VOA慢速英语2011--Scientists Continue Their Search for Bet

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Scientists Continue Their Search for Better Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis – and a Cure
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I’m Shirley Griffith.
BOB DOUGHTY¹: And I’m Bob Doughty. Today, we continue our report about multiple sclerosis. America’s Food and Drug Administration says multiple sclerosis affects about four hundred thousand people in the United States. More than two million others worldwide are believed to have the disease, which is often called MS.
(MUSIC)
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: There are four main kinds of multiple sclerosis. The most common is called Relapsing-Remitting. About eighty- to eighty-five percent of MS patients begin with this form of the disease. More than half of them have Relapsing-Remitting MS at any one time. These patients have one or two major MS-related health problems every one to three years. Then they have periods with no signs of the disease.
The problems appear suddenly and last a few weeks or months before slowly disappearing. They may include lack of balance, low energy levels, trouble with speaking clearly and even blindness. Steroid treatments can speed the recovery from this kind of attack. However, these symptoms may become worse each time they appear.
Last week, we met thirty-five year old Amy Jo Rowell. Doctors found four years ago that she had Relapsing-Remitting MS. She told VOA she is not getting better. But she is not getting worse either.
AMY JO ROWELL: “I’m operating on a plateau. Every once in a while I may have what’s called an ‘exacerbation,’ where my symptoms may become worse in one particular area or another. After a period of time they usually recover, stabilize², sometimes with some permanent damage. I do have some things that are permanent – um, loss of feeling, um, and that sort of thing and some weakness and some coordination³. Every once in a while my speech is interrupted or affected⁴. Um, I’ve been really lucky for the most part. I do have – I don’t want to say a recovery because that gives a false sense of, of what is actually happening – but it does stabilize again. And it’s just kind of periods of ups and downs, mostly flat.”
BOB DOUGHTY: The second kind of multiple sclerosis is called Primary Progressive. In this form, the symptoms appear and begin to grow worse, with no periods of disappearance⁵. About ten percent of patients begin their struggle with the disease this way.
The third kind of MS is called Secondary Progressive. This form of the disease affects about fifty percent of those with the Relapsing-Remitting form of MS. It often begins to affect them within ten years of receiving their first medical diagnosis⁶ of Relapsing-Remitting MS. When the disease changes to Secondary Progressive, the disease begins to grow worse.
The fourth kind of MS is called Progressive Relapsing. It is the most severe form of multiple sclerosis. New signs of MS appear while existing ones grow worse. Luckily, this form of the disease is rare.
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SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Scientists say multiple sclerosis is not directly passed from parents to children. Yet it has been shown to strike members of the same family. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says one in every seven hundred fifty Americans is at risk of developing MS. But the risk rises to one in every forty people among those who have a close family member with the disease.
It does not appear that one gene⁷ is responsible for MS. Instead, many genes⁸ may increase the possibility that a person will develop MS.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. But it does not always cause severe disability. Many people with MS are able to live normal lives. For example, Amy Jo Rowell continues to operate a busy animal shelter in the state of Wisconsin.
BOB DOUGHTY: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders⁹ and Stroke says some people with MS do well with no treatment at all. Many treatments have serious side effects and some carry risks. Yet research has suggested that the best way to reduce future disease activity is to begin MS therapy as early as possible. Medical experts say early, pro-active treatment is the best defense¹⁰ against permanent damage to the nervous system.
In the United States, doctors usually suggest treatment with one of eight disease-modifying therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration. All of these treatments have been shown to reduce the number and severity of MS attacks and appear to slow the progress of the disease.
Early last year, the FDA approved dalfampridine extended-release tablets to help MS patients with walking. This is the first MS-specific treatment developed for symptom management. Dalfampridine is sold under the name Ampyra. FDA officials say the drug has side effects and can cause seizures¹¹ if taken at higher than suggested levels.
(MUSIC)
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Scientists are working to develop other medicines and treatments for MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says many studies are continuing around the world. Doctors hope that new therapies will help more people with multiple sclerosis, especially those with progressive forms of the disease.
Timothy Coetzee is the Chief Research Officer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He told VOA that he believes developments in the past few years mean researchers are close to learning what causes MS.
