Publications by authors named "C. Brownlee"

The first genome-wide significant multiple sclerosis severity locus, rs10191329, has been pathologically linked to cortical lesion load and brain atrophy. However, observational cohorts such as MSBase have not replicated associations with disability outcomes, instead finding other loci. We evaluated rs10191329 and MSBase loci in a unique cohort of 53 people followed for 30 years after a clinically isolated syndrome, with deep clinical phenotyping and MRI measures of inflammation and neurodegeneration.

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Background And Objectives: Disentangling brain aging from disease-related neurodegeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is increasingly topical. The brain-age paradigm offers a window into this problem but may miss disease-specific effects. In this study, we investigated whether a disease-specific model might complement the brain-age gap (BAG) by capturing aspects unique to MS.

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Background: We investigated the long-term colour and contrast vision outcomes, 15 years after a first demyelinating event, with their structural correlates using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and brain MRI.

Methods: Patients recruited with their first demyelinating event, were invited~15 years later to undergo clinical assessments, OCT and brain MRI and were clinically classified according to multiple sclerosis (MS) phenotypes. Linear mixed models evaluated associations between visual outcomes, MS phenotypes and OCT measures.

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Assessment of meaningfulness in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is challenging, particularly in early disease. Converting clinical outcomes to disease progression time allows assessment of treatment effects using a metric that is understandable and meaningful: time. We demonstrate time savings assessments using meta time component tests (TCTs) in the LipiDiDiet multinutrient RCT.

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Objective: This study aimed to determine whether invisible social control provided by a romantic partner is associated with improved objective glucose outcomes for patients with Type 2 diabetes. Social control reflects a partner's attempt to modify or influence a patient's health behaviors. We hypothesized that the best outcome for all continuous glucose monitoring measures would be captured by an interaction condition reflecting invisible social control.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the effectiveness of the 2023 myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) criteria in diagnosing inflammatory demyelinating conditions in both adults and children.
  • It analyzed data from 1,879 patients, confirming MOGAD in 16% of those tested, with follow-up averaging 3.6 years.
  • The new diagnostic criteria demonstrated high sensitivity (96.5%) and specificity (98.9%), with MOG-Ab testing showing slightly lower specificity in adults, indicating the new criteria may improve diagnosis accuracy.
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Background: Siponimod-related lymphopenia in real-world clinical practice has implications for dose adjustment and infection risk.

Objective: To characterise siponimod-related lymphopenia in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of 188 pwSPMS.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the genetic factors affecting the long-term disease progression and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a cohort of patients who have experienced clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) for 30 years.
  • - Over this period, patients underwent multiple assessments, and researchers analyzed the association of 27 genes with clinical outcomes like disability progression, relapse rates, and MRI findings, such as white matter lesions.
  • - Results showed that patients with certain genetic markers had worse clinical outcomes, including faster accumulation of white matter lesions and a greater increase in disability scores over the 30 years compared to those without these markers.
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Article Synopsis
  • Cladribine tablets (CladT) are used as an immune therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) and involve treatment over two years, but some patients may still experience new disease activity (DA) after completing the regimen.
  • A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to address key questions from multiple sclerosis experts about managing breakthrough DA and the long-term use of CladT, analyzing 35 publications of real-world evidence (RWE) from the last 15 years.
  • Findings indicate that while breakthrough DA in the first year is relatively low, it can occur, especially in patients previously using specific other treatments, and some patients may experience DA later on, although treatment discontinuation is uncommon.
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Objective: Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) treatment is generally tolerable, but some patients may experience adverse events to one or more SCIG products. We investigated whether 16.5% Cutaquig treatment offered a tolerable and safe alternative treatment for immunodeficient patients.

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Background: Whether genetic factors influence the long-term course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unresolved.

Objective: To determine the influence of on long-term disease course in a homogeneous cohort of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients.

Methods: One hundred seven patients underwent clinical and MRI assessment at the time of CIS and after 1, 3, 5 and 15 years.

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Coccolithophores are an important group of calcifying marine phytoplankton. Although coccolithophores are not silicified, some species exhibit a requirement for Si in the calcification process. These species also possess a novel protein (SITL) that resembles the SIT family of Si transporters found in diatoms.

