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Hechenberger S, Helmlinger B, Tinauer C, Jauk E, Ropele S, Heschl B, Wurth S, Damulina A, Eppinger S, Demjaha R, Khalil M, Enzinger C, Pinter D. Evaluation of a self-administered iPad ®-based processing speed assessment for people with multiple sclerosis in a clinical routine setting. J Neurol 2024; 271:3268-3278. [PMID: 38441609 PMCID: PMC11136781 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12274-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited resources often hinder regular cognitive assessment of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in standard clinical care. A self-administered iPad®-based cognitive screening-tool (Processing Speed Test; PST) might mitigate this problem. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the PST in clinical routine. METHODS We investigated the feasibility of the PST in both a quiet and a waiting room setting. We assessed the validity of the PST in comparison with the established Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). We explored associations between processing speed assessments and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and psychological factors. Additionally, we explored the ability of the PST to detect impairment in processing speed compared to the SDMT. RESULTS The PST was feasible in the waiting room setting. PST and SDMT correlated comparably with the BICAMS, MRI parameters, and psychological variables. Of 172 pwMS, 50 (30.8%) showed cognitive impairment according to the BICAMS; respective values were 47 (27.3%) for the SDMT and 9 (5.2%) for the PST. CONCLUSIONS The PST performed in a waiting room setting correlates strongly with established cognitive tests. It thus may be used to assess processing speed in a resource-efficient manner and complement cognitive assessment in clinical routine. Despite comparable validity of the PST and SDMT, we identified more pwMS with impaired processing speed using normative data of the SDMT compared to the PST and advise caution, that the common cut-off score of - 1.5 SD from the current PST is not appropriate in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Hechenberger
- Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Birgit Helmlinger
- Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Emanuel Jauk
- Department of Medical Psychology, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Ropele
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Bettina Heschl
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sebastian Wurth
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Division of Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Anna Damulina
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sebastian Eppinger
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Division of Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Rina Demjaha
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Neurology Biomarker Research Unit, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Neurology Biomarker Research Unit, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian Enzinger
- Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Daniela Pinter
- Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Head of Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036, Graz, Austria.
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Bunul SD, Alagoz AN, Piri Cinar B, Bunul F, Erdogan S, Efendi H. A Preliminary Study on the Meaning of Inflammatory Indexes in MS: A Neda-Based Approach. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1537. [PMID: 38003852 PMCID: PMC10672718 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory indexes and MS disease activity and progression. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Kocaeli University Neurology Clinic, involving 108 patients diagnosed with MS. Data related to patient demographics, clinical presentations, radiological findings, and laboratory results were recorded. Inflammatory markers such as NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), MLR (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), and indexes such as SII (systemic immune inflammation index), SIRI (systemic immune response index), and AISI (systemic total aggregation index) were examined to determine their correlation with MS disease activity and disability. When assessing the influence of SII, AISI, and SIRI in predicting NEDA, it was found that all three indexes significantly predict NEDA. All indexes demonstrated a significant relationship with the EDSS score. Notably, SII, SIRI, and AISI were significant predictors of NEDA, and all inflammatory indexes showed a strong intercorrelation. This study investigates the role of inflammation markers in MS patients. It suggests that one or more of these non-invasive, straightforward, and practical markers could complement clinical and radiological parameters in monitoring MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sena Destan Bunul
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli 4100, Turkey; (A.N.A.); (S.E.); (H.E.)
| | - Aybala Neslihan Alagoz
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli 4100, Turkey; (A.N.A.); (S.E.); (H.E.)
| | - Bilge Piri Cinar
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun University, Samsun 5500, Turkey;
| | - Fatih Bunul
- Internal Medicine, Anadolu Medical Center, Kocaeli 4100, Turkey;
| | - Seyma Erdogan
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli 4100, Turkey; (A.N.A.); (S.E.); (H.E.)
| | - Husnu Efendi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli 4100, Turkey; (A.N.A.); (S.E.); (H.E.)
