Today was the presentation of the mouse model of CCSVI from the Stanford lab by Dr. Thanaporn, a co-worker in Dr. Cooke's department at Stanford University.  This has been a long process, and is still underway.  It has been difficult to keep the mice alive long enough/make blockage not too severe to see changes in the brains and behavior and note them in the mice.  

Dr. Clive B. Beggs is a professor of medical technology at the University of Bradford in the UK.  Dr. Beggs has created a hydraulic model of CCSVI showing how blockage on the venous side of the brain can create cerebral spinal fluid and plasma disturbances in the MS brain, leading to the formation of lesions and  neurodegeneration.

 from my friend "sou" on This Is MS---

Hi. 

I am in the conference room. 

Dr Thanaporn's mouse model is still under development. The mice developed gait disturbances after 6 weeks of blocking their jugular veins, however the severity was significant but not disabling. The next step is trying to compare it or incorporate it to EAE. The funny part will be the testing of immune modulators on this new model to see what (or what doesn't) happens! 

The most exciting presentation was that of Dr Beggs, regarding a hydrablic mechanical model of cerebral fluids, blood and CSF. I find the explanation of Dawson's fingers exciting, given that it comes out of "a toy" full of water! The model is still theoretical, but the maths and calculations are very accurate, so are its predictions. 

Given Dr Zlokovic's discoveries proving that neurodegeneration can't but follow vascular abnormalitites and Dr Begg's model explaining how venous obstructions far away on the venous side can cause a deadly CSF oscilation throughout the CNS, along with hypoperfusion/oligaemia, I wonder who can still insist that normal people have occuded cerebral veins. Even if somebody have, they are not normal. The time bomb is there. The critics have to prove that thee is no threat to the neuronal health and that Zlokovic's vicious cycle has not been activated. 

I 'll be back later. Hopefully...

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http://www.facebook.com/notes/ccsvi-in-multiple-sclerosis/report-from-conference-in-bologna/10150119100432211