to get a job or abandoning their claim.
The Duchess of Cornwall joins the Red Wheelies as honourary member
28 July 2010
Next time the Red Wheelies mobility scooter display team line up for a performance, it might be worth checking their faces carefully.
MS patient's plea for treatment
28 July 2010
Ilfracombe MS sufferer Jayne Morrow and husband Dave are hoping a pioneering new treatment will help ease her condition.
Dealing with revolts by members, incorporation and payment of trustees
27 July 2010
Tony Kennan, chair of the MS Society, tells Andy Ricketts you have to meet the challenges head-on.
Anti-closure protesters set to target York Multiple Scleroris Society's AGM
27 July 2010
Protests against the threat of closure for a York respite care centre are set to be made at the Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual general meeting.
Labour urges debate into future of MS respite home
27 July 2010
Labour is pressing for a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the future of Leuchie House, the respite home for multiple sclerosis sufferers in East Lothian.
Church supports stem cell project
26 July 2010
Research being carried out in Bristol into the medical use of adult stem cells to help multiple sclerosis sufferers is being funded by the Catholic Church.
University conference to study brain cells
22 July 2010
Neuro-scientists from around the world are gathering at the University of Portsmouth this week.
Scottish vitamin D summit captures international attention
21 July 2010
Shine on Scotland campaigners and the MS Society Scotland held productive talks with the Scottish Government yesterday as planning continues for the Scottish Summit on Vitamin D and MS which will take place in Glasgow in September.
First step to sustainable care and support system
20 July 2010
The first step towards creating a sustainable care and support system for all adults, that puts individuals and their families at its heart, was unveiled today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
O2 Health launches Wii fit-style trials
20 July 2010
NHS East Berkshire is to trial technology to allow patients to carry out rehabilitation exercises at home without needing to see a physiotherapist, as part of the launch of O2 Health.
NHS to collect raft of data on quality of care: Department of Health
20 July 2010
The NHS is to be ordered to collect a raft of new measures on the quality of patient care just as the new Coalition government abolishes targets, it has been announced.
Specialists explore options for treating natalizumab-associated PML
20 July 2010
A new case report suggests that natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) may be successfully treated in a patient with multiple sclerosis, if caught early.
New online service to improve the information given to patients
20 July 2010
A new on-line Information Prescriptions Service is now available to help ensure that patients get the information they need, when they need it most.
Liberating the NHS: Improving outcomes for patients
19 July 2010
Detailed proposals for how the NHS will improve healthcare outcomes for patients and judge its success were set out in a public consultation by the Department of Health today.
Blow for MS sufferers as plan for centre fails
19 July 2010
Plans for a multiple sclerosis centre in Bradley Stoke [Bristol] have stalled after planners turned down an application for access to the site.
Of bugs and brains: Researchers discover that gut bacteria affect multiple sclerosis
19 July 2010
Biologists at the California Institute of Technology have demonstrated a connection between multiple sclerosis (MS) - an autoimmune disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord - and gut bacteria.
New guide to UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
19 July 2010
Commission seeks assurance from Government that the treaty will be fully implemented.
NHS 'should focus on outcome goals'
19 July 2010
The Government has set out how NHS standards are likely to be measured in future, with a focus on how well treatments and care are working for patients.
British researchers create world's first robotic legs
16 July 2010
Two Britons living in New Zealand have built a pair of bionic legs that allow paraplegics to walk again.
Three more PML brain infections, one more death in Tysabri users
15 July 2010
Biogen Idec Inc. disclosed three more cases of a rare brain infection in multiple sclerosis patients on Tysabri, which it sells with Elan Corp., bringing the total number of cases to 58 as of July 2.
Thousands back Leuchie
15 July 2010
The bid to save Leuchie House is gathering momentum as close to 3,000 people have pledged their support to keep the MS facility open.
Millions of books get digitized for the disabled
14 July 2010
For those who are blind, dyslexic or have diseases like multiple sclerosis and have difficulty turning book pages, reading the latest best seller just got easier.
