Vocational activity for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually occurs in young adults and, due to its long-lasting course and variety of symptoms, can affect their vocational activity. Our study aimed to evaluate employment status and working activity for persons with MS with regard to disease-related factors, quality of life, and depression.

Material And Methods: 250 subjects with MS (62 men, 188 women, aged 19-71 years, mean 42.

Multimodal Evoked Potentials as Potential Biomarkers of Disease Activity in Patients With Clinically Isolated Syndrome.

Objective: There is an ongoing search for markers useful in monitoring and predicting disease activity at the early stage of multiple sclerosis (MS). The goals of this study were to prospectively evaluate the changes in parameters of multimodal evoked potentials (EP) and cognition within a 3-year follow-up period in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and to assess the prognostic value of baseline findings with regard to the disease outcomes.

Methods: In 29 patients (20 women, nine men, mean age 31.

Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis in Poland.

(1) Background: To report and analyze the presence of residual symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection among Polish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with different disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). (2) Methods: The study included 426 individuals with MS treated with DMTs and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12 Polish MS centers. The data were collected through to 31 May 2021.

Burden of COVID-19 Pandemic Perceived by Polish Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) were expected to be particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the burden of pandemic, perceived by Polish MS patients, with regard to major contributing factors. The survey, conducted in August/September 2020, included: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE), questions on demographic data, MS characteristics, and health-related and social aspects of pandemic burden.

Clinical course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple sclerosis patients treated with disease-modifying therapies - the Polish experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report the course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Poland. A major concern for neurologists worldwide is the course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MS treated with different DMTs. Although initial studies do not suggest an unfavourable course of infection in this group of patients, the data is limited.

Social participation of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The effect multiple sclerosis (MS) has on the social functioning and integration of patients has been recently considered as an important factor of the disease.

Objectives: To assess social participation of MS patients with regard to demographic and disease-related variables.

Material And Methods: The study comprised 201 MS patients: 140 women, 61 men, aged 24-69 years.

Internet Usage by Polish Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Multicenter Questionnaire Study.

Background: The internet is a source of knowledge and medium widely used in services that facilitate access to information and networking. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients find the possibility of acquiring information relating to their condition particularly rewarding.

Objective: We aimed to identify Polish MS patients' preferences by analyzing a percentage of internet users and determining the most common search subjects and patients' approach to information on the internet.

Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements in normal appearing white matter may support the differential diagnosis between multiple sclerosis lesions and other white matter hyperintensities.

Aims: The objectives of the study were to assess the usefulness of measurements of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in normal appearing white and grey matter (NAWM, NAGM) in differential diagnosis between patients with hyperintense demyelinating plaques in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other conditions presenting white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), as well as to evaluate the relationship between clinical data and ADC values in MS patients.

Material And Methods: The study comprised 66 patients with MS before treatment, 66 patients with WMHs and 64 control subjects (control group, CG), who underwent MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) examination including diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with a 1.5 T MR unit.

Diffusion tensor imaging findings in the multiple sclerosis patients and their relationships to various aspects of disability.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess microstructural changes within strategic brain regions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), with regard to various aspects of disability.

Material And Methods: The study comprised 50 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (37 women, 13 men, mean age 36.4 yrs) and 27 age- and sex-matched controls.

Cognitive impairment, event-related potentials and immunological status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a frequent problem in lupus patients, regardless of their overt neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to test cognitive abilities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by means of neuropsychological testing and event-related potentials (ERPs), and to search for their cognitive abilities correlations with a wide range of auto-antibodies.

Material And Methods: A total of 37 SLE patients were subjected to a battery of neuropsychological tests, recommended by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and to ERPs.

The relationship between epileptiform discharges and background activity in the visual analysis of electroencephalographic examinations in dogs with seizures of different etiologies.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings in 125 outpatient dogs with various epileptiform encephalopathies were acquired under medetomidine sedation using subdermal wire electrodes. The features of canine EEG (background activity [BGA] and epileptiform discharges [EDs]) were assessed, described and compared. The dogs included neurologically healthy controls (N, n = 19), dogs with portosystemic shunt (PSS, n = 9), dogs with intracranial pathologies (IP, n = 27) and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE, n = 70).

Cognitive performance, fatigue and event-related potentials in patients with clinically isolated syndrome.

Objectives: Cognitive impairment and fatigue are regarded as important aspects of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive performance, the level of fatigue and parameters of event-related potentials (ERP) in patients diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).

