Obesity Affects Disease Activity and Progression, Cognitive Functioning, and Quality of Life in People With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: While obesity is a known risk factor of the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), its impact on MS disease progression remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on disease activity and progression, cognitive performance, and health-related quality of life in patients with MS.

Methods: Patients from an incident population-based case-control study (n = 3,249) were categorized based on BMI status at diagnosis and followed up after diagnosis through the Swedish MS registry.

Digital communication between mothers and community health workers to support neonatal health (CHV-NEO): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Provision of essential newborn care at home, rapid identification of illness, and care-seeking by caregivers can prevent neonatal mortality. Mobile technology can connect caregivers with information and healthcare worker advice more rapidly and frequently than healthcare visits. Community health workers (CHWs) are well-suited to deliver such interventions.

Adolescent sleep patterns, genetic predisposition, and risk of multiple sclerosis.

Study Objectives: Shift work, insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality at young age have been associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to investigate the potential interaction between aspects of inadequate sleep (short sleep, phase shift, and poor sleep quality) during adolescence and HLA-DRB1*15:01 in relation to MS risk.

Methods: We used a Swedish population-based case-control study (1253 cases and 1766 controls).

Genetics of immune response to Epstein-Barr virus: prospects for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been advocated as a prerequisite for developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and possibly the propagation of the disease. However, the precise mechanisms for such influences are still unclear. A large-scale study investigating the host genetics of EBV serology and related clinical manifestations, such as infectious mononucleosis (IM), may help us better understand the role of EBV in MS pathogenesis.

Medically unexplained symptoms are common in women in tertiary neurological healthcare center: A survey cohort study of persons investigated for suspected multiple sclerosis.

Background: A significant proportion of individuals with suspicious onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) does not fulfill the diagnostic criteria. Although some receive other diagnoses, many remain undiagnosed and lack healthcare follow-up. This study aimed to characterize persons with undetermined diagnosis (PwUD) through a questionnaire.

Association between sun exposure habits and disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Higher latitude has been associated with increased occurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and with more severe disease. The aim was to study the impact of sun exposure habits on MS disease progression and health-related quality of life.

Methods: Patients from a population-based case-control study were categorized based on sun exposure habits at diagnosis and were followed up to 15 years post-diagnosis through the Swedish MS registry (n = 3314) with regard to changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Head trauma results in manyfold increased risk of multiple sclerosis in genetically susceptible individuals.

Background: Large register-based studies have reported an association between head trauma and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to investigate possible interactions between head trauma and MS-associated HLA genes in relation to MS risk.

Methods: We used a Swedish population-based case-control study (2807 incident cases, 5950 matched controls with HLA genotypes available for 2057 cases, 2887 controls).

Prevalence and pattern of retinopathy of prematurity at two national referral hospitals in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in children and an ROP epidemic is predicted this decade in sub-Saharan Africa. With the increasing survival rate of preterm babies in Uganda, and no data on ROP prevalence, there is a need to assess the burden of ROP to inform preventive strategies and targeted screening.

Methods: We conducted a two-center cross-sectional study of preterm (< 37 weeks gestational age) infants from the neonatal units of Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH) and Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH) from August 2022 to October 2022.

Outborn newborns drive birth asphyxia mortality rates-An 8 year analysis at a rural level two nursery in Uganda.

Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of global neonatal mortality. Most cases occur in low- and middle- income countries and contribute to half of neonatal deaths in Uganda. Improved understanding of the risk factors associated with mortality among these patients is needed.

Risk factors for multiple sclerosis in the context of Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Compelling evidence indicates that Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection is a prerequisite for multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease may arise from a complex interplay between latent EBV infection, genetic predisposition, and various environmental and lifestyle factors that negatively affect immune control of the infection. Evidence of gene-environment interactions and epigenetic modifications triggered by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals supports this view.

