Roughly half of the 40,000 fishermen in the Gulf are Vietnamese refugees. Recently, one Vietnamese-American female attorney from a Texas law firm signed up over 1,000 of the refugees in exchange for 60% contingency fees. What explanation of the intricacies of the American legal system was individually given by that attorney to those 1,000 persons? What do you think that Vietnamese female attorney said? Probably something like, get a little now rather than wait a long time like in the Valdez spill?

“Before it became the single biggest environmental catastrophe in American history, BP’s Deepwater Horizon was a magnet for barracudas, which endlessly circled the oil rig in the Gulf’s warm waters, feeding on smaller fish. The oil plume and massive cleanup have driven away many of the underwater predators. But as a group of Vietnamese-American lawyers discovered before returning to the Bay Area from the Gulf of Mexico last week, the barracudas have come ashore.

“And they were carrying briefcases.

“About half the Gulf’s fishermen are Vietnamese-Americans — as many as 20,000 in all — and many of them have signed retainer agreements with attorneys who promised to help sort out BP’s complicated claims process, and represent them in any eventual lawsuits against the oil company. But because there is almost no cadre of Vietnamese-speaking professionals in southern Louisiana or Mississippi, the fishermen were easy prey for lawyers who see BP’s $20 billion escrow fund as a cash cow.

“Idled for months, the fishermen were unsure which way to turn. Those who agreed to sign waivers in exchange for compensation now would forfeit their right to sue BP. But lawsuits filed after the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska took decades to unwind, and in many cases resulted in relatively small payments. Without legal advocates, they had no way of knowing whether BP’s Vessels of Opportunity program — putting fishermen to work on the cleanup — was being implemented fairly.

Summoned to the Gulf Coast by the Mississippi Center for Justice to provide free legal counsel to Vietnamese fishing families, half a dozen members of the nonprofit Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California arrived in New Orleans expecting to be greeted warmly. But other attorneys — armed with contracts calling for contingency fees as high as 60 percent — had beaten them there, and left behind an almost impenetrable slick of hard feelings.

Lots of fear

When the pro bono lawyers conducted a town-hall meeting at the Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, few fishermen showed up, and most of those that came sat in the back with their arms folded, just staring.

“We figured because we look like them and talk like them, they would accept the services we had to offer,” said Mai Phan, a San Jose immigration lawyer who grew up in New Orleans. “But when we got there, it was the complete opposite of what we expected. They were afraid of us.”

Afraid, and angry. “I’ve never seen a group have such a look of hatred in their eyes for attorneys,” said Ann Nguyen, an Oakland-based bankruptcy lawyer, who is VABANC’s vice president.

Two months into the mammoth spill, fishermen along the Gulf Coast have already missed one of the most promising shrimping seasons in years, and estimates of how long it could take for them to get their lines and nets back into the water range from two to five years. The Exxon Valdez oil spill left Alaska’s fishermen tied up in court for three decades.

The Gulf Coast is home to the largest Vietnamese-American population outside California, and yet, the lawyers who went from here to there discovered the two communities have little in common. Some were surprised by how little the fishermen had assimilated into American life. “They’re very different from the Vietnamese in our area,” Phan said. “Since they came to this country, all they knew is how to fish.”

“These people came from Vietnam as refugees, went straight there, and they’ve been stuck there in kind of a time warp,” said Nguyen. “There’s a huge lack of Vietnamese professionals down there.”

The entire fishing industry is imperiled, but immigrant fishermen — who essentially transplanted their way of life from Vietnam to the Gulf Coast — could be in double trouble. If their livelihood disappears, they could become refugees again, this time fleeing economic hardship rather than war.

Nguyen’s father was a fisherman on the Gulf when she was growing up, and Phan’s parents lost their home during Hurricane Katrina. “This is really emotional,” Phan said. “It’s only been five years since Katrina, and they were barely rebuilding their lives when this hit. Fishing was all these people knew, and now they’re really struggling.”

As the Bay Area lawyers’ three days in the Gulf went on, word began to spread that they weren’t trying to profit at the locals’ expense, and the number of fishermen seeking their help increased. When they returned home last Monday, both Nguyen and Phan said they cried — partly because of all the work left undone.

They’re working with the White House and Rep. Anh Cao, R-La., on a white paper covering many of the legal issues they encountered there. Phan said they are also raising funds to create a fellowship for a Vietnamese-language attorney or law student to work with the Gulf fishermen full time.

Shortly before she returned to San Jose, Phan encountered one of the attorneys whose name she had seen on many of the contracts requiring huge contingency fees. She represented a firm from Texas, and she was Vietnamese-American.

Basically, the Texas lawyer told Phan, “If you’re here to get clients, it’s too late. I’ve already retained over a thousand of them here. You’re on my turf.’”

When one of the pro bono lawyers told her she must have an enormous staff to zealously represent so many of her own people, the barracuda silently swam away.Contact Bruce Newman at 408-920-5004.

BlogBabel Tags: economic, fishermen, fraud, gulf, livlihood, oil, vietnamese

Churches, for example, have Graduation Recognition ceremonies. How about Initiation for Peaceful Solutions Ceremonies for youth starting by age 9 that are renewed once a year? And to bolster that public commitment by youth and parents blessed by priests and ministers create safe communities that are gun/knife/weapon free. Encourage parents to create ways to swoop up the guns and weapons that are on the streets and in the hands of children. And yes — structured activities such as soccer that encourage cooperation and healthy competition will enhance self esteem.

Below is how Live Oak, California is addressing the problem of gang violence. It is a start!!

