Stay Positive


"In the midst of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."

- Alert Camus








Monday, April 30, 2012

Quotes

Spring is a natural resurrection, an experience in immortality. - Henry David Thoreau

 Silence kills democracy, but a free press talks': George Bizos

 . Lies come up in the elevator; the truth takes the stairs but gets here eventually. - Koffi Olomide

Ésthetique ebomaka vélo. Aesthetics will kill a bicycle. - Felix Wazekwa

 Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things. ~ Cicero

 Happiness is the incidental by-product of pursuing some other worthy goal. The same can be said of reputation


"Always desire to learn something useful."—Sophocles



 Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. - Oscar Wilde



 It is the first magical substance which consents to be prosaic. (roland barthes on plastic)


 Reading is equivalent to thinking with someone else's head instead of with one's own. ~ Schopenhauer


There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. - R. Buckminster Fuller



http://philosophical-quotes.com/

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Fampyra is the name Ampyra is marketed under in Canada

Seeing the drug referred with two names confused me because separate press releases never mentioned the drug is called by either name... but the M.S. Resource Center of the U.K. makes it clear.

 http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseaction/show/pageid/1310/text/3
Ampyra (Fampyra)

Ampyra (Fampridine-SR) is a sustained-release tablet formulation of the drug fampridine (4-aminopyridine, or 4-AP). 

Data collected in laboratory studies found that fampridine can improve the communication between damaged nerves, which may result in increased neurological function.
 


Biogen Idec Canada announces that Fampyra (fampridine sustained release tablets or fampridine SR) is now available for prescription for patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada.

Health Canada approved Fampyra on February 10, 2012 for the symptomatic improvement of walking in adult MS patients with walking disability (EDSS 3.5-7).

Walking impairment is one of the most common and disruptive consequences of MS and Fampyra is the first approved treatment that addresses this unmet medical need. In clinical trials, it demonstrated efficacy in people with all types of MS.

Patients with MS consistently rate walking as the most important function they want to maintain, regardless of what stage they are in their disease. Walking impairment is directly associated with loss of independence, restrictions on a patient's ability to work and a reduction in overall levels of household income. In fact, a research survey shows that 88 per cent of sampled Canadians living with MS report that difficulty walking affects their overall mobility.

"For patients with MS, one of the greatest areas affected in their lives is walking. Until fampridine SR (Fampyra), there have been no pharmacologic agents shown to directly improve walking function in persons with multiple sclerosis," said Dr. Christine Short, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. "As a clinician who manages persons with multiple sclerosis, the approval of this treatment in Canada represents a real breakthrough in our battle to help individuals maintain independence and quality of life in the face of a progressive neurologic disease."


MS is an unpredictable, often debilitating disease of the central nervous system that attacks the protective covering, or myelin, of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and damage. When this occurs, the normal flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibres, or axons, becomes disrupted. Studies show that Fampyra can increase conduction along damaged nerves and enable signals to pass down the nerve more normally, which may result in improved walking for adult MS patients.


Clinical Data Demonstrates Efficacy The approval of Fampyra for the improvement of walking in adult patients with MS was based on the results of two Phase III clinical trials: MS-F203 and MS-F204.


The primary endpoint was the responder rate based on walking speed as measured by the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). A significantly greater proportion of patients taking Fampyra had consistent improvement in walking speed when compared to placebo (ms-f203:34.8 per cent to 8.3 per cent)(and ms-f204:42.9 per cent to 9.3 per cent). In patients who responded to therapy in the two studies, MS-F203 and MS-F204, Fampyra increased their walking speed on average by 26.3 per cent to 5.3 per cent on placebo, and 25.3 per cent to 7.8 per cent, respectively.


"Seeing the effects of these results will have an important impact on patients," said Dr. Brad Stewart, Neurologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. "As mobility impairment in MS is progressive, Fampyra is a welcomed, new treatment to address this unmet need in the management of walking difficulties."


Important Safety Information The use of Fampyra is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to fampridine or any ingredient in the formulation; currently on treatment with other forms of 4-aminopyridine, dalfampridine or fampridine; with a history of mild, moderate or severe renal impairment; or with a history of seizure or medically assessed as at high risk of seizure.


