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This week on Sickboy we sit down with Ardra and dig into what it's like to live with MS, what it's like to rock a walker as a young woman, and how simple catheters can be, although, Taylor is still a little confused. Accessibility becomes a hot topic and we learn just how much of our society is constructed without it in mind. We had a really enlightening conversation and we want to give a huge shoutout to Ardra's blog, Tripping on Air, at trippingonair.com

Multiple sclerosis has affected millions of people worldwide - but there is now fresh evidence that it's triggered in part by the Epstein-Barr virus. Matt Galloway talks to Allison Markin, who has been living with MS for almost 20 years; and Dr. Jiwon Oh, medical director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Program at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

When Dr. Katherine Knox first arrived in Saskatchewan more than two decades ago, the province covered one prescription drug for patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Beyond that, patients had to pay for drugs out-of-pocket. Today, Knox said the province reimburses MS patients for 14 different drugs. \"MS is an expensive disease on many levels,\" said Knox, noting Saskatchewan's coverage is now the most favourable for MS patients anywhere in Canada. In Saskatchewan, three in 1,000 people have Multiple Sclerosis - one of the highest incidences of Multiple Sclerosis in the world. As treatments improve, the number of people living with this chronic autoimmune disease is rising. \"It's probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors that play a role,\" said Knox, who first learned about the disease as a student volunteer with the MS Society of Canada. \"Everyone had such a unique disease experience,\" Knox said. \"So I just became more curious.\" Her research these days focuses on non-drug approaches which prevent the onset of disability. After 15 years with the disease, it's estimated roughly half of MS patients need a cane or walking aid. \"Understandably many people don't want to use a walker for good reason,\" said Knox. \"It's bulky, it's awkward, it certainly lets people know that you have an issue with your walking.\" To delay that, Knox turned to researchers at the College of Kinesiology's Biomechanics of Balance and Movement Lab, to look at the power of a 'light touch'. The goal is to help people with MS regain - and keep - their balance and mobility. \"Patients would tell us you know when I walk the dog and hold the leash, my balance feels better. Or when I lightly touch the back of the chair I can be re-orientated,\" she said. By teaming up with Dr. Alison Oates, fourth-year resident Najala Orrell, and Pawan Kumar, an engineer and kinesiology research fellow, Knox studies patients' balance and stability, using various haptic inputs. \"Even just a light touch on a walker or perhaps a different object can help them regain their balance,\" said Knox. In this episode, she said keeping her patients moving and avoiding falls is crucial. \"We do need innovation and technology to come up with ways that can provide sensory feedback that would be discreet, socially acceptable, and easy to use,\" said Knox.

Dr. Robert Morse

As part of The Balancing Act?s My Health series ? we discuss Multiple Sclerosis, or MS - a chronic, disabling disease of the nervous system that affects more than two million people worldwide.