A Volunteer Opportunity
A FREE 6 week indoor Soccer Program for youth ages 6 – 17 is being offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00pm June 14th – July 21st. at Shoreline School in Live Oak. It is offered through a partnership between the Sheriff’s Activity League, the Live Oak Family Resource Center, Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA) and the Live Oak School District. VOLUNTEERS (adults and older teens) ARE NEEDED – coaches, refs, line refs, security, “team parent” etc. There will be a volunteer training on June 7th 6-8 pm. For more information call 476-7284 x 104.
Pre registration for players is June 3rd. Priority to youth living in the Live Oak School District but all kids accepted on a space available basis. Call same # to find out how to register There are many kids living in our community who cannot play soccer because their families cannot afford it. This program promotes self-esteem, teamwork and leadership skills while offering healthy activities in a safe space.

BlogBabel Tags: commitment by families, gang violence, sports

Verified by The Vascular Group, PLLC, March 2010
First Received: March 17, 2010 No Changes Posted
Sponsor: The Vascular Group, PLLC
Information provided by: The Vascular Group, PLLC
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01089686

Purpose
The purpose of this Study is to evaluate safety, feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in treating extracranial venous obstructive lesions, and its influence on the clinical outcomes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.

Patients enrolled in the study will have a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed according to the revised McDonald Criteria (MD) criteria, and will meet the eligibility criteria.

Condition Intervention
Multiple Sclerosis
Procedure: Angioplasty

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Utility of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency Percutaneous Angioplasty for Multiple Sclerosis: The Albany Vascular Group Study (Liberation Study)

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Angioplasty Multiple Sclerosis
U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by The Vascular Group, PLLC:

Primary Outcome Measures:
•Incidence of major adverse events [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
The evaluation of safety will be defined as the incidence of major adverse events at 30 days following the index procedure. The evaluation of feasibility and efficacy will be determined by those patients that do not have more than 50 percent restenosis within the 30 day time frame.

Secondary Outcome Measures:
•Mortality [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
Secondary endpoints will be evaluated with all subjects based upon mortality, incidence of all secondary interventions and incidence of all major adverse events for a period of 2 years.

Estimated Enrollment: 500
Study Start Date: April 2010
Estimated Study Completion Date: April 2012
Estimated Primary Completion Date: April 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Intervention Details:
Procedure: Angioplasty
To identify the presence of CCSVI, all patients will undergo a clinical evaluation by a neurologist, a duplex ultrasound of central extracranial venous system, an MRV, and a venogram. The decision to enroll patient in percutaneous angioplasty for CCSVI will be made at the time of venogram, in select patients that have greater than or equal to 50 percent stenosis of the extracranial central veins including the internal jugular veins and the azygos vein. Extracranial venous ultrasound will be performed at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months following the procedure or if clinical symptoms recur. MRV and venograms will be performed at 12months and 24 months or if clinical symptoms recur.
Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

•Greater than 18 years of age
•Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis by a neurologist
•Presence of greater than or equal to 50 percent stenosis of the extracranial veins as determined by venogram
•Informed consent signed by patient or LAR
Exclusion Criteria:

•Patient is unwilling to comply with the follow up
•Patient is pregnant
Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01089686

Contacts
Contact: Megan Wilcox, LPN 518-218-7909 wilcoxm@albanyvascular.com

Locations
United States, New York
The Vascular Group, PLLC, The Vascular Pavillion
Albany, New York, United States, 12205
Sponsors and Collaborators
The Vascular Group, PLLC
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Manish Mehta, MD, MPH The Vascular Group, PLLC

More Information

Additional Information:
The Center for Vascular Awareness

No publications provided

Responsible Party: The Vascular Group, PLLC ( Manish Mehta, MD )
Study ID Numbers: LS10-01
Study First Received: March 17, 2010
Last Updated: March 17, 2010
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01089686 History of Changes
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by The Vascular Group, PLLC:
Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Pathologic Processes
Autoimmune Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
Immune System Diseases
Demyelinating Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Venous Insufficiency
Vascular Diseases
Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS
Cardiovascular Diseases
Sclerosis
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 13, 2010

BlogBabel Tags: angioplasty for CCSVI in New York, angioplasty for MS, CCSVI

Read the comments from MS patients which include one who curred his MS by eliminating caffeine — coffee — from his diet and supplementing with other dietary aides. He hypothesizes that muscle spasms due to caffeine usage caused the blockage in his neck veins …. no more coffee and no more MS symptoms for him.

Italian doctor may have found surprisingly simple cure for Multiple Sclerosis
By Loz Blain

A Major Breakthrough in the treatment of MS

“An Italian doctor has been getting dramatic results with a new type of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, which affects up to 2.5 million people worldwide. In an initial study, Dr. Paolo Zamboni took 65 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, performed a simple operation to unblock restricted blood flow out of the brain – and two years after the surgery, 73% of the patients had no symptoms. Dr. Zamboni’s thinking could turn the current understanding of MS on its head, and offer many sufferers a complete cure.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, has long been regarded as a life sentence of debilitating nerve degeneration. More common in females, the disease affects an estimated 2.5 million people around the world, causing physical and mental disabilities that can gradually destroy a patent’s quality of life.

It’s generally accepted that there’s no cure for MS, only treatments that mitigate the symptoms – but a new way of looking at the disease has opened the door to a simple treatment that is causing radical improvements in a small sample of sufferers.

Italian Dr. Paolo Zamboni has put forward the idea that many types of MS are actually caused by a blockage of the pathways that remove excess iron from the brain – and by simply clearing out a couple of major veins to reopen the blood flow, the root cause of the disease can be eliminated.

Dr. Zamboni’s revelations came as part of a very personal mission – to cure his wife as she began a downward spiral after diagnosis. Reading everything he could on the subject, Dr. Zamboni found a number of century-old sources citing excess iron as a possible cause of MS. It happened to dovetail with some research he had been doing previously on how a buildup of iron can damage blood vessels in the legs – could it be that a buildup of iron was somehow damaging blood vessels in the brain?