Patients And Methods: The study comprised 44 patients with CIS and 45 healthy controls.

Event-related potentials and cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis patients with fatigue.

The aim of this study was to evaluate event-related potentials (ERP) and cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with regard to fatigue and disease-related variables. The study comprised 86 MS patients and 40 controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS/FSS-5) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS/MFISmod).

Assessment of visual and auditory evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis patients with and without fatigue.

The aim of the study was to evaluate visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP, BAEP) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with regards to fatigue and disease-related variables. The study comprised 86 MS patients and 40 controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS/FSS-5) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings as related to fatigue and cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis patients with mild disability.

Background: The origin of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides an insight into metabolic properties of the brain.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate brain MRS measurements in MS patients, with regard to fatigue and cognition.

In vivo evaluation of brain damage in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, perfusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor imaging.

Twenty-two neuropsychiatric (NPSLE) and 13 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with a normal appearing brain on plain magnetic resonance (MR) as well as 20 age-matched healthy controls underwent MR spectroscopy (MRS), perfusion-weighted (PWI) and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI). In MRS NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and mI/Cr ratios were calculated from the posterior cingulate cortex and left parietal white matter. In PWI, values of cerebral blood volume (CBV) were assessed from 14 regions, including gray and white matter.

Sleep disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Sleep disturbances constitute one of the important yet underestimated aspects of functioning of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to evaluate sleep disturbances in patients with MS, with regard to demographic factors, disease-related variables, co-existing conditions and fatigue. In 100 MS patients, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and a questionnaire about sleep disturbances (SlD) were implemented.

Stimulated peripheral production of interferon-gamma is related to fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the stimulated production of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) by peripheral CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with regard to the degree of fatigue, and to investigate relationships between immunological parameters, level of depression and clinical variables.

Methods: Forty MS patients (30 women, 10 men, aged 22-60 years): 20 fatigued and 20 non-fatigued were involved in the study. Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), depression level - using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The prevalence of autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their clinical associations differ between various studies. This study investigated antiphospholipid and antinuclear antibodies in 85 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) with regard to their association with demographic features, MS specific clinical features and symptoms of connective tissue diseases. Autoantibodies tested included antinuclear antibodies (ANA) with their specificities and anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies.

Neuropsychological testing and event-related potentials in the assessment of cognitive performance in the patients with multiple sclerosis--a pilot study.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using neuropsychological testing (NT) and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) with reference to clinical variables, with an attempt to re-assess NT and ERP results after a year.

Methods: The study comprised 21 patients with MS. ERPs results were compared to age-matched controls.

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - clinical course and potential predictive factors.

Background And Purpose: To characterize the course of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), with an attempt to assess the predictive value of early clinical variables.

Material And Methods: Medical records of 100 patients with SPMS (40 men, 60 women, aged 34-73) were analyzed retrospectively. Age at onset of MS, first symptoms, annual exacerbation rate (AER), time to progressive phase (TTP), degree of disability at its beginning (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS SP), and annual progression in disability in relapsing-remitting and progressive phases (APD RR and APD SP) were compared for the gender subgroups, and the relationships between them were analyzed.

[Clinical assessment of the course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in patients treated with interferon beta].

Aim Of The Study: To analyse retrospectively course of the disease in the patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (R-R MS), treated with interferon beta (IFN-beta), to compare clinical data within the periods before, during and after IFN-beta treatment and to refer these parameters to clinical state of patients at the beginning of treatment.

Material And Method: The study comprised 40 patients (18 men, 22 women, aged 22-55 years) with R-R MS, treated with IFN-beta for at least 12 months, with documented follow-up before the treatment and for at least 12 months after it was discontinued. Annual exacerbation rate (AER) and annual rate of disability progression measured by means of expanded standard disability status scale (ap-EDSS) within the periods before, during and after the IFN-alpha treatment were compared for all the patients and referred to duration of the disease and EDSS score at the beginning of treatment.

Lack of association between an exon 1 CTLA-4 gene polymorphism A(49)G and multiple sclerosis in a Polish population of the Lower Silesia region.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system is believed to have a T cell-mediated autoimmune etiology. The cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene is a strong candidate for the involvement in autoimmune diseases because CTLA-4 plays an important role in the downregulation of the early and late stages of T cell activation and the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance. To examine the genetic association of the CTLA-4 gene locus with MS, we analyzed an exon 1 CTLA-4 gene polymorphism A(49)G in 102 unrelated Polish MS patients in the Lower Silesia region and 101 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.