Joliet Junior College

Joliet Junior College

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Objectives: A novel characterization of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) patients according to lesion patterns is proposed. More specifically, patients are classified according to the nature of inflammatory lesions patterns. It is expected that this characterization can infer new prospective figures from the earliest imaging signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), since it can provide a classification of different types of lesions across patients. Methods: The method is based on a two-tiered classification. Initially, the spatio-temporal lesion patterns are classified. The discovered lesion patterns are then used to characterize groups of patients. The patient groups are validated using statistical measures and by correlations at 24-month follow-up with hypointense lesion loads. Results: The methodology identified 3 statistically significantly different clusters of lesion patterns showing p-values smaller than 0.01. Moreover, these patterns defined at baseline correlated with chronic hypointense lesion volumes by follow-up with an score of . Conclusions: The proposed methodology is capable of identifying three major different lesion patterns that are heterogeneously present in patients, allowing a patient classification using only two MRI scans. This finding may lead to more accurate prognosis and thus to more suitable treatments at early stage of MS.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Objectives: A novel characterization of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) patients according to lesion patterns is proposed. More specifically, patients are classified according to the nature of inflammatory lesions patterns. It is expected that this characterization can infer new prospective figures from the earliest imaging signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), since it can provide a classification of different types of lesions across patients. Methods: The method is based on a two-tiered classification. Initially, the spatio-temporal lesion patterns are classified. The discovered lesion patterns are then used to characterize groups of patients. The patient groups are validated using statistical measures and by correlations at 24-month follow-up with hypointense lesion loads. Results: The methodology identified 3 statistically significantly different clusters of lesion patterns showing p-values smaller than 0.01. Moreover, these patterns defined at baseline correlated with chronic hypointense lesion volumes by follow-up with an score of . Conclusions: The proposed methodology is capable of identifying three major different lesion patterns that are heterogeneously present in patients, allowing a patient classification using only two MRI scans. This finding may lead to more accurate prognosis and thus to more suitable treatments at early stage of MS.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Objectives: A novel characterization of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) patients according to lesion patterns is proposed. More specifically, patients are classified according to the nature of inflammatory lesions patterns. It is expected that this characterization can infer new prospective figures from the earliest imaging signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), since it can provide a classification of different types of lesions across patients. Methods: The method is based on a two-tiered classification. Initially, the spatio-temporal lesion patterns are classified. The discovered lesion patterns are then used to characterize groups of patients. The patient groups are validated using statistical measures and by correlations at 24-month follow-up with hypointense lesion loads. Results: The methodology identified 3 statistically significantly different clusters of lesion patterns showing p-values smaller than 0.01. Moreover, these patterns defined at baseline correlated with chronic hypointense lesion volumes by follow-up with an score of . Conclusions: The proposed methodology is capable of identifying three major different lesion patterns that are heterogeneously present in patients, allowing a patient classification using only two MRI scans. This finding may lead to more accurate prognosis and thus to more suitable treatments at early stage of MS.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Objectives: A novel characterization of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) patients according to lesion patterns is proposed. More specifically, patients are classified according to the nature of inflammatory lesions patterns. It is expected that this characterization can infer new prospective figures from the earliest imaging signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), since it can provide a classification of different types of lesions across patients. Methods: The method is based on a two-tiered classification. Initially, the spatio-temporal lesion patterns are classified. The discovered lesion patterns are then used to characterize groups of patients. The patient groups are validated using statistical measures and by correlations at 24-month follow-up with hypointense lesion loads. Results: The methodology identified 3 statistically significantly different clusters of lesion patterns showing p-values smaller than 0.01. Moreover, these patterns defined at baseline correlated with chronic hypointense lesion volumes by follow-up with an score of . Conclusions: The proposed methodology is capable of identifying three major different lesion patterns that are heterogeneously present in patients, allowing a patient classification using only two MRI scans. This finding may lead to more accurate prognosis and thus to more suitable treatments at early stage of MS.

This article is from Iranian Journal of Neurology , volume 11 . Abstract Background: There is a known inverse association between solar radiation and the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Some studies have investigated the link between vitamin D and MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration and the severity of disease in Iranian patients with MS. Methods: Patients with relapsing–remitting MS underwent neurological examination, including measurement of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and were categorized by disease severity into mild (0 ≤ EDSS ≤3), moderate (3.5 ≤ EDSS ≤5.5) and severe (6 ≤ EDSS). Serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and parathyroid hormone were also measured. Results: A total of 78 (73.1% female) patients with MS were evaluated. The mean (± standard deviation) of age was 33.9 ± 9.2 years. The mean (± standard error) serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3 were 36.6 ± 5.1 mg/dL, 50.1 ± 12.6 mg/dL and 19.8 ± 6.5 mg/dL in patients with mild, moderate and severe disease, respectively. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration and EDSS score (P = 0.016, r= –0.273 by Spearman rank correlation test), which was observed in women only (P = 0.021, r = –0.305). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration cutoff of 16.5 mg/dL could differentiate patients with mild/moderate MS from severe disease with 74.6% accuracy. Conclusion: Our findings further support the association between vitamin D and disease severity in MS.

