Comparing the effects of smartphone-based and face-to-face education on the quality of life and coping skills among patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The plethora of troublesome signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) reduces patients' quality of life (QOL) and coping skills. Face-to-face (F2F) education is effective and practical as it allows for more engagement and active learning. The use of mobile health technology to enhance health is now an excellent potential to establish a more efficient health system.

Relationship between sleep disorders and information processing speed in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: It is estimated that up to 65 % of pwMS (people with multiple sclerosis) experience varying degrees of cognitive impairment, the most commonly affected domain being Information Processing Speed (IPS). As sleep disturbance is a predictor of detriments in IPS, the authors aimed to study the association between the severity of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) symptoms with IPS in pwMS.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the authors enrolled people with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS referred to the comprehensive MS center of Kashani Hospital in Isfahan, Iran.

Investigation of pregnancy tendency, reproductive characteristics, and disability in women with multiple sclerosis: A secondary data analysis of the national registry in Iran.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) predominantly affects women of childbearing age, significantly impacting their quality of life (QOL). The diagnosis of MS can influence pregnancy intention, and the level of disability associated with MS may change before and after pregnancy. This study aims to analyze the reproductive characteristics of Iranian female patients with MS (PwMS) and their association with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and pregnancy tendency, providing valuable insights into disease progression and the development of tailored treatments.

Association of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy with cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Background: We aimed to explore the association between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL), macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL), and cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 38 (28 aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG-seropositive) NMOSD patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) underwent cognitive assessment using Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) battery. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed for both eyes of all NMOSD patients.

The correlation between rituximab dose reduction and acute relapses of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, lessons from COVID-19 epidemic.

Background: COVID-19 was a viral infection that led to a global pandemic in March 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, clinicians encountered the challenge of how immunosuppressive treatments would affect the course of COVID-19 infection in people with autoimmune diseases. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an autoimmune astrocytopathy that is caused by an inflammation in the CNS.

Cognitive function and brain magnetic resonance imaging profiles in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate cognitive performance and brain volume profile in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials And Methods: In a historical cohort study, 29 MS patients, 31 NMOSD patients, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) underwent neuropsychological assessment using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS). Patients with MS and NMOSD also underwent a 1.

Efficacy and safety of peginterferon beta-1a compared to interferon beta-1a in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients: A phase 3, randomized, non-inferiority clinical trial (PEGINTEGRITY).

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent, disabling, inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease that typically manifests during a highly productive stage of life. Interferon beta-1a was among the first approved disease-modifying therapies for MS and remains among the first-line treatment options. Pegylation of the interferon beta-1a molecule prolongs its half-life while maintaining its efficacy and safety profile.

SLO-Net: Enhancing Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Beyond Optical Coherence Tomography Using Infrared Reflectance Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Images.

Purpose: Several machine learning studies have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) classification with promising outcomes. Infrared reflectance scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (IR-SLO) captures high-resolution fundus images, commonly combined with OCT for fixed B-scan positions. However, no machine learning research has utilized IR-SLO images for automated MS diagnosis.

Consanguineous marriage among familial multiple sclerosis subjects: A national registry-based study.

Background: The rising prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran has spurred interest in the potential impact of parental consanguinity on the risk of developing the disease. This study aims to aggregate current knowledge on parental consanguinity and its possible effect on MS risk, particularly among familial MS patients from various regions and ethnicities in Iran. The objective is to enhance the understanding of MS genetics and encourage further research in this field.

Discrimination of multiple sclerosis using scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images with autoencoder-based feature extraction.

Objective: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) investigations have revealed that the thickness of inner retinal layers becomes decreased in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, compared to healthy control (HC) individuals. To date, a number of studies have applied machine learning to OCT thickness measurements, aiming to enable accurate and automated diagnosis of the disease. However, there have much less emphasis on other less common retinal imaging modalities, like infrared scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (IR-SLO), for classifying MS.

Early clinical response and complications of therapeutic plasma exchange in central nervous system demyelinating diseases.

