Posted on: 2:31 pm, May 6, 2012, by Bret Buganski, updated on: 08:34pm, May 6, 2012

MILWAUKEE Multiple sclerosis is a disease thats known for slowing people down, and theres no known cure. Sunday, May 6th thousands took part in the annual Wisconsins Milwaukee Walk MS along Milwaukees lakefront to raise awareness and fight for a cure.

There was a feeling of optimism Sunday at the Summerfest grounds as people joined together to raise money for multiple sclerosis a disease with no known cure, and no known cause. The disease affects the central nervous system.

Sundays walk provides doctors and researchers funding for further research into the disease, and leaves people like Jeffrey Gingold excited about what may come in the near future. It helps people cope. It helps better medical treatments out there. You have to stay active because MS doesnt go away, and it doesnt get better by itself, Gingold said.

Gingold is a former partner at a Brookfield law firm, diagnosed with MS in 1996. His symptoms would come and go, and included no vision in one of his eyes and numbness in his hands and legs. Once he found it difficult to remember things, he knew something was wrong. Just keeping up with work and all of the multi-tasking details physically and mentally, it just didnt work anymore, Gingold said.

Gingold didnt plan on retiring at age 41, but for the last 11 years, hes dedicated his life to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and working to raise awareness of the disease that changed his life forever. I have hope, I really do, Gingold said.

There were 18 multiple sclerosis walks across the state of Wisconsin Sunday, May 6th. The goal is to raise more than $1.5 million for MS research.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Wisconsins Milwaukee Walk MS, or to make a donation.

CLICK HERE to learn more about multiple sclerosis via the National MS Societys website.

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Walk MS held to raise money, awareness of multiple sclerosis

Readmore: Local, Health, News, Multiple Sclerosis, Beth Farrell, Fayetteville, Home Improvements, Multiple Sclerosis Society

Volunteers with the Upstate New York chapter of theMultiple Sclerosis Societywere lending a helping hand on Saturday. The goal was to provide home improvements for people with multiple sclerosis.

Beth Farrell, who lives in Fayetteville, has struggled with multiple sclerosis for about 20 years, but she says this past year, her symptoms took a turn for the worse, putting her in the hospital.

"I couldn't walk or anything, and my whole body basically shut down on me," says Farrell.

Farrell is back home now, but the work around the house has piled up, so volunteers spent the day helping her out.

Farrell's daughter Courtney says she's grateful for the help.

"Some of the things that someone might do day to day become hard for her to do," says Courtney. "To have all of these people help its incredible, amazing."

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Volunteers do home improvements for people with multiple sclerosis

More than 400,000 Americans are living with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic, unpredictable disease that attacks the central nervous system.

Now, new discoveries could help scientists come up with better treatments for the disease and even prevent its onset.

Whether parachuting, fishing, or enjoying the beach, Susan Dobroff has always pictured herself as an outdoors woman.

Susan Dobroff, Living with MS, explains why she enjoys the outdoors so much, "It's like being in touch with God."

Not even Multiple Sclerosis could dampen her active lifestyle. Two years after being diagnosed, she started law school.

Dobroff explains how she decided to go to law school, "I realized, you know, you've been thinking about going to law school for a long time so got to do it sooner rather than later."

10 years after her diagnosis, Susan began to lose her ability to walk. Eventually, her legal career came to a grinding halt, too.

Dobroff explains how she struggle after awhile with her job, "Lawyers don't need to walk and run in order to practice law but we do have to think."

Now Japanese Macaques could hold the key to helping people like Susan. Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Center have discovered a new herpes virus in monkeys that causes an MS like disease in Macaques.

These brain lesions are a classic indicator of inflammation in people with MS. The discovery could help scientists solve how the disease develops and stop its onset.

Excerpt from:
From monkeys to medication: New research into helping people with MS

25-02-2012 17:47 This video is a before and after of the CCSVI procedure for Monica.

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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Before and after the CCSVI procedure - Video

19-02-2012 09:58 Me sitting on my feet 'til they go numb and saying "erm..." far too much. I'll work on that. http://www.thisisms.com (find out about most types of possible treatments here) http://www.cpnhelp.org (explains the theory behind [and details of] the protocol)

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MS and Antibiotics (Diary Parte 1) - Video

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is pleased to recognize March as MS Awareness Month. During the month of March, MSAA will be highlighting various programs designed to expand knowledge, understanding, and support of individuals whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Such program offerings include:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110615/PH20696LOGO )

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis. MSAA provides vital programs and services, such as: a toll-free Helpline; informative publications including a magazine, The Motivator; website featuring educational videos and research updates; S.E.A.R.C.H. program to assist the MS community with learning about different treatment choices; equipment distribution ranging from grab bars to wheelchairs; cooling accessories for heat-sensitive individuals; a mobile phone app, My MS Manager; educational events and activities; MRI funding and insurance advocacy; and more. For additional information, please visit http://www.msassociation.org or call (800) 532-7667.