Cannabinoids for the management of neuropathic pain: review of clinical effectiveness
14 July 2010
The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) has published a review of clinical and cost effectiveness on the use of cannabinoids for the management of neuropathic pain.
Health white paper: the details
13 July 2010
A radical new vision for the health service has been laid out by ministers effecting all areas of the NHS and healthcare.
Another day, another accent for NZ woman
13 July 2010
An Invercargill woman believes she has foreign accent syndrome - a rare disorder which has changed her New Zealand accent to a British one.
Clinical trials of parasitic worms to treat MS, related to the "hygiene hypothesis"
13 July 2010
At least two small clinical trials are currently underway - one supported with funding from the National MS Society - to test the idea that infection with intestinal parasites may reduce immune attacks in MS.
NHS to adopt zero tolerance approach to pressure ulcers
13 July 2010
Pressure ulcers can cause serious pain and severe harm to patients and cost the NHS billions of pounds each year to treat. Yet in the majority of cases they can be prevented if simple measures were followed.
Health white paper - what nurses need to know
13 July 2010
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has set out his blueprint for the future of the NHS in a white paper.
Can a controversial new treatment for multiple sclerosis offer relief?
12 July 2010
A new treatment is giving hope to MS sufferers such as Mark Walker. So why can't he get it in Britain? Liz Hunt reports.
NHS shake-up grants new powers to doctors and patients
12 July 2010
Patients and family doctors are to be given a central role in the NHS as the Government unveiled plans for the biggest NHS shake-up in decades.
Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS
12 July 2010
Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley today set out the Government's ambitious plans to reform the NHS during this Parliament and for the long-term.
Sleep disorders common in multiple sclerosis
09 July 2010
Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may exacerbate fatigue associated with the condition, according to a study presented here at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 24th Annual Conference and the Third Joint Meeting of Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.
Hippocampal atrophy, high cortisol found in depressed MS patients
09 July 2010
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have a lifetime depression risk as high as 50%, and new imaging studies suggest that the cause may be both physical and psychological.
USF receives patent for technology to improve treatment for neurodegenerative diseases
08 July 2010
Umbilical cord blood cells and mannitol pass the blood-brain barrier.
MS patient takes up drag racing after drug changes life
07 July 2010
A multiple sclerosis sufferer told today how her life was turned around after a London hospital gave her a "miracle" drug.
New website about work and disability
07 July 2010
The UK MS Society has worked with other organisations to create Worklife, a website for people with long-term health conditions who want to stay in work, for their employers and for health professionals.
Natalizumab improves language processing in patients with multiple sclerosis
07 July 2010
Treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri) leads to improved language processing and retrieval of newly learned verbal material in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research presented here at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 24th Annual Conference and the Third Joint Meeting of Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.
Interim results of ofatumumab phase II study in multiple sclerosis
06 July 2010
Genmab announces interim results from a Phase II study of ofatumumab in RRMS.
UB neurosurgeons experimenting with MS procedures
06 July 2010
Researchers at the University at Buffalo Neurosurgery Department began testing a new procedure last week for treating multiple sclerosis.
Movement therapies may reduce chronic pain
05 July 2010
Yoga, tai chi, qigong and other exercises appear to help people suffering from cancer, arthritis, fybromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and other problems.
Don't ask Dr Google: How the worryingly poor online medical advice could affect your health
04 July 2010
Soaring numbers of patients who consult 'Dr Google' about their injuries may be getting diagnoses which are wrong or incomplete, a new report revealed today.
New disability benefits system 'needs radical change or 2.5m incapacity claimants will remain unemployed'
03 July 2010
The architect of a new benefits system has warned radical changes must be made to avert serious problems for vulnerable people.
Pregnant women 'must take vitamin D supplements'
03 July 2010
Pregnant women in the UK should be told to routinely take vitamin D supplements, researchers say.