TIMOTHY COETZEE: “With the advent¹² of technology and genetics and the ability to mine massive quantities of information and also to engage hundreds of thousands of people in the movement, I think we will see new lines of research that will help us identify what is at the cause.”
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: However, a recent study offered little good news for people with MS. Results of the study were reported in the journal Neurology in July. Researchers examined information about more than eight hundred people who had been recently diagnosed with MS. The report predicted lost productivity over a ten-year period.
BOB DOUGHTY: The report also estimated health care costs for MS patients, including the cost of drugs that were developed in the nineteen nineties. At the time, these drugs were found to have the ability to affect the development of the disease instead of treating the symptoms.
The study showed the drugs have provided some help to MS patients. The drugs were found to slow the progression of the disease and reduce future attacks. But they have side effects, and cost as much as thirty thousand dollars a year.
The study found the cost of the drugs is eight times higher than health policy experts believe is reasonable, when comparing their effect on patients. The experts say for drugs to be cost-effective, they should produce one additional quality year of life for every one hundred thousand dollars in cost. The MS drugs studied cost more than eight hundred thousand dollars for every quality year of life produced.
The study organizers say the comparison would be much better if the drug costs were lower. They say the cost of the drugs in Britain, Canada and Germany is sixty-seven percent lower than in the United States.
(MUSIC)
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Even with no cure for multiple sclerosis, researchers are developing a better understanding of the disease. This is leading to better treatments and a better quality of life for those who live with it.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Doctor Coetzee tells VOA that he is hopeful about the fight against MS. He notes that researchers around the world are taking part in the effort.
TIMOTHY COETZEE: “We’re reaching a point in science and medicine where the intersection¹³ of diseases and strategies is, I think, more apparent and more viable¹⁴ than it ever was in the past. There isn’t a continent in which people aren’t working on MS. And I think that that is for me part of why, why we’re also part of this global movement, ah, to do something about this disease.”
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society continues to support holistic¹⁵ research. The Society wants to undo¹⁶ the damage MS has done and, someday, end the threat of the disease forever.
The group has created a website that tells about progress in the fight against multiple sclerosis. The website has the latest news on research and treatments for MS. And it has information about help available to people with the disease, their families and their doctors.
BOB DOUGHTY: Living with multiple sclerosis is never easy. Just ask Patrick Finney of Grapevine, Texas. He first had trouble walking more than ten years ago. Doctors later said he had MS.
Mister Finney was urged to take his medicine and rest. But he had other ideas. He slowly retrained himself how to walk. In time, he took up running and even started to compete in races.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The story of Patrick Finney is very unusual for someone with MS. Last month, he crossed the finish line at the Bellingham Bay Marathon in the state of Washington. Strong winds made running difficult during the forty-two kilometer long race. By finishing, he reached his goal of completing fifty marathons in all fifty American states.
Mister Finney thanked all his friends and family members who traveled to Bellingham to watch him compete. As he told the Reuters news agency, it has been “an amazing journey, and I’m on top of the world.”
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Christopher Cruise. June Simms was our producer. I’m Bob Doughty.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: And I’m Shirley Griffith. You can find transcripts¹⁷, MP3s and podcasts of our programs at voanews.cn. And you can find us on Twitter and YouTube at VOA Learning English. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

3 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

6 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

7 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

8 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

9 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

12 advent   

n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临

参考例句：

• Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
• The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。

13 intersection   

n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集

参考例句：

• There is a stop sign at an intersection.在交叉路口处有停车标志。
• Bridges are used to avoid the intersection of a railway and a highway.桥用来避免铁路和公路直接交叉。

14 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

15 holistic   

adj.从整体着眼的，全面的

参考例句：

• There is a fundamental ambiguity in the use of word "whole" in recent holistic literature.在近代的整体主义著作中，“整体”这个词的用法极其含混。
• In so far as historicism is technological,its approach is not piecemeal,but "holistic".仅就历史决定论是一种技术而论，它的方法不是渐进的，而是“整体主义的”。

16 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

17 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句