F.U.M.S.
Billy Talent, City and Colour and K-OS tell off Multiple Sclerosis at the F.U.M.S. fundraiser. Proceeds go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Scholarship Fund.
Tonight at 6 p.m. ($49.50). Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St.
**Here's a link to the recap of this sold out show!**
It could just be me...
It could just be me but my last couple of injection holes just don't seem to be healing as fast as I'm used to. I recognize that it might just be my imagination but I have this little small bruise spot from my last two injections and I can still see the dot where the needle went in. Usually, I get so little of a reaction that I don't even know where to put the bandaid afterwards! So just what is my immune system doing? Those are small repair sites. Please get on them! Jeesh. I better not be busy attacking my brian. I don't want another attack yet. Thanks, Larry you damn lesion!
Oh, and last weekend I not only smoothly injected myself, I proceeded to stab my finger tip with the needle afterwards. Duh. That hurt more than my actual injection! Ha!
Bioness L-300
Oh, and last weekend I not only smoothly injected myself, I proceeded to stab my finger tip with the needle afterwards. Duh. That hurt more than my actual injection! Ha!
Bioness L-300
Too bad I didn't spot this before Christmas! Would make for a nice gift if money was no object eh? Nice to see that there are other types of options when it comes to walking disabilty. I do fear that this will be a reality for me one day. With having numbness and lack of sensation in my legs on and off since 2001 I can only imagine it'll continue in my lifetime with this disease. I guess I can only hope that technology and research will just keep outpacing the progression of my disease to my benefit!
"The NESS L300™ system is a state-of-the-art FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) system designed to help patients with life altering neurological disorders affecting lower extremities- including sufferers of stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
NESS L300 - Rx Only The NESS L300 is a low-profile device worn on the lower leg and foot, which enables easier, more natural walking and a return to a more normal lifestyle. In addition to facilitating a more fluid gait, the NESS L300 may also stimulate muscle re-education, prevent/retard disuse atrophy, maintain or increase joint range of motion and increase blood flow."
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas!
"The NESS L300™ system is a state-of-the-art FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) system designed to help patients with life altering neurological disorders affecting lower extremities- including sufferers of stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
NESS L300 - Rx Only The NESS L300 is a low-profile device worn on the lower leg and foot, which enables easier, more natural walking and a return to a more normal lifestyle. In addition to facilitating a more fluid gait, the NESS L300 may also stimulate muscle re-education, prevent/retard disuse atrophy, maintain or increase joint range of motion and increase blood flow."
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have great time with family and a symptom free Christmas this year :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Blood Brain Barrier chatter?
Blood Brain Barrier chatter?
Jim posted this comment the other day:
"Does anyone know of ANY drugs being developed that help make the blood brain barrier impervious to transportation of these immune cells that "eat" our myelin tissue?Seems to me if we can prevent them from getting to the CNS in the first place, it would help us immensely."
So, does anyone out there have any answers on this? I certainly don't know, but I agree with you Jim! Someone get on that research!
A slightly different approach is Fingolimod. Forgive my prejudice here... My lamens understanding of what it's doing in my body (if I have it in my body, hahah ;) is that it attaches to my T cells and moves them back to my lymph nodes for cleaning and a reset before they get to the destructive attack behaviour in the brain etc.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ofatumumab Phase II Study for RRMS
"Does anyone know of ANY drugs being developed that help make the blood brain barrier impervious to transportation of these immune cells that "eat" our myelin tissue?Seems to me if we can prevent them from getting to the CNS in the first place, it would help us immensely."
So, does anyone out there have any answers on this? I certainly don't know, but I agree with you Jim! Someone get on that research!
A slightly different approach is Fingolimod. Forgive my prejudice here... My lamens understanding of what it's doing in my body (if I have it in my body, hahah ;) is that it attaches to my T cells and moves them back to my lymph nodes for cleaning and a reset before they get to the destructive attack behaviour in the brain etc.
Ofatumumab Phase II Study for RRMS
Another new one. Woo hoo. Interesting name... try pronoucing it... I dare ya. I'm not clear if this is an oral med or injectable.
"Ofatumumab is an investigational, fully human, next generation monoclonal antibody that targets a unique epitope of the CD20 receptor on the surface of B-cells. Other anti-CD20 antibodies currently available or in development bind to a different epitope on the CD20 receptor. Ofatumumab is being developed under a co-development and commercialization agreement between Genmab and GlaxoSmithKline."
Hepatitis-b vaccine and the risk for MS - Nope!