The most common neurological disorder diagnosed in young adults, multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. This disorder damages or destroys the protective covering (known as myelin) surrounding the nerves, causing reduced communication between the brain and nerve pathways. Common symptoms include visual problems, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty with balance and coordination, and various levels of impaired mobility. MS is not contagious or fatal.

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March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

Sarah Reynolds, of Frederick, has been named Fredericks ambassador for the Walk MS fundraiser for multiple sclerosis on April 14.

Reynolds mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) a debilitating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system more than 20 years ago, according to a news release.

Since 1990, Reynolds has been the motivator, organizer and team captain of Frederick Walk MS Team Della. Each year she asks family and friends to raise money to support the National MS Society and encouraging more people to participate.

At the walk, she will share her story with about 700 walk participants. Walk MS in Frederick takes place at 9 a.m. on April 14 at Harry Grove Stadium, 21 Stadium Drive Frederick. To register, visit http://www.walkmsmaryland.org or call 1-800-FIGHT-MS.

Symptoms of the disease range from reduced or lost mobility to numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.1 million worldwide.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding research, advocacy, professional education, collaboration with MS organizations and programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families. To learn more about multiple sclerosis and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society visit http://www.nationalMSsociety.org.

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Gazette.Net: National Multiple Sclerosis Society names Frederick Walk MS Ambassador

05-12-2011 13:46 If you like this film, please vote for it at patients.aan.com This film has been entered into the 2012 Neuro Film Festival from the American Academy of Neurology Foundation at http://www.NeuroFilmFestival.com Let's put our brains together to support brain research! And let's include our hearts, as well. A wife's commitment to learning about her husband's Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and new research into the vascular connection to MS: CCSVI.

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Multiple Sclerosis- A love story - Video

15-02-2012 15:11 Dr. Roe talks about MS

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Dr Roe talks about MS.wmv - Video

REGINA - Saskatchewan multiple sclerosis patients hoping to take part in a clinical trial of a controversial treatment may soon get a call from the ministry of health.

But only around 10 per cent of those who applied will actually get that call.

Deb Jordan, a ministry spokeswoman, said 670 people had signed up as of Thursday.

The deadline to apply for the two-year, double-blind trial of liberation therapy was midnight Friday.

Jordan said names will be randomly drawn starting next week to determine who will fill 86 spots in the test taking place in Albany, N.Y.

A successful candidate must be a Saskatchewan resident, under the age of 60 and not had liberation treatment.

"Once we verify that information, then the applicant will be forwarded to the folks who are involved in the clinical trial," said Jordan.

"I want to also emphasize that the fact that a patient may be drawn does not necessarily mean that they will move on to the clinical trial.

"There's the medical assessment that has to take place by the team and it is the ... clinical team that is operating the clinical trial that will ultimately make the decisions about the patients who will be participating in the trial."

Jordan said the process could take several months.

The treatment is based on a hypothesis by Italian vascular surgeon Dr. Paolo Zamboni that a condition he dubbed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, may be linked to multiple sclerosis. The theory suggests that narrowed neck veins create a backup of blood that can lead to lesions in the brain and inflammation.

Liberation therapy involves opening up blocked neck veins.

The idea that the condition might be linked to the progressive neurological disease has divided the medical community.

Some patients have reported substantial improvements in their symptoms after the therapy. Other studies have raised doubts about its effectiveness and questioned the benefits when weighed against the risks of complications from the operation.

The procedure is not offered in Canada and some patients have travelled around the world to seek it out.

At least two Canadians have died after having the treatment.

With a population slightly more than one million, Saskatchewan has some of the highest rates of MS in the country. An estimated 3,500 Saskatchewan residents have the illness. Canada's rate of MS is among the highest in the world at 240 per 100,000 people. On the Prairies, the rate is 340 per 100,000 people.

Saskatchewan was the first province to pledge clinical trials when it put up $5 million and issued a call for proposals in October 2010. The goal was to proceed with clinical trials by the spring of 2011.

