Publications by authors named "Alon Kalron"

Introduction: A common tool used to measure cognitive reserve is the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq). In the present study, we aimed to adapt and determine the psychometric properties (validity and intra-rater test-retest reliability) of the Hebrew version of the CRIq in a cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Methods: Fifty pwMS (30 women aged 48.

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Background: Investigating brain activation during motor imagery (MI) tasks in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) can increase the knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying motor dysfunction in MS and, hopefully, aid in developing improved rehabilitation strategies.

Objective: To investigate brain activation in the supplementary motor area and premotor cortex via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a hand manipulation task, and comparing MI with actual practice (AP) in pwMS.

Methods: Each subject completed a sequence of 4 consecutive manual dexterity trials wearing an fNIRS device.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord, characterized by immune-mediated myelin damage. Early intervention and detection programs have emerged as promising strategies to improve patient outcomes by identifying and treating MS in its earliest stages.

Objective: This systematic literature review aims to provide an overview of the preferences, attitudes, and opinions of both patients and healthcare professionals regarding early intervention or early detection programs for MS.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of three questionnaires designed to assess dual-tasking difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
  • A total of 356 participants across six countries were analyzed, showing that the questionnaires had strong test-retest reliability and internal consistency, with the DIDA-Q performing the best.
  • The findings indicate that these self-reported questionnaires are effective tools for measuring the impact of dual-task challenges on the daily lives of ambulatory PwMS in both research and clinical settings.
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Background: Distance walking fatigability (DWF) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is defined as a decrease in the distance walking over time. However, declines in gait quality (i.e.

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Background: Eccentric muscle contractions elicit distinct physiological responses, including modulation of the cytokine profile. Although relevant for rehabilitation, the effect of eccentric muscle training on the immune system has never been investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: Examine the immediate cytokine response of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha after a moderate eccentric training session in individuals with MS.

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Background: The central vein sign (CVS) has been proposed as a novel MRI biomarker to improve diagnosis of pediatric-onset MS (POMS). However, the role of CVS in POMS progression has yet to be discovered.

Objectives: To investigate the appearance of CVS and its correlation with POMS disease progression.

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Objective: Sedentary behavior, falls, and fear of falling (FoF) are specific concerns for people with MS (pwMS). Considering the relatively high incidence and potential linkage, it is surprising that this triple relationship has as yet not been extensively investigated in pwMS. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the correlates of sedentary behavior with FoF and falls in pwMS.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological autoimmune disease; pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) represents 5% to 10% of total MS population. Children with POMS may experience attention difficulties due to the disease's impact on the central nervous system. However, little is known regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in POMS, and its relation to cognitive performance.

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Background: Gait characteristics and their changes during the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have been described in the literature, which one may refer to as walking fatigability in the body function level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. However, whether these metrics are reliable is unknown.

Objective: To investigate the between-day reliability of the gait characteristics and their changes in pwMS and healthy controls (HCs).

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Background: The major objective of this study was to examine whether differences occur in the joint angles of the major lower limb joints while walking in youth with multiple sclerosis (YwMS) compared to age-gender-matched healthy youngsters.

Methods: Gait analysis was collected using a six-camera Cartesian Optoelectronic Dynamic Anthropometer (CODA) 3D motion analysis system. To determine the gait normality in the YwMS group, we compared our results to reference gait data from normal youngsters.

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Article Synopsis
  • Exercise is essential for managing multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its various positive effects, but there is a call for improved research designs in the field.
  • The paper discusses how the MoXFo initiative’s expert panel addresses key aspects and future directions for studying exercise interventions in MS patients.
  • Using the PICOTS framework, the paper highlights specific challenges in MS exercise research and suggests a tailored approach to enhance the quality of future studies.
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Article Synopsis
  • This text addresses a correction to a specific article referenced by its DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270875.
  • The correction likely involves errors in the original publication that need to be rectified for clarity or accuracy.
  • Such corrections help ensure the integrity of academic research and provide readers with the most reliable information.
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Rehabilitation via virtual reality (VR) training tools allows repetitive, intensive, and task-specific practice in a controlled and safe environment. Our goal was to develop and validate a novel immersive VR system based on the practice of real-life activities in a kitchen environment in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) with upper-limb dysfunction. The novel immersive VR kitchen application includes several tasks, i.

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Background: Hemodynamics in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) while walking forward and backward, with and without an additional cognitive task (motor single-task [ST] and motor cognitive dual-task [DT]) have not been studied in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Aim: To investigate the PFC hemodynamics during forward and as well as backward walking, with and without a cognitive task, in pwMS and healthy controls.

Design: Observational case-control study.

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Background And Purpose: Optimal reporting is a critical element of scholarly communications. Several initiatives, such as the EQUATOR checklists, have raised authors' awareness about the importance of adequate research reports. On these premises, we aimed at appraising the reporting quality of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) dealing with rehabilitation interventions.

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Background And Purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) helps to reduce the severity of physical and mental symptoms and improves quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Based on current evidence and expert opinion, the recent multiple sclerosis guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes/week of PA. This study presents the results of a survey analyzing whether and how PwMS met the guidelines before and during the pandemic.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to reorganization or reduction of neurorehabilitation services for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The aim of this study was to explore the changes in the organizational framework and technology usage in physiotherapy services for PwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This international cross-sectional survey study was designed, developed, and disseminated by RIMS European Network for Best Practice and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation.

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Physical activity and exercise are effective approaches in prevention and therapy of multiple diseases. Although the specific characteristics of lengthening contractions have the potential to be beneficial in many clinical conditions, eccentric training is not commonly used in clinical populations with metabolic, orthopaedic, or neurologic conditions. The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the feasibility, functional benefits, and systemic responses of an eccentric exercise program focused on the trunk and lower extremities in people with low back pain (LBP) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

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Background: Walking on different slopes is a common daily activity for many ambulatory people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) AIM: Investigate energy expenditure measures of walking on level, uphill and downhill slopes in pwMS.

Design: Observational case-control study.

Setting: Sheba Multiple Sclerosis Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

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The patient perspective of dual-task (DT) impairment in real life is unclear. This review aimed (i) to identify patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on DT and evaluate their measurement properties and (ii) to investigate the usage of PROMs for the evaluation of DT difficulties. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science from inception to March 2022.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common nontraumatic, neurological, disabling disease that often presents with upper limb dysfunction. Exercise training has resulted in improvement for patients; however, there can be a lack of compliance due to access because of location and lack of MS experts. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising technology that can offer exercise therapy/rehabilitation at a distance.

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Background: It has been suggested that the protein Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a neuroprotective role in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Also, BDNF seems to play a role in cognition performance. In the same line, gait in pwMS requires a higher cognitive resource, mainly during complex walking.

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Background: The motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome, defined as the coexistence of slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints, has as yet not been researched in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Objective: To examine the prevalence of the MCR syndrome in pwMS and its association with disability, disease duration, perceived fatigue, and fear of falling.

Methods: The study comprised 618 pwMS [43.

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