Background: Appropriate treatment reduces the severity and duration of relapses in demyelinating diseases of Central Nervous System (CNS). If high-dose corticosteroids treatment fails, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is considered as a rescue treatment.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate early clinical response and complications of TPE and prognostic factors in CNS demyelinating relapses.

A national registry-based study of ethnic differences in people with multiple sclerosis in Iran.

Objective: The relationship between MS and ethnicity has been understudied in the Middle East compared to the United States and Europe. As Iran as the highest prevalence of MS in the Middle East, we decided to investigate the demographic and clinical differences in people with MS (pwMS) from major ethnicities Iran.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study using data from National Multiple Sclerosis Registry in Iran.

Time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the influential factors: A national registry-based study.

Objective: The time to diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is of great importance for early treatment, thereby reducing the disability and burden of the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the time from the onset of clinical symptoms to the diagnosis of MS and to evaluate the factors associated with a late diagnosis in Iranian MS patients.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with MS who were registered in the National MS Registry System of Iran (NMSRI).

Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran between 1996 and 2021: A population-based study.

Background: There has been no recent comprehensive epidemiological study on a large and stable population of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Isfahan. Therefore, we conducted this study to estimate the incidence and prevalence of MS in Isfahan province from 1996 to 2021.

Method: In this population-based study, we utilized the dataset from the Vice-Chancellor's Office of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, which registers all people diagnosed with MS (PDWM) in Isfahan province, excluding those residing in Kashan city.

Safety and Effectiveness of Cinnomer on Disease Characteristics, Depression, and Quality of Life of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Phase IV, Post-marketing, Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Background: Every patient diagnosed with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) should begin disease modifying therapies. Cinnomer contains 40 mg glatiramer acetate (GA) and is available in prefilled syringes and autoinjector devices.

Methods: A phase IV multicenter study was conducted to explore the safety and effectiveness of Cinnomer in the treatment of MS.

Economic and Social Standing of Individuals in Iran Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) may be affected by socioeconomic status (SES). This study aims to explore the determinants of SES among Iranian patients with MS and examine how these factors relate to disability and disease progression.

Methods: All patients with MS listed in the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) until January 8, 2022, were included in this population-based study.

A Case Report of an Atypical Neurological Presentation of COVID-19 in Pregnancy.

Symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mostly have flu-like symptoms. However, neurologic manifestations are common and may be the early findings of COVID-19. Data for COVID-19 do not indicate an increased risk of infection in pregnant individuals, but the risk of disease severity and mortality is high in this patient population.

A mechanistic insight into sources of error of visual working memory in multiple sclerosis.

Working memory (WM) is one of the most affected cognitive domains in multiple sclerosis (MS), which is mainly studied by the previously established binary model for information storage (slot model). However, recent observations based on the continuous reproduction paradigms have shown that assuming dynamic allocation of WM resources (resource model) instead of the binary hypothesis will give more accurate predictions in WM assessment. Moreover, continuous reproduction paradigms allow for assessing the distribution of error in recalling information, providing new insights into the organization of the WM system.

Patterns of attention deficit in relapsing and progressive phenotypes of multiple sclerosis.

Behavioral aspects and underlying pathology of attention deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify impairment of attention and its relationship with MS-related fatigue. Thirty-four relapse-remitting MS (RRMS), 35 secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) and 45 healthy controls (HC) were included.

Thalamic asymmetry in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. Asymmetry is one of the finding in brain MRI of these patients, which is related to the debilitating symptoms of the disease. This study aimed to investigate and compare the thalamic asymmetry in MS patients and its relationship with other MRI and clinical findings of these patients.

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients, A seven years follow-up study from Iran.

Background: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a rare neuroinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent relapses. The most common signs are myelitis and optic neuritis. It can also present by cerebral or brain stem syndromes.

Comparative Analysis of Apigenin-3 Acetate versus Apigenin and Methyl-Prednisolone in Inhibiting Proliferation and Gene Expression of Th1 Cells in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: In spite of the advances in therapeutic modalities, morbidity, due to multiple sclerosis (MS), still remains high. Therefore, a large body of research is endeavouring to discover or develop novel therapies with improved efficacy for treating MS patients. In the present study, we examined the immunomodulatory effects of apigenin (Api) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from MS patients.