multiple sclerosis + light therapy

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with varying progression rates among individuals. The ability to predict disease progression is crucial for treatment decisions with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). A few cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers have been investigated in relation to disease progression, but few have been effectively translated into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of known CSF markers, to compare their sensitivity and specificity, and to develop a prognostic model using a combination of markers to predict disease progression...

The present study aims to describe the state of the art of fluid biomarkers use in ongoing multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical trials.A review of 608 ongoing protocols in the clinicaltrials.gov and EudraCT databases was performed. The trials enrolled patients with a diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, and/or primary progressive MS according to Revised McDonald criteria or relapsing MS according to Lublin et al. (2014). The presence of fluid biomarkers among the primary and/or secondary study outcomes was assessed...

BACKGROUND: Combination treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors favorably impact progression-free survival in malignant melanoma. However, it may cause paradoxical activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway in immune cells without BRAF mutation, which may lead to over activation of the immune system, especially in patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions. In this case report, treatment of malignant melanoma with BRAF/MEK inhibitors was associated with radiological disease exacerbation of pre-existing multiple sclerosis (MS)...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Current medications have some limitations such as low efficacy and high side effects. In recent years, statins have been raised as potential therapeutics for MS treatment with minimal complications. In addition, patient monitoring using suitable molecular markers is necessary for treatment response evaluation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was the evaluation of SIRT1 gene expression changes following rosuvastatin therapy in patients with MS...

IMPORTANCE: This study provides information to clinicians about how persons with MS coped in both positive and negative ways during a potentially traumatic experience (the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic), which will help clinicians to provide better services to this population in the face of stressful events. OBJECTIVE: To describe both positive and negative outcomes among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to examine whether resilience and social support were related to positive and negative outcomes during the peak of the pandemic...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common motor neuron disease. ALS shows substantial clinical and molecular heterogeneity. In vitro and in vivo models coupled with multiomic techniques have provided important contributions to unraveling the pathomechanisms underlying ALS. To date, despite promising results and accumulating knowledge, an effective treatment is still lacking. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on the use of genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and microRNAs to deeply investigate the molecular mechanisms developing and sustaining ALS...

The tight junction of endothelial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) has an ideal characteristic, acting as a biological barrier that can securely regulate the movement of molecules in the brain. Tightly closed astrocyte cell junctions on blood capillaries are the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This biological barrier prohibits the entry of polar drugs, cells, and ions, which protect the brain from harmful toxins. However, delivering any therapeutic agent to the brain in neurodegenerative disorders (i.e...

BACKGROUND: Among biomarkers of axonal damage, neurofilament light chains (NFL) seem to play a major role, representing a promising and interesting tool in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to explore the predictive role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NFL in patients with a recent diagnosis of MS, naïve to any MS therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of patients diagnosed with MS, referred to the Neurology Clinic of the University-Hospital G...

In multiple sclerosis (MS), the bone marrow hematopoietic system supplies immune cells to orchestrate central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and autoimmunity. Understanding the metabolic processes within the bone marrow is essential for unraveling the phenotype and function of immune cells. However, a comprehensive exploration of the metabolic landscape and its association with systemic immune response in MS at the single-cell level has yet to be elucidated. Herein, we conducted an analysis of 70 289 bone marrow cells obtained from seven patients with MS and seven health controls (referenced as HRA001783) to address this question...

Background and objectives: In progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, CNS inflammation trapped behind a closed blood brain barrier drives continuous neuroaxonal degeneration, thus leading to deterioration of neurological function. Therapeutics in progressive MS are limited. High-dose intravenous glucocorticosteroids (HDCS) can cross the blood-brain barrier and may reduce inflammation within the CNS. However, the treatment efficacy of HDCS in progressive MS remains controversial. Serum neurofilament light chains (sNfL) are an established biomarker of neuroaxonal degeneration and are used to monitor treatment responses...

