Neuroimaging assessment of facility-bound severely-affected MS reveals the critical role of cortical gray matter pathology: results from the CASA-MS case-controlled study.

Background: A subgroup of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) will develop severe disability. The pathophysiology underlying severe MS is unknown. The comprehensive assessment of severely affected MS (CASA-MS) was a case-controlled study that compared severely disabled in skilled nursing (SD/SN) (EDSS ≥ 7.

Choroid plexus enlargement is associated with future periventricular neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.

Background: The choroid plexus (CP), located within the ventricles of the brain and the primary producer of cerebrospinal fluid, has been shown to be enlarged in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and linked to periventricular remyelination failure. Atrophied T2-lesion volume (aT2-LV), a promising neurodegenerative imaging marker in progressive MS (PMS), reflects the volume of periventricular lesions subsumed into cerebrospinal fluid over the follow-up.

Methods: In a cohort of 143 people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 53 with PMS, we used 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify CP volume (CPV) at baseline and aT2-LV over an average of 5.

Thalamic atrophy and dysconnectivity are associated with cognitive impairment in a multi-center, clinical routine, real-word study of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Prior research has established a link between thalamic pathology and cognitive impairment (CI) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, the translation of these findings to pwMS in everyday clinical settings has been insufficient.

Objective: To assess which global and/or thalamic imaging biomarkers can be used to identify pwMS at risk for CI and cognitive worsening (CW) in a real-world setting.

Dynamic disability measures decrease the clinico-radiological gap in people with severely affected multiple sclerosis.

Background: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is limited when utilized in highly disabled people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Objetive: To explore the relationship between disability measures and MRI outcomes in severely-affected pwMS.

Methods: PwMS recruited from The Boston Home (TBH), a specialized residential facility for severly-affected pwMS and University at Buffalo (UB) MS Center were assessed using EDSS, MS Severity Scale, age-related MSS, Scripps Neurological Rating Scale (SNRS) and Combinatorial Weight-Adjusted Disability Score (CombiWISE).

An Automated Tool to Classify and Transform Unstructured MRI Data into BIDS Datasets.

The increasing use of neuroimaging in clinical research has driven the creation of many large imaging datasets. However, these datasets often rely on inconsistent naming conventions in image file headers to describe acquisition, and time-consuming manual curation is necessary. Therefore, we sought to automate the process of classifying and organizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data according to acquisition types common to the clinical routine, as well as automate the transformation of raw, unstructured images into Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) datasets.

How to and should we target EBV in MS?

Introduction: The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown. Pathogenesis likely relies on a complex interaction between multiple environmental, genetic, and behavioral risk factors. However, a growing body of literature supports the role of a preceding Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the majority of cases.

An ultra-sensitive and high-throughput trapping-micro-LC-MS method for quantification of circulating vitamin D metabolites and application in multiple sclerosis patients.

Quantitative analysis of the biologically-active metabolites of vitamin D (VitD), which are crucial in regulating various physiological and pathological processes, is important for clinical investigations. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been widely used for this purpose but existing LC-MS methods face challenges in achieving highly sensitive and accurate quantification of low-abundance VitD metabolites while maintaining high throughput and robustness. Here we developed a novel pipeline that combines a trapping-micro-LC-(T-µLC) with narrow-window-isolation selected-reaction monitoring MS(NWI-SRM) for ultra-sensitive, robust and high-throughput quantification of VitD metabolites in serum samples after derivatization.

Paramagnetic rim lesions predict greater long-term relapse rates and clinical progression over 10 years.

Background: Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) have been linked to higher clinical disease severity and relapse frequency. However, it remains unclear whether PRLs predict future, long-term disease progression.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess whether baseline PRLs were associated with subsequent long-term (10 years) Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) increase and relapse frequency and, if so, whether PRL-associated EDSS increase was mediated by relapse.

Recommended implementation of quantitative susceptibility mapping for clinical research in the brain: A consensus of the ISMRM electro-magnetic tissue properties study group.

This article provides recommendations for implementing QSM for clinical brain research. It is a consensus of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Electro-Magnetic Tissue Properties Study Group. While QSM technical development continues to advance rapidly, the current QSM methods have been demonstrated to be repeatable and reproducible for generating quantitative tissue magnetic susceptibility maps in the brain.

Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of multiple sclerosis: an updated meta-analysis.

Numerous studies have proposed that Helicobacter pylori infection may possess a protective effect in terms of future risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), however is poorly evidenced. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain the pooled results regarding the prevalence of H. pylori infection in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and healthy controls.

Proteomic signatures of physical, cognitive, and imaging outcomes in multiple sclerosis.

Background: A quantitative measurement of serum proteome biomarkers that would associate with disease progression endpoints can provide risk stratification for persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and supplement the clinical decision-making process.

Materials And Methods: In total, 202 PwMS were enrolled in a longitudinal study with measurements at two time points with an average follow-up time of 5.4 years.