Fampyra should only be used under the supervision of a clinician experienced in the treatment of MS and familiar with the safety and efficacy of Fampyra. The recommended dose of one sustained release 10 mg tablet twice daily, taken 12 hours apart, should not be exceeded.


The most common adverse events with incidence greater than or equal to two per cent and at a rate greater than the placebo rate for Fampyra were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, paraesthesia, nasopharyngitis and constipation.


Source: Market Watch Copyright © 2012 MarketWatch, Inc (11/04/12)


Interactive website for Ampyra® (Dalfampridine) MS users launched


Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. has announced the launch of a new interactive patient website called Ampyra Journeys. The site is the first-ever stand-alone patient site to focus on walking problems associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Ampyra (dalfampridine) is an oral medication approved by the FDA as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis. This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed.

The Ampyra Journeys website features true stories of people living with MS who have experienced walking problems and who took action to get treatment. Their stories explore the impact that walking problems can have for people living with MS, and how treatment that leads to improvements in walking can help people to regain the ability to perform many daily tasks. Prominent MS patient advocate, motivational speaker and entertainer Kristie Salerno Kent is among the patients who share their personal stories on www.AmpyraJourneys.com.

“I have met so many people living with MS who did not seek help when they started to experience walking problems. The important news is that treatment is available, and so I am very excited to be involved with Ampyra Journeys. This new website is a vital resource that can help anyone living with MS to learn about, and to do something about, MS-related walking problems,” said Ms. Salerno Kent.

Walking problems are a significant concern for people living with MS. According to a 2011 Harris Interactive Survey, approximately 70% of people with MS who experience difficulty walking identify this issue as the biggest challenge associated with MS.

Visitors to the website can also download “Let’s Talk About Walking and MS,” a guide with tips on how to talk about walking problems with a healthcare provider.

“Acorda Therapeutics developed Ampyra to help patients with walking problems, one of the most challenging and common symptoms of MS. Now we are very pleased to present Ampyra Journeys, to help more people get the support they need to get treatment. It's our hope that this site will educate and inspire people to seek help for their MS-related walking problems,” said Ron Cohen, MD, president and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics.

Source: EON ©2012 Business Wire (03/04/12)









Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke - New York Times

Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke - New York Times

Try to find an Investment Analyst who follows this company and obtain their report for an informed evaluation of the company. They have product for MS that may help Stroke victims; the same drug that is helping MS may have multiple applications.

http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201202030700BIZWIRE_USPRX____BW5037&feedID=600&press_symbol=4121848


Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke

Published: February 3, 2012
  • First ever data to demonstrate improvement in motor function following stroke with oral drug treatment initiated several weeks after event
HAWTHORNE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2012-- Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) presented data showing that treatment with dalfampridine improved motor function in a preclinical model of stroke, with treatment initiated at least four weeks following the ischemic event.

These data were presented on February 2 at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in New Orleans, LA. Dalfampridine, also known as 4-aminopyridine, is the active chemical ingredient in AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg.
......So the drug developed for MS is used for stroke repair
“These are the first preclinical data to show an oral pharmacologic treatment can improve function in chronic, or long term, stroke. We are excited by these results and plan to begin proof-of-concept human clinical trials of AMPYRA in people with chronic stroke later this year,” said Andrew R. Blight, Ph.D., Acorda Therapeutics’ Chief Scientific Officer.

“The majority of the nearly seven million people in the United States who live with the long term effects of a stroke have motor function deficits, such as walking impairment, but there are no established treatments other than physical therapy to address these impairments.”

A late-breaking science presentation, entitled “Dalfampridine Improves Sensorimotor Function in Rats with Chronic Deficits Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion,” presented by Acorda scientist Jennifer Iaci, reviewed data from three study groups that received treatment beginning four weeks after a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).

The neurological impairments that result are expected to be permanent by four weeks, which represents the chronic stage of stroke. Each group received three treatment phases over the course of the study: high and low doses of dalfampridine, and placebo. The order of the treatment phases was different for each group, with a 10 day washout period between each phase.

