scholarly journals Cortical thickness and surface area relate to specific symptoms in early relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gro O Nygaard ◽  
Kristine B Walhovd ◽  
Piotr Sowa ◽  
Joy-Loi Chepkoech ◽  
Atle Bjørnerud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Cortical Surface ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Neurological Disability ◽  
Cortical Surface Area ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Cortical atrophy is common in early relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Whether this atrophy is caused by changes in cortical thickness or cortical surface area is not known, nor is their separate contributions to clinical symptoms. Objectives: To investigate the difference in cortical surface area, thickness and volume between early RRMS patients and healthy controls; and the relationship between these measures and neurological disability, cognitive decline, fatigue and depression. Methods: RRMS patients ( n = 61) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neurological and neuropsychological examinations. We estimated cortical surface area, thickness and volume and compared them with matched healthy controls ( n = 61). We estimated the correlations between clinical symptoms and cortical measures within the patient group. Results: We found no differences in cortical surface area, but widespread differences in cortical thickness and volume between the groups. Neurological disability was related to regionally smaller cortical thickness and volume. Better verbal memory was related to regionally larger surface area; and better visuo-spatial memory, to regionally larger cortical volume. Higher depression scores and fatigue were associated with regionally smaller cortical surface area and volume. Conclusions: We found that cortical thickness, but not cortical surface area, is affected in early RRMS. We identified specific structural correlates to the main clinical symptoms in early RRMS.

CRYAB modulates the activation of CD4+ T cells from relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (14) ◽  
pp. 1867-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Que Lan Quach ◽  
Luanne M Metz ◽  
Jenna C Thomas ◽  
Jonathan B Rothbard ◽  
Lawrence Steinman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Suppression of activation of pathogenic CD4+ T cells is a potential therapeutic intervention in multiple sclerosis (MS). We previously showed that a small heat shock protein, CRYAB, reduced T cell proliferation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and clinical signs of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, a model of MS. Objective: We assessed whether the ability of CRYAB to reduce the activation of T cells translated to the human disease. Methods: CD4+ T cells from healthy controls and volunteers with MS were activated in vitro in the presence or absence of a CRYAB peptide (residues 73–92). Parameters of activation (proliferation rate, cytokine secretion) and tolerance (anergy, activation-induced cell death, microRNAs) were evaluated. Results: The secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by CD4+ T cells was decreased in the presence of CRYAB in a subset of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) participants with mild disease severity while no changes were observed in healthy controls. Further, there was a correlation for higher levels of miR181a microRNA, a marker upregulated in tolerant CD8+ T cells, in CD4+ T cells of MS patients that displayed suppressed cytokine production (responders). Conclusion: CRYAB may be capable of suppressing the activation of CD4+ T cells from a subset of RRMS patients who appear to have less disability but similar age and disease duration.

scholarly journals Monitoring cognitive change in multiple sclerosis using a computerized cognitive battery

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 205521731881551 ◽  
Author(s):  
L De Meijer ◽  
D Merlo ◽  
O Skibina ◽  
EJ Grobbee ◽  
J Gale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Serial Addition ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Monitoring

Background Cognitive monitoring that can detect short-term change in multiple sclerosis is challenging. Computerized cognitive batteries such as the CogState Brief Battery can rapidly assess commonly affected cognitive domains. Objectives The purpose of this study was to establish the acceptability and sensitivity of the CogState Brief Battery in multiple sclerosis patients compared to controls. We compared the sensitivity of the CogState Brief Battery to that of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test over 12 months. Methods Demographics, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, depression and anxiety scores were compared with CogState Brief Battery and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test performances of 51 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, 19 with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and 40 healthy controls. Longitudinal data in 37 relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients were evaluated using linear mixed models. Results Both the CogState Brief Battery and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test discriminated between multiple sclerosis and healthy controls at baseline ( p<0.001). CogState Brief Battery tasks were more acceptable and caused less anxiety than the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test ( p<0.001). In relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients, reaction time slowed over 12 months ( p<0.001) for the CogState Brief Battery Detection (mean change –34.23 ms) and Identification (–25.31 ms) tasks. Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test scores did not change over this time. Conclusions The CogState Brief Battery is highly acceptable and better able to detect cognitive change than the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The CogState Brief Battery could potentially be used as a practical cognitive monitoring tool in the multiple sclerosis clinic setting.