Clarification re media comment on Sativex
02 July 2010
In response to a story in a regional UK media outlet yesterday, GW wishes to make the following clarification:
Simple eye test measures damage from multiple sclerosis
01 July 2010
A quick, painless eye measurement shows promise as a way to diagnose multiple sclerosis in its very early stages, and to track the effectiveness of treatments, researchers from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found in a multicentre study.
Cancer drug to treat arthritis, multiple sclerosis
01 July 2010
A drug already available for treating cancer could also help in the treatment of a range of inflammatory diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus, say scientists.
MS sufferers in the south refused cannabis drug
01 July 2010
Doctors across southern England have been told not to prescribe a new cannabis-based drug developed for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Brain atrophy responsible for depression in people battling multiple sclerosis
01 July 2010
Study finds hippocampus is affected by imbalance in neuroendocrine system.
Clinical trial testing new multiple sclerosis treatment to launch in Buffalo
29 June 2010
Researchers at the University at Buffalo, led by the Department of Neurosurgery, will embark on a landmark prospective randomized double-blinded study to test the safety and efficacy of interventional endovascular therapy - dubbed "liberation treatment" - on MS symptoms and progression.
Patients free to buy their care with NHS money
29 June 2010
Patients are set to be given money by the NHS to spend on healthcare services of their choice.
More power to the patient
29 June 2010
Patients will be offered more choice and control over their healthcare with the launch of the first direct payment scheme, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow announced today.
Welfare crackdown begins with drive to reduce incapacity benefit claims
28 June 2010
Coalition's plans include taking people off higher rate of benefits if tests reveal they are fit to do some work.
MS patients create own informal experiment, going in droves for unproven therapy
28 June 2010
Scores, even hundreds of people with multiple sclerosis have in the last half-year or so undergone a procedure many hope will cure or at least improve their disease symptoms.
Sixty-two year old chemotherapy treatment shows promising results on progressive multiple sclerosis patients
28 June 2010
Study shows ITMTX may have beneficial role in progressive forms of MS.
Margarine, processed meats and other foods can increase the risk of multiple sclerosis
27 June 2010
Increased production of certain types of industrially produced foods - specifically of margarine, processed meat and sausage, jam and marmalade, chocolate and chocolate confectionary, sugar confectionary and beer - correlates statistically with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Protesters hold Woodlands respite care centre demo
25 June 2010
A demonstration has been held by protesters angry at the possible closure of the area's only respite centre for people with multiple sclerosis.
MS sufferer appeals for help as council ditch her stairlift pleas
25 June 2010
A desperate mum suffering from agonising multiple sclerosis this week claimed East Ayrshire Council is refusing to carry out essential improvements at her house because social workers are convinced her condition will only get worse.
Anger at possible Helen Ley closure
24 June 2010
Outrage has been expressed over the threat of closure to Helen Ley Care Centre in Leamington.
Psychological therapies offered across the NHS
23 June 2010
Psychological therapies will continue to be rolled out across the NHS in the coming year Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.
MS treatment in final clinical trial stage
23 June 2010
Abbott Laboratories and its Massachusetts biotech partner have launched a final-stage clinical trial of their experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis.
MS drug's epic journey from folklore to lab
22 June 2010
Research into ancient Chinese fungus that propagates inside insects yields potential relief for multiple sclerosis.
Overheating a multiple sclerosis threat
22 June 2010
Summer heat can cause the recurrence of MS symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis, a US neurologist warns.
Direct coping and planning results in less multiple sclerosis flare-ups than dealing with stress on an emotional level
22 June 2010
Multiple sclerosis patients who directly confronted the stress of the Second Lebanon War suffered fewer attacks than those who chose to cope with the situation by focusing on feelings.
Cannabis spray for MS: Controversial medicine that relieves pain gets go-ahead
22 June 2010
The first cannabis-based medicine has been given the go-ahead for use in Britain by MS sufferers.