Researchers assessed functional improvement using a battery of standard motor function tests in both the forelimbs and hind limbs. In each of the three study groups, treatment with dalfampridine resulted in significant improvement in function compared to placebo across all measures during the respective treatment periods. Improvements in the high dose phase were consistently better than those seen in the low dose phase.
“In addition to the seven million Americans living with the consequences of a prior stroke, there are close to 800,000 people in the United States who have new stroke events each year.
The resulting disability has a major impact on the person who suffers the stroke as well as on their caregivers, and places a significant burden on the healthcare system,” said Seth Finklestein, M.D., Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Biotrofix, a preclinical research organization that conducted research for this study in partnership with Acorda.

“These are the first data from a well-controlled preclinical study that have demonstrated improvement in motor function related to walking and upper body movement. Developing a therapeutic option that can improve function would represent a potential major advance in the standard of care for stroke survivors.”

Acorda plans to begin a proof-of-concept trial of AMPYRA in stroke by the end of 2012. This study will evaluate the use of AMPYRA in stroke patients with chronic neurologic deficits, including walking impairment.

AMPYRA is approved in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed. AMPYRA is known as prolonged-, modified-, or sustained-release fampridine (FAMPYRA®) in some countries outside the United States.

Important Safety Information
 
AMPYRA can cause seizures; the risk of seizures increases with increasing AMPYRA doses. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a prior history of seizure. Discontinue AMPYRA use if seizure occurs.

AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl less-than or equal to 50 mL/min); the risk of seizures in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51-80 mL/min) is unknown, but AMPYRA plasma levels in these patients may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be associated with an increased risk of seizures; estimated CrCl should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

Urinary tract infections were reported more frequently as adverse reactions in patients receiving AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily compared to placebo.

The most common adverse events (incidence greater-than or equal to 2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA in MS patients were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

For full U.S. Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for AMPYRA, please visit: www.AMPYRA.com.




 
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with MS, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.

Acorda markets AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed.

AMPYRA is marketed outside the United States as FAMPYRA® 
 (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) by Biogen Idec under a licensing agreement from Acorda.
AMPYRA and FAMPYRA are sold under a license from Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited and manufactured by Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited and other parties.

The Company also markets ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and Zanaflex tablets, a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. 

Acorda is developing an industry-leading pipeline of novel neurological therapies. The Company is studying AMPYRA to improve a range of functional impairments caused by MS, as well as its use in other neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy and chronic stroke. 

In addition, Acorda is developing clinical stage compounds AC105 for acute treatment of spinal cord injury and GGF2 for treatment of heart failure. GGF2 is also being investigated in preclinical studies as a treatment for neurological conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injury.

Additional preclinical programs include rHIgM22, a remyelinating monoclonal antibody for the treatment of MS, and chondroitinase, an enzyme that encourages nerve plasticity in spinal cord injury.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking.

These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the United States; third party payors (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra outside of the United States and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection therewith; competition, including the impact of anticipated potential generic competition on Zanaflex Capsules revenues; failure to protect Acorda Therapeutics’ intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations; and, unfavorable results from our research and development programs.

These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements.

Forward-looking statements made in this release are made only as of the date hereof, and Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.



Source: Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
Acorda Therapeutics




Source:


Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke - New York Times
http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201202030700BIZWIRE_USPRX____BW5037&feedID=600&press_symbol=4121848

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.

Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke
Published: February 3, 2012
  • First ever data to demonstrate improvement in motor function following stroke with oral drug treatment initiated several weeks after event
HAWTHORNE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2012-- Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) presented data showing that treatment with dalfampridine improved motor function in a preclinical model of stroke, with treatment initiated at least four weeks following the ischemic event. These data were presented on February 2 at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in New Orleans, LA. Dalfampridine, also known as 4-aminopyridine, is the active chemical ingredient in AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg.

“These are the first preclinical data to show an oral pharmacologic treatment can improve function in chronic, or long term, stroke. We are excited by these results and plan to begin proof-of-concept human clinical trials of AMPYRA in people with chronic stroke later this year,” said Andrew R. Blight, Ph.D., Acorda Therapeutics’ Chief Scientific Officer. “The majority of the nearly seven million people in the United States who live with the long term effects of a stroke have motor function deficits, such as walking impairment, but there are no established treatments other than physical therapy to address these impairments.”