This article is from BMC Neurology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p 

This article is from BMC Neurology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p 

This article is from BMC Neurology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p 

This article is from BMC Neurology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p 

This article is from BMC Neurology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p 

This paper is in the public domain in USA. Metadata comes from the CrossRef API, see full record in the source URL below.

This paper is in the public domain in USA. Metadata comes from the CrossRef API, see full record in the source URL below.

Councilmember Roger Berliner presents a proclamation recognizing Multiple Sclerosis to local activists dedicated to raising awareness on the health condition.

This scoping review will review what scientific evidence is available so far pertaining to functional connectivity perturbations in brain fog in multiple sclerosis patients.

I am visiting Gandhamardan Hills since year 1990 for Ethnobotanical surveys and collected information worth several TBs in these years. The present series is an effort to bring all aspects of Biodiversity rich Gandhamardan Hills among world community. For details please visit pankajoudhia.com Related References Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Guttate psoriasis. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hürthle cell carcinoma. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for H1N1 Flu. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hair Loss. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Head and neck cancers. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hearing Loss. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com

I am visiting Gandhamardan Hills since year 1990 for Ethnobotanical surveys and collected information worth several TBs in these years. The present series is an effort to bring all aspects of Biodiversity rich Gandhamardan Hills among world community. For details please visit pankajoudhia.com Related References Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Guttate psoriasis. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hürthle cell carcinoma. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for H1N1 Flu. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hair Loss. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Head and neck cancers. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com Oudhia, P. (2014). Medicinal Rice Baisur with Red, Brown and Black Rice based Traditional Herbal Formulations (Gandhamardan Hills Series) for Hearing Loss. Medicinal Rice Formulations (1990-2014) in Encyclopedia of Tribal Medicines by Pankaj Oudhia at pankajoudhia.com

ABSTRACT Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and melatonin levels, sleep disturbances and fatigue in persons with MS (pwMS). Methods: The study included 50 pwMS and 30 healthy controls. Levels of serum melatonin, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in both groups. Persons with MS (pwMS) were evaluated using the extended disability status scale (EDDS) while Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale, insomnia severity index, fatigue severity scale and Beck depression scale were used for both groups. Results: Persons with MS (pwMS) exhibited significantly higher sleep disturbances (p

ABSTRACT Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and melatonin levels, sleep disturbances and fatigue in persons with MS (pwMS). Methods: The study included 50 pwMS and 30 healthy controls. Levels of serum melatonin, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in both groups. Persons with MS (pwMS) were evaluated using the extended disability status scale (EDDS) while Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale, insomnia severity index, fatigue severity scale and Beck depression scale were used for both groups. Results: Persons with MS (pwMS) exhibited significantly higher sleep disturbances (p

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in the scientific investigation and clinical management of multiple sclerosis. Analyses of binary multiple sclerosis lesion maps are typically "mass univariate" and conducted with standard linear models that are ill suited to the binary nature of the data and ignore the spatial dependence between nearby voxels (volume elements). Smoothing the lesion maps does not entirely eliminate the non-Gaussian nature of the data and requires an arbitrary choice of the smoothing parameter. Here we present a Bayesian spatial model to accurately model binary lesion maps and to determine if there is spatial dependence between lesion location and subject specific covariates such as MS subtype, age, gender, disease duration and disease severity measures. We apply our model to binary lesion maps derived from $T_2$-weighted MRI images from 250 multiple sclerosis patients classified into five clinical subtypes, and demonstrate unique modeling and predictive capabilities over existing methods.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in the scientific investigation and clinical management of multiple sclerosis. Analyses of binary multiple sclerosis lesion maps are typically "mass univariate" and conducted with standard linear models that are ill suited to the binary nature of the data and ignore the spatial dependence between nearby voxels (volume elements). Smoothing the lesion maps does not entirely eliminate the non-Gaussian nature of the data and requires an arbitrary choice of the smoothing parameter. Here we present a Bayesian spatial model to accurately model binary lesion maps and to determine if there is spatial dependence between lesion location and subject specific covariates such as MS subtype, age, gender, disease duration and disease severity measures. We apply our model to binary lesion maps derived from $T_2$-weighted MRI images from 250 multiple sclerosis patients classified into five clinical subtypes, and demonstrate unique modeling and predictive capabilities over existing methods.

