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Show ' 6 CUPPERjLFriday, August 6, 1 993 f C , FDA OK's By PAUL .News 'CHaI LIS Betaseron for MS patients Betaseron were BOUNTIFUL than X-- New information on an unorthodox treatment involving bees and the announcement Of the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of a new drug to combat Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the first in 25 years. hae renewed interest in a disease hat has crippled thousands of Americans. e low-dos- Treated 'patients had fewer hospitalizations due to MS during the study period. MRI scans of the brains of showed patients significant reduction in disease activity in the high-dos- e group, measured by lesion area or appearance of new lesions. refrigeration effect can last tor up to four hours. It is best to perform this cooling in the middle or late afternoon, when fatigue and body heating are at their highest levels. If it not possible to get into a can be used in emergencies. A cooling gel pad placed about the neck or low back can assist in facilitating heat loss when the environmental temperature is very high. cooling the legs. A heavy towel can be placed over the extremities and Physical exercise increases body temperature, and when temperature regulation may be cold bath, a large plastic wastebasket may be used for an electric fan may facilitate evaporative cooling from the moist towels. When traveling it is important to have an emergency system for protection 5clis!2li) Phone;(80.1 of The mode of action Betaseron is unknown, but it is thought that it suppresses immune system attacks in MS individuals," Knorr said. This is helpful because most researchers believe that MS is a disease in which the body comes under attack from its own immune system, causing the destruction of myelin, the fatty coating that insulates nerve cells and allows them to carry electric signals. It is expected that supply of Betaseron will lag demand for some time while the producer develops the ability to manufacture the drug in commercial volume. The medical advisory board claims there is no scientific or clinical studies that support the role, or demonstrate the benefit, of bee stings and or the venom in treatment of MS.. from quarter-of-a-centur- y. Batascroo is approved for use by d of MS patients who have mild to moderate rdapsing-remittin- g MS and who are ambulatory (walking). Though it is not a cure, it has been shown in clinical trial to reduce the number of and severity of exacerbations or onset of symptoms and the number of brain lesions in the patients with relapsing-remitrin- g MS. FDA approval means that physicians can prescribe Betaseron." said Judy Knorr, public relations director of the Utah Chapter of the A search of the medical literature reveals no publication related to these topics. Claims of benefits are not supported by physician-observe- d and reported objective changes in disease. "It is important to caution that some individuals are quite allergic to bee stings and bee venom, Dr Stephen C. Reingold, vice president for Research and Medical Programs of the NMSS. Thus, this approach can have significant dangerous side effects for sensitive individuals." one-thir- Sclerosis take into the account d, trolled. Some 372 ambulatory patients with well defined mfld to moderate rclapsing-remittin- g MS from 1 1 U-and Canadian centers studies 1 1 50 S. Main of tfr f&udy. differences ic fer dcmoastrati leS-ioje- ct the There were diy, c. Y so muserr -- Y f " sig Be wi; 4 e kju& nf ifeef Tdi! , exaccsKSs candy lower ia were sting-be- e. the' contact treated patients compared :eho controls. -- berv, their ... , 84010 & -- 1 T o r te C 45' veaera ucttm&fj the Utah Chapter NMSS at 575-850-0 or 8116. ' . kp5.t r Wtn This Coipon rfjbee reJfcr' treas' ..Those Bountiful, Ut. Special Offer Isvkiuals wtn arc ,viivaetfct LONELINESS One Perm, Two Looks! of chnkal studies sheet the use oftLe strays , HOUSEKEEPING 7 S. In the absence LAUNDRY Street claims, Reingofcl said. pstidptfed. i & high to substantiate raw 5 Heritage . mowing Plaee doldrums variability and complexity of MS. Individuals who wish to make claims for safety and benefit are urged to undertake such proper The trial was randomized, double-blinand placebo-co- c 1298-959- COOKING The NMSS is open to any bona fide treatment, shown to be safe and effective for MS, but cautions that studies claiming safety and benefit must be conducted in a controlled, randomized fashion to Society. Beriex Laboratories and Chiron Corporation have indicated that marketing and distribution of Betaseron will begin in about two months. - T5kals learned to impaired by MS, body temperature may be excessive. Cooling before exercise can increase the efficiency of exercise and minimize neurologic symptoms that may occur in association with exercise. It is best to exercise in a cool environment. An exercise that has a cooling fan is also very helpful. elevation d; From such reports, it is impossible to separate treatment claims from the potential for spontaneous changes in disease or form possible placebo effects, that at not treatment related," the board said in nationwide press release. On the other hand, the announcement of Betaseron is one of the first optimistic developments in fighting MS in nearly a - excessive against heating. Canying extra fluid in the car to maintain hydration and a small Styrofoam cooler in which cooling gel pads can be kept frozen Treatment was' side effects included flu-li- ft symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, sweating, and fatigue), which decreased after three months, and inflammation at the injection site. individuals who have tried such approaAes. Multiple on se The announcement was made by Bericx Laboratories of Richmond, Calif., which conducted the clinical trials and will market the agent in the U.S., and by Chiron Corporation of Emeryville, Calif., which will manufacture the agent. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's (NMSS) medical advisory board is also warning victims of the disease not to use bee stings-be- e venom as a treatment The board claims that reports of any benefits have been based entirely on National It is important for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to plan ahead and avoid excessive heating and to have strategies for bodv cooling during the hot summer months, according to Dr. Jack H. Petajan, Utah neurologist, who specializes in treating victims of MS. Petajan suggests the following tips for staying coal; Immerse the body, or at least the lower half of the body, in tepid water that Is gently agitated. Cold water is then added to the bath until the water temperature is about that of a cold swimming pool. Soak in this bath for 20-3- 0 minutes to achieve optimum deep cooling of the lower extremities. This exacerbation-fre- e patients Patients receiving high-dowho did have exacerbations had fewer moderate or severe exacerbations than those receiving low -- dose medication or placebo. MS.' the e high-dos- Betaseron The FDA in late July gave final foH licensing and of Betaseron. the first marketing agent to come along in decades, that changes the underlying course of information on medication. approval anecdotal MS victims told to stay cool of treatment, .After two years -- more patients Editor ', f'A . - Hx t ur ni r y i y hair c ' rei cf I -- A, , S'- -" 293-555- 6 7 a. |