ENS 2010: Multiple sclerosis, migraine and dementia: new insights from neuroimaging
22 June 2010
Innovative imaging techniques such as functional MRI or diffusion tensor imaging occupy an important place in modern neurology today.
Campaign to save MS Society respite centres
22 June 2010
Petition calls for reversal of decision to close four care homes.
MS sufferers welcome first licensed cannabis-based drug
22 June 2010
The first licensed medical drug containing whole cannabis plant extracts has been launched to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Cannabis-based prescription drug approved to treat MS
21 June 2010
A cannabis-based drug which can be taken by multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers has been approved for use in the UK.
Cannabis-derived drug is launched in UK
21 June 2010
A drug manufactured from cannabis went on sale in the UK Monday as a treatment for symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Latest MS drug contains cannabis
21 June 2010
The first licensed medical drug containing whole cannabis plant extracts has been launched to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
GW Pharmaceuticals on a high after multiple sclerosis medicine Sativex wins approval
20 June 2010
Even if you were to track down the location and break into the computer-controlled greenhouse, the cannabis plants you would find at GW Pharmaceuticals' top-secret farm would be unlikely to give you the high you were hoping for.
MS sufferer's 'despair' at centre closure
19 June 2010
A woman with severe multiple sclerosis said closing the Helen Ley Care Centre will be a "death sentence for many".
Minister recognises carers' contribution
18 June 2010
Care services minister Paul Burstow has spoken of the outstanding contribution that carers make to society during a visit to a Lambeth GP practice.
Why certain diseases go into remission during pregnancy
18 June 2010
During pregnancy, many women experience remission of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and uveitis. Now, scientists have described a biological mechanism responsible for changes in the immune system that helps to explain the remission.
Britain approves GW Pharma's cannabis drug Sativex
18 June 2010
GW Pharmaceuticals Plc's cannabis-derived medicine Sativex has been approved in Britain for treating spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis, in a landmark decision for the small drugmaker.
Recommendations for clinical use of data on neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta therapy in MS
18 June 2010
A panel of experts met in June 2009 to review and discuss available data on neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta therapy (NAbs) and their practical consequences for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Call to Prime Minister David Cameron over Woodlands Respite Care Home closure
18 June 2010
A direct appeal could be made to new Prime Minister David Cameron to try to save a threatened "lifeline" respite centre in York.
Biogen reports six new PML cases with Tysabri
17 June 2010
Six more patients taking Biogen Idec Inc's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri have developed a potentially deadly brain infection known as PML, the company said.
Stem cell therapy 'damage' seen in kidney disease case
17 June 2010
A new complication has been seen in a patient with kidney disease who received stem cell therapy, scientists have warned.
New theory on CCSVI and MS needs further study, experts say
17 June 2010
A controversial new theory suggests reduced blood flow in the azygous and internal jugular veins may be associated with MS, possibly by causing an iron overload in the brain and spinal cord.
Test could detect MS nine years in advance
16 June 2010
A simple blood test that can predict multiple sclerosis up to nine years before symptoms appear is being developed by scientists.
Labour leader in bid to save Lothians MS respite centre
16 June 2010
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray is seeking an urgent meeting with health secretary Nicola Sturgeon in a bid to save Scotland's only respite home for people with multiple sclerosis.
Getting on with life with multiple sclerosis
16 June 2010
Looking back now, Carol Galvin said there were pointers that something wasn't quite right back in 2005.
Anger over closure of Helen Ley Care Centre for MS patients
16 June 2010
A care centre for Coventry and Warwickshire people with severe multiple sclerosis is to be closed.
Carers require a bit of looking after too
15 June 2010
Caring for a relative is a job like no other. For a start most people don't recognise it as a real job in itself, it's just something you willingly do for a loved one, no matter the impact it has on your life.