But last June, the government said only one proposal had been received and it didn't meet criteria set by an expert panel.

That's when the province looked to New York.

The double-blind aspect of the study means only half of the patients will actually receive the treatment. Patients and physicians who do the followup will not know who got the treatment.

Jordan said the number of applications is in an expected range. Not everyone would be interested, she said.

"People have to take the information and assess it and decide for themselves whether they want to participate in a clinical trial or not," she said.

"Very clearly, while 86 Saskatchewan patients will participate in the trial, half will receive the procedure and half will not, so how that may factor into an individual patient's decision making can only be determined by them."

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Saskatchewan starts to fill trial spots for controversial MS liberation therapy

12-12-2011 10:05 John apologizes for not having created a video in a while, but he is excited to start making vlogs for shift.ms! You can check out shift.ms by visiting shift.ms or, seeing their YouTube channel by searching for the user name "shiftdotms". Also, John has exciting news that he will be having a lumbar puncture later on this month and might be able to let his YouTube friends come along for the ride! Weeeeeeeee!!

Continued here:
Multiple Sclerosis: vLogging for Shift.ms and a Lumbar Puncture! (Year 2, Episode 5 - jrmcg1) - Video

05-12-2011 15:11 Featuring Cathy-Lee Benbow

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Personal Insights and Tools for Coping with MS - Support Systems - Video

05-02-2012 15:54 John takes a stab at answering the questions as part of the shiftdotms MS viral video response game, "Knowing me, Stalking You." If you want to participate, just make your own video and send it back to me (so I can see!) and also on to THREE of your friends (or more!) Also check out http://www.shift.ms for more videos from people like me. Here are the questions if you would like to participate in "Knowing me, Stalking You" game 1. How has your life changed, since your diagnosis? 2. What do you hope to accomplish, in the future? 3. If you could say one thing to your MS, what would it be? 4. What has been your proudest achievement, in spite of your MS? 5. Who has been the most important person in you life, since your diagnosis? Have fun, and remember to subscribe to my channel for more of my MS vids. I can't wait to see what answers you guys come up with. Cheers, John

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Multiple Sclerosis: Knowing Me, Stalking You (Year 2, Episode 7 - jrmcg1) - Video

27-01-2012 05:08 a brief vlog about pregnancy and MS. Pregnancy was an MS holiday for me.

Originally posted here:
Multiple Sclerosis: A baby! - Video

An exploration of the role of myelin repair in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

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Multiple Sclerosis - Myelin Repair - Video

A researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has received a grant of more than $500,000 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for his study of the neurological disease, the organization announced this week.

Gordon Meares, a postdoctoral fellow in UAB's Department of Cell Biology, will study how cells in the brain and spinal cord may influence the immune system in MS for clues to stopping immune attacks, the organization said. The society this month committed up to $18.4 million to support 52 new research projects and training fellowships.

"Without the support of the National MS Society, we would not be able to pursue these critical leads," Meares said in a statement.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the nerves of the central nervous system degenerate. MS interrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the body. There are theories on the causes of multiple sclerosis. MS may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when the body attacks itself. The disease often begins between the ages of 20 and 50.

Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.

In Alabama, MS affects more than 4,200 families. More than 2.1 million people live worldwide with the challenges of the disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Jan Bell, president of the society's Alabama-Mississippi chapter, said the society's research program constantly strives to find a cure for MS.

"Our long-standing investment has resulted in new treatments and better methods of diagnosis and disease management for people with MS, and we will continue to pursue all promising paths that lead to solutions for everyone affected by MS," Bell said in a statement.

The national organization reports there are therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration that can affect the underlying disease in people with the more common forms of MS. Those therapies cannot stop the progression or reverse the damage to restore function.

Join the conversation by clicking to comment or email Walton at vwalton@bhamnews.com.

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UAB biologist Gordon Meares given National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system. The MS Society works closely with people affected by this condition, helping them to manage their symptoms and enjoy the best life possible. We meet some of their clients and get an insight into what life is like with MS.

Continued here:
Open Door: MS - Part 1 - Video

Summertime is the hottest time of the year, which is the reason that we love the water so much. A lot of people myself included take full advantage of the pool, and beaches in the summertime to cool off with a good swim. However there are other ways to use a pool other than to swim, which I have been doing since being diagnosed in 2006 with multiple sclerosis.

My neurologist told me about an exercise that I can do in the water, which I had no clue about before. This is kind of funny considering that I grew up in California. My neurologist explained to me that I should be doing water aerobics to keep my muscles strong, and I started to use water aerobics to see if it would work. I have to say that it worked very well indeed.