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The calcite platelets of coccolithophores (Haptophyta), the coccoliths, are among the most elaborate biomineral structures. How these unicellular algae accomplish the complex morphogenesis of coccoliths is still largely unknown. It has long been proposed that the cytoskeleton plays a central role in shaping the growing coccoliths.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the differences in imaging characteristics between three neurological conditions: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), focusing on the need for effective differentiation when serologic testing is not available.
  • Conducted between 2014 and 2019, the research involved 91 patients diagnosed with RRMS, AQP4-NMOSD, or MOGAD, along with 34 healthy controls, who underwent advanced imaging techniques to assess brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve changes.
  • Key findings included that
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Coccolithophores are major producers of ocean biogenic calcite, but this process is predicted to be negatively affected by future ocean acidification scenarios. Since coccolithophores calcify intracellularly, the mechanisms through which changes in seawater carbonate chemistry affect calcification remain unclear. Here we show that voltage-gated H+ channels in the plasma membrane of Coccolithus braarudii serve to regulate pH and maintain calcification under normal conditions but have greatly reduced activity in cells acclimated to low pH.

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Purpose: Much less is known about strength and conditioning (S&C) practice in women's versus men's soccer. The aim of this study was to compare S&C practice between coaches working in men's or women's soccer, at first team or academy level, worldwide.

Methods: A total of 170 participants, who were involved with S&C support at their soccer club (in Europe, USA and South America, within men's or women's first team or academy settings) completed a comprehensive online survey, designed to evaluate (i) their academic qualifications and S&C coaching experience; and their preferred methods for (ii) physical testing; (iii) strength and power development; (iv) plyometric training; (v) speed development; and (vi) periodization.

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Diatoms represent one of the most successful groups of marine phytoplankton and are major contributors to ocean biogeochemical cycling. They have colonized marine, freshwater and ice environments and inhabit all regions of the World's oceans, from poles to tropics. Their success is underpinned by a remarkable ability to regulate their growth and metabolism during nutrient limitation and to respond rapidly when nutrients are available.

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Background And Objectives: To compare the performance of the 2017 revisions to the McDonald criteria with the 2010 McDonald criteria in establishing multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and predicting prognosis in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS.

Methods: CSF examination and brain and spinal cord MRI obtained ≤5 months from CIS onset and a follow-up brain MRI acquired within 15 months from CIS onset were evaluated in 785 patients with CIS from 9 European centers. Date of second clinical attack and of reaching Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS) ≥3.

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Background: CF is traditionally assessed in clinic. It is unclear if home monitoring of young people with CF is feasible or acceptable. The COVID-19 pandemic has made home monitoring more of a necessity.

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A crucial question in the governance of infectious disease outbreaks is how to ensure that people continue to adhere to mitigation measures for the longer duration. The present paper examines this question by means of a set of cross-sectional studies conducted in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, in May, June, and July of 2020. Using stratified samples that mimic the demographic characteristics of the U.

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Objectives: To compare the real-world effectiveness of newer disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) vs injectables in children with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, from the UK Childhood Inflammatory Demyelination Network, we identified children with RRMS receiving DMTs from January 2012 to December 2018. Clinical and paraclinical data were retrieved from the medical records.

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Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are associated with the typical American high glycemia diet and result in accumulation of high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), particularly upon aging. AGEs form when sugars or their metabolites react with proteins. Associated with a myriad of age-related diseases, AGEs accumulate in many tissues and are cytotoxic.

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Three species of Malaysian edible seaweed () were analyzed for their carotenoid composition using a combination of high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS), while the antioxidant capacities were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. The HPTLC analysis exhibited a distinct carotenoid pattern among the three seaweed groups. The UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed fucoxanthin as the major carotenoid present in while lutein and zeaxanthin in .

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We investigated the association of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with athlete status and power/speed performance in elite male youth soccer players (ESP) and control participants (CON) at different stages of maturity. ESP (n = 535; aged 8-23 years) and CON (n = 151; aged 9-26 years) were genotyped for 10 SNPs and grouped according to years from predicted peak-height-velocity (PHV), i.e.

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