A multiscale assessment of bowel impairment in an Italian multiple sclerosis cohort.

Bowel dysfunctions (BD) in multiple sclerosis (MS) are under reported despite their clinical relevance. Scales usually applied do not thoroughly assess constipation and fecal incontinence. Instead, a proper qualitative and quantitative description of these symptoms might have relevant clinical and scientific consequences.

Evolution of atrophied T2 lesion volume in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: results from the phase 3 ORATORIO study.

Background: Atrophied T2-lesion volume (aT2-LV) is an exploratory imaging marker in multiple sclerosis (MS) reflecting the volume of lesions subsumed into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Objective: To investigate the effect of ocrelizumab (OCR) versus placebo (PBO) over 120 weeks on the accumulation of aT2-LV in a double-blind placebo-controlled (DBP) phase 3, primary-progressive (PP) MS study (ORATORIO; NCT01194570).

Methods: This post-hoc, MRI-blinded analysis evaluated 732 PPMS randomised to OCR (488) or PBO (244).

Exploratory 5-year follow-up study of retinol, tocopherols, and carotenoids in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Retinol, tocopherols, and carotenoids (RTC) have physiological roles as vitamins, pro-vitamins, and antioxidants, and provide biomarkers of dietary vegetable and fruit intake. The goal was to investigate RTC in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: This exploratory study included 106 people with MS (71 relapsing-remitting MS or RR-MS; and 35 progressive MS or PMS) and 31 healthy controls (HC) at baseline and 5-year follow-up (5YFU).

Disease-modifying treatment, long-term outcomes and transition to progressive multiple sclerosis: data based on the New York State MS Consortium.

Background: The impact of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) on multiple sclerosis (MS) long-term outcomes is continuously evolving. Retrospective analyses of large and long-term registries could provide information regarding general disease trajectories and risk factors that are commonly not investigated in shorter clinical trial settings.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of people with MS (pwMS) registered in New York State MS Consortium (NYSMSC) since 1996.

Patient-reported outcomes based on discontinuation or continuous treatment with natalizumab: New York State Multiple Sclerosis Consortium (NYSMSC) study.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are increasingly utilized as part of the routine clinical assessment in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The long-term effect of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) and their discontinuation on PRO measures remains largely unknown.

Methods: Two pwMS groups treated with natalizumab were selected from the New York State MS Consortium (NYSMSC) database.

Multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis remains one of the most common causes of neurological disability in the young adult population (aged 18-40 years). Novel pathophysiological findings underline the importance of the interaction between genetics and environment. Improvements in diagnostic criteria, harmonised guidelines for MRI, and globalised treatment recommendations have led to more accurate diagnosis and an earlier start of effective immunomodulatory treatment than previously.

Cognitive phenotypes predict response to restorative cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cognitive phenotyping may be useful for predicting rehabilitation response in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the association between cognitive phenotype(s) and response to restorative cognitive rehabilitation (RRCR).

Methods: In a post hoc retrospective analysis of the RRCR study including 51 multiple sclerosis patients, we evaluated both impairment within specific cognitive domains as well as overall global impairment severity to investigate their relationship to improvement following rehabilitation.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements and disability in multiple sclerosis (MS): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience visual impairments and neurodegenerative retinal processes. The disability progression in pwMS may be associated with retinal changes assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT). This meta-analysis aims at synthesizing the correlations between OCT measurements of disability in pwMS.

Ublituximab-xiiy as a treatment option for relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: B cell depletion has been established as an efficacious anti-inflammatory therapy in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Ublituximab (ublituximab-xiiy) is the latest approved chimeric glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS.

Areas Covered: In this narrative review, the authors explore the safety and effectiveness of data derived from the Phase 2 and Phase 3 ublituximab trials and from their respective post-hoc analyses.

Auditory Test of Processing Speed: Preliminary validation of a smartphone-based test of mental speed.

Background: The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a gold-standard measure of cognitive efficiency and processing speed for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) but relies on vision and oculomotor function.

Objectives: To develop and validate a new processing speed test with minimal memory involvement and no eye function requirements.

Methods: We created an Auditory Test of Processing Speed (ATOPS).

Detecting isolated cognitive relapses in persons with MS.

Background: The existence of isolated cognitive relapses (ICRs) in persons with MS (PwMS) has been debated.

Objective: To examine relapses with decline on Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) but no change on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Methods: This 3-year prospective cohort study identified PwMS experiencing a relapse with decrease on SDMT.

Reliability of paramagnetic rim lesion classification on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in people with multiple sclerosis: Single-site experience and systematic review.

Background: Recent developments in iron-sensitive MRI techniques have enabled visualization of chronic active lesions as paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) in vivo. Although PRLs have potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for multiple sclerosis (MS), limited studies have reported the reliability of PRL assessment. Further evaluation of PRL reliability, through original investigations and review of PRL literature, are warranted.