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in reproductive-age women with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Thöne ◽  
Susanne Kollar ◽  
Darryl Nousome ◽  
Gisa Ellrichmann ◽  
Ingo Kleiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Disease Modifying Treatment ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Control Study

Background: Fertility might be reduced in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), although only few studies exist and the underlying reasons are not well understood. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, a decreased ovarian reserve may contribute to impaired fertility in women with MS. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an established marker of the ovarian reserve and an objective indicator of ovarian function, which is independent of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis function. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine AMH levels in females with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) in combination with other reproduction and lifestyle factors. Methods: A total of 76 reproductive-age females with RRMS and 58 healthy controls were included in this case control study. An enzymatically amplified two-site immunoassay was used to measure serum AMH level. Results: Mean AMH level was significantly decreased in females with RRMS ( p<0.04), and a higher proportion of females with RRMS showed very low AMH values (<0.4 ng/ml) compared to healthy controls ( p<0.05). The majority of these women were currently without any disease modifying treatment. Conclusions: Our data contribute to our understanding of impaired fertility in women with MS. The unexpected finding that the majority of MS subjects with very low AMH levels were currently without medication requires further evaluation.

scholarly journals Innate Immune System and Multiple Sclerosis. Granulocyte Numbers Are Reduced in Patients Affected by Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis during the Remission Phase

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1468
Author(s):  
Zbyšek Pavelek ◽  
Francesco Angelucci ◽  
Ondřej Souček ◽  
Jan Krejsek ◽  
Lukáš Sobíšek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Statistical System ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Remission Phase ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. The cause of MS is still unknown, and the role of innate immunity is still poorly understood. Objective: The goal of this study was to understand whether, compared to healthy controls, the elements of innate immunity are altered in the blood of MS patients in the remitting phase. Methods: A total of 77 naïve MS patients and 50 healthy controls were included in this cohort study. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed. All the calculations were performed with the statistical system R (r-project.org). Results: The results showed that MS patients had significantly lower relative representations of granulocytes than healthy controls, while the relative representations of monocytes remained unchanged. CD64- and PD-L1-positive granulocytes exhibited a nonsignificant decreasing trend, while granulocytes with other membrane markers remained noticeably unchanged. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that studies of the causes of MS and its treatment should also be focused on the elements of the innate immune response.

Cortical surface area and cortical thickness in the precuneus of adult humans

Neuroscience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 286 ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bruner ◽  
F.J. Román ◽  
J.M. de la Cuétara ◽  
M. Martin-Loeches ◽  
R. Colom
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Cortical Surface ◽  
Cortical Surface Area ◽  
Adult Humans

Corticospinal tract integrity is related to primary motor cortex thinning in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 1771-1780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Bergsland ◽  
Maria Marcella Laganà ◽  
Eleonora Tavazzi ◽  
Matteo Caffini ◽  
Paola Tortorella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Corticospinal Tract ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: The relationship between white matter injury and cortical atrophy development in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) remains unclear. Objectives: To investigate the associations between corticospinal tract integrity and cortical morphology measures of the primary motor cortex in RRMS patients and healthy controls. Methods: 51 RRMS patients and 30 healthy controls underwent MRI examination for cortical reconstruction and assessment of corticospinal tract integrity. Partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations of focal and normal appearing white matter (NAWM) injury of the corticospinal tract with thickness and surface area measures of the primary motor cortex. Relationships between MRI measures and clinical disability as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale and disease duration were also investigated. Results: In patients only, decreased cortical thickness was related to increased corticospinal tract NAWM mean, axial and radial diffusivities in addition to corticospinal tract lesion volume. The final multiple linear regression model for PMC thickness retained only NAWM axial diffusivity as a significant predictor (adjusted R2= 0.270, p= 0.001). Clinical measures were associated with NAWM corticospinal tract integrity measures. Conclusions: Primary motor cortex thinning in RRMS is related to alterations in connected white matter and is best explained by decreased NAWM integrity.

Attention Network Test reveals alerting network dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Urbanek ◽  
Nicholetta Weinges-Evers ◽  
Judith Bellmann-Strobl ◽  
Markus Bock ◽  
Jan Dörr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Cognitive Slowing ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Attention is one of the cognitive domains typically affected in multiple sclerosis. The Attention Network Test was developed to measure the function of the three distinct attentional networks, alerting, orienting, and executive control. The Attention Network Test has been performed in various neuropsychiatric conditions, but not in multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to investigate functions of attentional networks in multiple sclerosis by means of the Attention Network Test. Patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis (n = 57) and healthy controls (n = 57) matched for age, sex, and education performed the Attention Network Test. Significant differences between patients and controls were detected in the alerting network (p = 0.003), in contrast to the orienting (p = 0.696) and the conflict (p = 0.114) network of visual attention. Mean reaction time in the Attention Network Test was significantly longer in multiple sclerosis patients than in controls (p = 0.032), Multiple sclerosis patients benefited less from alerting cues for conflict resolution compared with healthy controls. The Attention Network Test revealed specific alterations of the attention network in multiple sclerosis patients which were not explained by an overall cognitive slowing.

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