Purpose: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a “third wave” cognitive-behavioral intervention that employs innovative mindfulness-based strategies. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on reducing Intensity pain in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Methodology: The study method was semi- experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The study population included all the multiple sclerosis in Arak in the Summer of 2016. Thirty subjects were selected via purposive sampling among patients coming to Arak medical centers and they were randomly assigned into two experiments and control groups. The experimental groups then received 8 sessions Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory was used for collecting data in pre-test and post-test stages. The data were analyzed by covariance. Findings: The results showed that there was a meaningful difference between pretest-posttest experimental groups in the mean score of pain though a meaningful difference was not observed among these pretest-posttest control groups. The results support the effectiveness of  the ACT in decreasing pain. According to the data based on the positive impact of ACT, it is recommended that the method should be used in treatment centers

195 pages ; 22 cm

195 pages ; 22 cm

195 pages ; 22 cm

195 pages ; 22 cm

195 pages ; 22 cm

This article is from Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) , volume 18 . Abstract Background:: Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been tried in the last 15 years as a therapeutic option in patients with poor-prognosis autoimmune disease who do not respond to conventional treatments. Worldwide, more than 600 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been treated with HSCT, most of them having been recruited in small, single-centre, phase 1–2 uncontrolled trials. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes from case series reports or Registry-based analyses suggest that a major response is achieved in most patients; quality and duration of response are better in patients transplanted during the relapsing–remitting phase than in those in the secondary progressive stage. Objectives:: An interdisciplinary group of neurologists and haematologists has been formed, following two international meetings supported by the European and American Blood and Marrow Transplantation Societies, for the purpose of discussing a controlled clinical trial, to be designed within the new scenarios of evolving MS treatments. Conclusions:: Objectives of the trial, patient selection, transplant technology and outcome assessment were extensively discussed. The outcome of this process is summarized in the present paper, with the goal of establishing the background and advancing the development of a prospective, randomized, controlled multicentre trial to assess the clinical efficacy of HSCT for the treatment of highly active MS.

This article is from Journal of Pain Research , volume 7 . Abstract In patients, the perception of pain intensity may be influenced by the subjective representation of their disease. Although both multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia (FM) possibly include chronic pain, they seem to elicit different disease representations because of the difference in their respective etiology, the former presenting evidence of underlying lesions as opposed to the latter. Thus, we investigated whether patients with FM differed from patients with MS with respect to their perception of “own” pain as well as others’ pain. In addition, the psychological concomitant factors associated with chronic pain were considered. Chronic pain patients with FM (n=13) or with MS (n=13) participated in this study. To assess specific pain-related features, they were contrasted with 12 other patients with MS but without chronic pain and 31 controls. A questionnaire describing imaginary painful situations showed that FM patients rated situations applied to themselves as less painful than did the controls. Additionally, pain intensity attributed to facial expressions was estimated as more intense in FM compared with the other groups of participants. There is good evidence that the mood and catastrophizing reactions expressed in FM differentially modulated the perception of pain according to whether it was their own pain or other’s pain.

