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Using powerful MRI to track iron levels in brain could be new way to monitor progression of MS



Medical researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a new way to track the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in those living with the disease, by using a powerful, triple strength MRI to track increasing levels of iron found in brain tissue.

The researchers discovered that iron levels in MS patients are increasing in grey matter areas of the brain that are responsible for relaying messages. High iron levels in a specific "relay area" were noted in patients who had physical disabilities associated with MS.

Iron is very important for normal function of the brain and the amount of iron is a tightly controlled system by the brain tissue. The discovery suggests there is a problem with the control system. Too much iron can be toxic to brain cells and high levels of iron in the brain have been associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. But to date, no tests have been able to quantify or measure iron in living brain.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/3253

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The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre

Squiffy's House of Fun - Laughter for Multiple Sclerosis

Why are they calling this new?
"No tests available to quantify or measure iron in living brain tissue" is not true.
Drs. Bakshi, Haacke, Zivadinov and Ge have been monitoring and quantifying iron in the brain for almost a decade.
SWI technology was the first to allow researchers to see iron in brain tissue, and to note that it was related to accruing disability
Dr. Ge has used magnetic field correlation (MFC) technology to image iron in gray matter in MS-
http://www.ajnr.org/content/28/9/1639.long
Here's a story from 2003 and Dr. Bakshi
http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis ... n-in-brain

Why does Alberta feel the need to have their neuroimmunology department come out with this study and specifically state "This has nothing to do with CCSVI?" They are protesting and affirming beyond normal research measures.
It is curious, and quite odd.
and revisionist history,
cheer

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

Because the tests and works done by Haacke et al are currently not accepted by the majority of neurologists, so this title will always look more impressive when refered to. Its like five yearolds claiming who is the best or maybe trying to get published in medical journals is heading in the same directions as "News" stries (Headline, Headline, Headline!)

CCSVI should take it like a Hollywood Starlet, 'There's no such thing as bad publicity' Hopefully others will start to question how the iron got there if its not "in the blood". Seems obvious what brought it there, and then there is a need to explain why it stayed / got deposited... the world turns, but slowly.

Cure--I can understand the ignorance regarding Haacke's SWI work (well, not really...)
but they surely can't have missed Dr. Rohit Bakshi's decade long study of iron in gray matter?? He's a neuro, and has been published in their journals, and spoken at their conferences. Still don't get how they can say "New!" Do they really think we can't read?

http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis ... n-in-brain


sounds reasonable enough, doesn't it??

cheer

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

You are REALLY going to be upset if/when NEUROLOGIST start claiming they discovered a new cause of MS, that vascular deformities are causing MS.

Ha! Good one, cure. Dr. Fox/Cleveland Clinic already did that with their autopsy presentation at ECTRIMS...Look! We found valvular malformations never seen before! (um...maybe read B.B. Lee's descriptions of truncular malformations and CCSVI...)
But whatever that emoticon is doing (having a grande mal seizure?) I won't go there. Promise.
cheer

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS