Apr
24
Scientists Use Stem Cells to Reverse Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Filed Under Research | 2 Comments
Boston (HealthKnowItAll) – It is being reported that scientists have used stem cells to reverse the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a debilatating disease that attacks the protective myeli of the spinal cord and central nervous system.
People with MS exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty talking, difficulty walking, and a lot of pain.
Currently there is no cure for the condition but scientists are working hard to find one, a fact that is evident by this recent news.
In a study, scientists used stem cells derived from the body fat of people with MS to inject back into their bodies, thus eleviating their symptoms.
A patient who had been suffering severe seizures related to his multiple sclerosis, had his painful seizures stop entirely when injected with stem cells.
Another patient continues to be able to walk and even ride a bike.
read the rest via Scientists Use Stem Cells to Reverse Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis : HealthKnowItAll.net
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Apr
21
‘An unfortunate inconvenience’ for MS researcher
Filed Under Personal Stories, Research | 2 Comments
Perhaps the essay that researcher Dale Edberg wrote about the future of his life was prophetic.
Top priorities? Further his education, then do multiple-sclerosis research.
He couldn’t have known that he would soon deal with the illness himself, after developing numbness and vision trouble.
“It was two years before I ended up going to the doctor,” he said. “I didn’t go to the doctor because I’m a guy and I blamed it on an old Marine Corps injury. The only reason I ended up getting diagnosed was because I went blind.” The only thing he could see on an eye chart was the giant E.
Edberg figures he was affected by MS for a reason — so that he could join a research team at Mayo Clinic that he now hopes will find not just a treatment, but a cure.
read the rest via Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN.
Apr
21
Genetic ‘brakes’ for cancer found
Filed Under News, Research | Leave a Comment
Scientists have found the genetic “brakes” which could slow down or stop diseases like multiple sclerosis and cancer, it is claimed.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said their findings could also lead to new treatments for such illnesses.
It was previously thought a select group of “master” genes was responsible for controlling the growth of cells which can cause the conditions.
But the study discovered that there are actually hundreds of genes which interact with each other.
Scientists said they believed variations in this network explained why people could develop diseases in different ways.
The team hopes that by identifying weak spots in the gene structure they will be able to stop the growth of tumours, enabling the growth of healthy cells.
Professor David Hume, of the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, who led the study, said: “This study has effectively shown us where the brakes are which could slow down or stop diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
read the rest via The Press Association: Genetic ‘brakes’ for cancer found.
Apr
21
‘Few know multiple sclerosis facts’
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Few people know that multiple sclerosis (MS) mostly strikes people in their 20s and 30s, according to a new poll.
A survey for the MS Society found only a quarter were aware that people aged 25 to 34 were most likely to be diagnosed.
Four out of 10 (40%) members of the public could not name a single symptom of MS, which include loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, numbness, bowel and bladder problems, muscle stiffness and spasms.
Some people thought MS led to brittle bones, bad teeth, phlegm and loss of appetite.
The poll of more than 2,000 people also found 6% attributed MS to “public health issues” such as obesity, poor diet, smoking or germs.
Meanwhile, four out of 10 (40%) thought all people with MS ended up in a wheelchair whereas just 20% do.
read the rest via The Press Association: ‘Few know multiple sclerosis facts’.