This article is from Frontiers in Neurology , volume 5 . Abstract None

Includes bibliographical references

Includes index

John has opened a Substack, https://substack.com/@johninengland Covid-19 vaccination can induce multiple sclerosis via cross-reactive CD4+ T cells recognizing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and myelin peptides https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/pt/covidwho-2138820?lang=en Both natural infection and the mRNA based vaccinations can be accompanied by transient autoimmune phenomena, or onset of autoimmune diseases. Objective Two cases of multiple sclerosis (MS), with clinical and new radiological signs, beginning in close temporal relation to spike (S) protein mRNA based vaccinations. Aim The onset of MS in these two cases is very likely caused by CD4+ T cell clones, that cross-recognize SARSCoV- 2 S protein, from myelin proteins. Method Spike specific CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood, and CD4+ T cells from CSF sample were isolated, then underwent autoantigen screening test. (An endogenous antigen that stimulates the production of autoantibodies) A list of well-known MS related autoantigens, Result(s) Self-reactive T cells were detected from Spike specific T cell population, also showed reactivity to MBP, MOG, (Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) peptides PLP peptide pools. Multiple sclerosis and myelin basic protein: insights into protein disorder and disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8810476/ Myelin basic protein (MBP) is an abundant protein in central nervous system (CNS) myelin. MBP has long been studied as a factor in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune neurodegenerative disease multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss. Finally, we found proinflammatory T cell clones, that recognize both Spike protein and immunodominant Myelin basic protein peptides, and Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptides, which have previously been implicated in MS. Conclusion(s) Detailed studies of both peripheral blood, and CSF derived CD4+ T cells show that the onset of MS in these two cases is very likely caused by CD4+ T cell clones that cross-recognize SARS-CoV-2 S protein derived peptides and peptides derived from myelin proteins, which have previously been implicated in MS. Posts misrepresent research on multiple sclerosis and COVID-19 vaccines found in WHO database https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-WHO-COVID-multiple-sclerosis-591321248797 New diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in the setting of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine exposure (January 2022) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34922126/ Multiple sclerosis (MS) with onset in the setting of acute SARS-CoV-2 virus infection has been reported, and reactivation of MS following non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has been noted, There have been three reports of newly diagnosed MS following exposure to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The association cannot be determined to be causal, We report a series of 5 cases of newly diagnosed MS following recent exposure to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Latency from vaccination to initial presentation varied. Neurological manifestations and clinical course appeared to be typical for MS, including response to high dose steroids Conclusion Acute neurological deficits in the setting of recent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administration may represent new onset multiple sclerosis. Hold a parliamentary vote on whether to reject amendments to the IHR 2005 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635904 https://twitter.com/Johnincarlisle We are concerned that Parliament has not discussed and will not have a say on the 307 proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations, AND the amendments to 5 Articles of the IHR that were ADOPTED by the 75th World Health Assembly on 27 May 2022.

This article is from Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal , volume 16 . Abstract Background:: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the nervous system which has numerous disabling effects on patients. Objectives:: This study aimed at investigating the short- and long-term effects of a period of combination exercise therapy on walking distance, balance, fatigue and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients referred to the physiotherapy clinic of Iran's Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2013. Patients and Methods:: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial on 59 patients divided into the intervention (n = 39) and control groups (n = 20). The intervention group received 10 weeks of combination therapy including aerobic, strengthening, balancing and stretching exercises. A week before, a week later and a year after the beginning of the exercises, both groups of patients received BBSS, six minute walking, Family Support Services (FSS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and quality of life tests. The scores of two groups were then compared using statistical tests such as repeated measures ANOVA test. Results:: The results indicated significant changes in the intervention group in comparison to the control group in the second phase of the study comparing to the first one for all tests except EDSS (Mean difference scores of EDSS: -0.13), P-value = 0.60; FSS: -6.9, P-value = 0.02, Mental Quality of Life (QOL): 16.36, P-value = 0.001; Physical QOL: 12.17, P-value = 0.001, six minute walking: 137.2, P-value < 0.0001; and Berg: 3.34, P-value < 0.0001. These changes were not significant in the second phase of the study comparing to the third one; however, they were again significant in the third phase comparing to the first phase of the study (P < 0.05). Conclusions:: Exercise has significant effect on improving symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and cessation of exercise may cause recurrence of symptoms in the intervention group with a slope similar to that of the control group. Therefore, continuous rather than short period exercises have valuable symptomatic and supportive relief effects in patients.