Enrollment of first patient in phase II BG-12 combination trial in multiple sclerosis
15 June 2010
EXPLORE trial to evaluate oral BG-12 as combination therapy for patients who continue to experience disease progression despite ongoing treatment
Start opening veins for MS patients, MDs say
15 June 2010
People with multiple sclerosis should be able to have surgery on blocked neck veins as part of a clinical trial, says the Italian doctor who pioneered what has become known as the liberation therapy.
Doubts over vein blockages in people with MS
14 June 2010
Serious doubts have been cast over whether a vein disorder, purported to cause MS and which was uncovered last year, actually exists.
Isolation takes toll on carers
14 June 2010
Nearly three-quarters of people in the East of England looking after an ill, frail or disabled loved one do not have a life outside of caring, according to research.
Carers 'get no respite from role'
14 June 2010
Eighty per cent of people in Northern Ireland looking after an ill, frail or disabled loved one do not have a life outside of their caring role, new research has suggested.
Study adds fuel to debate over MS and blocked veins
14 June 2010
A study published online will add to the debate raging among the MS patient and research community. The paper, published in the Annals of Neurology, says researchers found no evidence that blockages in veins play a significant role in MS.
Active mind may protect MS patients
14 June 2010
Intellectual enrichment helped preserve memory and learning in multiple sclerosis patients, study says.
Pre-empting multiple sclerosis
13 June 2010
A breakthrough finding from Israel may lead to earlier diagnosis, more effective intervention, and perhaps even a cure for the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis.
Virus infection may trigger unusual immune cells to attack nerves in multiple sclerosis
11 June 2010
A virus infection can incite the body to attack its own nerve tissue by activating unusual, disease-fighting cells with receptors for both viral and nerve proteins.
Are stem cell tourists being swindled?
11 June 2010
Maybe, maybe not. According to the July edition of the publication Popular Science and its online companion site PopSci.com, desperate US patients are headed offshore for experimental stem cell therapies, referred to as stem cell tourism.
Zivadinov's update on chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in multiple sclerosis
11 June 2010
Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD provides a thoughtful update on the current status of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) research in multiple sclerosis.
Natalizumab an alternative for those in whom other MS treatments have failed
11 June 2010
A new study suggests that patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in whom previous treatment regimens have failed remain stable or show improvement when switched to treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri).
Over $2.4 million committed to support seven initial CCSVI grants to determine the role of CCSVI (venous insufficiency) in MS disease process
11 June 2010
Over $2.4 million has been committed by the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada to support seven new research projects focusing on the role of CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS.
FDA panel endorses first oral drug for multiple sclerosis [USA]
10 June 2010
But concerns about side effects led experts to vote for post-market study of lower-dose pill.
MS Society to give up respite sites
10 June 2010
Three respite care centres in England for people with multiple sclerosis will no longer be run by the MS Society under plans by the charity.
MS respite care centre to close
10 June 2010
Scotland's only respite care centre for people with multiple sclerosis is to close later this year.
FDA panel: Novartis sclerosis drug safe, effective [USA]
10 June 2010
Federal health experts [in the USA] said Thursday a first-of-a-kind multiple sclerosis drug from Novartis is safe and effective for controlling tremors, concentration problems and other symptoms of the debilitating disease.
Vitamin D exposure in childhood linked to age at onset of MS
10 June 2010
Levels of childhood sun exposure and the presence or absence of cod liver oil supplements predict age at onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests.
Vitamin D linked to poor learning performance in patients with MS
09 June 2010
A new study shows that serum vitamin D deficiency is associated with poor learning performance among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Merck seeking approval for MS pill
08 June 2010
The battle to win US approval for the first multiple sclerosis (MS) pill has been stepped up after German firm Merck resubmitted a request for regulatory approval for its cladribine drug.
FDA staffers express safety concerns over Novartis MS pill
08 June 2010
Documents released ahead of a US regulatory panel meeting on Thursday suggest that Novartis may have a tricky time in getting a recommendation for approval of its eagerly-anticipated oral multiple sclerosis treatment Gilenia.
