Can fatigue predict the worsening of multiple sclerosis one year later? An explorative study with participants referred to assess their ability to work.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system and is triggered by several environmental factors in genetically predisposed people.

Objectives: To explore which evaluation battery items used for evaluation of work capacity at baseline can best predict MS progression at 1 year follow-up.

Methods: In this prospective single-centre study, participants with MS were recruited consecutively when visiting a neurologist for referral for the determination work capacity status at the Disability and Working Capacity Assessment Office.

Cerebrospinal fluid markers in incident pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis: a nationwide study.

To investigate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers differ between pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS, onset < 18 years) and adult-onset (AoMS), and whether these markers are associated with clinical outcomes among PoMS. Prospective nationwide registry study of incident MS, including persons with a CSF sample < 3 years post-MS onset. We compared CSF oligoclonal band (OCB) status, immunoglobulin G (IgG) index levels, and mononuclear cell count between PoMS and AoMS.

Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal immunoglobulin gamma bands and long-term disability progression in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) oligoclonal bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have different genetic backgrounds and brain MRI features compared to those without. In this study, we aimed to determine whether CSF-OCB status is associated with long-term disability outcomes. We used Swedish MS register data on clinically definite MS patients with known OCB status.

Microglial replacement therapy: a potential therapeutic strategy for incurable CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy.

CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy is an adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia caused by colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) gene mutations. The disease has a global distribution and currently has no cure. Individuals with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy variably present clinical symptoms including cognitive impairment, progressive neuropsychiatric and motor symptoms.

Accurate classification of secondary progression in multiple sclerosis using a decision tree.

Background: The absence of reliable imaging or biological markers of phenotype transition in multiple sclerosis (MS) makes assignment of current phenotype status difficult.

Objective: The authors sought to determine whether clinical information can be used to accurately assign current disease phenotypes.

Methods: Data from the clinical visits of 14,387 MS patients in Sweden were collected.

Plasma neurofilament light chain concentration is increased in anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder with high mortality and, to a large extent, unknown pathophysiology. Structural brain differences, such as global or focal reductions in grey or white matter volumes, as well as enlargement of the sulci and the ventricles, have repeatedly been observed in individuals with AN. However, many of the documented aberrances normalize with weight recovery, even though some studies show enduring changes.

Cognitive function predicts work disability among multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: In multiple sclerosis various aspects of cognitive function can be detrimentally affected. More than that, patients´ employment and social functioning is likely to be impacted.

Objective: To determine whether work disability among multiple sclerosis patients could be predicted by the symbol digit modalities test.

Reduced cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of oxysterols in response to natalizumab treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Natalizumab therapy reduces inflammation and degeneration of the CNS in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) the concentration of 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) reflect neurodegeneration, whereas 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) is dependent on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Objective: To measure the impact from natalizumab treatment on 24OHC and 27OHC concentrations in serum and CSF of RRMS.

Multiple sclerosis patients lacking oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid have less global and regional brain atrophy.

To investigate whether multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands (OCB) differ in brain atrophy. Twenty-eight OCB-negative and thirty-five OCB-positive patients were included. Larger volumes of total CSF and white matter (WM) lesions; smaller gray matter (GM) volume in the basal ganglia, diencephalon, cerebellum, and hippocampus; and smaller WM volume in corpus callosum, periventricular-deep WM, brainstem, and cerebellum, were observed in OCB-positives.

Impact of cerebrospinal-fluid oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands and HLA-DRB1 risk alleles on brain magnetic-resonance-imaging lesion load in Swedish multiple sclerosis patients.

Approximately 95% of Nordic multiple sclerosis (MS) patients display oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid. From a cohort of 2094 MS patients we retrieved well-characterized data from 40 OCB-negative and 60 OCB-positive patients, in an effort to determine whether lesion load on brain magnetic resonance imaging is affected by OCB status and carriage of HLA-DRB1*15 or HLA-DRB1*04. Positivity for OCB did not increase the risk of belonging to higher-lesion-load groups; nor did carrying HLA-DRB1*15 or HLA-DRB1*04.

Functional neuroimaging in multiple sclerosis with radiolabelled glia markers: preliminary comparative PET studies with [11C]vinpocetine and [11C]PK11195 in patients.

With the purpose of demonstrating the use of positron emission tomography (PET) and radiolabelled glia markers to indicate regional cerebral damage, we measured with PET in four young multiplex sclerosis (MS) patients in two consecutive measurements the global and regional brain uptake as well as regional distribution and binding potential (BP) of [(11)C]vinpocetine and [(11)C]PK11195. Both ligands showed increased uptake and BP in the regions of local brain damage. However, regional BP values for [(11)C]vinpocetine were markedly higher than those for [(11)C]PK11195.

Plasma cerebrosterol and magnetic resonance imaging measures in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: The concentration in plasma of the brain-specific cholesterol metabolite cerebrosterol has been proposed as a biomarker of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases. It is unknown, however, which pathophysiological process in MS best accounts for variations in plasma cerebrosterol.

Patients And Methods: In this study, we related plasma cerebrosterol concentrations in 46 MS patients - 27 with a relapsing-remitting (RR) disease course and 19 with a primary progressive (PP) course - to three conventional magnetic resonance imaging measures: on T(1)-weighted brain scans, volume of gadolinium-enhanced lesions (a marker of active inflammation) and hypointense lesions (a marker of edema or axonal loss) and on T(2)-weighted scans, volume of hyperintense lesions (a marker of disease extent).

Increased levels of APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) mRNA in multiple sclerosis.

B cells play an indispensable, yet indeterminate, role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We measured mRNA of APRIL-a promotor of B-cell survival-in peripheral blood and quantified protein levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in MS patients and controls. APRIL mRNA levels in monocytes and T cells were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls.