Sensor-Derived Measures of Motor and Cognitive Functions in People With Multiple Sclerosis Using Unsupervised Smartphone-Based Assessments: Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Smartphones and wearables are revolutionizing the assessment of cognitive and motor function in neurological disorders, allowing for objective, frequent, and remote data collection. However, these assessments typically provide a plethora of sensor-derived measures (SDMs), and selecting the most suitable measure for a given context of use is a challenging, often overlooked problem.

Objective: This analysis aims to develop and apply an SDM selection framework, including automated data quality checks and the evaluation of statistical properties, to identify robust SDMs that describe the cognitive and motor function of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Konectom™ cognitive processing speed test enables reliable remote, unsupervised cognitive assessment in people with multiple sclerosis: Exploring the use of substitution time as a novel digital outcome measure.

Background: The Konectom™ smartphone-based cognitive processing speed (CPS) test is designed to assess processing speed and account for impact of visuomotor function on performance.

Objective: Evaluate reliability and validity of Konectom CPS Test, performed in clinic and remotely.

Methods: Data were collected from people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) aged 18-64 years and healthy control participants (HC) matched for age, sex, and education.

Thyroid disorders in alemtuzumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients: a Belgian consensus on diagnosis and management.

This paper deals with thyroid disease that can occur after treatment with alemtuzumab (humanized monoclonal anti-CD52) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The 5-year incidence of thyroid adverse events in phase 3 clinical trials is up to 40.7%.

Safety and efficacy of natalizumab in Belgian multiple sclerosis patients: subgroup analysis of the natalizumab observational program.

Natalizumab (Tysabri(®)) is highly efficacious in controlling disease activity in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. As it is one of the more recent therapies for MS, there remains a need for long-term safety and efficacy data of natalizumab in a clinical practice setting. The Tysabri observational program (TOP) is an open-label, multicenter, multinational, prospective observational study, aiming to recruit up to 6,000 patients with relapsing-remitting MS from Europe, Canada and Australia.

Treatment effect of natalizumab on relapse outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients despite ongoing MRI activity.

Natalizumab treatment significantly reduced the annualised relapse rate and MRI activity over 2 years compared with placebo in phase III trials when administered as monotherapy in AFFIRM or in combination with interferon β-1a (IFNβ) in SENTINEL. The post hoc analyses reported here sought to determine the effect of natalizumab treatment on relapse activity in the minority of patients who continued to show MRI activity (ie, ≥ 1 gadolinium enhancing (Gd+) lesions or new or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions) over 2 years in these trials. These analyses demonstrated that natalizumab treatment, both alone (AFFIRM) and in combination with IFNβ (SENTINEL), resulted in a reduced annualised relapse rate despite the presence of Gd+ lesions (p=0.

Symptomatic therapy in multiple sclerosis: a review for a multimodal approach in clinical practice.

As more investigations into factors affecting the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are undertaken, it is becoming increasingly apparent that certain comorbidities and associated symptoms commonly found in these patients differ in incidence, pathophysiology and other factors compared with the general population. Many of these MS-related symptoms are frequently ignored in assessments of disease status and are often not considered to be associated with the disease. Research into how such comorbidities and symptoms can be diagnosed and treated within the MS population is lacking.

Methylprednisolone in combination with interferon beta-1a for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MECOMBIN study): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Background: Interferon beta is commonly used to treat patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; however, the treatment is only partially effective in reducing relapses and progression of disability. Corticosteroids are used to treat relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis. We therefore aimed to investigate the combination of cyclic methylprednisolone and interferon beta for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Stroke presentation and outcome in developing countries: a prospective study in the Gambia.

Background And Purpose: Despite increasing burden of stroke in Africa, prospective descriptive data are rare. Our objective was to describe, in The Gambia, the clinical outcome of stroke patients admitted to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in the capital Banjul, to assess mortality and morbidity, and propose preventive and therapeutic measures.

Methods: Prospective data were collected on consecutive patients older than 15 years old admitted between February 2000 and February 2001 with the diagnosis of nonsubarachnoid stroke.

Interleukin-3 and interferon beta cooperate to induce differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cells with potent helper T-cell stimulatory properties.

It was observed that interferon beta (IFN-beta) prevents the down-regulation of the interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3Ralpha), which spontaneously occurs during culture of human monocytes. The functionality of IL-3R was demonstrated by the fact that IL-3 rescued IFN-beta-treated monocytes from apoptosis. Monocytes cultured in the presence of IFN-beta and IL-3 acquire a dendritic morphology and express high levels of HLA antigen class I and class II and costimulatory molecules.