Research RoundUp 40

as at 23 November 2007

Sexual intimacy & MS

This researcher notes that people with MS require extensive management of the physiologic and psychologic impacts of their chronic disease process. Sexual intimacy is affected by many of these disease effects, which impacts them in diverse ways.

“Many persons with multiple sclerosis do not discuss sexual intimacy with their health care provider because they assume it is an expected part of the disease and nothing can help, or they are too embarrassed to admit to problems at a very young age.”

“Since this is a disease that usually occurs between 20 and 40 years of age, sexual intimacy is affected from many perspectives. Collaboration is essential in the plan of care between the client, family, and the health care provider.”

Note: MSSNZ is currently revising its booklet on MS & Sexuality.  The revised version will be available at the beginning of next year. It examines sexual intimacy issues in peole with MS and provides some practical solutions and guidance.

Reference: Moore, L. (2007) Intimacy and Multiple Sclerosis. Nursing Clinics of North America 1 Dec 2007 42(4): p. 605.

Source full text of article: http://highwire.stanford.edu/cgi/medline/pmid;17996758

Genetics & MS again

A complex interaction of genes and environment contribute to MS susceptibility. This study screened a sample of 18,794 subjects and identified forty families with four or more affected individuals.

Within these 40 families, HLA DRB1*15 was present in 70% of affected individuals. But the inability to find significant linkage in these highly penetrant families suggests that linkage is not the optimal tool for dissecting the inheritance of MS.

Reference: Willer, C et al. (2007) A genome-wide scan in forty large pedigrees with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Human Genetics 15 Nov 2007.

Source full text of article: http://highwire.stanford.edu/cgi/medline/pmid;18000641

Prevalence of MS in Northern Italy may defy latitude-related thinking about MS occurrence

This study notes that the epidemiological studies on the distribution of MS conducted in the Mediterranean area in the last two decades have disclosed a significant increase in frequency of the disease, indicating caution when a latitude-related model of MS is accepted.  They observe that previous surveys in the province of Ferrara, northern Italy have established that this area is at high risk for MS.

Their results confirm that in this part of Italy, MS occurs more frequently than suggested by the geographic-related distribution model and, based on other recent national surveys, support the view that northern Italy is a high-risk area for the disease.

Reference: Granieri, E. Et al. (2007) Multiple sclerosis in the province of Ferrara : evidence for an increasing trend. Journal of Neurology 16 Nov 2007.

Read abstract/source full text of article: http://highwire.stanford.edu/cgi/medline/pmid;18008026