This article is from BMC Neuroscience , volume 15 . Abstract Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that white matter (WM) lesions bias automated brain tissue classifications and cerebral volume measurements. However, filling WM lesions using the intensity of neighbouring normal-appearing WM has been shown to increase the accuracy of automated volume measurements in the brain. In the present study, we investigate the influence of WM lesions on cortical thickness (CTh) measures and assessed the impact of lesion filling on both cross-sectional/longitudinal and global/regional measurements of CTh in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: Fifty MS patients were studied at baseline as well as after three and six years of follow-up. CTh was estimated using a fully automated pipeline (CIVET) on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images data acquired at 1.5 Tesla without (original) and with WM lesion filling (filled). WM lesions were semi-automatically segmented and then filled with the mean intensity of the neighbouring voxels. For both original and filled T1 images we investigated and compared the main CIVET’s steps: tissue classification, surfaces generation and CTh measurement. Results: On the original T1 images, the majority of WM lesion volume (72%) was wrongly classified as gray matter (GM). After lesion filling the accuracy of WM lesions classification improved significantly (p 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. The progression and severity of MS varies by individual, but it is generally a disabling disease. Although medications have been developed to slow the disease progression and help manage symptoms, MS research has yet to result in a cure. Early diagnosis and treatment of the disease have been shown to be effective at slowing the development of disabilities. However, early MS diagnosis is difficult because symptoms are intermittent and shared with other diseases. Thus most previous works have focused on uncovering the risk factors associated with MS and predicting the progression of disease after a diagnosis rather than disease prediction. This paper investigates the use of data available in electronic medical records (EMRs) to create a risk prediction model; thereby helping clinicians perform the difficult task of diagnosing an MS patient. Our results demonstrate that even given a limited time window of patient data, one can achieve reasonable classification with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.724. By restricting our features to common EMR components, the developed models also generalize to other healthcare systems.

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Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease of the central nervous system involving an immune-mediated process. Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2JjpnIb - - - - - - - - - - - - - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Newsweek Twitter: https://twitter.com/Newsweek Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Newsweek

This article is from BMJ Open , volume 3 . Abstract Objective: To assess whether three novel interventions, formulated based on a systems medicine therapeutic concept, reduced disease activity in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who were either treated or not with disease-modifying treatment. Design: A 30-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, phase II proof-of-concept clinical study. Settings: Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. Participants: 80 participants were randomised into four groups of 20 each. A total of 41 (51%) patients completed the 30-month trial. The eligibility criteria were an age of 18–65; a diagnosis of relapsing–remitting MS according to the McDonald criteria; a score of 0.0–5.5 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS); MRI showing lesions consistent with MS; at least one documented clinical relapse and either receiving or not a disease-modifying treatment within the 24-month period before enrolment in the study. Patients were excluded because of a recent (

This article is from NeuroImage : Clinical , volume 2 . Abstract Accurate classification and quantification of brain tissues is important for monitoring disease progression, measurement of atrophy, and correlating magnetic resonance (MR) measures with clinical disability. Classification of MR brain images in the presence of lesions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), is particularly challenging. Images obtained with lower resolution often suffer from partial volume averaging leading to false classifications. While partial volume averaging can be reduced by acquiring volumetric images at high resolution, image segmentation and quantification can be technically challenging. In this study, we integrated the brain anatomical knowledge with non-parametric and parametric statistical classifiers for automatically classifying tissues and lesions on high resolution multichannel three-dimensional images acquired on 60 MS brains. The results of automatic lesion segmentation were reviewed by the expert. The agreement between results obtained by the automated analysis and the expert was excellent as assessed by the quantitative metrics, low absolute volume difference percent (36.18 ± 34.90), low average symmetric surface distance (1.64 mm ± 1.30 mm), high true positive rate (84.75 ± 12.69), and low false positive rate (34.10 ± 16.00). The segmented results were also in close agreement with the corrected results as assessed by Bland–Altman and regression analyses. Finally, our lesion segmentation was validated using the MS lesion segmentation grand challenge dataset (MICCAI 2008).

