A flurry of innovative vaccine trials is in the offing as governments and regulatory agencies prepare for the probable launch of mass swine flu vaccination programs in the fall. The results of the trials could determine whether people   more »

Researchers at the University of Antwerp are currently comparing 4 potential vaccines for H1N1v, also known as swine flu or Mexican flu. 300 to 400 volunteers will be recruited for the tests. "There is a good chance that a Mexican flu vaccine is available early November", expects vaccine expert Prof. Dr. Pierre van Damme, director of the   more »

A flurry of innovative vaccine trials is in the offing as governments and regulatory agencies prepare for the probable launch of mass swine flu vaccination programs in the   more »

A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is a procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid to check for the presence of disease or injury. A spinal needle is inserted, usually between the 3rd   more »

Thank you for your comment on my blog. I did not write that article. I reported it from Associated Press - Jun. 29, 2009. I put Associated Press - Jun. 29, 2009 on the bottom of the article to indicate that I did not write it. But   more »

Do you think it is possible that the MRI my neurologist gave me a few years ago would not have shown anything at the time b/c the condition wasn’t severe enough at the time? I’m just wondering if I should get tested again or if it is highly unlikely that it is related to ms? The double vision apparently was just 'one of those things that sometimes happens' with my strong vision prescription. . and   more »

Generalized Anxiety Disorder – often called G.A.D (as in Gee Ah Dee not gad). This disorder causes chronic anxiety, even when there is not outward cause of it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – often   more »

The MS Technology Collaborative has created a new way for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to exercise their brain power. The Collaborative, an alliance of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Microsoft, and the US National Multiple Sclerosis Society, announced the launch of   more »

(Used to measure balance of the older adult, and is now be used in some instances for people with MS) The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was developed to measure balance among older people with impairment in balance function by assessing the performance of functional tasks. It is a valid instrument used for evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions and for quantitative descriptions   more »

The immune system's T-cells react to foreign protein fragments and therefore are crucial to combating viruses and bacteria. Errant cells that attack the body's own material are in most cases driven to cell death. Some of these autoreactive T-cells, however, undergo a kind of re-education to become "regulatory T-cells" that keep other   more »

I would like to be considered for any drug trials you may have. I am a 41 year old woman with RRMS, diagnosed   more »

An immediate and short-lived, usually severe reaction in which the body responds to what is perceived to be a foreign substance with exaggerated symptoms, such as extreme itching, swelling, and often life-threatening respiratory   more »

Reconstitution The restoration to original form of a substance previously altered for preservation and storage Reflex An involuntary response of the nervous system to a stimulus, such as the stretch reflex, which is elicited by tapping a tendon with a reflex hammer, resulting in a contraction. Increased, diminished, or absent reflexes can   more »

Paraparesis Weakness of the lower extremities (legs). Paraplegia Paralysis of both lower extremities (legs). Paresis Partial or incomplete   more »

Necrosis Death or decay of tissue that results from loss of the blood supply and oxygen needed to keep tissue alive and healthy. Nerve A bundle of nerve fibers (axons). The fibers are either afferent (leading toward the brain and serving in the perception of sensory stimuli of the skin, joints, muscles, and inner   more »