He immediately took to the ultrasound machine to see if the idea had any merit – and made a staggering discovery. More than 90% of people with MS have some sort of malformation or blockage in the veins that drain blood from the brain. Including, as it turned out, his wife.

He formed a hypothesis on how this could lead to MS: iron builds up in the brain, blocking and damaging these crucial blood vessels. As the vessels rupture, they allow both the iron itself, and immune cells from the bloodstream, to cross the blood-brain barrier into the cerebro-spinal fluid. Once the immune cells have direct access to the immune system, they begin to attack the myelin sheathing of the cerebral nerves – Multiple Sclerosis develops.

He named the problem Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency, or CCSVI.

Zamboni immediately scheduled his wife for a simple operation to unblock the veins – a catheter was threaded up through blood vessels in the groin area, all the way up to the effected area, and then a small balloon was inflated to clear out the blockage. It’s a standard and relatively risk-free operation – and the results were immediate. In the three years since the surgery, Dr. Zamboni’s wife has not had an attack.

Widening out his study, Dr. Zamboni then tried the same operation on a group of 65 MS-sufferers, identifying blood drainage blockages in the brain and unblocking them – and more than 73% of the patients are completely free of the symptoms of MS, two years after the operation.

In some cases, a balloon is not enough to fully open the vein channel, which collapses either as soon as the balloon is removed, or sometime later. In these cases, a metal stent can easily be used, which remains in place holding the vein open permanently.

Dr. Zamboni’s lucky find is yet to be accepted by the medical community, which is traditionally slow to accept revolutionary ideas. Still, most agree that while further study needs to be undertaken before this is looked upon as a cure for MS, the results thus far have been very positive.

Naturally, support groups for MS sufferers are buzzing with the news that a simple operation could free patients from what they have always been told would be a lifelong affliction, and further studies are being undertaken by researchers around the world hoping to confirm the link between CCSVI and MS, and open the door for the treatment to become available for sufferers worldwide.

It’s certainly a very exciting find for MS sufferers, as it represents a possible complete cure, as opposed to an ongoing treatment of symptoms. We wish Dr. Zamboni and the various teams looking further into this issue the best of luck.

Via The Globe and Mail.

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» Brain» Cure» Medical» Multiple Sclerosis» Nerves» Research» Surgery
User Comments (60)

A very positive development, thanks to my Italian brethren!… toot-toot!

Facebook User
- November 26, 2009 @ 04:11 am PST

An amazing new, and an amazing information tool as well. Worth any web surfing time to delight you discovering top research and insights on science and technology.

Best wishes.

Gonzalo

Gonzalo Villouta
- November 26, 2009 @ 05:11 am PST

God willing.

Jennifer Schroeder Zordan
- November 26, 2009 @ 06:11 am PST

I hope this works out, but something is setting off my skeptic alarm.

For one thing, 73% of 65 people is 47.45 people. So lucky Mr. 48 was cured on his right side only?

Anyway, I look forward to more detail.

Frac
- November 26, 2009 @ 07:11 am PST

You’ve got to wonder how many other such simple procedures there are???!!!

David Mahan
- November 26, 2009 @ 08:11 am PST

What is disturbing is the fact that fellow Mser’s are so desperate for a cure that they tend do avoid asking the right questions when it comes to these “miracles”. What if 95% or so people with MS have this condition because it’s a cause/symptom of MS, and not the cause of MS? I do not want to seem pessimistic, but I would reserve judgment for when more data is available.

Ted Nehme
- November 26, 2009 @ 05:11 pm PST

This wouldn’t be the first time excess iron has been implicated in disease. It’s well known that too much iron is a risk factor in atheroschlerosis, which is why male-specific multivitamin supplements no longer contain iron. There’s even some evidence excess iron increases the risk of cancer.

Spirit of 76
- November 26, 2009 @ 09:11 pm PST

65 people plus his wife makes it 66 people.

73% makes it 48.18 people.

I think the reporter probably meant “more than 72%” and then simplified by writing in 73 instead of writing in 72.7272%

Joe’s Cat
- November 26, 2009 @ 11:11 pm PST

…and that’s not the only new from italy; there is a young guy, Matteo Dall’Osso ( http://www.matteodallosso.org/ ), who healed himself from MS against all doctor’s opinion (except Dr. Zamboni, who helped him too), just by depuring (in a special way) his body from metals (he has got a metabolic disease that avoid his body to dispose off metals at a normal rate).

So it seems that MS could be the result of metallic accumulation in the body, due to a cause (vein occlution) or another (metabolic disfunction).

The real risk about these MS treatments is that they are too economical, simple and they were not discovered by a big pharmaceutic multinational; big opposing economic interests are able to prevent the diffusion of such discovers. Help the web spread the good news.

Mario Maio
- November 27, 2009 @ 04:11 am PST

please adjust my previous post with the following link to english version of Matteo Dall’Osso web site

http://www.matteodallosso.org/eng/

Mario Maio
- November 27, 2009 @ 04:11 am PST

J & J, – does this make sense to you?

Debby Baker
- November 27, 2009 @ 08:11 am PST

As the spouse of someone with MS I can tell you that this news has overwhelmed our Thanksgiving. Of course, it came out when it is impossible to get in touch with our specialist. I am sure that she, and every other neurologist/MS doc in the country (if not the world), is going to come back from the holiday to emails and phone calls from their patients.

I too am concerned about the pharmaceutical industry’s response to this. If you could see the level of coordination around establishing new clients for each drug type you’d be astounded. There really are only four mainstream medications for MS at this point. All involve injections (daily, semi-daily, weekly) although there are pill form versions in the pipeline (kind of like Duke Nukem:Forever for the MS crowd). But none of them really alleviate symptoms…they are all about reducing future attacks and the increase in symptoms.

