Helix Exams: Multiple Sclerosis

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Multiple Sclerosis

Definition of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. It is caused by destruction of the myelin insulation covering nerve fibers (neurons) in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Clinical Trials Update: June 25, 2007 This study for people with multiple sclerosis will evaluate the effects of an investigational drug on cognitive functions including memory and thinking skills. Participants will need to visit the study clinic approximately six times over a three-month period. Candidates 18-64 who have at least a 9th grade education and a diagnosis of MS (relapsing remitting or secondary progressive) may qualify. Read the Article
Moms, Dads With MS Equal Transmitters of Disease Men and women with multiple sclerosis are equally likely to transmit the genetic risk of the disease to their children, claims a new study that contradicts another recent study that said fathers are twice as likely as mothers to pass the risk of MS to their children. Read the Article
Selenium Supplements Boost Type 2 Diabetes Risk Selenium supplements appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. The chances of developing the blood sugar disease was higher in people who had high blood selenium levels, according to the report in the July 10 online edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read the Article
One Billion People Don't Get Enough Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem that can lead to a number of serious health conditions, but it can be prevented, says one expert. People get vitamin D from sun exposure, diet and supplements. Yet vitamin D deficiency is all too common. Read the Article
Body Clock Shift May Cause Sickness-Linked Fatigue As anyone who has battled the flu knows, "sick and tired" often go hand-in-hand. Now, research suggests that illness-linked biochemistry may interfere with the body's "clock" to bring on the low-energy blahs. Especially for patients battling chronic fatigue, the new findings "could pave the way for further exploration of the interaction between the immune system and the circadian system, hopefully leading to a better understanding of how daytime fatigue could be treated," said study co-lead researcher Thomas Birchler, of the University Hospital Zurich, in Switzerland. Read the Article
Health Tip: Risk Factors for Preeclampsia Preeclampsia is a condition in pregnancy, characterized by a sudden, significant rise in blood pressure and swelling of the hands and feet. It can be dangerous for both the fetus and the mother. Here is a list of common risk factors, courtesy of the Preeclampsia Foundation: * A first pregnancy. * Family or personal history of preeclampsia, chronic high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease. * Obesity. * Multiple birth pregnancies. * Age younger than 18 or greater than 40. * Other conditions including polycystic ovarian syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis or multiple sclerosis. Read the Article
Sunlight in Youth Might Shield Against MS A new study of identical twins suggests that children who spend more time in the sun have a lower risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as adults. "Evidence is building up that something in relation to sunlight and/or vitamin D exposure during childhood may play a protective role," said study co-author Dr. Thomas M. Mack, of the department of preventive medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. "It's now been suggested by several different studies that this is the case, and if it's true, it would be important." Read the Article
Scleroderma: A Rare but Devastating Disease The skin thickens and tightens, becoming deformed and unyielding. Then, the skin around the body's joints allows for less and less bending. Hands, elbows and knees all become stiff. In worst cases, the hardening can reach into the internal organs, with potentially life-threatening results. The kidneys, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract and vascular system can become compromised, their normal processes hindered or halted as the organs grow rigid. Read the Article
Second Gene That Increases MS Risk Found In the most significant genetic breakthrough in multiple sclerosis research in three decades, scientists say they have unearthed a gene that can increase the risk of developing the autoimmune disease by 30 percent. The gene is only the second genetic risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) ever discovered. Read the Article
Early Interferon Treatment Delays MS Early treatment with the drug interferon slows the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in people with the first symptoms of the disease and reduces impairment, an international study shows. The study of 468 people found that 37 percent of those who got every-other-day injections of interferon beta-1b progressed to full-blown MS over three years, compared to 51 percent of those who got inactive injections, according to the report in the Aug. 4 issue of The Lancet. Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 10, 2007 To qualify for this clinical study of multiple sclerosis, candidates must be ages 18 to 65, diagnosed with either relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS, and cannot be taking any medication to treat MS. Read the Article
Experimental MS Vaccine Proves Safe in Early Test An experimental DNA vaccine to fight multiple sclerosis is safe and may also be effective, results of a small Canadian trial suggest. The vaccine, called BHT-3009, works by preventing the immune system from attacking the myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The destruction of myelin eventually destroys a nerve cell's axon, which prevents cells from transmitting messages and is one of the hallmarks of MS. Read the Article
Testosterone May Benefit Men With Multiple Sclerosis Testosterone gel may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in men with the disease, a new study suggests. Only 10 men took part in the research, all had milder forms of MS, and more studies will be needed before doctors determine whether the treatment really works. Still, the researchers were impressed that the men's mental decline ceased, and the shrinking of their brains returned to the normal levels expected due to aging. Read the Article
Social Stress Could Worsen MS Chronic social stress may aggravate neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), U.S. researchers report. The team at Texas A&M University also said certain interventions may prevent or halt stress-related inflammation, however. In experiments on mice, the researchers found that social stress increased central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Stress appeared to elevate levels of a cytokine called interleukin-6 (IL-6), which led to increased severity of MS-like illness in the mice. Read the Article
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