*MS Articles*-One Off Topic On Recalled Pet Food, the others are on MS-some drug

[Guest guest]

Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - Medicine's Next Big Thing: Healing

Brains and Bones

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=15746

Off Topic-About recalled Pet Food, for American pet owners:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17754681/

Could Estriol Be the Elixir for MS?

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Newswise Thu, 22 Mar 2007 5:17 PM PDT

This month a UCLA researcher begins a widespread clinical trial of the

female sex hormone estriol, produced during pregnancy, which she's shown

sharply reduces the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Study: Peptide can reduce MS symptoms

<http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews & id=9885>

New Kerala Thu, 22 Mar 2007 9:10 PM PDT

SAN DIEGO, March 22: U.S. scientists have identified a fibrin-derived

peptide that inhibits a specific inflammation process in mouse models of

multiple sclerosis.

FDA Would Limit Input of Doctors Paid By Drug Firms

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RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:03 AM PDT

By Diedtra , The Boston Globe Mar.

For , a Public Battle for Her Life

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RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:04 AM PDT

By Jill Lawrence and Rita Rubin Cancer has come to the presidential

campaign trail, a cruel repeat visitor in the lives of and

. The pair exuded tough optimism Thursday as they vowed

to continue their lives, and his Democratic presidential bid.

Giving

<http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/879152/giving/index.html?source=r_health>

RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:02 AM PDT

By Lee, C Fund-raisers and charitable donations from companies

and people Toshiba Corp.'s Toshiba Classic Golf Tournament generated

$8.8 million for local charities.

Congress Declares Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month

<http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/528350/?sc=rsmn>

Newswise Thu, 22 Mar 2007 2:17 PM PDT

Legislation has been introduced by Congress to name May National

Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month (ADAM) in order to call increased

attention to a family of diseases that are still not well-known or

well-understood by the medical and research communities and the general

public at large.

Scots' MRI scanning breakthrough 'has potential to save thousands'

FRANK URQUHART

A MAJOR breakthrough in scanning technology, which could save thousands

of lives by allowing doctors to spot developing diseases such as cancer

and multiple sclerosis at a much earlier stage, was announced by

ish researchers yesterday.

The new scanning device can provide up to 100 different images from

inside the body - compared to one from a conventional scanner - and

reveal views which are hidden from current equipment.

The scientists behind the technology say it should allow clinicians to

make diagnoses and gain important information about diseases at a much

earlier stage, developments cancer experts said last night would make a

" dramatic " difference to saving lives. It could also be used for

detecting other illnesses including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

The technology has been developed at Aberdeen University where, 25 years

ago, scientists were the first in the world to successfully use new

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the entire body of patient,

heralding the dawn of a new area in medical diagnostics.

MRI technology is based on the use of a large magnet to create a

magnetic field inside the human body and a scanner which sends out

bursts of radio waves to obtain return signals from various tissues to

produce images of internal organs.

Current MRI scanners operate on a set magnetic field, but the new

equipment will allow patients to be quickly scanned with a range of

magnetic fields, allowing clinicians to obtain new information about

what is happening in the body.

Two prototypes of the revolutionary new scanner have already been built

and the research team has been awarded £2.5 million in funding from the

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to perfect the new

" fast field-cycling " technology.

Lurie, professor of biomedical physics at Aberdeen University,

said he and his team were " tremendously excited " about the new system.

He explained: " It is a bit like having at our disposal 100 or more MRI

scanners, each one operating at a different magnetic field - but all in

the one scanner. The advantage is the new scanner will produce images of

the body that will tell clinicians important information about disease

processes at a much earlier stage. "

He added: " We are going to develop a new technique called 'fast

field-cycling MRI' and the main difference is we will be able to switch

the magnetic field in about one-twentieth of a second while the patient

is in the scanner. We can obtain information about tissues at a whole

range of magnetic fields. That will unlock information hidden to the

standard MRI.

" The new method will be particularly sensitive to changes in proteins in

the tissues in the body and especially changes that arise from disease.

" It will be of use in research and diagnosis into conditions such as

Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and, potentially,

cancer. It will be used in research into what brings about all those

conditions and it will, we hope, allow earlier diagnosis of these

conditions which will mean better treatment.

" We know it works in principle and we want to perfect the technology to

produce a working human-sized scanner. "

Prof Lurie said the equipment, the development of which should be

completed within four years, had the potential to save " thousands of

lives " .

Dr Mark Matfield, scientific consultant to the Association for

International Cancer Research, said: " This could be an important

technological development that could tell us more about how advanced a

cancer is, thus helping doctors choose the most appropriate treatments.

In general, the earlier a tumour is diagnosed - particularly before it

has spread - the easier it is to treat successfully.

" In some cancers, the difference is dramatic. If breast cancer is

diagnosed at an early stage - before it has spread - six out of seven

patients survive for at least five years. However, if the cancer is only

diagnosed when it is advanced, only one in seven patients is alive five

years later. "

Kate Fearnley, policy director of Alzheimer Scotland, said: "

Initiatives like this are vital if researchers are to understand what

goes wrong in the brain and how we might be able to stop it. "

And Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and development for the

Parkinson's Disease Society, added:

" Any research that can shed more light on the causes and progression of

Parkinson's, and lead to a more accurate diagnosis, will help to target

new treatments and bring us closer to finding an effective cure. "

.. AN ELDERLY man from the fishing town of Fraserburgh made history on 28

August, 1980, when he became the first patient in the world to receive a

whole-body MRI scan.

The scan, which picked up the tumours on his liver that would eventually

claim his life, marked a massive breakthrough in magnetic resonance

imaging technology. It was developed by a team of researchers at

Aberdeen University, led by Professor Mallard, who was then head of

the medical physics department.

The development of the MRI body scan was hailed at the time as the

biggest improvement in medical diagnostics since the discovery of X-rays

in 1895.

Dr Francis , who carried out the first scan, said: " We are fiercely

proud of what was achieved all those years ago. "

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=446242007

AT THE ASSEMBLY - Advocates Seek Extension of Medical Marijuana Law

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RedNova Fri, 23 Mar 2007 6:00 PM PDT

By Milkovits; Journal Staff Writer In January 2006, Rhode Island

became the 11th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, but

the law is due to be repealed on June 30.

A Call For Relief: Talk Show Host Montel Advocates For Medical

Marijuana Bill At Conference

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RedNova Sat, 24 Mar 2007 9:00 AM PDT

By Colin Poitras, The Hartford Courant, Conn. Mar. 24--Talk show host

Montel tried to fight back tears Friday as he described to

Connecticut lawmakers how he smokes or eats marijuana every day to hold

off the spasms and pain caused by multiple sclerosis.

Primary endpoint met in phase 2 trial of daclizumab in patients with MS

<http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=38117>

PharmaBiz Sat, 24 Mar 2007 1:49 AM PDT