"Ofatumumab is an investigational, fully human, next generation monoclonal antibody that targets a unique epitope of the CD20 receptor on the surface of B-cells. Other anti-CD20 antibodies currently available or in development bind to a different epitope on the CD20 receptor. Ofatumumab is being developed under a co-development and commercialization agreement between Genmab and GlaxoSmithKline."
Hepatitis-b vaccine and the risk for MS - Nope!
Researchers are saying there is no link between the Hep B vaccine and developing MS. That knocks that wives tale on it's touche.
"A new study has found no link between the hepatitis-b vaccine and the risk for multiple sclerosis, despite some controversial evidence that indicated a slight risk during the three years following vaccination.
French researchers compared vaccination rates between more than 100 children who developed multiple sclerosis and more than 1,000 children without the neurological condition.
In the three years before the first indication of multiple sclerosis, hepatitis-b vaccination rates were about the same for both, the study found."
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Time needs to slow down!
"A new study has found no link between the hepatitis-b vaccine and the risk for multiple sclerosis, despite some controversial evidence that indicated a slight risk during the three years following vaccination.
French researchers compared vaccination rates between more than 100 children who developed multiple sclerosis and more than 1,000 children without the neurological condition.
In the three years before the first indication of multiple sclerosis, hepatitis-b vaccination rates were about the same for both, the study found."
Time needs to slow down!
Need more hours in a day! It's 13 days till Christmas! Yikes!
Combination Therapy Including Antibiotics May Be Beneficial
Combination Therapy Including Antibiotics May Be Beneficial
Combo therapies are interesting to me... using current day therapies in combo with an Interferon. Good stuff.
"Alireza Minagar, M.D., of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, and colleagues conducted a single-center trial involving 15 patients (average age 44.5) with relapsing-remitting MS who had been taking interferon for at least six months and were experiencing symptoms and developing new brain lesions. For four months, participants took 100 milligrams daily of the antibiotic doxycycline in addition to continuing interferon therapy. They underwent monthly neurological examinations, MRI to detect brain lesions and blood work to monitor safety.
After four months, the combination treatment resulted in fewer lesions visible on MRI—60 percent of the patients had more than a one-fourth reduction in the number of lesions from the beginning of the study. The patients also had reduced average scores on a scale designed to assess disability levels. Only one patient relapsed; adverse effects were mild and included only known effects of the two drugs individually rather than new effects associated with combining the medications.
Antibiotics in the tetracycline family, including doxycycline, may be effective against MS and other inflammatory diseases by inhibiting the action of enzymes that destroy certain nervous system cells, protecting the brain and increasing the effectiveness of the immune system, the authors note.
“There is growing interest in combination therapy in patients with MS to stabilize the clinical course, reduce the rate of clinical relapses and decelerate the progressive course of the underlying pathologic mechanism,” they write. “Overall, data from this cohort suggest that the treatment combination of oral doxycycline and interferon beta-1a may be safe and effective in some patients with MS; however, further controlled clinical trials are warranted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in a larger patient population.”
Saturday, December 1, 2007
First snow day of the Season!
"Alireza Minagar, M.D., of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, and colleagues conducted a single-center trial involving 15 patients (average age 44.5) with relapsing-remitting MS who had been taking interferon for at least six months and were experiencing symptoms and developing new brain lesions. For four months, participants took 100 milligrams daily of the antibiotic doxycycline in addition to continuing interferon therapy. They underwent monthly neurological examinations, MRI to detect brain lesions and blood work to monitor safety.
After four months, the combination treatment resulted in fewer lesions visible on MRI—60 percent of the patients had more than a one-fourth reduction in the number of lesions from the beginning of the study. The patients also had reduced average scores on a scale designed to assess disability levels. Only one patient relapsed; adverse effects were mild and included only known effects of the two drugs individually rather than new effects associated with combining the medications.
Antibiotics in the tetracycline family, including doxycycline, may be effective against MS and other inflammatory diseases by inhibiting the action of enzymes that destroy certain nervous system cells, protecting the brain and increasing the effectiveness of the immune system, the authors note.
“There is growing interest in combination therapy in patients with MS to stabilize the clinical course, reduce the rate of clinical relapses and decelerate the progressive course of the underlying pathologic mechanism,” they write. “Overall, data from this cohort suggest that the treatment combination of oral doxycycline and interferon beta-1a may be safe and effective in some patients with MS; however, further controlled clinical trials are warranted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in a larger patient population.”
First snow day of the Season!
