Detecting fatigue in multiple sclerosis through automatic speech analysis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease characterized by central nervous system demyelination and axonal degeneration. Fatigue affects a major portion of MS patients, significantly impairing their daily activities and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms underlying fatigue in MS are poorly understood, and measuring fatigue remains a challenging task.

Data on Ocrelizumab Treatment Collected by MS Patients in Germany Using Brisa App.

Background: With a rising number of multiple sclerosis (MS) cases and increasing pressure on health systems, digital companion apps like Brisa, designed specifically for people with MS, can play an important role in the patient journey. These apps enable the collection of real-time longitudinal data that are critical to our understanding of the pathophysiology and progression of MS.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive analysis consists of data from Brisa users who registered between 6 August 2021 and 8 September 2022.

An audit of 1632 routinely collected cervical cancer screening smears from 398 women in Germany: Results from the TeQaZ Study.

Objective: There is evidence in Germany that half of the cervical cancer (CC) cases had undergone screening frequently in the decade preceding their diagnosis, signaling cytology quality issues. This study investigates routine smear assessment accuracy in Germany.

Methods: Within a population-based case-control study in 9 German states, we recruited cases (women with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of CC) and population controls (women with no history of CC or hysterectomy).

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: a position paper and registry outline.

Background: While substantial progress has been made in the development of disease-modifying medications for multiple sclerosis (MS), a high percentage of treated patients still show progression and persistent inflammatory activity. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) aims at eliminating a pathogenic immune repertoire through intense short-term immunosuppression that enables subsequent regeneration of a new and healthy immune system to re-establish immune tolerance for a long period of time. A number of mostly open-label, uncontrolled studies conducted over the past 20 years collected about 4000 cases.

Current status and new developments in sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor antagonism: fingolimod and more.

Introduction: Fingolimod was the first oral disease-modifying treatment approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) that serves as a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) agonist. The efficacy is primarily mediated by S1PR subtype 1 activation, leading to agonist-induced down-modulation of receptor expression and further functional antagonism, blocking the egression of auto-aggressive lymphocytes from the lymph nodes in the peripheral compartment. The role of S1P signaling in the regulation of other pathways in human organisms through different S1PR subtypes has received much attention due to its immune-modulatory function and its significance for the regeneration of the central nervous system.

Brain Atrophy Is Substantially Accelerated in Neurological Wilson's Disease: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: Although brain atrophy is common in neurological Wilson's disease, longitudinal studies are lacking.

Objective: The objective of this study was to measure longitudinal brain atrophy rate and to relate it to the change in neurological impairment in Wilson's disease.

Methods: We included patients with brain imaging done at diagnosis and at least 12 months later.

Demographic Patterns of MS Patients Using BRISA: An MS-Specific App in Germany.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological autoimmune disease impacting quality of life. BRISA is an app designed to help MS patients in Germany track their disease course by symptom-monitoring. This study aimed to understand demographic and health-related characteristics of BRISA users.

Comparative Panel Sequencing of DNA Variants in cf-, ev- and tumorDNA for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are tumors with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Personalized medicine aims at characterizing actionable DNA variants by next-generation sequencing, thereby improving treatment strategies and outcomes. Fine-needle tumor biopsies are currently the gold standard to acquire samples for DNA profiling.

Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker of Brain Injury in Wilson's Disease: Clinical and Neuroradiological Correlations.

Background: Clinical scales and neuroimaging are used to monitor nervous system injury in Wilson's disease, while data on serum markers are scarce.

Objective: To investigate whether serum concentrations of neurofilament light chain (sNfL) correlate with brain injury in Wilson's disease patients.

Methods: In 61 treatment-naïve patients, the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale and a validated semiquantitative brain magnetic resonance imaging scale were compared with concentrations of sNfL.

A genotype-phenotype screening system using conditionally immortalized immature dendritic cells.

Here, we describe a protocol for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout in conditionally immortalized immature dendritic cells (DCs), which can be limitlessly expanded before differentiation. This facilitates the genetic screening of DC functions including assessment of phagocytosis, cytokine production, expression of co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory molecules, and antigen presentation, as well as evaluation of the capacity to elicit anticancer immune responses . Altogether, these approaches described in this protocol allow investigators to link the genotype of DCs to their phenotype.

Impact of opportunistic screening on squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the cervix in Germany: A population-based case-control study.

Background: We investigated the uptake of opportunistic cervical cancer screening (CCS) and other risk factors and their association with cervical cancer in Germany in a case-control study.