This procedure points to a reduction of symptoms that most MS patients only see following strong IV steroid, and then only temporarily. While I don’t expect this procedure to cure my spouse immediately I do expect to have our doctor(s) examine it deeply and with great urgency. If they do anything less we will find another doctor who is more willing.

As we’ve both said, if this were any other kind of vascular blockage there wouldn’t even be a discussion. If a doctor said that the veins in your brain were blocked (and said nothing about MS) wouldn’t you ask if that blockage could be cleared? It can, by a relatively simple procedure. We only want the same response. I see many visits to cardiologists in our future. And I am looking forward to it.

Nothing Knew
- November 27, 2009 @ 08:11 am PST

The really really really good thing about this is it finally seems to have PROVEN what I’ve been saying for almost twenty years.

Believe it .. or .. not ..

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!

http://tinyurl.com/2r2nkh

Facebook User
- November 27, 2009 @ 09:11 am PST

Mario Maio says this is an economical treatment. Since when is brain surgery economical?

Things are not usually simple and I am glad we allow “cures” to be looked at critically before jumping on the bandwagon.

Verena
- November 27, 2009 @ 10:11 am PST

What else can we do just to push the simple MRV testing? I just want to get the word out there/

Maria Christodoulou
- November 27, 2009 @ 12:11 pm PST

I’m curious, could vein blockage be associated with weight gain? I gained weight recently and was then recently diagnosed with migraines and then multiple sclerosis. I know that there are plenty of people with multiple sclerosis who are not significantly overweight like I am (I’m ~250 lbs.) but I wonder if perhaps some of us wouldn’t have acquired MS except for such “supplemental influences” as weight gain?

I do struggle with sleep apnea in accordance to my weight gain, too. I wonder if perhaps the same stuff that makes sleep apnea happen (blockage of airflow due to being so fat) can also result in blockage of veins (blockage of bloodflow due to being so fat).

stimpy77
- November 27, 2009 @ 01:11 pm PST

Amazing! Finally someone researches this disease from a new prospective!

Brittny Macphee
- November 27, 2009 @ 01:11 pm PST

Amazing == a potential cure for multiple sclerosis. Two years ago my Tucson doctor discovered that I had high iron levels and recommended giving blood in order to reduce the iron level — no one wants my blood. Fortunately (or not) the health misadventures of 2008 resulted in blood loss and thus reduction in iron levels.

Facebook User
- November 27, 2009 @ 06:11 pm PST

Verena,

This isn’t brain surgery. They don’t have to open up your skull or anything. It’s strictly a balloon angioplasty and it’s even easier because they can enter through the jugular vein close to the brain. A cardiac angioplasty with stents can cost $20-30,000, but in that procedure, they have to go in through the femoral artery in the leg and thread their way up to the heart then around to cardiac blood vessels. Also, MS drugs can cost that much in a single year, so if this actually works, it is definitely more economical.

Spirit of 76
- November 28, 2009 @ 05:11 pm PST

The treatment is now undergoing further investigation – more here from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8374980.stm

Loz
- November 28, 2009 @ 09:11 pm PST

I can’t help but be skeptical because there are MS treatments that do work (they don’t cure but they definitely help the problem) by directly affecting the auto-immune system. I am on Copaxone, for example, and Copaxone’s role is in changing the inflammatory nature of the body’s antibodies. (I’m no medical scientist, I’m a new patient, so forgive me for my inaccuracies in word choice.) It sounds like this new “cure” has nothing to do with the body’s autoimmune system, which makes me wonder how it is that Copaxone makes any difference at all?

stimpy77
- November 29, 2009 @ 05:11 pm PST

It’s not that the medical community is “slow to adopt revolutionary theories”, it’s that we take an oath to “do no harm”, and for new theories scientifically prove to a statistical confidence that a treatment has benefits that outweigh the risks. There *are* risks to angioplasty, including infection and tragically, stroke, so this treatment needs to be proven.

As someone who sees MS patients for optic neuritis, this would indeed be a great breakthrough if the University of Buffalo study confirms with statistical significance and confidence that venous insufficiency is a causal factor for some MS patients, and angioplasty has a benefit worthy of its risk.

Standing by for the science,

Doc Rings

matthew.rings
- November 29, 2009 @ 05:11 pm PST

Also food for skepticism, why does MS statistically show up more in high-altitude regions? Some assumed that certain viruses might be more likely to thrive in high-altitude areas, and my own assumption was that high altitudes, or particularly high latitudes, have less sunlight, hence less vitamin D, hence D deficiency, which leads to autoimmune disorders.

So if indeed MS has a one-to-one relationship to the narrowing of the veins, how can high altitudes & high latitudes have any relationship to that? Theories?

stimpy77
- November 29, 2009 @ 06:11 pm PST

this is a very cool site…amazing technology and scientific inovation

Stephanie Boulianne
- November 29, 2009 @ 07:11 pm PST

Following up on my own ponderings, http://csvi-ms.net/en/content/ccsvi-huge-breakthrough-ms hypothesizes that vitamin D has a direct correlation not only on the autoimmune system but also on the vascular system’s development.

stimpy77
- November 29, 2009 @ 07:11 pm PST

I hope that this treatment from Italy does work out. I mean it obviously has done for some already. What I am pondering over though: Is the whole thing symptom relief or dealing with the cause? If this stricture causes MS, what causes the stricture? And although I am in favour of different (and non-toxic) approaches to solving problems I do believe that MS is an autoimmune disease and people won’t get it (or an array of other autoimmune diseases) if they have a strong immune system. I (with PPMS) take LDN (low dose naltrexone) which is a safe, cheap, out of patent drug which boosts/strengthens/modulates your immune system. People have found relief with LDN (and stopping progression, attacks, tumour growth and more) for a vast number of diseases, including cancers. How come it’s been there for nearly 30 years and hardly anybody knows about it? It’s because there is no money in it, so it’s being kept hidden from the ones who need it most, the suffering patients. Just google LDN and find out about it. I was so lucky to have discovered it and with it the over 100,000 other users. (I agree, I don’t know them all personally, honestly! But many of their stories are all over the internet!) It’s fantastic and what it does is logical, it makes the body heal itself. Silvia

