Longitudinal epidemiology of multiple sclerosis over 60 years in Newcastle, Australia: 1961 to 2021.

Introduction: Newcastle, Australia, has been serially studied for MS epidemiology since 1961, showing consistently increasing prevalence estimates and incidence rates, including to our 2011 study.

Objectives: To assess the 2011-2021 epidemiology of MS in Newcastle and to compare with previous measures.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records of MS cases residing in Newcastle, as identified by public and private clinicians.

Dairy and gluten in disease activity in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Many diets promoted specifically for multiple sclerosis have been suggested to improve disease activity. Dairy and gluten are two components for which the recommendations vary between these diets. Existing research into the association between these dietary components and disease activity has been conflicting.

Multi-modal neuroimaging signatures predict cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis: A 5-year longitudinal study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) but is usually an under-recorded symptom of disease progression. Identifying the predictive signatures of cognitive decline in people with MS (pwMS) over time is important to ensure effective preventative treatment strategies. Structural and functional brain characteristics as measured by various magnetic resonance (MR) methods have been correlated with variation in cognitive function in MS, but typically these studies are limited to a single MR modality and/or are cross-sectional designs.

A longitudinal analysis of brain volume changes in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

Background And Purpose: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a relapsing demyelinating condition. There are several cross-sectional studies showing evidence of brain atrophy in people with MOGAD (pwMOGAD), but longitudinal brain volumetric assessment is still an unmet need. Current recommendations do not include monitoring with MRI and assume distinct attacks.

Evaluation of Cell-Specific Epigenetic Age Acceleration in People With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: In multiple sclerosis (MS), accelerated aging of the immune system (immunosenescence) may be associated with disease onset or drive progression. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an epigenetic factor that varies among lymphocyte subtypes, and cell-specific DNAm is associated with MS. DNAm varies across the life span and can be used to accurately estimate biological age acceleration, which has been linked to a range of morbidities.

Conceiving complexity: Biological mechanisms underpinning the lasting effect of pregnancy on multiple sclerosis outcomes.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, demyelinating disease with the highest incidence in women of childbearing age. The effect of pregnancy on disease activity and progression is a primary concern for women with MS and their clinical teams. It is well established that inflammatory disease activity is naturally suppressed during pregnancy, followed by an increase postpartum.

Interferon beta treatment is a potent and targeted epigenetic modifier in multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has a complex pathophysiology that involves genetic and environmental factors. DNA methylation (DNAm) is one epigenetic mechanism that can reversibly modulate gene expression. Cell specific DNAm changes have been associated with MS, and some MS therapies such as dimethyl fumarate can influence DNAm.

Parity is associated with long-term differences in DNA methylation at genes related to neural plasticity in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis (wwMS) is associated with a reduction of long-term disability progression. The mechanism that drives this effect is unknown, but converging evidence suggests a role for epigenetic mechanisms altering immune and/or central nervous system function. In this study, we aimed to identify whole blood and immune cell-specific DNA methylation patterns associated with parity in relapse-onset MS.

The effect of cladribine on immunoglobulin levels compared to B cell targeting therapies in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cladribine is a useful therapeutic option in RRMS with moderate to high disease activity. Its oral formulation and tolerability make it a useful alternative to infusion therapies. Cladribine is known to deplete CD19 B lymphocytes, but its effect on immunoglobulin subsets is unclear.

Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets as a Treatment for People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for the CLOBAS Study (Cladribine, a Multicenter, Long-term Efficacy and Biomarker Australian Study).

Background: Cladribine tablets (marketed as Mavenclad) are a new oral therapy, which has recently been listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme in Australia for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The current dosing schedule is for 2 courses given a year apart, which has been shown to be effective for treatment of MS for up to 4 years in 75% of patients (based on annualized relapse rate). However, the reinitiation of therapy after year 4 has not been studied.

Association of Pregnancy With the Onset of Clinically Isolated Syndrome.

Importance: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is usually diagnosed in women during their childbearing years. Currently, no consensus exists on whether pregnancy can delay the first episode of demyelination or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).

Objective: To investigate the association of pregnancy with time to CIS onset.

Concentrations of plasma-borne extracellular particles differ between multiple sclerosis disease courses and compared to healthy controls.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Both peripheral blood and central nervous system facets play a role in the pathophysiology. Extracellular vesicles are small membrane-bound vesicles that are released by most cells in response to stress, activation, or pathology.

Erythrocyte microRNAs show biomarker potential and implicate multiple sclerosis susceptibility genes.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating autoimmune disease, for which there is no blood-borne biomarker. Erythrocytes may provide a source of such biomarkers as they contain microRNAs. MicroRNAs regulate protein translation through complementary binding to messenger RNA.

DNA methylation changes in CD4 T cells isolated from multiple sclerosis patients on dimethyl fumarate.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate is an oral treatment for multiple sclerosis, whose mechanism of action is not fully understood.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dimethyl fumarate on DNA methylation in the CD4 T cells of multiple sclerosis patients.

Methods: We performed Illumina EPIC arrays to investigate the DNA methylation profiles of CD4 T cells derived from multiple sclerosis patients before and after dimethyl fumarate treatment.

Erythrocyte microRNA sequencing reveals differential expression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: There is a paucity of knowledge concerning erythrocytes in the aetiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) despite their potential to contribute to disease through impaired antioxidant capacity and altered haemorheological features. Several studies have identified an abundance of erythrocyte miRNAs and variable profiles associated with disease states, such as sickle cell disease and malaria. The aim of this study was to compare the erythrocyte miRNA profile of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients to healthy sex- and age-matched controls.

Letter to the editor: blood processing and sample storage have negligible effects on methylation.

DNA methylation is a dynamic epigenetic mechanism. Researchers aiming to assess archived DNA samples are expressing concern about the effect of technical factors on methylation, as this may confound results. We reviewed recent reports examining this issue in blood samples and concluded that variation in collection, storage, and processing of blood DNA confers negligible effects on both global methylation and methylation status of specific genes.