Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
Just passing along information ...
From www.ivanhoe.com
Reported November 28, 2007
Hope for MS
PORTLAND, Ore. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- 400,000 people in this country suffer from multiple sclerosis, or MS, and theres still no cure. Now, a new drug is showing promise.
Rich Elliott is having fun with his daughter. But its hard work just staying on his feet.
"Its difficult to walk and stay upright without falling," Elliott says.
At 36, Elliott is fighting a daily battle with MS
"dexterity, speech is slurred sometimes" he says.
Elliott is now part of a small group of people in the United States testing a new drug. At this point, hed settle for anything that keeps the debilitating symptoms from getting worse.
"Id know that this is as bad as its gonna get, and I could handle that," Elliott says.
Researchers say current MS therapies affect more than just the bad cells. They can also harm good cells that protect the bodys nervous system.
"Its like having a sledge hammer to kill a fly," says Arthur Vandenbark, Ph.D., Neurologist at O.H.S.U./V.A. Medical Center in Portland, Ore.
Dr. Vandenbark and his team designed RTL-1000 to zero-in on the bad cells that cause MS. It works by binding to those cells receptors and inactivating them. Pictures from an animal study show MS before RTL and after. The MS cells simply disappear.
"I think we can potentially reduce the symptoms a lot, maybe completely, in early stage patients," Dr. Vandenbark says.
Researchers hope RTL will reverse damage already caused by MS, even for patients whose disease has progressed. For Elliott, its hard to imagine.
"If I could walk on my own again without assistance, have a normal day, be able to use your fingers, to get it back would be incredible," Elliott says.
Hes hopeful the new medication could hold the key.
If RTL-1000 is proven effective in the fight against MS, scientists hope this kind of therapy may also be used to treat other auto-immune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. MS is about three-times more likely to occur in women than in men.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Arthur Vandenbark, M.D.
VA/OHSU
vandenba@ohsu.edu
From www.ivanhoe.com
Reported November 28, 2007
Hope for MS
PORTLAND, Ore. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- 400,000 people in this country suffer from multiple sclerosis, or MS, and theres still no cure. Now, a new drug is showing promise.
Rich Elliott is having fun with his daughter. But its hard work just staying on his feet.
"Its difficult to walk and stay upright without falling," Elliott says.
At 36, Elliott is fighting a daily battle with MS
"dexterity, speech is slurred sometimes" he says.
Elliott is now part of a small group of people in the United States testing a new drug. At this point, hed settle for anything that keeps the debilitating symptoms from getting worse.
"Id know that this is as bad as its gonna get, and I could handle that," Elliott says.
Researchers say current MS therapies affect more than just the bad cells. They can also harm good cells that protect the bodys nervous system.
"Its like having a sledge hammer to kill a fly," says Arthur Vandenbark, Ph.D., Neurologist at O.H.S.U./V.A. Medical Center in Portland, Ore.
Dr. Vandenbark and his team designed RTL-1000 to zero-in on the bad cells that cause MS. It works by binding to those cells receptors and inactivating them. Pictures from an animal study show MS before RTL and after. The MS cells simply disappear.
"I think we can potentially reduce the symptoms a lot, maybe completely, in early stage patients," Dr. Vandenbark says.
Researchers hope RTL will reverse damage already caused by MS, even for patients whose disease has progressed. For Elliott, its hard to imagine.
"If I could walk on my own again without assistance, have a normal day, be able to use your fingers, to get it back would be incredible," Elliott says.
Hes hopeful the new medication could hold the key.
If RTL-1000 is proven effective in the fight against MS, scientists hope this kind of therapy may also be used to treat other auto-immune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. MS is about three-times more likely to occur in women than in men.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Arthur Vandenbark, M.D.
VA/OHSU
vandenba@ohsu.edu
-
theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
-
I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00411723?order=1
Hugs
Morgaine