Silvia Lane
- November 30, 2009 @ 04:11 am PST

I am an M.S patient for 18 years. And an M.S researches for 10 years. I am electronic engineer and a university teacher. If you look in Google for Dr. Fernandez Noda and the syndrome Cerebellar Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (CTOS) you will find again a strong relation between blood flow in the brain and M.S symptoms. Fernandez Noda looks for global blood flow from the brain. The veins coming from the brain to the heart enter the atlas vertebra and cross to the C6 and C7 vertebra where the veins go out the vertebrae in their way to the heart. In the outgoing they can be squashed by the sternocleido-mastoideos muscles. Dr. Noda makes a simply operation to liberate that pressure and some M.S patient get better.

I am convinced we can find a solution. I do not have so clear that we can make the solution to go on because the opposition from pharmaceuticals will be uninimaginable.

They are earnig bigs amounts of money whith not-a-solution-at-all. And what they do not want at all is loosing theier clients! We are clients, very goog clients, for them -not patients-. I have a web page http://webs.uvigo.es/xuliofh/entrega2/pagPpalEM.html with some information about M.S. (in spanish )

Xulio Fernández Hermida
- November 30, 2009 @ 08:11 am PST

I read many of the comments. two maybe 3 with MS, newly diagnosed, a couple of doctore, then arm chair mathematicians.

As I have had MS for 14 years, take injections every other day, for 14 years at now, at cost of 2400.00/month for one med. Most of you can go ________. I am in luck though, with exercise, diet, family and attitude, I am completely mobile. I can not say it is due to the fact of betaseron, it only slows the progression, I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been off off the stuff. I do know the shots hurt, that’s where the attitude goes bad.

If you are not part of the problem, stay away from a possible solution. Show me your creditentials to give your opinions, not just cutting an article to shreds. Go bore people who care.

L Tate

Ltate
- November 30, 2009 @ 10:11 am PST

Interesting

Didier Noel James
- November 30, 2009 @ 10:11 am PST

Actually, I have a hypothesis of MS which suggests simpler treatment that might be less invasive. Human pheromones cause MS. In which case about 150 to 250 mg of healthy adult male facial skin surface lipid p.o. (the face kissing pheromone from your dad), should halt symptom advances. Epigenetic (low-dose chemo) therapy in concert with pheromone treatment while watching sad movies, should fix it for sure. Take 3 5 packs of regular gum, sugarfree, wipe 5 pieces per day on dad’s face, both sides (of his face and of the gum), until you have got 15 to 25 pieces. Now chew the gum. (Of course, make sure Dad’s healthy.)

So how does the Italian surgery work? Do his patients kiss his face a lot? The blood has chemosensitive proteins in it that alter conformation on contact. The angeoplasty might be affecting that somehow. Perhaps this surgery will cure MS like knee replacement cures arthritis? Hope so.

TogetherinParis
- November 30, 2009 @ 09:11 pm PST

Trolling on a post about a potential treatment for a debilitating disease? Especially one that has been peer-reviewed and is currently being tested by independent groups? Wow.

I bet you go to abuse support groups and tell them to “get over it” or drop in at cancer wards and suggest they “think happy thoughts”. You are a beautiful person. See, I can use sarcasm too.

Nothing Knew
- December 1, 2009 @ 07:12 am PST

Zamboni is partially right, some symptoms are, without a doubt, caused by a vascular blockage in the neck region. He just forgets to figure out, what might be the cause to the blockage.

In my case the blockage was caused by spasticity of the neck muscles.

The spasticity in it’s term was caused by porphyrines, released from skeletal muscle cells breaking down.

Cell breakage was caused by chemical imbalance inside the cells.

The chemical imbalance was caused by excess activity of exicatory neurotransmitters, which regulate those pumps.

Excess activity of exicatory neurotransmitters was caused by daily caffeine consumption.

I suffered from ms-symptoms for 20 years. The symptoms were many times so sevbere, that I was unable to get out of bed without help, and with help it took an hour or so, and I was soaking wet of sweat, and crying. In the last phase, I was able to walk short distances very slowly with a walking stick.

I stopped my caffeine habit feb 2008, now I’m totally free from alla symptoms. I am also on alcalic diet and take supplements, E-Epa, carnosine etc..

So, my ms was caused by a chronic poisoning, brought upon me by my drug dependence. I lost more than 20 years of my life in a hell on earth, I’m almost totally recovered now, feel like I was 20, but I’m 55, and the party’s pretty soon over for me.

Facebook User
- December 2, 2009 @ 01:12 am PST

This is exciting news to hear, thank you Aaron for sending me the artical.

Sally Simpson
- December 3, 2009 @ 04:12 am PST

Amazing News. Just an idea but if its caused by blocked veins perhaps nattokinase suplements could help?????

silverneedle
- December 4, 2009 @ 03:12 pm PST

Ok so if this is correct then I have something to throw into the pot. As a teenager I had problems with Iron Deficiency on my blood, so I was fed Iron supplements for many years. What I wonder is, how many people with MS were fed the same Iron supplements. I don’t even want to start thinking there’s a cure at this time, I’m tired of let downs. I’ve read a lot in the past few years about things that can cure MS and at every tunr it falls through.

