News

This page is updated regularly to keep everybody up to date.  

  • Mixed news (19th Sep 2003)-
    1.    Not enough people volunteered for the P/MET trial, so we have postponed its beginning. If you are interested, it is not too late to get in touch. In order not to let down those that put their hopes in it, the trial will begin in November, regardless of the number of participants.
    2    Unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain a visa to the US for the purpose of giving a presentation at the ABDA's conference, so my appearance there is cancelled. Due to requests from members, the presentation will become obtainable online shortly after the end of the Jewish high holidays (late October). It is extremely informative, so keep checking for updates on the subject.
    3. As of earlier this month, BIG has been boasting over 100 active members! (and many more non-active ones). We hope you find the information and services offered of use. A major update of the site is currently in the works.
     4. Due to the Jewish high holidays and personal issues, BIG will be taking a break until late October. However, urgent e-mails will be handled as usual.
     Shana Tova and much health!
     
  • Volunteers needed for experimental alternative therapy (7th July 2003)- Participants must be over 18 years of age; diagnosed with BD by a healthcare professional; suffering from chronic symptoms; willing to and capable of bearing expenses (about $55/ month for 12 months). Patients using anticoagulants (blood thinners)/ anti-thrombotics (e.g aspirin) may not participate without physician approval and regular monitoring. Other restrictions exist, so not all applicants will be addmitted, but we need many subjects for this trial, so anyone interested is encouraged to apply. Please attach a list of all the drugs you are taking (prescription and OTC) and all known allergies (if any). Applications should be sent to big@behcet.org.il titled P/MET Trial Application.
  • Anti TNF-alpha update (26th June 2003)- a large entry regarding this treatment has been added to the medicine&treatment page, and the results of the survey have been published. BIG would like to thank all the participants for their cooperation and help. New links to other support groups and an e-mail link for physician recommendations outside Israel are now available. 125-130 people now visit BIG every day, and many of them return. We hope you find the site informative.
  • Last call for Anti TNF-Alpha survey (Remicade/ Infliximab, Enbrel) (3rd June 2003)- To all who wanted to participate in this survey and have not requested to do so yet or have yet to send their answers, please note that the deadline for submission of questionnaires is Friday, 6th of June, 2003. For the questionnaire please contact Tal Kinenrsly big@behcet.org.il and state your purpose. Thank you. Your personal details will remain protected by BIG and will not be shared. The survey is in cooperation with Dr. Bachta of Poland, a member of our international team of specialists. 
  • ABDA's bi-annual conference (2nd April 2003)- ABDA's next conference will be held in Chicago, 24-26 October 2003. Discounts available! For further information please click here.
  • Update (23rd March 2003)- Part two of our annual winter update, it includes major rewrites of the sections What is Behcet?, Symptoms and Outcomes, Criteria and Diagnosis and Medicine and Treatment, as well as Behcet in Israel. Minor changes were made to other entries. You can now enjoy all the old and new information more easily by using the newly installed search button on the index page.
  • Update (16th Feb 2003)- This is part one of a major winter update, it includes a new appendix and more correspondence on thalidomide, a new volunteer offering help for the blind and visually impaired and many more links, including one to a mailing list. The report for the 2nd patient convention which took place over half a year ago in Berlin finally came out and we are presenting it for your reference. Lastly, if you are interested in donating to keep this site going, you can now do it easily through PayPal. An interesting statistic, over 80 people read an average of three pages of BIG each daily, spending up to 3 hours on the site at a time; about 40% read the Hebrew side of things, which represents most of the Israeli visitors, the rest being from all other parts of the world.

  • Update (14th Oct 2002)- Information about doctors in Israel has been updated, as has information regarding conferences and chat. The Natural Therapies section has also been updated. 

  • Dr. Leiba- In September 2002, I met briefly with Dr. Meirav Leiba at her haematology clinic at the Sheba Medical Centre, Israel, where she regularly treats BD patients and is engaged in BD research. We discussed the Berlin conference, her research and BD in general. Dr. Leiba expressed her support of any helpful natural therapy methods. To contact Dr. Leiba please click here and mark " attn: Dr. Leiba".

  • A Major update (10th Feb 2002)- The site has been substantially updated in all informational entries, and new entries were created, including specific information to Israel. Reactions to the Thalidomide story have also been added, and old information was updated.

  • Thalidomide- the story of a Behcet patient. (5th Nov 2001)

  • The Second Convention for Patients with Silk-Road Disease (Behcet's Disease)- a disappointment (5th August 2001)

  • Natural medicine against Behcet Disease- a new article (19th July 2001)

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