A late-breaking science presentation, entitled “Dalfampridine Improves Sensorimotor Function in Rats with Chronic Deficits Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion,” presented by Acorda scientist Jennifer Iaci, reviewed data from three study groups that received treatment beginning four weeks after a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The neurological impairments that result are expected to be permanent by four weeks, which represents the chronic stage of stroke. Each group received three treatment phases over the course of the study: high and low doses of dalfampridine, and placebo. The order of the treatment phases was different for each group, with a 10 day washout period between each phase.

Researchers assessed functional improvement using a battery of standard motor function tests in both the forelimbs and hind limbs. In each of the three study groups, treatment with dalfampridine resulted in significant improvement in function compared to placebo across all measures during the respective treatment periods. Improvements in the high dose phase were consistently better than those seen in the low dose phase.

“In addition to the seven million Americans living with the consequences of a prior stroke, there are close to 800,000 people in the United States who have new stroke events each year. The resulting disability has a major impact on the person who suffers the stroke as well as on their caregivers, and places a significant burden on the healthcare system,” said Seth Finklestein, M.D., Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Biotrofix, a preclinical research organization that conducted research for this study in partnership with Acorda.

“These are the first data from a well-controlled preclinical study that have demonstrated improvement in motor function related to walking and upper body movement. Developing a therapeutic option that can improve function would represent a potential major advance in the standard of care for stroke survivors.”

Acorda plans to begin a proof-of-concept trial of AMPYRA in stroke by the end of 2012. This study will evaluate the use of AMPYRA in stroke patients with chronic neurologic deficits, including walking impairment.

AMPYRA is approved in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed. AMPYRA is known as prolonged-, modified-, or sustained-release fampridine (FAMPYRA®) in some countries outside the United States.

Important Safety Information
 
AMPYRA can cause seizures; the risk of seizures increases with increasing AMPYRA doses. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a prior history of seizure. Discontinue AMPYRA use if seizure occurs.

AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl less-than or equal to 50 mL/min); the risk of seizures in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51-80 mL/min) is unknown, but AMPYRA plasma levels in these patients may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be associated with an increased risk of seizures; estimated CrCl should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

Urinary tract infections were reported more frequently as adverse reactions in patients receiving AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily compared to placebo.

The most common adverse events (incidence greater-than or equal to 2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA in MS patients were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

For full U.S. Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for AMPYRA, please visit: www.AMPYRA.com.



 
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with MS, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.

Acorda markets AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed.

AMPYRA is marketed outside the United States as FAMPYRA® 
 (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) by Biogen Idec under a licensing agreement from Acorda.
AMPYRA and FAMPYRA are sold under a license from Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited and manufactured by Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited and other parties.

The Company also markets ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and Zanaflex tablets, a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. 

Acorda is developing an industry-leading pipeline of novel neurological therapies. The Company is studying AMPYRA to improve a range of functional impairments caused by MS, as well as its use in other neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy and chronic stroke. 

In addition, Acorda is developing clinical stage compounds AC105 for acute treatment of spinal cord injury and GGF2 for treatment of heart failure. GGF2 is also being investigated in preclinical studies as a treatment for neurological conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injury.

Additional preclinical programs include rHIgM22, a remyelinating monoclonal antibody for the treatment of MS, and chondroitinase, an enzyme that encourages nerve plasticity in spinal cord injury.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking.

These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the United States; third party payors (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra outside of the United States and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection therewith; competition, including the impact of anticipated potential generic competition on Zanaflex Capsules revenues; failure to protect Acorda Therapeutics’ intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations; and, unfavorable results from our research and development programs.

These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements.

Forward-looking statements made in this release are made only as of the date hereof, and Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.