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Crippes LJ, Saxby SM, Shemirani F, Bisht B, Gill C, Rubenstein LM, Ten Eyck P, Carr LJ, Darling WG, Hoth KF, Kamholz J, Snetselaar LG, Titcomb TJ, Wahls TL. Diet-induced changes in functional disability are mediated by fatigue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A secondary analysis of the WAVES randomized parallel-arm trial. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2023; 9:20552173231209147. [PMID: 37916030 PMCID: PMC10617283 DOI: 10.1177/20552173231209147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often report dietary modifications; however, evidence on functional outcomes remains sparse. Objective Evaluate the impact of the low-saturated fat (Swank) and modified Paleolithic elimination (Wahls) diets on functional disability among people with relapsing-remitting MS. Methods Baseline-referenced MS functional composite (MSFC) scores were calculated from nine-hole peg-test (NHPT), timed 25-foot walk, and oral symbol digit modalities test (SDMT-O) collected at four study visits: (a) run-in, (b) baseline, (c) 12 weeks, and (d) 24 weeks. Participants were observed at run-in and then randomized at baseline to either the Swank (n = 44) or Wahls (n = 43) diets. Results Among the Swank group, MSFC scores significantly increased from -0.13 ± 0.14 at baseline to 0.10 ± 0.11 at 12 weeks (p = 0.04) and 0.14 ± 0.11 at 24 weeks (p = 0.02). Among the Wahls group, no change in MSFC scores was observed at 12 weeks from 0.10 ± 0.11 at baseline but increased to 0.28 ± 0.13 at 24 weeks (p = 0.002). In both groups, NHPT and SDMT-O z-scores increased at 24 weeks. Changes in MSFC and NHPT were mediated by fatigue. Discussion Both diets reduced functional disability as mediated by fatigue. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02914964.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landon J Crippes
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Solange M Saxby
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Babita Bisht
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Christine Gill
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Patrick Ten Eyck
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Lucas J Carr
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Warren G Darling
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Karin F Hoth
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - John Kamholz
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Tyler J Titcomb
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Terry L Wahls
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Oset M, Domowicz M, Wildner P, Siger M, Karlińska I, Stasiołek M, Świderek-Matysiak M. Predictive value of brain atrophy, serum biomarkers and information processing speed for early disease progression in multiple sclerosis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1223220. [PMID: 37560452 PMCID: PMC10407123 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1223220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). A clinical presentation of the disease is highly differentiated even from the earliest stages of the disease. The application of stratifying tests in clinical practice would allow for improving clinical decision-making including a proper assessment of treatment benefit/risk balance. METHODS This prospective study included patients with MS diagnosed up to 1 year before recruitment. We analyzed serum biomarkers such as CXCL13, CHI3L1, OPN, IL-6, and GFAP and neurofilament light chains (NfLs); brain MRI parameters of linear atrophy such as bicaudate ratio (BCR), third ventricle width (TVW); and information processing speed were measured using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) during the 2 years follow-up. RESULTS The study included a total of 50 patients recruited shortly after the diagnosis of MS diagnosis (median 0 months; range 0-11 months), and the mean time of observation was 28 months (SD = 4.75). We observed a statistically significant increase in the EDSS score (Wilcoxon test: Z = 3.06, p = 0.002), BCR (Wilcoxon test: Z = 4.66, p < 0.001), and TVW (Wilcoxon test: Z = 2.84, p = 0.005) after 2 years of disease. Patients who had a significantly higher baseline level of NfL suffered from a more severe disease course as per the EDSS score (Mann-Whitney U-test: U = 107, Z = -2,74, p = 0.006) and presence of relapse (Mann-Whitney U-test: U = 188, Z = -2.01, p = 0.044). In the logistic regression model, none of the parameters was a significant predictor for the achieving of no evidence of disease activity status (NEDA). In the model considering all assessed parameters, only the level of NfL had a significant impact on disease progression, measured as the increase in EDSS (logistic regression: β = 0.002, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION We confirmed that NfL levels in serum are associated with more active disease. Moreover, we found that TVW at the time of diagnosis was associated with an impairment in cognitive function measured by information processing speed at the end of the 2-year observation. The inclusion of serum NfL and TVW assessment early in the disease may be a good predictor of disease progression independent of NEDA.
