Multiple Sclerosis International最新文献

Introduction: This study explores a relatively unexplored aspect of multiple sclerosis (MS) by examining the sensitivity threshold of dental pulp as a potential indicator of neuropathy in MS patients. Building upon earlier research that focused on assessing the response to electrical pulp testing in MS patients who did not have a history of trigeminal neuralgia, this survey is aimed at delving into the relationship between MS duration and the threshold for stimulation in response to pulp sensitivity tests. Materials and Methods: This study encompassed a total of 124 maxillary central incisors from patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The participants were uniform in terms of age, falling within the 18-50 years range, and all had RRMS with no history of trigeminal neuralgia. The electric pulp sensitivity test was conducted on all samples, and the results of the electric pulp testing (EPT) were recorded according to the grade of the pulp tester that elicited a response. The threshold was considered reached when the patient first experienced a burning sensation after EPT application and the use of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane spray. Data analysis employed paired t-tests, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman correlation, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Based on the study's findings, the average response value to EPT was 2.69 ± 1.17, while the response time to the cold test was 2.61 ± 1.03 s. There was no statistically significant difference in the response to the cold test based on age (p = 0.45). However, it was observed that the mean response time to the cold test was significantly longer among male participants (p = 0.001). No significant differences were identified in the pulpal response to EPT or the cold test between patients with and without sensory-motor involvement (p > 0.05). Furthermore, Spearman's analysis revealed a noteworthy positive correlation between the electrical pulp threshold and the time taken to respond to the cold test (p = 0.025, r = 0.2). Conclusions: The utilization of the pulpal sensitivity test in MS patients holds promise for practical clinical use. Notably, individuals with a more extended duration of the disease exhibited a notably elevated threshold for both the EPT and the cold test conducted on their maxillary central incisors.

Introduction: Currently, clinical trials of DMTs strive to determine their effect on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We aimed to determine the impact of currently used DMTs on brain atrophy and disability in RRMS. The main goal of this review is to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of MS therapy and assess its impact on disability.

Methods: We performed a systematic analysis of clinical trials that used brain atrophy as an outcome or performed post hoc analysis of volumetric MRI parameters to assess the neuroprotective potential of applied therapies. Trials between 2008 and 2019 that included published results of brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) change and brain volume loss (BVL) in the period from baseline to week 96 or longer were considered.

Results: Twelve from 146 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the analysis. DMTs that presented a large reduction in BVL also exhibited robust effects on clinical disability worsening, e.g., alemtuzumab with a 42% risk reduction in 6-month confirmed disability accumulation (p = 0.0084), ocrelizumab with a 40% risk reduction in 6-month confirmed disability progression (p = 0.003), and other DMTs (cladribine and teriflunomide) with moderate influence on brain atrophy were also associated with a marked impact on disability worsening. Dimethyl fumarate (DEFINE) and fingolimod (FREEDOMS I) initially exhibited significant effect on BVL; however, this effect was not confirmed in further clinical trials: CONFIRM and FREEDOMS II, respectively. Peg-IFN-β1a shows a modest effect on BVL and disability worsening.

Conclusion: Our results show that BVL in one of the components of clinical disability worsening, together with other variables (lesion volume and annualized relapse rate). Standardization of atrophy measurement technique as well as harmonization of disability worsening and progression criteria in further clinical trials are of utmost importance as they enable a reliable comparison of neuroprotective potential of DMTs.

Purpose: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at an increased fall risk due to motor and cognitive dysfunction. Our past studies suggest that backward walking (BW) velocity predicts fall risk; however, specific cognitive domains associated with BW velocity remain understudied. The goal of this study was to determine the specific contributions of cognitive functioning to BW velocity in persons with MS. We hypothesized that better visuospatial memory, verbal immediate recall, and faster information processing speed would contribute to faster BW velocity, and deficits in these domains would partially account for disease severity-related impairment in BW velocity.

Methods: Participants completed demographic questionnaires, walking tests, and cognitive assessments. Applied structural equation modeling was used to test our hypothesized model of competing cognitive mediators. Within the model, disease severity was a predictor of BW via three intercorrelated cognitive mediators.

Results: Participants included 39 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS. Results indicated that 35.3% of the significant total effect of disease severity on BW was accounted for by specific cognitive deficits. Verbal immediate recall had the largest contribution, followed by visuospatial memory and information processing speed.

Conclusions: When examining the unique effects of cognitive domains on disease severity-related deficits in BW, a meaningful source of impairment related to visuospatial memory and verbal immediate recall was demonstrated. Considering the utility of BW velocity as a predictor of falls, these results highlight the importance of assessing cognition when evaluating fall risk in MS. Cognitive-based intervention studies investigating fall prevention may find BW as a more specific and sensitive predictor of fall risk than forward walking.

Gait speed is frequently the primary efficacy endpoint in clinical trials of interventions targeting mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is unclear whether increased gait speed is a meaningful outcome for people living with MS. The purpose of this study was to identify the most important aspects of mobility for people with MS and physical therapists and to explore how patients and clinicians perceive whether physical therapy has been effective. Forty-six people with MS and 23 physical therapy clinicians participated in a focus group, one-on-one interview, or electronic survey. The focus group and interview data were transcribed and coded to identify themes. Free-text survey responses were also coded, and multiple-choice options were analyzed for frequency. Among people with MS, falls and difficulties getting out into the community were identified as highly important mobility limitations. Clinicians also identified falls and safety as a priority. Walking speed was infrequently described as a problem, and although gait speed is often measured by clinicians, improving gait speed is rarely a treatment goal. Despite their emphasis on safety, clinicians lacked certainty about how to objectively measure improvements in safety. People with MS evaluated physical therapy effectiveness based on the ease by which they can do things and acknowledged that "not getting worse" is a positive outcome. Clinicians evaluated effectiveness based on the amount of change in objective outcome measures and by patient and caregiver reports of improved function. These findings indicate that gait speed is not of major importance to people with MS or physical therapy clinicians. People with MS want to be able to walk further and without an assistive device, and they want to avoid falls. Clinicians want to maximize safety while improving functional ability. Clinicians and patients may differ in their expected outcomes from physical therapy.

