PULSE.

Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor

Running the race against MS

In 1991, Nancy Davis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 33. The mother of three small children was told she would soon be homebound and helpless. But armed with a positive outlook and a determination to learn more about her condition, she persevered. And now, the mother of five continues to lead an active life.

Soon after her diagnosis, she began crusading for a cure for MS, which attacks the central nervous system and affects about 400,000 Americans.

One way the L.A. philanthropist raises money for the cause is the annual Race to Erase MS gala, which benefits the Nancy Davis Foundation.

But in addition to this big-ticket evening, the Nancy Davis Center Without Walls, a network of the nation's top MS research centers, will also present the MS roundtable, an open-forum discussion with leading experts in the field.

The free event, which takes place 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, is geared for people with the disease as well as family, caregivers and friends.

``Most people with MS don't have access to these neurologists and other specialists,'' says Davis, author of the new book ``Lean on Me: Ten Powerful Steps to Moving Beyond Your Diagnosis and Taking Back Your Life'' (Fireside; $22.95). ``These are the heavy hitters in the field, and it's wonderful to be in the presence of these great minds. They have so much to offer.''

The Center Without Walls, which is funded by the foundation, allows MS research centers to exchange information and to collaborate, and it includes doctors from USC, UC San Francisco, Harvard, Yale, Cleveland Clinic, Oregon Health Sciences University and Johns Hopkins.

``It's not traditional what they do,'' says Davis. ``Most doctors don't share like this. They're coming together to work as a team. It's very positive and inspiring.''

Leaders from each of the centers will be on hand to talk about the latest advances in MS and also discuss patient care and answer questions.

For more information about the center and Davis' foundation, call [phone] or visit www.erasems.org.

For more information about ``Disco Fever,'' the 13th annual Race to Erase MS gala, which takes place Friday evening at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, call [phone].

FORGOTTEN BY MEDICINE: During the Civil War, Confederate physician Forney Zacharias applied maggots to soldiers' wounds to remove gangrenous tissue, saving many lives in the process. Zacharias followed in the footsteps of many past cultures that also observed maggots' paradoxical ability to stave off infection. Modern medicine has since moved on to antibiotics, but thanks to the rise of more resistant germs, maggots have seen a renewed interest in the medical community.

``The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things'' (Harmony Books; $24.95), written by Larry Dossey, covers more than a dozen ``ordinary things'' like bugs, dirt, optimism and tears, discussing their respective places in the history of medicine and citing studies that suggest we may be missing out by ignoring their value in healing the sick. According to a recent British survey, 95 percent of doctors who have used maggot therapy were pleased with the results. The subject matter, strange as it seems, might appear to be light on scientific rigor, but the book contains surprisingly cogent -- and common-sense -- arguments for these forgotten paths to health and happiness.

-- Andy Wang

SHOW ME YOUR MOVES: The nationwide dance craze hasn't hit only washed-out celebs. Kids in the MTV generation want to know how to dance like their favorite hip-hop artists, and the release of ``Hip Hop for Kids: Pop! Lock! And Break!'' (Jumping Fish Productions), the sequel to ``Hip Hop for Kids,'' should be an indication of how much kids want to pop and lock like the best of them.

The video starts off with a warm-up, then takes viewers through beginner and advanced dance moves, including basics like ``popping'' and ``locking,'' but also the ``chingy,'' ``ponytail'' and ``uprock.'' A ``My Style'' section encourages burgeoning dancers to freestyle their own moves, and interspersed performances by pros give kids something to aspire to.

The DVD, which includes a CD soundtrack, retails for $24.95; the stand-alone VHS is available for $19.95. To order, call [phone] or visit www.hiphop4kids.net.

-- A.W.

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Photo:

(1) DAVIS

(2) no caption (``The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things'')