Explaining cognitive function in multiple sclerosis through networks of grey and white matter features: a joint independent component analysis.

Cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is only partially explained by whole-brain volume measures, but independent component analysis (ICA) can extract regional patterns of damage in grey matter (GM) or white matter (WM) that have proven more closely associated with CI. Pathology in GM and WM occurs in parallel, and so patterns can span both. This study assessed whether joint-ICA of GM and WM features better explained cognitive function compared to single-tissue ICA.

Evaluating multiple sclerosis severity loci 30 years after a clinically isolated syndrome.

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.

Geometric morphometric analysis of plastinated brain sections using computer-based methods: Evaluating shrinkage and shape changes.

Background: Plastination preserves biological specimens for long-term and geometric morphometry analyzes shape differences with advanced statistical methods. This study primarily aimed to statistically quantify shrinkage in brain sections following plastination. The secondary goal was to present the shrinkage occurring in both tissues and cavities of specific anatomical structures using geometric morphometry.

The evolving contribution of MRI measures towards the prediction of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Background: In multiple sclerosis (MS), both lesion accrual and brain atrophy predict clinical outcomes. However, it is unclear whether these prognostic features are equally relevant throughout the course of MS. Among 103 participants recruited following a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and followed up over 30 years, we explored (1) whether white matter lesions were prognostically more relevant earlier and brain atrophy later in the disease course towards development of secondary progressive (SP) disease; (2) if so, when the balance in prognostic contribution shifts and (3) whether optimised prognostic models predicting SP disease should include different features dependent on disease duration.

Development of a scale examining post-disaster coping motivations in Turkey after the 6 February earthquake.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop the Motivations for Coping After Disaster Scale. To test the construct validity of the scale, a total of 676 data were collected from three different sampling groups (N1: 388; N2: 194; N3: 94).

Methods: Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Criterion validity analysis were conducted to test the construct validity of the scale.