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) have been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Teriflunomide is an oral disease-modifying therapy approved for treatment of relapsing forms of MS. In the preclinical Theiler's murine encephalitis virus model of MS, the drug demonstrated an increased rate of viral clearance versus the vehicle placebo. Furthermore, teriflunomide inhibits lytic EBV infection in vitro . OBJECTIVE: 1. To evaluate the humoral response against EBV and HHV-6 prior to teriflunomide treatment and 6 months later...

BACKGROUND: Alemtuzumab (ALZ) is a pulsed immune reconstitution therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To assess basic characteristics, therapeutic effects, and prognostic biomarkers on clinical and imaging parameters of disease activity for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients selected for ALZ, in a real-world long-term setting. METHODS: Fifty-one RRMS patients [female = 31; mean age 36 (standard deviation 7.1) years; median expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 2 (interquartile range (IQR) 1...

INTRODUCTION: Migraine has been reported to be twice as prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to the non-MS population. However, prospective, controlled studies that could lead to robust conclusions are still lacking. AREAS COVERED: Treatment of migraine in patients with MS can be challenging. Comorbidities need to be assessed and managed early, and preventive treatment should be initiated when indicated. Caution is warranted regarding the selection of the preventive medication since certain agents can magnify MS symptoms and particularly cognitive symptoms...

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disorder with an unclear etiology. A key role is thought to be played by Th17 cells and microRNAs associated with Th17, such as miR-155, miR-326 and miR-223. The present study compared the methylation and hydroxymethylation levels of CpG sites within promoters of these microRNA between MS patients and controls using PBMCs and analyzed their relationship with microRNA expression. Significant intergroup differences were found between the levels of 5-hmC within the CpG-1 miR-155 promoter and CpG within the miR-326 promoter; in addition, miR-155-5p and miR-223-3p expression was elevated in MS patients...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phenotypes defined by inflammation and neurodegeneration markers correlate with serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients; and to explore the role of radiological phenotypes and biomarker levels on treatment response and long-term prognostic outcomes. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging scans from 80 RRMS patients were classified at baseline of interferon-beta (IFNβ) treatment into radiological phenotypes defined by high and low inflammation and high and low neurodegeneration, based on the number of contrast-enhancing lesions, brain parenchymal fraction and the relative volume of non-enhancing black holes on T1-weighted images...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High disease activity and frequent therapy failure in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) make prognostic biomarkers urgently needed. We investigated whether serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels in treatment-naive pediatric patients with MS are associated with early disease severity and indicate treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients seen in the Göttingen Center for MS in Childhood and Adolescence, Germany...

BACKGROUND: In the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic-active brain inflammation, remyelination failure and neurodegeneration remain major issues despite immunotherapy. While B cell depletion and blockade/sequestration of T and B cells potently reduces episodic relapses, they act peripherally to allow persistence of chronic-active brain inflammation and progressive neurological dysfunction. N-acetyglucosamine (GlcNAc) is a triple modulator of inflammation, myelination and neurodegeneration...

Many biological markers have been explored in multiple sclerosis (MS) to better quantify disease burden and better evaluate response to treatments, beyond clinical and MRI data. Among these, neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), although non-specific for this disease and found to be increased in other neurological conditions, has been shown to be the most promising biomarker for assessing axonal damage in MS, with a definite role in predicting the development of MS in patients at the first neurological episode suggestive of MS, and also in a preclinical phase...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) disorder indicated by demyelination, chronic inflammation, and neuronal destruction. Regional demyelination, inflammation responses, scar development, and various axonal damage are pathological characteristics of MS. Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of the turmeric plant. In addition to anti-inflammatory effects, beneficial therapeutic effects such as antioxidant, anti-cancer and nerve protection have also been seen from this compound...

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is given to assist in the treatment of MS, which is an effective therapeutic method. However, the therapy mechanism of EA related to stem cells in the treatment of MS is not yet known. In this study, we used a classic animal model of multiple sclerosis: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to evaluate the therapeutic effect of EA at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in EAE and shed light on its potential roles in the effects of stem cells in vivo. METHODS: The EAE animal models were established...