Source: Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
Acorda Therapeutics




Source:

Acorda Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Showing Dalfampridine Improves Motor Function in Chronic Stroke - New York Times
http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201202030700BIZWIRE_USPRX____BW5037&feedID=600&press_symbol=4121848

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Fish Oil Supplements Won't Help in Multiple Sclerosis: Study - US News and World Report

Fish Oil Supplements Won't Help in Multiple Sclerosis: Study - US News and World Report

Fish Oil Supplements Won't Help in Multiple Sclerosis: Study

But, supplements aren't harmful and can benefit heart health, one expert says

April 16, 2012 RSS Feed Print
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements don't appear to have any benefit on multiple sclerosis (MS), according a study by Norwegian researchers.

Multiple sclerosis affects about 2.5 million people worldwide. Some prior research has indicated that omega-3 fatty acid supplements might have anti-inflammatory effects that could benefit those with the disease, according to background information in the study.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, and in fish oil supplements.

"Our study provides evidence that omega-3 supplementation 
-has no beneficial effect on MS, 
-neither given alone nor in combination with interferon treatment," 

said lead researcher Dr. Oivind Torkildsen, from Haukeland University Hospital, in Bergen.

"Our data do not suggest that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was harmful or that it interfered with interferon beta treatment," he added.

This study is important, not only for neurologists and MS patients, but also for general practitioners, who frequently advise patients about lifestyle interventions and complementary approaches to MS treatment, Torkildsen said.

The report was published in the April 16 online edition of the Archives of Neurology.

After six months, all patients were given interferon beta-1a three times a week for an additional 18 months.
When the patients underwent MRI brain scans to look for new lesions, the researchers found no effect on the disease among those taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

The results were the same whether omega-3 fatty acid supplements were used alone or in combination with interferon beta-1a, the study authors noted.

These findings were in contrast with two other studies that showed possible positive effects from fish oil supplements, Torkildsen and colleagues pointed out.

No difference existed between the groups in the number of relapses during the first six months of treatment or after 24 months, and there were no differences in fatigue or quality of life, according to the results.

Blogger Response: My question would then be - Why does one negative study out weigh two positive studies with similar size and methodology?
"Inconclusive" seems like a more accurate be conclusion?

More information
For more information on MS, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Tags:
diet and nutrition,
diseases


 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Change your focus, Gain your life

Realize that by spending time thinking about what you can no longer do will make miserable.

Focus instead on what you can still do and away from the abilities you may have been robbed of by m.s, such as balance and strength.  Use your imagination and take an inventory of the many interests you can pursue.  Be creative.  If you were previously an athlete, use your intellect to write about sports or adapt your sports to the balance problem.  My neighbor has a 4 wheeled bike he rides everywhere, in spite of needing a cane to stand and walk.

She without arm, he without leg - ballet - Hand in Hand - YouTube


Uploaded by on Aug 26, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrb6i7gJAk&hd=1

Performed by Ma Li (馬麗) and Zhai Xiaowei (翟孝偉).
The music is composed by San Bao, his works include the music of the film - The Road Home directed by Zhang Yimou starred by Ziyi Zhang, this music is originally from a very popular TV episodes in China, named Qian Shou (牵手 hand in hand).

More informations in English about Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei: You can click "more" under "About This Video" in Interview:
PART 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UuA7qYrzeg
PART 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5TxNCSXBBw
PART 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMY_rJXcRl8

-------------------------------------
TV Show with Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei:
PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSIE5_7y86A
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROaS5Av78fk
PART 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSl2wc0_kHg
PART 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15uGCHMqNf8
PART 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLbxafaGb8

-----------------
http://cctv.com
http://english.cctv.com
-----------------

Category:


License:

Standard YouTube License


Quotes

Everyone has his burden; what counts is how you carry it.



It is just the little touches after the average man would quit that make the master's fame.
Orison Swett Marden


Unless you are prepared yourself to profit by your chance, the opportunity will only make you ridiculous.
A great occasion is valuable to you in proportion as you have educated yourself to make use of it.
Orison Swett Marden


We lift ourselves by our thought, we climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always, everywhere - your ideal of what you long to attain - the ideal of health, efficiency, success.
Orison Swett Marden


You cannot measure a man by his failures. You must know what use he makes of them. What did they mean to him. What did he get out of them.
Orison Swett Marden


If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)



When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, and all of his faculties say "amen" to what he is doing, and give their unqualified approval to his efforts, - this is happiness, this is success.

Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

Wisdom is knowledge which has become a part of one's being.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

There are powers inside of you, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.
It is the youth who sees a great opportunity hidden in just these simple services, who sees a very uncommon situation, a humble position, who gets on in the world.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

It is like the seed put in the soil - the more one sows, the greater the harvest.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

We advance on our journey only when we face our goal, when we are confident and believe we are going to win out.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

People who have accomplished work worthwhile have had a very high sense of the way to do things. They
have not been content with mediocrity. They have not confined themselves to the beaten tracks; they
have never been satisfied to do things just as others so them, but always a little better. They always
pushed things that came to their hands a little higher up, this little farther on, that counts in the
quality of life's work. It is constant effort to be first-class in everything one attempts that
conquers the heights of excellence.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

Every experience in life, everything with which we have come in contact in life, is a chisel which has
been cutting away at our life statue, molding, modifying, shaping it. We are part of all we have met.
Everything we have seen, heard, felt, or thought has had its hand in molding us, shaping us
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)


Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work
Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)


Groucho Marx's "Money will not make you happy, and happy will not make you money."


I think that I shall never see
a billboard lovely as a tree.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I'll never see a tree at all.

Ogden Nash (1902 - 1971)


Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)


I became a feminist as an alternative to becoming a masochist.
Sally Kempton


No one can earn a million dollars honestly.
William Jennings Bryan (1860 - 1925)











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M.S. Medical News

Drug Reduces MS Likelihood


(Ivanhoe Newswire) – According to a recent study, people who received injections of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug interferon beta-1a directly after noticing signs of possible MS were less likely to progress into definite MS compared to those who switched to interferon beta-1a from placebo.


Although it is not currently available in the United States, the trial was conducted with the human serum albumin-free formulation of interferon beta-1a, which is available in all European Union countries, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, and a number of countries in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

"While we've known it's beneficial to start MS drugs as soon as possible, this is the first trial to show a benefit of early injections of interferon beta-1a treatment at three years," Mark Freedman, M.S., with the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, was quoted as saying.

The clinical trial took three years and involved 517 people who had one clinical episode suggestive of a demyelinating event, such as tingling, muscle weakness, or problems with balance, coupled with having at least two silent brain lesions detected by a MRI scan.






SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology, April 2012

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=29267


Drug Reduces MS Likelihood | Medical News and Health Information











Boxing: 5 Rounds to KO Multiple Sclerosis - Yahoo! Sports

 Here is an example of thriving in spite of a disease like M.S.  It isn't for everybody...the great boxing trainer Freddie Roach clauims that being active in his Wildcard  Boxing Gym helps him fight his Parkinson's disease.

Boxing: 5 Rounds to KO Multiple Sclerosis - Yahoo! Sports


I have been boxing for the last four years as a way to cope with my multiple sclerosis. I box three times a week in the summertime as a means to increase my endurance for the other sports I play. I enjoy swimming, boxing, horseback riding, cycling, and playing baseball to name just a few of the sports I enjoy. Boxing helps me to build more endurance to last longer at these sports, which is the reason I enjoy boxing.
There are numerous reasons that boxing is beneficial to anybody's health, but I'm going to give you the top five reasons I find boxing beneficial to me in my battle with multiple sclerosis.

Benefit number one
The first reason I ever picked up a pair of boxing gloves was a defense against stress. Stress in a multiple sclerosis patient like me is not good. Boxing gives me a way to release this stress in a healthy manner, and provides for a great exercise routine as well. I can put on a pair of boxing gloves and hit the bags. This allows me to take my stress out on an object instead of bottling it up inside.
I have seen the results of bottling stress up inside of myself, since my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis back in 2006. I lived at an apartment which a stressful environment for me, because of the noise level and I ended up in the hospital for observations. I had called the office several times because of a neighbor and hey did nothing about the problem. So I started to build up stress inside of myself, and I had ended up having a bad flare up. I was admitted to the hospital for what was thought to be a mini-stroke at the time. It ended up being a bad flare up from my stress level.

