Multiple sclerosis treatment review for primary care providers.

The treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis has dramatically grown in terms of available options and complexity. The various mechanisms of action and safety profiles of these new treatments necessitate that primary care providers remain current in knowledge and practice to provide high-quality care.

Lessons Learned From Transition of an In-Person to a Virtual Randomized Controlled Trial for Weight and Fitness Concerns in Active-Duty Service Members: Survey Study.

Background: This paper describes and discusses the transition of and modifications to a weight management randomized controlled trial among active-duty military personnel from an in-person to a virtual format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The original pragmatic cohort-randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of an 8-week group weight management program, ShipShape, to a version of ShipShape enhanced with acceptance and commitment therapy.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess potential differences between in-person and virtual participation in participants' demographics, motivation, confidence, credibility, expectations, and satisfaction with the interventions; we also examined the pragmatics of the technology and participants' experiences in virtual-format intervention groups.

Baseline Characteristics and Their Associations with Body Composition of Active-Duty Service Members Enrolling in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Weight Management Program.

Introduction: Increasing rates of overweight and obesity among military service members (SMs) necessitate the implementation of weight management interventions. Evidence for the effectiveness of military weight management interventions is mixed. Effectiveness may be impacted by individual sociodemographic, psychiatric, psychological, and behavioral factors.

Characteristics of Active Duty Service Members Referred to the Navy's Weight-Management Program.

Introduction: Rates of overweight and obesity have increased in the military, particularly in the U.S. Navy.

Retinal microvascular and neuronal function in patients with multiple sclerosis: 2-year follow-up.

Objective: To determine the longitudinal changes in retinal microstructure, microvasculature, microcirculation, and axonal and neuronal functions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) over the time course of about two years.

Methods: A total of 30 patients (60 eyes) with RRMS were followed for a period of 27 ± 6 months and evaluated with a battery of clinical tests including low contrast letter acuity (LCLA), intraretinal layer thicknesses by optical coherence tomography (OCT), ganglion cell function by steady-state pattern electroretinography (PERG), axonal function by polarization-sensitive OCT, volumetric vessel density (VVD) by OCT angiography, and retinal tissue perfusion (RTP) by retinal function imager.

Results: Axonal function measured as retinal nerve fiber layer birefringence in the temporal quadrant and vessel density in the deep vascular plexus were significantly decreased at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.

Increased multiple sclerosis disease activity in patients transitioned from fingolimod to dimethyl fumarate: a case series.

Background: Fingolimod is a S1P receptor modulator that prevents activated lymphocyte egress from lymphoid tissues causing lymphopenia, mainly affecting CD4+ T lymphocytes. Withdrawal from fingolimod can be followed by severe disease reactivation, and this coincides with return of autoreactive lymphocytes into circulation. The CD8+ T cytotoxic population returns prior to the regulatory CD4+ T lymphocytes leading to a state of dysregulation, which may contribute to the rebound and severity of clinical relapses.

Ethnic Differences in the Association Between Pain and Social Support in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

Objective: Although past research has identified differences in pain between non-Latino white (NLW) and Latino persons, few studies have focused on the influence of social support. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the association between the number of social support sources and ratings of pain intensity and pain interference differed as a function of ethnicity.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Shortened Pattern Electroretinogram Latency and Impaired Autoregulatory Dynamics to Steady-State Stimuli in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: The steady-state pattern electroretinogram (PERG) is a sensitive measure of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function that includes within-test progressive changes-adaptation-reflecting RGC autoregulatory dynamics. Comprehensive PERG assessment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (with or without optic neuritis [ON]) may provide unique information about RGC dysfunction and its progression, as well as a comparison between functional loss and structural loss as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The goal of this project was to measure steady-state PERG components and their associations with intraretinal layer thicknesses in MS.

Visual Function and Disability Are Associated with Increased Retinal Volumetric Vessel Density in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the volumetric vessel density (VVD) in the intraretinal layers and its relationship with visual function and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 99 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited.

Focal Thickness Reduction of the Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer Best Discriminates Prior Optic Neuritis in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: The goal was to visualize topographic thickness maps of the intraretinal layers and evaluate their discrimination abilities and relationships with clinical manifestations in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a history of optic neuritis (ON).

Methods: Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting MS (34 eyes with a history of ON [MSON] and 26 non-ON fellow eyes [MSFE]) were recruited together with 63 age- and sex-matched controls (HC). Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography was used to image the macula and the volumetric data set was segmented to yield six intraretinal layers.

Improvement in 6-min Walk Test Distance Following Treatment for Behavioral Weight Loss and Disinhibited Eating: an Exploratory Secondary Analysis.

Background: Poor functional exercise capacity is common among those with obesity; however, objective measures of exercise capacity are rarely examined in behavioral treatments targeting obese individuals. We examined whether a 4-week acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for disinhibited eating or a behavioral weight loss (BWL) intervention improved exercise capacity and explored demographic and disinhibited eating variables related to exercise capacity.

Methods: Veterans (n = 61), randomized to receive ACT or BWL, completed an assessment of exercise capacity via the 6-min walk test (6MWT) at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

Retinal Tissue Perfusion in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

: The goal of this work was to determine whether the retinal tissue perfusion (RTP) is impaired in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). : Seventy-four patients [66 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 8 clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)] and 74 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited. RTP was calculated as the retinal blood flow (measured using retinal function imager) supplying the macular area divided by the corresponding tissue volume of the inner retina from the inner limiting membrane to the outer plexiform layer, as measured by ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography.

Visual Function and Disability Are Associated With Focal Thickness Reduction of the Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to visualize the topographic thickness patterns of the intraretinal layers and their associations with clinical manifestations in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Ninety-four eyes of 47 relapsing-remitting MS patients without history of optic neuritis were imaged using optical coherence tomography and compared with 134 eyes of 67 healthy subjects. Volumetric data centered on the fovea were segmented to obtain the thickness maps of six intraretinal layers.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Associated with Refractory Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis.

We present the case of a young man who was transferred to our hospital with worsening acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) despite treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange. He developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) without the use of dopamine-modulating drugs. His progressive clinical improvement started after treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone.

Sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to High and Low Pressure Synthetic Nano-Magnetite (FeO)Particles.

The binding of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to synthetic nano-magnetie particles synthesized under open vessel conditions and a microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis techniques was investigated. Batch studies showed that the binding of both the Cr(III) and Cr(VI) bound to the nano-materials in a pH dependent manner. The Cr(III) maximized at binding at pH 4 and 100% binding.

Sorption kinetic study of selenite and selenate onto a high and low pressure aged iron oxide nanomaterial.

The sorption of selenite (SeO(3)(2-)) and selenate (SeO(4)(2-)) onto Fe(3)O(4) nanomaterials produced by non microwave-assisted or microwave-assisted synthetic techniques was investigated through use of the batch technique. The phase of both synthetic nanomaterials was determined to be magnetite by X-ray diffraction. The average grain sizes of non microwave-assisted and microwave-assisted synthetic Fe(3)O(4) were determined to be 27 and 25 nm, respectively through use of the Scherrer's equation.