Health Expert Dr. Kantor shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. 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/profiles/c/428/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/428/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/428/index http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/146404/risk-pml Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:45:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor While PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) sounds scary, advances are being made in its diagnosis and treatment. The first question is: who is at risk to get PML? The JC virus that causes PML is a common virus that many of us have had since childhood without even knowing it. Most people (with healthy immune systems) don't develop PML because the body's natural immune defenses are able to keep the virus in check. White blood cells... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/146404/risk-pml http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/146403/pml Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:43:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor No, this is not the beginning of a Scrabble® game. PML stands for Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Is that even more confusing? Let's pull apart the alphabet soup and learn more about this disease that you may have heard something about. There is a childhood virus that some of us get, but don't even realize, called the JC virus. Most people have no idea that they contracted the virus. The JC virus can get reactivated and cause a... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/146403/pml http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/141225/risk-pml Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:34:00 -0400 Dr. Kantor While PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) sounds scary, advances are being made in its diagnosis and treatment.   The first question is: who is at risk to get PML? The JC virus that causes PML is a common virus that many of us have had since childhood without even knowing it.  Most people (with healthy immune systems) don't develop PML because the body's natural immune defenses are able to keep the virus in check. White... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/141225/risk-pml http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/61946/hopes Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:19:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor As most of you know (since MS patients are the most educated in the world), there are a few big MS research meetings throughout the year (e.g. ECTRIMS, AAN and ENS).There has, however, been some recent data which has been released and which is very exciting to the MS community.The results of the international Phase III study of oral Fingolimod (FTY720) vs. intramuscular Avonex (interferon beta-1a) demonstrated a 52% reduction in annualized... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/61946/hopes http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/58391/cognitive Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor A big part of cognitive difficulties stems from fatigue. This is why it is important to address fatigue in a comprehensive manner. Fatigue may be caused by sleepiness because of poor sleep hygiene, sleepiness from a sleep disorder (such as obstructive sleep apnea), medication induced sleepiness, exhaustion from inefficient use of the strength you have and MS related fatigue.   Occupational therapists can work with you to develop a plan... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/58391/cognitive http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/57171/cognitive Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:26:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor This is the first installment of a two part series on the cognitive symptoms associated with MS.   While much attention is placed on the movement aspects of MS, most patients are concerned with the potential for cognitive symptoms, such as memory difficulties. MS can cause tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, where one has to struggle to find the word they are looking for. While this happens to all of us at some point, it can occur more often... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/57171/cognitive http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/55475/sclerosis Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:31:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor “Cancer Drug Shows Promise Against Multiple Sclerosis.”   Many of you have read this headline and wondered if this is the right medicine for you.   I received multiple phone calls at our Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis & Migraine Center at the University of Florida & Shands Jacksonville. There were questions from the media, public relations and Wall Street analysts, besides the many questions from... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/55475/sclerosis http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/54174/reducing Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:17:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor We all know that with the holiday season comes stress. Even now, as it is winding to a close, you still may be feeling the effects.   While everyone is subject to stress, people with MS have to be even more careful during the holiday season to be ready for the stress associated with financial constraints, weather and, yes, family.   Why is it important to reduce stress?   Stress can increase the core body temperature and... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/54174/reducing http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/48463/treatment Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:41:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor The World Congress on Treatment and Research in MS took place recently. At this important MS meeting there were scientific oral presentations and posters; this meeting is important because it updates all of us clinicians and scientists on the latest and greatest in the MS world. There is presentation of laboratory research, but mostly there are updates on clinical trials. As we move towards oral and less frequent intravenous (IV) medications,... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/48463/treatment http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/47855/importan Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:05:00 -0500 Dr. Kantor MS is about so much more than two letters, an MRI and needles. It’s about families; it’s about working together; it’s about forging new relationships; it’s about getting to know yourself better and getting to know your community better. Each of us in the MS community uses our resources to improve the community as a whole. For some of us that means being the doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, nurse... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/47855/importan