Benefit number two
The second benefit I get out of boxing is the friendships I have built through boxing at the local gym. I have built numerous friendships with both the men and women at the gym by taking up boxing. These guys are always asking me why I took up boxing with a condition like multiple sclerosis. I always tell them about the stress not be good for me, and that this is how I get rid of my stress level.
These are friends of mine that I not only train and spare with but that I also hangout with outside the gym. Before my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis I did not hangout much with my friends outside of work. Now that I have multiple sclerosis I'm finding myself more involved with other people in the community. This is one of the reason I enjoy boxing.

Benefit number three
I have been using boxing as a weight control mechanism as well. Boxing is a full body workout that will definitely help keep the weight off. Through all the time I spent in the hospital and fighting depression I had put on a little weight. I can say today that through boxing and hard work I have shredded those pounds off.
I have dropped to the lowest weight I have been at in several years through my boxing routine that I follow very strictly. I go to the gym to box every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours at a time. This has been the reason I have been able to take those extra pounds off that my multiple sclerosis had put on me.

Benefit number four
I have used boxing to train myself in self-defense. Boxing is a good tool to use if you ever find yourself in a position that you need to fight back. I do not start fights, or even participate in them. I would only use my boxing skills to defend myself if I was ever faced with this need.
I know that I can fight back if the situation ever presented itself, but for people looking for a fight I just walk away. I'm glad I learned how to box, because I'm often times home by myself at night since my husband works graveyards. Knowing how to box has given me and my husband the peace of mind that I can protect myself if need be.

Benefit number five
I have learned many life lessons through boxing. The sport of boxing has taught me to give back to the community. This was a feat that was accomplished through the coaches giving me their time, and knowledge about the sport of boxing. The boxing coaches I have dealt with have been an inspiration to me since I first started boxing.

I have since given back to the community of Colorado Springs. I have helped out in fundraising events for organizations that raise education about multiple sclerosis. I have volunteered my time with other organization in the state of Colorado such as the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. I educated others about the sport of boxing within these organizations so that they understand there are ways to get out of the street life.

I have been boxing for four years as a way to fight back against multiple sclerosis.

New MS drug sparks Optimism

New MS drug sparks optimism | London | News | London Free Press



HEALTH: A drug called FAMPYRA, made to help MS sufferers, has been approved in Canada

Canada has approved a drug called FAMPYRA, which may help people with MS gain better mobility.

Nearly nine in 10 Canadians with MS struggle with mobility and clinicians say the new drug therapy is exciting.

"As a clinician who manages persons with multiple sclerosis, the approval of this treatment in Canada represents a real breakthrough in our battle to help individuals maintain independence and quality of life in the face of a progressive neurologic disease," said Dr. Christine Short of Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.

Those with MS also have a new source for information: MobilityMattersinMS.ca is a Canadian online resource that provides comprehensive information and resources about the difficulties with mobility in MS and it includes daily tips, mobility polls, event listings, real life stories and free tools MS is an unpredictable, often debilitating disease of the central nervous system that attacks the protective covering, or myelin, of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and damage.

When this occurs, the normal flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibres, or axons, becomes disrupted. Studies show that

FAMPYRA can increase conduction along damaged nerves and enable signals to pass down the nerve more normally, which may result in improved walking for adult MS patients.

The United States approved the drug for use two years ago; Europe, a year ago.

Canada has one of the highest prevalence of MS in the world, with between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadians diagnosed with the disease.






Sunday, April 22, 2012

Know Your Prioities

 "There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it." - Napoleon Hill 


When you find you have energy robbing Multiple Sclerosis,  you need to be vigilante to always be clear about your priorities

How you use your time and your limited physical energy can mean working on projects that are important to you  or not.  Learning to say no is an important life skill for keeping requests for your time at bay and living more selfishly is required to leave you energy enough to complete the simplest tasks.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

M.S. Drug with Promise

Ono’s Experimental MS Drug Cuts Brain Lesions, Study Shows - Businessweek

Bloomberg News

Ono’s Experimental MS Drug Cuts Brain Lesions, Study Shows

By Kanoko Matsuyama on April 16, 2012 
An experimental drug to treat multiple sclerosis developed by Ono Pharmaceutical Co. (4528) reduced the number of lesions in the brain, a study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology showed.