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Carlomagno V, Mirabella M, Lucchini M. Current Status of Oral Disease-Modifying Treatment Effects on Cognitive Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:848. [PMID: 37508875 PMCID: PMC10376579 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10070848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cognitive impairment represents one of the most hidden and disabling clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this regard, the major challenges are represented by the need for a comprehensive and standardised cognitive evaluation of each patient, both at disease onset and during follow-up, and by the lack of clear-cut data on the effects of treatments. In the present review, we summarize the current evidence on the effects of the available oral disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) on cognitive outcome measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this systematised review, we extract all the studies that reported longitudinally acquired cognitive outcome data on oral DMTs in MS patients. RESULTS We found 29 studies that evaluated at least one oral DMT, including observational studies, randomised controlled trials, and their extension studies. Most of the studies (n = 20) evaluated sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) modulators, while we found seven studies on dimethyl fumarate, six on teriflunomide, and one on cladribine. The most frequently used cognitive outcome measures were SDMT and PASAT. Most of the studies reported substantial stability or mild improvement in cognitive outcomes in a short-time follow-up (duration of most studies ≤2 years). A few studies also reported MRI measures of brain atrophy. CONCLUSION Cognitive outcomes were evaluated only in a minority of prospective studies on oral DMTs in MS patients with variable findings. More solid and numerous data are present for the S1P modulators. A standardised cognitive evaluation remains a yet unmet need to better clarify the possible positive effect of oral DMTs on cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Carlomagno
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurologia, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Centro di ricerca Sclerosi Multipla (CERSM), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Mirabella
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurologia, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Centro di ricerca Sclerosi Multipla (CERSM), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Lucchini
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurologia, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Centro di ricerca Sclerosi Multipla (CERSM), 00168 Rome, Italy
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Højsgaard Chow H, Talbot J, Lundell H, Marstrand L, Gøbel Madsen C, Bach Søndergaard H, Bredahl Hansen M, Solberg Sørensen P, Siebner HR, Sellebjerg F. Dimethyl fumarate treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis: results of an open-label extension study. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 70:104458. [PMID: 36586351 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dimethyl fumarate treatment is approved in Europe for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and in the US for relapsing forms of MS. We recently published the results of the first randomized placebo-controlled trial of 48 weeks of treatment with dimethyl fumarate or placebo in primary progressive MS (PPMS) (clinicaltrial.gov NCT02959658). The placebo-controlled phase of the trial did not meet its primary endpoint (reduction in cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of neurofilament light chain [NFL]). AIM To investigate the effects of dimethyl fumarate treatment in the open-label extension phase of the trial (week 48-96), where all patients were treated with DMF. METHODS Reported data are from screening, week 48, and week 96 visits. Patients were clinically evaluated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test, and Brief Visuospatial Memory-Revised. Serum NFL concentrations were measured by single-molecule array analysis. MRI was performed on a 3 tesla MRI scanner and included: new/enlarging lesions, volume of lesions, cortical grey matter, putamen, thalamus, and normal-appearing white matter, and additional diffusion tensor imaging and magnetization transfer ratio measures. RESULTS Forty-two patients entered the open-label treatment phase, and 33 patients (61%) had complete data sets at week 96. The remaining 39% did not complete the trial and were not evaluated at week 96. We found no evidence of differences in clinical and MRI measures between patients initially treated with dimethyl fumarate and patients initially treated with placebo from baseline to week 48 and from week 48-96, where all patients were treated with dimethyl fumarate. Serum NFL concentrations remained stable in both groups over 96 weeks. Assessed with either EDSS, T25FW, or 9HPT at week 96, progression was observed for 14 patients (45%). Interestingly, another 15 patients (46%) had improvement in one or more of these domains. Applying a cut-off of 8 points, 2 (6%) patients worsened on SDMT, 25 (78%) did not change, and 5 (16%) improved. CONCLUSIONS Dimethyl fumarate treatment showed no effects on neither clinical nor MRI outcomes or changes in serum concentrations of NFL. An expected number of patients showed evidence of progression on standard clinical scales; however, this was matched by an equal number of patients improving. The reasons for the physical improvement in an unexpectedly high proportion of patients must be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Højsgaard Chow
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark.
| | - Jacob Talbot
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Henrik Lundell
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen Denmark, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Lisbet Marstrand
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Camilla Gøbel Madsen
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen Denmark, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Helle Bach Søndergaard
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Malene Bredahl Hansen
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Per Solberg Sørensen
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hartwig Roman Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen Denmark, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Finn Sellebjerg
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Copenhagen, Denmark
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