A small study to determine whether the hatching of worm eggs within human patients with multiple sclerosis is slated to begin. The hope is the invasion of worms will provoke a positive immune response that will have the effect of  reducing multiple sclerosis activity for those patients.

In an FDA reported letter Biogen and Elan issued concerns about the development of  significant liver damage as a result of  beginning Tysabri therapy.

Patients and doctors are being encouraged to excercise caution before treating multiple sclerosis with newcomer Tysabri. If there is is a family history of melanoma or the presence of atypical moles there may be an increased possibility of developing skin cancer.

By targeting specially identified brain molecules an international research team hope to provide a therapy that will lessen the inflammation and decrease lesions in multiple sclerosis patients.

Researchers are now able to distinguish by genetics between two distinct groups of patients recieving beta interferon therapy. Those that are helped by the therapy and those that are not. This new finding should lead to less trial and error in determining the proper course of treatment for multiple sclerosis in newly diagnosed patients.

The Swiss MS Society  presents this campaign to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis.

MS is most often discovered when episodes occur in young adulthood and interupts the patient’s working life. Very often these exacerbations resolve and the individual is able to once again resume their employment. In the most common category of patients with MS this can be a repeating cycle of relapse and remission. During times of remission a patient may want and be able to work. The Social Security Administration has no provision that allows for work disruption and resumption that can accompany multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

An Internet petition seeking a reform of regulations that would recognise disability recipients may be able to resume employment during periods of remission and should be allowed to suspend and resume benefits according to their current health circumstance.

Details  and the opportunity to sign petition available here.

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At the Annual Convention of the Minnesota Chapter of the MS Society many products were displayed in the exhibit hall. Among the Chapter Advocacy offerings was a ballot marker which scans and then displays the voter’s ballot in a touch screen interface which allows persons with sight and movement difficulty an easier and more private way of voting in public elections. This marker will be available in States where voters typically fill a space in using a marker next to their choices. Other systems are being developed for other voting methods.

A new technique that uses an antibody rather than the risky Chemo or Radiotherapy now used to prepare the patient to recieve a bone marrow transplant has produced encouraging results in animal studies worthy of further investigation and possible human implementation.

A medication that has been used for many years as a treatment for high blood pressure may be useful for preventing nerve damage in multiple sclerosis patients. A study in mice found the drug Amiloride blocks the accumulation of calcium in nerve cells. Calcium build up is a factor in the nerve damage associated with MS.