To the doc above, it may well be that you took an oath to ‘not harm’ anyone. As an MS sufferer I really don’t care, if there is anything out there that has any potential to help me than I want to try it. If it kills me then so be it, after all, it’s just down to how long I want my death sentence to be.

This ‘cure’ has a couple of things that jump to my mind that should really be added to the mix. For me I already said about the iron given to me when I was young, but also I have an additional complaint called Factor 5 Leiden deficiency wich makes the blood clot more than in a normal person. This has given me many vascular problems, including a severe DVT last year for which I am still suffering. I am taking Warfirin for an undetermined length of time to keep my co agulation down.

So to sum up, this ‘cure’ talks about Iron (check) and vascular problems (check). I’m scared to say it but this seems to have a lot of bells ringing for me and what I want to know is, when the hell are the medical profession going to add this up and let people like me try it.

Has a survey been done to see how many MS sufferers have had Iron supplements given as a child? Or would the medical profession who ‘do no harm’ be scared to to that and find out that the very supplement we were given could have contributed to this. I don’t care what caused it, I just want out.

My mum had that balloon thing done through her groin for hardening of the arteries and she’s absolutely fine.

April Prior
- December 7, 2009 @ 05:12 am PST

I have been following this with extreme interest. The article above is good but very brief and there is so much more to it… so if you want more of the story please visit this site and watch the video:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5

I also recommend watching all the interview videos to the right of the page for more details. This all becomes more clear and sooooo exciting. It is being taken seriously for sure.

Pam1234
- December 7, 2009 @ 02:12 pm PST

This really does sound promising, and while it is important to err on the side of caution with new treatments, this could be a step in the right direction.

Hal London
- December 8, 2009 @ 08:12 am PST

Sadly enough I’ve passed the stage of Relapsing Remitting….-do you guys think

Secundary Progressive patients have any hope or anything to look forward to??

Facebook User
- December 8, 2009 @ 12:12 pm PST

Hope!

Atticus Finch
- December 26, 2009 @ 01:12 pm PST

For the person who wondered about how the higer altitudes make a difference – the air pressure can effect the blood vessels in the brain and in your whole body – pressure or lack of – can cause blood flow changes – so, that may help explain – especially when going from low to high and back.

Laura Ashley Wheeler
- December 29, 2009 @ 07:12 pm PST

Also food for skepticism, why does MS statistically show up more in high-altitude regions?

THAT is easy.

The altitude causes higher blood cell production and therefore the viscosity of the blood becomes thicker.

The blood doesn’t flow.

Much like the blood flow from the brain when the veins become stricted.

Facebook User
- January 3, 2010 @ 12:01 am PST

This is very interesting, is there any operations done in the U.S. My girlfriend’s Mother has MS. Where can i find more info on this?

Thanks

Kyle Ericson
- January 3, 2010 @ 01:01 pm PST

i have a few questions i need answerd.

for my self i have had thrombosise since i was 17 also low in iron plus i have other medical problems.But we have now learnt that my daughter has m.s we no there is not a lot known about m.s they say it is not passed on my daughter was born with a heart murmer and wene she went on to cows milk as a toddler i would put pentervite into her milk for her supplements she was poorly as a toddler always had a cold and soar ears and throate.could some one please let me no if i did something wrong and this is why she has it.

Caroline Sare
- January 3, 2010 @ 03:01 pm PST

Here is the info for US:

“Letter from Dr Michael Dake

Thank you for your inquiry regarding our work on blockages of the veins of the head and neck associated with multiple sclerosis. I wish I could talk personally with each person to explain our ongoing work, but in order to provide a prompt reply to all, I must respond by email. Currently, we are planning a clinical study to rigorously assess the risks and benefits of balloon angioplasty with or without venous stenting in the setting of multiple sclerosis. This controlled format for study will allow all patients to receive endovascular therapy if desired, but will provide a better evaluation of the risks, benefits and indications for different approaches to treating the vein blockages associated with multiple sclerosis.

Please be assured that we will keep your contact information on file and provide periodic updates of our progress until such time as the trial commences . At that point, we hope to be able to speak with you regarding your interest to participate in this clinical study. We anticipate embarking on the study early in 2010. I wish to extend my appreciation to you for your understanding and forbearance as we proceed with deliberate speed in our attempts to develop a multi-disciplinary, collaborative controlled study that will truly advance our understanding of the science underlying the association between venous disease and multiple sclerosis.

I hope to have the opportunity to speak with you in the future.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL D. DAKE, M.D.

Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Stanford University School of Medicine

Falk Cardiovascular Research Center

300 Pasteur Drive

Stanford, CA 94305-5407″

One of my patients is considering that option. When and if he does, I will be able to ascertain the efficacy of the method myself.

Dr. Dimitri Rimsky

Neu-Wellness Institute

Dr. Rimsky
- January 4, 2010 @ 04:01 pm PST

I was just diagnosed and find this fascinating. When I had a physical 8 years ago, my doc told me to stop taking a multi-vitamin with iron because my levels were at the highest end of safe. Interesting.

Laurie Erdman
- January 5, 2010 @ 09:01 am PST

Hmmm… I wonder if there is any corelation of patients with MS and those with Haemochromatosis (an excess of iron in the blood) (or if this hypothesis holds water, If not, why not ?)

Bryn Parrott
- January 8, 2010 @ 11:01 pm PST

Does this new theory hold water if the ms sufferer had actually spent there life being iron deficient, and not taking iron supplements. I have been iron deficient my whole life but, apart from a two month period during a pregnancy where I had iron injections, I have not take iron supplements. Could a blockage in the veins still lead to a damaging build up of iron in the brain, in these circumstances?