Methods And Findings: We recruited incident cases of cervical cancer (ICD-10 C53) diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 and matched with three population-based controls, based on age and region of residence. Cases and controls reported their CCS participation during the past ten years (frequent: every three years; no or infrequent: less than every three years) and other relevant variables.

A Comprehensive Monitoring Study on Electrocardiographic Assessments and Cardiac Events After Fingolimod First Dose-Possible Predictors of Cardiac Outcomes.

First dose observation for cardiac effects is required for fingolimod. Previous results in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) suggest that transient bradycardia and conduction abnormalities during the observation phase are rare, benign and reversible. Prior analyses corroborate these findings.

Health-Related Quality of Life and the Relationship to Treatment Satisfaction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Insights from a Large Observational Study.

Introduction: In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue, depression, and physical disability are important determinants that negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In studies about MS, HRQoL and treatment satisfaction are emerging endpoints representing the patients' perspective. However, the association of HRQoL and MS treatment satisfaction has not been evaluated so far.

Tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol oromucosal spray for treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis spasticity: newest evidence.

Proceedings of an Almirall-sponsored satellite symposium held at the 34th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Berlin, Germany, 10 October 2018.

The Dox-pDC - A murine conditionally immortalized plasmacytoid dendritic cell line with native immune profile.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) constitute a very rare blood cell population and play a significant role in immune response and immune-mediated disorders. Investigations on primary pDCs are hindered not only due to their rarity but also because they represent a heterogeneous cell population which is difficult to culture ex vivo. We generated a conditionally immortalized pDC line (Dox-pDC) from mice with Doxycycline-inducible SV40 Large T Antigen with a comparable immune profile to primary pDCs.

UTX - moonlighting in the cytoplasm?

The X-linked histone demethylase UTX has a pivotal role in cellular and developmental processes including embryogenesis, hematopoiesis and cancer. UTX removes di- and trimethyl groups on histone H3 lysine 27, thereby regulating gene expression. But there is growing evidence that UTX displays biological functions independent of its histone demethylase activity.

Patient satisfaction and healthcare services in specialized multiple sclerosis centres in Germany.

Background: As patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) require lifelong treatment, optimization of therapy with respect to efficacy and safety is needed to limit long-term disease progression. Patients with MS also need a range of health-related services. Satisfaction with these as well as treatment is clinically relevant because satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to therapy.

Safety and in vivo immune assessment of escalating doses of oral laquinimod in patients with RRMS.

Background: Laquinimod is an oral immunomodulator in clinical development to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Laquinimod is in clinical development for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Huntington Disease (HD). The objective of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and cytoimmunologic effects following escalating doses of laquinimod in patients with RRMS.

Defective IL-23/IL-17 Axis Protects p47phox-/- Mice from Colon Cancer.

In the colon, a sophisticated balance between immune reaction and tolerance is absolutely required. Dysfunction may lead to pathologic phenotypes ranging from chronic inflammatory processes to cancer development. Two prominent modulators of colon inflammation are represented by the closely related cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, which initiate adaptive Th1 and Th17 immune responses, respectively.

Electrocardiographic assessments and cardiac events after fingolimod first dose - a comprehensive monitoring study.

Background: First dose observation for cardiac effects is required for fingolimod, but recommendations on the extent vary. This study aims to assess cardiac safety of fingolimod first dose. Individual bradyarrhythmic episodes were evaluated to assess the relevance of continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

Initiation of acute graft-versus-host disease by angiogenesis.

The inhibition of inflammation-associated angiogenesis ameliorates inflammatory diseases by reducing the recruitment of tissue-infiltrating leukocytes. However, it is not known if angiogenesis has an active role during the initiation of inflammation or if it is merely a secondary effect occurring in response to stimuli by tissue-infiltrating leukocytes. Here, we show that angiogenesis precedes leukocyte infiltration in experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease and acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Therapy satisfaction and adherence in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: the THEPA-MS survey.

Background: Improved clinical effectiveness and therefore positive modification of multiple sclerosis (MS) with basic therapy can be achieved by long-term regular intake of drugs as prescribed but investigations have shown that a high percentage of patients do not take their medications as prescribed.

Objectives: We assessed the satisfaction and adherence of patients with MS with their current disease-modifying treatment under clinical practice conditions. We compared different facets of satisfaction as well as their internal relationship and identified predictors in an exploratory manner.

Evaluation of Study and Patient Characteristics of Clinical Studies in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.

Background: So far, clinical studies in primary progressive MS (PPMS) have failed to meet their primary efficacy endpoints. To some extent this might be attributable to the choice of assessments or to the selection of the study population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify outcome influencing factors by analyzing the design and methods of previous randomized studies in PPMS patients without restriction to intervention or comparator.