Blog 10 Multiple Sclerosis

        Apparently there is a new drug that is the “most effective” treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, say UK researchers.  During Multiple Sclerosis the body’s immune system turns on its own nerves causing debilitating muscle problems. Researchers at the University of Cambridge say a cancer drug, which wipes outs resets than other options. However, there is a concern that a drugs company is about to increase the cost of the drug as a result. Around 100,000 people in the UK multiple sclerosis.  When the condition is diagnosed most will have a form of the disease known as relapsing-remitting MS, in which the symptoms can almost disappear for a time, before suddenly returning.  The researchers tested a leukemia drug, alemtuzumab, which had shown benefits for MS in small studies.  One compared the effectiveness in patients given the drug and after being diagnosed, the other looked at patients given the drug after other treatments had failed.  Both showed the drug was around 50% more effective at preventing relapses and patients had less disability at the end of the study than when they started.  Dr. Alasdair Coles from the University of Cambridge said it is certainly the most effective MS drug, based on these clinical trials, but this is definitely not a cure.”

                With this breakthrough it opens the doors for a cure for multiple sclerosis which is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).  MS is caused by damaged is caused by inflammation, inflammation occurs when the body’s own immune cells attack the nervous system. This can occur along any area of the brain optic nerve, and spinal cord. With this new drug, it could help so many cases of multiple sclerosis so people could rehabilitate themselves and possibly progress from MS. Breakthroughs such as these are the ones that truly start a domino effect in the medical world and lead to change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20151891

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747/

Blog 10: Christians persecuted throughout the world

In Nigeria the latest bombing shows how Christians are increasingly suffering for their faith. Christians are falling victim to Islamist aggression. The Islamic government is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Christian over the past 30 years. Islamic gunmen have firebombed churches and girls are being abducted and beheaded in their way to school because of their faith. Two days ago, a suicide bomber crashed a jeep filled with explosives into a packed catholic church in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, killing at least eight people and injuring over 100. This is just one of many attacks by Boko Haram, an exceptionally bloodthirsty militant group. Christians are targeted in greater numbers than any other faith group on earth. About 200 million church members face discrimination or persecution. Around the world Christians aren’t allowed to practice their religion openly and are often persecuted for it. Many of their churches are vanishing and people are concerned that all of the churches will vanish from their homeland. Christians generally become more tolerant and self-critical and have refused to respond with violence. Their plight is continuously being ignored.

The issue has always been religion. One religion believes their religion is better. Although we hear a lot about Christians being cruel to Muslims (the American film about the Prophet Mohammed), we never hear anything about the cruelty to Christians. This is not only a social problem but also a global problem. It is a social problem because there is a problem within the Christian community where they are being “hunted” and yet their effort to do something about it is being ignored. It is also a social problem because Muslims believe the problem is the Christian community and they’re thoughts of fixing the problem is destroying churches and chapels and killing off the Christian population. This affects the lives of 2 different groups with significant amounts of followers. This could be considered a global problem because many people know what is going on and want to make an effort to alleviate the problem. If people around the world don’t know about this issue they are slowly becoming aware. Since this is already happening around the world it is probably evident that many people, countries, know what’s going on and those governments not controlled by the religion that wants the Christian population to decrease will make an effort to stop this disaster. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9640825/Christians-persecuted-throughout-the-world.html