Tara Slater
- February 12, 2010 @ 02:02 am PST

hi, i am a patient from dubai (u.a.e) with advanced level of M.S, right now am taking 3 injections of rebif 44 every week for almost 7 years. Hereby i request you to please provide me your full address to enable me to contact you for your medical invitation to come to you for the treatment

your earliest reply is highly appreciated

best regards

hussain mustafa. my contact number as below

mobile no-00971506467089

office no-0097142255422 fax no-0097142254515

hussain
- February 12, 2010 @ 12:02 pm PST

In http://ajdem.mforos.com/1138091/8283791-la-dieta-del-dr-swank-en-el-tratamiento-de-la-esclerosis-multiple/ it can be read “Otra de las novedades en el tratamiento de la Esclerosis Múltiple es el uso de los campos electromagnéticos. Aquí es muy importante aclarar que los campos electromagnéticos que se utilizan, en este caso, son a una intensidad de picotesla, con frecuencias extremadamente bajas y detenidamente controladas. Estas aplicaciones son extracraneales y se dan durante 20 minutos, una vez a la semana.

Hasta hoy, todos los pacientes con Esclerosis Múltiple que han sido tratados con esta clase particular de campos electromagnéticos, han mejorado en forma inmediata y dramática. Su mejoría no sólo fue subjetiva, sino totalmente objetiva.”

It talks abaut treating M.E. patients with electromagnetig fields applied in the head and the good resoults obtained with it. And I think that this resoult can be related with the one of Dr. Paolo Zamboni in this paper. The electromagnetic fields what sure do is shaking the iron particles in the blood making this way more easy for them to move along the veins (like removing dirty water in order all the particles go out with the water).

I am electronic engineer and I consider it will be interesting that Dr. Zamboni consider this point!

Thank you very much

Thank you

xuliofh
- February 16, 2010 @ 01:02 am PST

Skepticism is definitely in order! There are way too few details in this article to know whether this is a promising treatment. It could in fact be harmful.

The study doesn’t seem to include any comparison groups, and without a comparison standard, it’s impossible to draw conclusions from any study.

Specifically, they didn’t screen for venous blockage in a group without MS to see if the blockage is unusually common in MS patients or just common across the board (from other studies, we know that venous blockage is a common condition, so you really need a comparison group to see if it’s MORE common in MS patients).

AND in assessing the treatment, they didn’t have an untreated control group to see how the treated patients’ experience compares with the natural history of MS. Having hope and a sense that something is being done can have a powerful impact on the course of disease and could explain the 2-year remissions experienced by many of the patients. You need a control group to see if that’s what’s happening. I teach public health students how to be careful readers of the medical literature, and my students would tear this article to bits.

I’ve had MS for decades, and I’d love to think that this is a real breakthrough in MS treatment, but with the amount of info provided here, I’m deeply skeptical. I’m afraid that this is more wishful thinking than real progress — and could be dangerous if people adopt this unproven approach and abandon treatments that have been proven to be effective.

Mary Applegate
- February 18, 2010 @ 11:02 pm PST

“CCSVI” is junk science.

http://medicalmyths.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/the-zamboni-myth-ccsvi-surreal/

Colin Rose
- February 20, 2010 @ 03:02 pm PST

I am 36 yrs old and was diagnosed with MS two years ago. I have also been diagnosed with two of the genes that cause Haemochromatosis. Co- incidence? Either way its very interesting.

Facebook User
- February 21, 2010 @ 01:02 am PST

An intresting article, I am 26 and was diagonised with MS 3 years before. I am thinking of getting a councelling with yoga gurus to automatically unblock these vessels thru yoga excercise, If I get any improvement, I will definetly inform you guys.

Facebook User
- February 27, 2010 @ 07:02 am PST

Ridiculous these posts about pharmaceutical companies blocking this. Just when have they ever blocked a proven treatment and how would they do that? You listen to too many demagogues and snake oil salesmen. You’re probably hysterical about Toyotas, too, because you cannot do the math.

Ronald Warrick
- March 11, 2010 @ 02:03 pm PST

Wow that actually makes sense dude.

Lou

www.whos-watching.es.tc

Facebook User
- April 11, 2010 @ 11:04 am PDT

“Also food for skepticism, why does MS statistically show up more in high-altitude regions? Some assumed that certain viruses might be more likely to thrive in high-altitude areas, and my own assumption was that high altitudes, or particularly high latitudes, have less sunlight, hence less vitamin D, hence D deficiency, which leads to autoimmune disorders.

So if indeed MS has a one-to-one relationship to the narrowing of the veins, how can high altitudes & high latitudes have any relationship to that? Theories?”

Perhaps it is due to changes (evolutionary or short-term) that would occur in either groups of people or individuals when they inhabit higher altitudes. High altitudes tend to be mountainous and cold, so I can see there being some benefit to the people there developing smaller blood vessels to better retain heat. If this were true, you would expect a correlation between MS and people who live in, AND who have ancestry in high altitude places.

Also, do you know if our blood vessels constrict to keep in heat when it’s cold? If so, that could also work as a functional explanation that would explain the increased rate of MS in both people who currently reside in high-altitude areas, as well as those who have a heritage of living there.

Angus James
- April 11, 2010 @ 01:04 pm PDT

Very interesting news. Hope is so important.

Some comments.

Most medicine is “junk science”. Look no further than the Cholesterol hysteria.

MS is not more frequent at high altitudes. It’s more frequent at high latitudes. Northern coun tries like Canada have many more MS patients than southern ones like mexico.

The vitamin d hypothesis is a good one. Taking 3-4 000 iu of Vit D a day can’t hurt. Getting as musch sun as you can get may be helpful too.