This is why I proudly give to you the top five benefits of water aerobics for people with multiple sclerosis.

Benefit number one

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that tears your muscles down, but water aerobics builds your muscles back up. By building my muscles up through water aerobics I'm able to still play the other sports that I love such as tennis, basketball, and cycling to name just a few.

Benefit number two

During my hospital stay in 2006 I put on a little bit of weight and I was afraid that I would not be able to lose this weight. Through the use of water aerobics I was able to lose the weight I put on and more. This is one of the biggest reasons I love to do water aerobics. Water aerobics allow me to know that no matter what I can always get in the water and lose any weight I might put on.

Benefit number three

Water aerobics has allowed me to build up my endurance, which in turn allows me to play longer games of tennis with my friends. Water aerobics, has also lead to me being able to enjoy the other sports that I love such as boxing, walking, and cycling because of my improved endurance.

Benefit number four

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Water Aerobics Benefits for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Participants warm up for the walk held in conjunction with World Multiple Sclerosis Day. Pix by Iqmal Haqim Rosman

Padma Panikker says many know little about the rare disease, a situation that the Multiple Sclerosis Society Malaysia hopes to change. Pix by Iqmal Haqim Rosman

IN conjunction with World Multiple Sclerosis Day on May 30, a charity walk was held at Titiwangsa Lake.

Organised by Multiple Sclerosis Society Malaysia and supported by Novartis Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, the event had the support of 300, who walked around the lake wearing the society's official T-shirt.

The walk was flagged off by model Amber Chia, who was there to show support to the cause and learn more about the disease.

"I heard that the percentage of Malaysians with the disease is low, and some do not even know they have it.

"I am here to learn more about the disease. I hope that more people will be aware of multiple sclerosis after this," she said.

Chia said she did not know much about the disease before she was invited to the event, and was surprised by some of the things she had learnt.

"For example, I thought that only old people get it but some of the patients here have got the disease since they were 13," said Chia.

Multiple Sclerosis Society Malaysia president Padma Panikker said those who were diagnosed with the disease were usually frightened at first and the society acted as a support group for them.

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Multiple sclerosis walk-through

Editor's Choice Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Article Date: 24 May 2012 - 14:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Recovery From Multiple Sclerosis By Growth Factor In Stem Cells'

5 (2 votes)

4.5 (2 votes)

Animals that were injected with hepatocyte growth factor were noted to have grown new neural cells and lower levels of inflammation. Most significantly, the researchers noted that the protective envelope of myelin, the myelin sheath, which surrounds the core of a nerve fiber and facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses, re-grew and covered lesions that were caused by MS.

Robert H. Miller, professor of neurosciences at the School of Medicine and vice president for research at Case Western Reserve University declared: "The importance of this work is we think we've identified the driver of the recovery."

MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. The nerve damage is caused by inflammation, which occurs when the body's own immune cells attacks the nervous systems located in areas of the brain, the optic nerve, and spinal cord. This damage can cause an interruption of the nerve signals, which results in loss of balance and coordination, cognitive ability, as well as in other functions and in time, these intermittent losses may become permanent. In 2009, Caplan and Miller discovered that mice with MS injected with human mesenchymal stem cells recovered from the type of damage that was brought on by MS. A clinical trial is currently underway based on their research, whereby patients with MS are injected with their own stems cells.

During this trial, the team decided to first establish whether the presence of stem cells or other cells induce recovery. They injected a total of 11 animals with MS with the medium, in which mesenchymal stem cells that were taken from bone marrow grew, discovering that all animals displayed a rapid reduction in functional deficits. An analysis demonstrated that unless the injected molecules had a certain size or weight, i.e. between 50 and 100 kiloDaltons, the course of the disease remained unchanged.

Other research, as well as the team's own studies, suggested that this was likely to be instigated by the hepatocyte growth factor, which is secreted by mesenchymal stem cells.

The team then injected the animals with either 50 or 100 nanograms of the growth factor on alternate days for a 5-day period and observed a decrease in the level of signaling molecules that promote inflammation, whilst the level of signaling molecules that oppose inflammation increased. The researchers noted a growth of neural cells, whilst nerves that were exposed because of MS were rewrapped with myelin. Recovery was marginally better in those mice that received the 100-nanogram injections compared with those receiving the 50-nanogram injections.

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Recovery From Multiple Sclerosis By Growth Factor In Stem Cells