This article is from Journal of Neuroinflammation , volume 11 . Abstract Background: Absence of clinical and radiological activity in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is perceived as disease remission. We explored the role of persisting inflammation during remission in disease evolution. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), a major proinflammatory cytokine, were measured in 170 RRMS patients at the time of clinical and radiological remission. These patients were then followed up for at least 4 years, and clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures of disease progression were recorded. Results: Median follow-up of RRMS patients was 5 years. Detection of CSF IL-1β levels at the time of remission did not predict earlier relapse or new MRI lesion formation. Detection of IL-1β in the CSF was instead associated with higher progression index (PI) and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS) scores at follow-up, and the number of patients with sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite worsening at follow-up was higher in individuals with detectable levels of IL-1β. Patients with undetectable IL-1β in the CSF had significantly lower PI and MSSS scores and a higher probability of having a benign MS phenotype. Furthermore, patients with undetectable CSF levels of IL-1β had less retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and macular volume alterations visualized by OCT compared to patients with detectable IL-1β. Conclusions: Our results suggest that persistence of a proinflammatory environment in RRMS patients during clinical and radiological remission influences midterm disease progression. Detection of IL-1β in the CSF at the time of remission appears to be a potential negative prognostic factor in RRMS patients.

This article is from Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation , volume 11 . Abstract Background: Arm impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is commonly assessed with clinical scales, such as Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) which evaluates the ability to handle and transport smaller and larger objects. ARAT provides a complete upper limb assessment, as it considers both proximal arm and hand, but suffers from subjectivity and poor sensitivity to mild impairment. In this study an instrumented ARAT is proposed to overcome these limitations and supplement the assessment of arm function in MS. Methods: ARAT was executed by 12 healthy volunteers and 21 MS subjects wearing a single inertial sensor on the wrist. Accelerometers and gyroscopes signals were used to calculate the duration of each task and its sub-phases (reaching, manipulation, transport, release and return). A jerk index was computed to quantify movement smoothness. For each parameter, z-scores were calculated to analyze the deviation from normative data. MS subjects were clinically assessed with ARAT score, Nine-Hole Peg test (9HPT) and Fahn Tremor Rating Scale (FTRS). Results: ARAT tasks executed by MS patients were significantly slower (duration increase: 70%) and less smooth (jerk increase: 16%) with respect to controls. These anomalies were mainly related to manipulation, transport and release sub-movements, with the former showing the greatest alterations. A statistically significant decrease in movement velocity and smoothness was also noticed in patients with normal ARAT score. Z-scores related to duration and jerk were strongly correlated with ARAT rating (r 

This article is from Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation , volume 11 . Abstract Background: Arm impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is commonly assessed with clinical scales, such as Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) which evaluates the ability to handle and transport smaller and larger objects. ARAT provides a complete upper limb assessment, as it considers both proximal arm and hand, but suffers from subjectivity and poor sensitivity to mild impairment. In this study an instrumented ARAT is proposed to overcome these limitations and supplement the assessment of arm function in MS. Methods: ARAT was executed by 12 healthy volunteers and 21 MS subjects wearing a single inertial sensor on the wrist. Accelerometers and gyroscopes signals were used to calculate the duration of each task and its sub-phases (reaching, manipulation, transport, release and return). A jerk index was computed to quantify movement smoothness. For each parameter, z-scores were calculated to analyze the deviation from normative data. MS subjects were clinically assessed with ARAT score, Nine-Hole Peg test (9HPT) and Fahn Tremor Rating Scale (FTRS). Results: ARAT tasks executed by MS patients were significantly slower (duration increase: 70%) and less smooth (jerk increase: 16%) with respect to controls. These anomalies were mainly related to manipulation, transport and release sub-movements, with the former showing the greatest alterations. A statistically significant decrease in movement velocity and smoothness was also noticed in patients with normal ARAT score. Z-scores related to duration and jerk were strongly correlated with ARAT rating (r