Newly Diagnosed and Untreated? We'd like you to give blood.

art · Post by **art** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:42 pm

Accelerated Cure Project for MS is seeking out individuals who meet
the following criteria in order to fulfill a sample and data request
from researchers at NASA.

The researchers at NASA will be using repository samples to perform
pathogen and gene expression analyses in an effort to provide insight
into one of the potential causes of MS.

There are no drugs involved, only a blood draw and extensive
interview.

Criteria:

* Diagnosed MS within the past 2 years
* Never taken any MS drugs
(Avonex,Betaseron,Copaxone,Rebif,Tysabri,or chemo)
* No antibiotics or steroids w/in 2 weeks prior to sample draw
* No cold or flu reported day of draw
* 18 years or older
* Able to travel to one of our 6 participating sites in:
Worcester, MA
New York, NY
Baltimore, MD
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Phoenix, AZ

If you meet the above criteria and live or travel near one of our
sites, please contact repository director for more information:

Sara Loud
781-487-0032
acp-study-director@acceleratedcure.org

Details on our repository:
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/repository/index.php

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:47 am

I emailed to find out when. Maybe this is a way in which I can contribute.

art · Post by **art** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:03 pm

I forgot to mention, if you don't meet the criteria above, but have MS, TM, NMO, ADEM, or ON, you can still participate in the repository in general if you can get to one of the sites. Just contact Sara (above) but don't say it is for the NSA project.

cheerleader · Post by **cheerleader** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:10 pm

Hey Art-
You are one of my heros. Since my husband's dx last March (he's 44-like you), I've read a bunch about you and studied up on your site. You are doing amazing work, and it is appreciated.

Just wanted to say thanks for all of us...hope you are doing well, and dealing with your own MS.

best,
the aging cheerleader

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:49 pm

I scheduled an appointment. March 11. I will make the drive from Cincinnati to Atlanta. "Making" my daughter go with me. She loves road trips, so it will be a good time, I'm sure.

Loriyas · Post by **Loriyas** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:21 pm

Awesome Terry! Thanks for doing this!
Lori

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:17 am

I am very happy to get to be involved in this. I am just under the 2 years of dx so the timing is good!

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:38 pm

Hi all. I packed my bags and headed for Atlanta on Sunday. My daughter and I spent the day on Monday mostly shopping and eating, and on Tuesday we went to the Shepherd Center for my appointment. The study coordinator was amazingly kind and friendly and the blood draw was a breeze. They had told me they would take 11 vials and I worried a bit, but they weren't very large and it was easy.
I am glad I was able to do this, and hope my participation will help in the search for the reason behind MS and ultimately in finding a cure.
We drove back to Cincinnati after the appointment and I was back to work today, albeit a bit tired.
One thing I wondered.... there was an extensive questionnaire I had to fill out. One set of questions asked my dominant hand, and the dominant hand of my parents, siblings, grandparents, and children (and their father). Anyone know why this might be important?

Terry

Lyon · Post by **Lyon** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:46 pm

Post by **NHE** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:32 pm

Terry wrote:
One thing I wondered.... there was an extensive questionnaire I had to fill out. One set of questions asked my dominant hand, and the dominant hand of my parents, siblings, grandparents, and children (and their father). Anyone know why this might be important?
Hi Terry,
I have no idea and did a search of "dominant hand multiple sclerosis" and there didn't seem to be any obvious reason on the internet to justify their interest.

This could be totally wrong but it might be the case that they think that a gene involved in handedness is linked to a gene involved in MS susceptibility.

NHE

Lyon · Post by **Lyon** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:56 am

art · Post by **art** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:46 am

We ask that question because almost all neurological studies want to know that information. It isn't specific to MS, but could be used for correlating other factors to see if there is a pattern. People who look at MRIs also like to know handedness. Handedness is correlated with many other things, like intelligence, autism, and others.

So, it's just a neurological measure that could be interesting.

MrsGeorge · Post by **MrsGeorge** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:04 am

Doh - I would totally have taken part but it's a bit far to go to give blood - from England!

TwistedHelix · Post by **TwistedHelix** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:20 am

I wonder if this, "dominant hand", question is related in any way to the recent research into finger length ratios? The difference in length between the index and ring finger turns out to be a surprisingly good indicator of both sexuality and athletic ability. This unexpected link seems to have its basis not only in genetics but also in exposure to androgen and oestrogen in the womb, and at the very least increases our understanding of foetal development.
Maybe this question, which sounds a bit bizarre at first, might lead to similar understanding .
As Bob said, "no stone unturned",

MrsGeorge · Post by **MrsGeorge** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:39 am

^^ got a link for any of that - sounds interesting!