Cladribine Tablets Show Promise as MS Treatment

There is big news in treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. At Queen Mary, University of London, researchers have been conducting a study with over 1,300 MS patients. Patients were given treatment either 2 or 4 treatment courses of cladribine or were given a placebo. Researchers monitored the patients through MRI scans. Patients on the new medication were 55% less likely to suffer a relapse and over 30% less likely worsening in their condition than were those patients who were taking the placebo.

Not only does the new pill seem to be effective but it will be a welcomed alternative to injection therapy. "Our study shows that cladribine tablets prevent relapses and slow down the progression of the disease making patients feel better. Importantly, it does so without the need for constant injections that are associated with unpleasant side effects," says professor Gavin Giovannoni, who is the lead researcher.

Since multiple sclerosis is an auto-immune disease, cladribine works by suppressing the immune system and, therefore, reduces the risk to the patient's nervous system. It is not clear if there are significant risks associated with having a depressed immune system. If it becomes available to patients, cladribine will be the first licensed treatment for MS which does not involve regular injections.

Former Consolidated Theaters CEO Makes Largest Donation to National MS Society in Carolinas

The President of Stone Theaters and former owner of Consolidated Theaters has said that he will spend the rest of his life dedicated to finding a cure for MS. This comes after two of Stone's children have been diagnosed with the disease.

The business man has donated 1 million Thursday and launched a new campaign at the N.C. Research Campus to battle multiple sclerosis. The campaign will fund current and future research at the campus, much of which will be completed at the state-of-the-art David H. Murdock Core Laboratory.

Much of the research will be completed at the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory. Campus founder David Murdock says the partnership fits with his vision for the campus to become public-private partnership focused on health and nutrition. To date, 17 businesses, eight N.C. universities and the state’s community college system plan a presence on the research campus.

How Much Do You Need to Make to Afford Housing In NC?

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, $13.33 per hour to afford rent and utilities. More than 44 percent of renters in North Carolina can’t afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent, according to the study. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development reports a two-bedroom apartment in North Carolina rents for an average of $693.

Chris Estes is the Executive Director of North Carolina Housing Coalition. He says, "We already had an affordable rental crisis prior to the recession and foreclosure increases. The current economic situation has worsened housing affordability because more and more families are moving backwards economically.”

The NC Housing Coalition has been working with the General Assembly to provide affordable housing via a Housing Trust Fund. The fund was given $15.5 million which was used to create 1,260 apartments and houses last year. Unfortunately, this will likely be cut out of this year's budget.

Congressman Brad Miller Hosts Stem Cell Roundtable Discussion

Yesterday the Eastern NC Chapter's director of public policy and colleagues attended a roundtable discussion with Congressman Brad Miller.

The discussion was attended by several advocate organizations, including Hadassah, JDRF, NCSCIA and Parkinson’s network as well as David Gerber, Chief, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina.

During the roundtable, advocates discussed with Congressman Miller their re-established hope for a cure since President Obama's lifted an 8 1/2 year ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

“Congressman Miller has been a strong advocate for scientists who want to do their jobs, free from political influence. As Chairman of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee on the House Science Committee, he has held hearings on the manipulation, suppression and distortion of research. He would value your thoughts and insights about these concerns as it relates to embryonic stem cell research and/or other important medical research”

Does the Medical Treatment I Get Depend on What Community I live In?

Geography is often destiny when it comes to medical care. That might not seem the most intuitive conclusion, but a study by the NC Health Access Coalition seems to bear it out. In Morganton NC, for example, patients are 1.5 times more likely to undergo bypass surgery than patients who live only 22 miles to the west in Hickory. Morgantonians are also twice as likely to undergo cardiac bypass surgery as are residents of nearby Rutherfordton. That is one of the more mild discrepancies in the study (which you can read by clicking the title of this post) whose main points are:

1.) That surgical rates vary widely across neighboring communities in North Carolina.

2.) Poverty levels, diagnosis and the availability of medical care have been ruled out as explanations for the variation.

3.) Physician preference is driving care even when multiple, valid treatment options exist for a given diagnosis.

4.) NC could save millions and operate a more patient-centered model of healthcare if it would study and limit the variation.

So, are physicians trying to keep patients from getting the treatment they prefer? Not exactly, but look at it from the view of the doctor. In your career, especially as a specialist, you'll see many patients who have the same condition, for which there will be many treatment options. Sometimes empirical evidence may indicate one treatment better than the others but, all things equal, it would be easier to perfect one course of action. Over time doctors end up preferring the treatment with which they're most familiar.

Nor surprisingly, patient's tend to shy away from expensive and invasive procedures. Doctor's however, push for more aggressive intervention into disease. The doctor of course knows best and in many cases he opts for that route because it is the surest way to achieve optimum health. But it also detracts from the patient being the one at the center of the choice about medical care. At least, this is afar more likely scenario than Fayetteville citizens preferring or requiring endarterectomies six times as much as their counterparts in Durham.