Richard Albert
- April 12, 2010 @ 11:04 am PDT

I have recently come across your article about MS saying that it may not be auto-immune after all. I think that is wonderful news, as I have been diagnosed with MS myself about 3 yrs. ago. Currently, I am not taking any meds for it; everyone in my family thinks I should be…..I keep telling them I am going to take this MS and kick it into outer space somewhere, where it can NO LONGER hurt anyone. I would GREATLY APPRECIATE hearing back from you.

e-mail me back and we could exchange phone numbers…I live in the USA, and would love having the procedure performed… however I do not know what you charge for such.

Tabitha Pollock Hershberger
- April 19, 2010 @ 06:04 pm PDT

I really hope that this may lead to something,i’m going to talk about it with my neurologist, i’m wondering what he will say.

Inge Vanhoorne
- April 28, 2010 @ 10:04 am PDT

This is a whole new approach for treating the patients with Multiple Sclerosis. In recent days it has become a new hope for millions of Multiple Sclerosis patients across the world. Dr. Paolo Zamboni, a former vascular surgeon and professor at the University of Ferrara in northern Italy developed this procedure while he was trying to understand the underlying causes for the condition which his wife was into, a Multiple Sclerosis patient.

Doctors and hospitals across the world are developing necessary infrastructure and the expertise required to perform this procedure with good outcomes.

In India few of the doctors at Internationally Accredited Hospitals have already started performing this procedure with excellent outcomes as per international standards. These doctors have developed a multidisciplinary approach involving Neurologists, Neuro-Surgeons, Cardiologists, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons and Interventional Radiologists. The doctors are abreast of latest developments in this field and continuously in touch with the inventors of this procedure. They are continuously monitoring the procedure outcomes of their patients over a period of time.

Why should you choose India?

In India this procedure is done with excellent outcomes by expert team of doctors at Internationally Accredited Hospital at a cost which is much lower than it would cost you in USA, UK or Europe. Indian Hospitals provide you high quality service and compassionate care and has a world class infrastructure. India is well connected with the world by International flights.

How can you get started?

The first step is to determine whether a patient is a good candidate for this medical procedure or not?

All you need to do is to send the following information to us.

1) MRI of the Cervical (neck region )

2) Doppler Ultrasound of the neck

3) A general medical status and history

We will show these information to our expert doctors and get a opinion from them to you, totally free of cost.

Do not worry if you do not have the above mentioned medical information readily available with you. We have specially designed evaluation package for this procedure. The evaluation can be done here in India on outpatient basis at much lower cost. Based on the findings of the evaluation further line of action can be taken.

Just write to us at help@safemedtrip.com for more information and help.

The Procedure

It all started with the Dr. Paolo Zamboni’s search to find out the root cause of debilitating condition of his wife who was suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. After studying many patients suffering from the same condition, he found that that almost all of them had a narrowing, twisting or outright blockage of the veins that are supposed to flush blood from the brain.

Further Dr. Paolo Zamboni found that whichever patient had this condition, had a high level of deposition of Iron in the veins. Lack of free flow of the blood to the brain possibly explaining the symptoms of MS. Now the idea was to open up such blocks and allow the free flow of blood through veins to brain. This is the reason why this procedure is called as Liberation Procedure. This is done in the similar way as it is done in Coronary Balloon procedure. The patient may have single blockage or multiple blockages. Accordingly the treatment is decided.

safemedtrip.com
- May 6, 2010 @ 12:05 am PDT

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BlogBabel Tags: angioplasty for multiple sclerosis, MS, surgery for MS

Of 500 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) 62% had chronic cerebrospinal veinous insufficiency (CCSVI). MS is not alone in having chronic cerebrospinal veinous insufficiency. In other diseases about 45% also have CCSVI.

Dr. Zamboni, an Italian doctor, treated his own wife with angioplasty — a balloon to clean out the vein that was clogged. Three years later she has had no MS attacks.

Stanford Hospital put on hold its program for treating MS patients with CCSVI after one patient died and another had to have emergency heart surgery.

“Stay on current drug therapy” says Dr. Zivadinov, associate professor of neurology at the University of Buffalo in New York.

Well, that is conservative advise that sounds good. But for patients that experience numerous side effects from the drug therapy that advise may sound hollow.

BlogBabel Tags: CCSVI, chronic cerebrospinal veinous insufficiency, Dr. Zamboni, Stanford Hospital

Work to change the conditions that draw people here illegally. Too easily people can get fake identification papers. The Border Patrol too frequently turns a blind eye to people entering illegally. There is no fence along the southern border — though money was allocated for one. The federal government for too many years has done too little.

Hence Arizona’s sensible response. More needs to be done, however.

So let’s make sensible changes:

** Built rapport with law abiding groups across the Border. Have a foreign workers program and all workers carry tamper proof identification cards. Make a fence that is not easily penetrated and well maintained. Provide foreign aid to families and children that encourages families to stay and or return to Mexico and other Latin American countries.

** Built a solid fence with a 1/2 mile “no go” strip maintained by air planes, the national guard & border patrol. Physically fit persons paid by the government — like census workers — can walk the fence and be the eyes and ears for the national guard and border patrol. Use air planes equipped with laser tag guns, glow in the dark paint ball guns and other means of identifying persons that have illegally entered the U.S.

** Akin to the “go to the people & get their support” in Iraq and Afghanistan, use our military to “make friends” with law abiding citizens and groups in Mexico. What do they need/ want so their young people stay in Mexico and contribute to Mexico’s development? Give direct aid in small towns so they thrive and are pro-American and give us tips as to what the drug cartels are doing. Build rapport and support for law abiding behavior across the border.

** Remember that it is illegal behavior. Follow the laws that are already on the books.

** People are drawn here because of the freedoms we have as a lawful society. That’s what is wrong with amnesty every 10-15 years. Amnesty is a reward for bad behavior. Let’s reward legal behavior.

BlogBabel Tags: arizona law, border patrol, federal government, fence, illegal aliens, illegal immigration