Treatment Options for Epstein-Barr Virus-Related Disorders of the Central Nervous System.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a causative agent for several types of lymphomas and mucosal cancers, is a human lymphotropic herpesvirus with the capacity to establish lifelong latent infection. More than 90% of the human population worldwide is infected. The primary infection is usually asymptomatic in childhood, whereas infectious mononucleosis (IM) is common when the infection occurs in adolescence.

Inverse association between Mediterranean diet and risk of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: There is some evidence implicating diet in the development of inflammatory diseases. We aimed to study the influence of dietary habits on the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: We used a population-based case-control study recruiting incident cases of MS (1953 cases, 3557 controls).

Feasibility and usability of a very low-cost bubble continuous positive airway pressure device including oxygen blenders in a Ugandan level two newborn unit.

Background: Preterm birth and resulting respiratory failure is a leading cause of newborn death- the majority of which occur in resource-constrained settings and could be prevented with bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP). Commercialized devices are expensive, however, and sites commonly use improvised devices utilizing 100% oxygen which can cause blindness. To address this, PATH and a multidisciplinary team developed a very low-cost bCPAP device including fixed-ratio oxygen blenders.

Risk factors for stillbirth and neonatal mortality among participants in Mobile WACh NEO pilot, a two-way SMS communication program in Kenya.

Globally, 2.5 million neonates die and 2 million more are stillborn each year; the vast majority occur where access to life-saving care is limited. High quality, feasible interventions are needed to reach, educate and empower pregnant women and new mothers to improve care-seeking behaviors.

Transmission of negative biases through social commentary included in neonatal intensive care unit progress notes.

Objective: To determine how the perception of families elicited after reading progress note social commentary differs by patient race.

Study Design: We retrospectively performed content analysis of social commentary in physician progress notes for neonatal intensive care unit patients hospitalized from 2018-2019. Neonatologists blinded to patient race rated how commentary impacted their perception of the patient's family on a 5-point Likert scale.

Observed associations between indicators of socioeconomic status and risk of multiple sclerosis in Sweden are explained by a few lifestyle-related factors.

Background And Purpose: The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. The aim was to study whether a potential association between indicators of SES and MS risk in Sweden is explained by lifestyle/environmental factors.

Methods: Using the Swedish MS registry and the Swedish patient registries, a register study was performed comprising all cases diagnosed with MS in Sweden between 1990 and 2018 (N = 24,729) and five randomly selected controls per case, matched by year and age at disease onset, sex and residential area at disease onset.

Insufficient sleep during adolescence and risk of multiple sclerosis: results from a Swedish case-control study.

Background: Shift work, which often results in sleep deprivation and circadian desynchrony, has been associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed at studying the impact of sleep duration, circadian disruption and sleep quality on MS risk.

Methods: We used a Swedish population-based case-control study (2075 cases, 3164 controls).

Association between exposure to combustion-related air pollution and multiple sclerosis risk.

Background: Smoking and occupational pulmonary irritants contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) development. We aimed to study the association between ambient air pollution and MS risk and potential interaction with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*15:01 allele.

Methods: Exposure to combustion-related air pollution was estimated as outdoor levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the participants' residence locations, by spatially resolved dispersion modelling for the years 1990-18.

Disease Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Different Alcohol Consumption Habits.

Objective: Multiple studies have found a relationship between alcohol consumption and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although reverse causation has been suggested to explain the association. We aimed to study the relationship between alcohol consumption and disease activity, disease progression, and health-related quality of life in patients with RA.

Methods: We followed up 1,228 patients with newly diagnosed RA from a population-based case-control study, Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (EIRA).

Influence of Smoking on Disease Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Swedish Case-Control Study With Longitudinal Follow-Up.

Objective: Inconclusive findings have been reported regarding the influence of smoking on disease outcomes in established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of smoking habits on disease activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in RA patients.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed RA (n = 1,531) from the population-based case-control Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis study were followed up for up to 3 years after recruitment.