Cancer drug shuts down MS activity
08 June 2010
Cladribine, an oral drug already marketed for hematologic cancers under the trade name Leustatin, was superior to placebo in reducing progression and other signs of MS disease activity, researchers here reported [CMSC-ACTRIMS].
Physical therapy improves urinary symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis
08 June 2010
A physical therapy regimen improves both urinary incontinence and urinary retention in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study presented here at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 24th Annual Conference and the Third Joint Meeting of Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.
Cyclic methylprednisolone doesn't add to interferon-beta treatment in relapsing-remitting MS
08 June 2010
Pulsed monthly methylprednisolone has no effect on disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who are being treated with interferon beta-1a, according to a double-blind controlled trial.
DTB editorial questions NICE neuropathic pain guideline recommending pregabalin
08 June 2010
This editorial in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) questions the recommendation in the recent guideline on neuropathic pain from NICE that clinicians should "offer oral amitriptyline or pregabalin as first-line treatment."
Study supports long-term safety profile of Betaferon for multiple sclerosis over 16 years
08 June 2010
Results from the 16-year follow-up to the pivotal Betaferon (interferon-beta-1b) trial, published today in the journal Neurology, provide the longest and most complete patient follow-up data and support the long-term safety profile of Betaferon in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Simple eye test measures damage from multiple sclerosis
07 June 2010
A quick, painless eye measurement shows promise as a way to diagnose multiple sclerosis in its very early stages, and to track the effectiveness of treatments, researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a multicenter study.
Protein lets brain repair damage from multiple sclerosis, other disorders
07 June 2010
A protein that helps build the brain in infants and children may aid efforts to restore damage from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found.
Intermittent exercise helps multiple sclerosis patients
07 June 2010
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are able to exercise longer when they take intermittent rest breaks, according to a new study presented here at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers 24th Annual Conference and the Third Joint Meeting of Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.
Postpartum steroid reduces relapses
07 June 2010
A single dose of methylprednisolone given to new mothers with multiple sclerosis immediately after delivery reduced the risk of relapse for up to three months, researchers found.
Fingolimod supports ADLs in MS
07 June 2010
Multiple sclerosis patients who took the oral investigational agent fingolimod were better able to maintain activities of daily living (ADLs) over a year than those treated with injected interferon beta-1A, according to a study presented here.
Content of OTC vitamin D low, unpredictable
07 June 2010
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients taking over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin D aren't getting what they're paying for, or what their neurologists recommend, according to a study presented here.
Interferon adjunct reduces MS lesions
06 June 2010
The oral drug teriflunomide demonstrates short-term safety and reduces lesions in multiple sclerosis for up to one year when used in combination with interferon beta, according to a study presented here [CMSC-ACTRIMS meeting].
Urinary rehab effective in MS
05 June 2010
Individualized rehabilitation can improve urinary dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients independent of disease duration or disability, according to a study presented here [CMSC-ACTRIMS meeting].
Low sunlight linked to MS onset age
04 June 2010
Age of onset of multiple sclerosis was more than two years earlier in patients who lived in northern latitudes - with reduced exposure to the sun in fall and winter - during childhood, researchers found.
MS drugs scheme "a costly failure" for the NHS
04 June 2010
The multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme is "a costly failure" and should not be continued, according to researchers on bmj.com today.
NHS 'has wasted millions on MS drugs which did nothing to help patients'
04 June 2010
The NHS has wasted millions of pounds on MS drugs which did nothing to help patients, according to experts.
Safety fears hang over pioneering MS pill
04 June 2010
Gilenia leads US race as first multiple sclerosis pill - FDA panel to vote on drug June 10 - cancer and heart safety concerns expected to loom large.
Risk Sharing Scheme could not yield valid data after only two years follow up
04 June 2010
Prof Richard J Lilford, chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Risk-sharing Scheme, responds to the recent criticism of the scheme.