Background: We conducted this study to assess the effect of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) susceptibility and severity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Available studies from PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and gray literature, including reference lists and conference abstracts, were searched from December 1, 2019, to July 26, 2021. We included cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies assessing the association of DMTs with risk of contracting COVID-19 or its outcomes in MS patients on univariate or multivariate regression analyses. We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the risk of COVID-19 and developing severe infection across DMTs.

Results: Out of the initial 3893 records and 1883 conference abstracts, a total of 10 studies were included. Pairwise comparisons showed that none of the DMTs meaningfully affect the risk of acquiring infection. There was significant total heterogeneity and inconsistency across this NMA. In comparison with no DMT, dimethyl fumarate (0.62 (0.42, 0.93)), fingolimod (0.55 (0.32, 0.94)), natalizumab (0.50 (0.31, 0.81)), and interferon (0.42 (0.22, 0.79)) were associated with a decreased risk of severe COVID-19; but, rituximab was observed to increase the risk (1.94 (1.20, 3.12)). Compared to rituximab or ocrelizumab, all DMTs were associated with a decreased risk. Pairwise comparisons showed no differences across other DMTs. Interferon and rituximab were associated with the lowest and highest risks of severe COVID-19.

Conclusion: Our study showed an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in patients on rituximab and ocrelizumab. No association with COVID-19 severity across other DMTs was observed.

Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) prioritise gait as the most valuable function to be affected by MS. Physiotherapy plays a key role in managing gait impairment in MS. There is little evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy for severe MS.

Objective: To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to identify evidence for the effectiveness of physiotherapy for gait impairment in severe MS. Methods. The available literature was systematically searched, using a predetermined protocol, to identify research studies investigating a physiotherapy intervention for mobility in people with severe MS (EDSS ≥ 6.0). Data on mobility related endpoints was extracted. Meta-analysis was performed where a given mobility end point was reported in at least 3 studies.

Results: 37 relevant papers were identified, which included 788 pwMS. Seven mobility-related endpoints were meta-analysed. Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) was found to improve performance on the 6-minute walk test, 10-metre walk test, fatigue severity scale, and Berg Balance Scale. Neither body weight supported training nor conventional walking training significantly improved any mobility-related outcomes.

Conclusion: Physiotherapy interventions are feasible for mobility in severe MS. There is some evidence for the effectiveness of RAGT.

Functional rehabilitation programs in multiple sclerosis have demonstrated their efficacy in improving fatigue. The assessment of functional impairment, however, is more difficult. The purpose is to assess fatigue and disability as a first study measure and to verify their improvement after a specific functional rehabilitation program. An analytical, longitudinal, prospective, and experimental study was carried out with 51 patients aged 18-55 years, with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between 2 and 6.5 who were being followed up in outpatient clinics of the Rehabilitation Service of La Princesa Hospital. The fatigue and disability outcomes before and after a structured exercise training program were evaluated, with each subject acting as their own control. The variables were measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Barthel Index (BI), and Functional Independence Scale (FIM). Differences according to recurrent or progressive course of the disease are assessed. Improvement in the FIM scale was observed after the retraining program (p = 0.016) and was maintained in the medium term (p = 0.042). This improvement is not statistically significant in Barthel Index. Improvement in MFIS is observed after the program (p < 0.001) and 4-6 months after the end. Both disease courses experience the same improvements with no statistically significant differences between them. The retraining program improves fatigue and multiple sclerosis-related functionality in the short and medium term. There are no differences according to disease course. Both experience the same positive changes with our intervention.

Background: Over 50% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) have moderate or severe sleep disturbances, insomnia being the most common. In-person cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (F2F-CBTi) is currently the first-line treatment for insomnia. However, given potential limitations to access including mobility difficulty, fatigue, or living in a rural area, telehealth-delivered CBT-I (tele-CBTi) has been considered as an alternative treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and treatment effect of tele-CBTi in people with MS and compare it to outcomes from a F2F-CBTi study in individuals with MS.

Methods: 11 individuals with MS and symptoms of insomnia participated in 6 weekly CBT-I sessions with a trained CBT-I provider via live video. Insomnia severity (ISI), sleep quality (PSQI), and fatigue severity (FSS and MFIS) were assessed pre- and posttreatment as primary outcomes. Sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE) and total sleep time (TST) from the PSQI, depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep self-efficacy (SSES), and quality of life (MSIS-29) were also assessed pre- and posttreatment as secondary outcomes.

Results: Participants resided in 9 different states. Retention and adherence rates were 100%. There were significant improvements in ISI, PSQI, MFIS, FSS, SOL, SSES, PHQ-9, and MSIS-29, but not SE, TST, or GAD-7. There were no significant differences between the F2F-CBTi group and tele-CBTi group for magnitude of change in the primary outcomes (ISI, PSQI, MFIS, and FSS) or the secondary outcomes (SOL, SE, TST, SSES, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and MSIS-29).

Conclusions: Tele-CBTi is feasible and has outcome measures that are similar to that of in-person CBT-I treatment. Tele-CBTi may increase access to insomnia treatment in individuals with MS.