Multiple Sclerosis Expert Dr. Kantor shares Multiple Sclerosis management news and commentary at MultipleSclerosisCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/37128/clinical Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:06:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor We are getting closer the release of the first oral medicines in the treatment of Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) with the goal of preventing relapses (and hopefully progression and disability). Altruistic patients worldwide are taking part in multiple clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy (effectiveness) of these new forms of medicines. These newer medicines are giving the MS Community hope because they do not involve needles, but... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/37128/clinical http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/36604/present Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:59:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor Our thoughts are with the patients and families in Europe who recently developed PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) on Natalizumab (Tysabri®).   When Tysabri® was being developed a few years ago, there was a lot of hope in the MS Community about the idea of a non injectable disease modifying agent for the prevention of relapses (and hopefully disability). Since the first MS disease modifying medication was... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/36604/present http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/34813/avoiding Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:10:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor Concerts! Family! Vacation! Festivals! What do you do if all these things just don't carry the same excitement for you as they used to and as they do for those around you? No longer finding enjoyment in things that used to excite you and not feeling like being around those close to you, may be signs of depression. Depression affects millions of Americans and seems to be more common in people with MS. Recognizing the signs of depression... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/34813/avoiding http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/33940/keeping Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:10:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor Hot … hot … hot!!!   The summer brings with it the 4th of July, hot dogs, fireworks … and sweltering heat. People who have MS know all too well that summer can be a difficult time because of the heat and its effects on the symptoms of MS. So what is going on and is there anything to do about it? Just like you can take someone without MS and heat them up enough to cause heat stroke, there is a temperature threshold... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/33940/keeping http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/30344/ms-care Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:07:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor There is a lot of talk about research and medical advances in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, but I would like to return to the fundamentals of MS care and how these new treatment options fall into the framework of MS care.   There are three important arms of MS treatment:   1. Disease Modifying Agents - Medications that are used to change the course of MS, but which you may not feel any current effect from (though you may... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/30344/ms-care http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/30343/equality Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:13:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor The Consortium of MS Centers is an organization dedicated to bringing together the various MS Centers from around the country (and increasingly the rest of the world) to discuss scientific and practice issues facing our patients and to figure out how to improve the quality of care we deliver. We tackled issues such as Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), and even how to make sure that healthcare providers don't... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/30343/equality http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/26573/drugs Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:00:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor The American Academy of Neurology had its annual meeting recently, where the newest in research is presented with the hope of better treatments. At this year's meeting, we heard a lot about updates of clinical trials we are all becoming familiar with: Rituximab - the monoclonal antibody directed against B cells. You will remember that antibodies are the immune pieces which bind to other substances in the body. Monoclonal just means that they... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/26573/drugs http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22732/care Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:29:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor At our latest monthly MS Town Hall meeting, our excellent nurse practitioner discussed health insurance and how to get it and to remember to not leave a lapse.  We had a visitor from England who related to us the different issues facing patients in England and she dispelled the myth that things are exponentially better across the “pond” (Atlantic Ocean). She told us that for a while some of our standard disease modifying agents... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22732/care http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22730/treat-ms Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:29:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor I was asked to comment on Modafinil (Provigil®). It was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, and since then has gained FDA-approval for the treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypoventilation Syndrome, and Shift Worker Sleep Disorder. Notice what is missing: MS Related Fatigue. Although... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22730/treat-ms http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22184/ms-hill Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:44:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor As some of you know, I went to Washington DC as part of Neurology on the Hill with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). They sponsor a two day event where neurologists from all over the country (all of your neurologists are eligible to apply for this program which unfortunately take us away from clinic for two days) and we get a half-day of training followed by a day of visiting Capitol Hill and speaking to our legislators. We divide... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/22184/ms-hill