Article that popped up on my Yahoo! News Feed this morning.

[Ojibajo]

Multiple Sclerosis ‘Immune Exchange’ Between Brain and Blood Is Uncovered

Released: 11/19/2012 3:50 PM EST
Source: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

UCSF Finding of Movement with Disease-Causing B Cells Gives Hope for New Treatments and Diagnostics

Article link below:

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/596348/?sc=rsmn

[zoefromsussex]

Is this the new treatment being trialled in Russia? I think I read about somebody on facebook who was in Moscow celebrating her new life without ms and her new immune system and I was confused!

[kwarendorf]

Every day a little closer...!

[SarahL2491]

how can you celebrate a new life without ms if its incurable?  only in ussr I guess!

[Ojibajo]

I recommend reading the article to get your answers. I believe it was a study done at the University of California, San Francisco. (UCSF not USSR). The  The source under the title sort of eludes to that.


Since the link didn't seem to hyperlink, try copying and pasting it into your browser.

[twopack]

Zoe, I wonder if that person in Russia (or visiting Russia) had a stem cell transplant.  It's the only treatment I'm aware of with any potential to allow a person with MS to start over with a new immune system.  Stem cell transplants aren't done routinely to treat MS yet but there have been some done in cases of extreme loss of function and within research protocols.  Some results have been quite remarkable.

It was generally accepted in the past that the demyelination of MS is caused primarily by activation of T cells against a component of CNS myelin.  This article reflects an interest (and apparent finding) regarding the role of B cells in MS.  Finding out B cells (another type of lymphocyte) are more involved - especially if they move between the CNS and serum - can expand treatment possibilities.

BTW, only links to other pages within MedHelp will hyperlink.  All others must be copied and pasted into your browser address bar.

(Yea Sarah, people with incurable diseases only usually get a new start in no-man-land countries that no longer exist. lol)

[SarahL2491]

thanks for keeping me in line!  apologies for the USSR, didn't think of UCSF.

Stem cell has made much progress in many avenues.  I was unable to copy/paste this link, it kept coming up as a bad link regardless of how I shortened it.....was destined not to read it.

[Ojibajo]

Try just going to www.yahoo.com. It's one of the top ten trending news topic today.


LOL @ your comment twopack! :)