Progressive MS. Issue three (August/ September 2015)

Posted by & filed under MS News.

My name is Ian Cook. I am a journalist with progressive MS from the UK who is writing a regular free ezine about progressive MS. Issue three (August/ September 2015) is attached.  I hope you find it interesting.

In this issue are stories about trials for people with primary progressive and secondary progressive MS, some of which are due to report this year. Ocrelizumab is a drug  which is being trialled in PPMS and SPMS and is due to report in 2015. Another drug Masitinib is halfway through its clinical trials and will probably report next year. Both these drugs have already shown some signs of working in progressive MS.

Plus there are two features – one on FES or Functional Electrical Stimulation which uses small pulses of electricity to get your leg muscles working. FES  has been a big help in keeping me walking. There’s another feature on  biotin or vitamin B7 for progressive MS which is a possible new treatment for progression.

So enjoy reading and please send this to all the people with progressive MS that you know, so they can read it and sign up to receive copies sent directly to their inbox.

Best wishes, Ian Cook

progMSezineissue3

Volunteers needed

Posted by & filed under Centre News.

Volunteers wanted for collection at Millets Farm Saturday 26th September, time slots start at 9.30 for 1.5hr sessions, see Reception for sheet.

Asian MS Newsletter

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A new Asian MS Newsletter has been produced, the editor is Trishna Bharadia.

“Asian MS is a national support group for Asians with MS, their carers, friends and family. We seek to increase awareness and dispel ignorance of MS in the Asian community, as well as put fun and dignity into the lives of Asians with MS and their carers. We also raise money for people affected by MS within the Asian community. We produce online and  printed information in various languages and offer an interpreting service.”

To read click here

Have your say on the NICE quality standard for MS

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Source MS Trust:

Calling all people with MS and health professionals! We need your help to shape our response to a consultation on the key areas for improving services for people with MS.

Following the publication last year of the NICE Guideline for the management of MS in primary and secondary care (Clinical Guideline 186), NICE is now consulting on the key priorities that will help drive service improvement and improve outcomes for people with MS. These are set out in the draft NICE quality standard Multiple sclerosis in adults: diagnosis and management.  Read on. 

Plegridy approved for NHS in Wales

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Source MS Trust:Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) has been approved as a treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis on the NHS by the Welsh drug regulator the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG).

Plegridy should be available on the Welsh NHS within three months, so neurologists should be able to prescribe it from late October 2015. Plegridy was approved for NHS treatment in Scotland in January. The regulatory bodies for England (NICE) and Northern Ireland have not yet considered Plegridy.  Read on.