Patients who took the ONO-4641 tablet were found to have as many as 92 percent fewer brain lesions, compared with a group that took a placebo, according to the study released today.

 Side effects from the once-a-day oral administration of the drug over a 26 week period appeared to be dose-related and included a slower heartbeat, blood pressure changes and liver enzyme elevation.

The findings from the preliminary study move the drug a step closer to expanding the range of treatments for the debilitating condition that affects more than 2 million people worldwide. If approved, patients will have another treatment taken orally, in addition to Novartis AG (NOVN)’s Gilenya, the world’s first pill for MS.
 

The treatment will compete with therapies including Teva’s Copaxone, which generated $3.9 billion for the company in 2011, and Biogen’s Avonex, which sold $2.7 billion.

The research is scheduled for presentation at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in New Orleans, April 21 to April 28.

Ono Pharmaceutical, based in Osaka, Japan, funded the research.

Monday, April 16, 2012

The Magic of Consciousness - YouTube

The Magic of Consciousness - YouTube




  by on Apr 23, 2011
Daniel Dennett - The Magic of Consciousness

Daniel Dennett is Fletcher Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University.

Here Professor Dennett lectures on the philosophical obstacles to understanding consciousness. This lecture includes topics covered in detail in his wonderful books "Consciousness Explained" and "Sweet Dreams: Philosophical Obstacles to a Science of Consciousness".

KEYWORDS: Consciousness, Philosophy, Magic, Heterophenomenology, Optical Illusion, Neurology

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TEDxDU Ramona Pierson #2 -- Education goes digital - YouTube

TEDxDU Ramona Pierson #2 -- Education goes digital - YouTube
ploaded by TEDxTalks on May 20, 2011



Ramona Pierson -- Education goes digital.
In her second of two Talks at TEDxDU, Ramona explains the algorithm that will transform education. Imagine when school operates in the digital age: outdated textbooks and on-size-fits-all lesson plans are replaced by customized content offered up in real-time, delivering exactly what the teacher and the student need in the manner in which they learn best. Sound Utopian? It's in pilot today.
See complete bio and all TEDxDU Talks at www.tedxdu.com.

Ramona Pierson: An unexpected place of healing - YouTube

 
"One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity."
~Albert Schweitzer


Ramona Pierson: An unexpected place of healing - YouTube



 by on Dec 16, 2011 http://www.ted.com

When Ramona Pierson was 22, she was hit by a drunk driver and spent 18 months in a coma. At TEDxDU she tells the remarkable story of her recovery -- drawing on the collective skills and wisdom of a senior citizens' home.

Never Apply for A Job Again!

 This is a book at the library to start thinking of 'Guerrilla Marketing ideas for selling the concept of hiring the disabled person with good skills and work habits.  The job needs to be flexible enough to allow for uncertain day-to-day energy levels in the person suffering with M.S.  Do such opportunities even exist?  Is it realistic to want to join the workforce?

People with M.S. and living on a fixed income want to find ways to supplement their income and create a 'rainy day' fund for an uncertain future with the progression of symptoms.  What are the best ways to approach this problem?



Never Apply for A Job Again! | Vancouver Island Regional Library | BiblioCommons

 
Contents:  

Principle #1: the best way to get a job is : don't be looking for one
Principle #2: an ounce of research is worth a pound of job search
Principle #3: a question-able person creates enthusiastic relationships
Principle #4: you can never have too much information
and the higher the altitude, the better
Principle #5: a friend in need repulsion doth breed
Principle #6: call me expert, I'll open my door
Principle #7: eyes to eyes gets you the prize
Principle #8: a spoonful of ego-massage helps the relationship go down
Principle #9: top-of-mind is easy to find
Principle #10: treat yourself like a business to stay in business
 

Appendix 1: stealth method in action stories
Appendix 2: career transformation declarations
 

Conclusion and what's next

Notes: Includes index
Statement of Responsibility: by Darrell W. Gurney