Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Management

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2024 | Viewed by 3282

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ZKN, Zentrum für Klinische Neurowissenschaften, Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Interests: multiple sclerosis; innovation; emerging diagnosis and treatment; innobative healthcare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce that our special edition will focus on the comprehensive topic of Multiple Sclerosis: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite recent advancements in understanding the disease, there is still a need for continued research to improve diagnosis and treatment options. We invite experts and professionals from various fields to submit original research articles, review papers, case studies, and clinical trials related to Multiple Sclerosis. The scope of this journal edition will include, but not limited to:

  • Pathophysiology of MS, including the role of immune system dysfunction, genetics, and environmental factors in the development of the disease.
  • Diagnosis and assessment of MS, including imaging techniques, clinical diagnosis, and laboratory tests.
  • Novel and emerging therapies for MS, such as disease-modifying drugs, symptom management, and regenerative approaches.
  • Multidisciplinary approaches to managing MS, including rehabilitation, psychological support, and lifestyle interventions.
  • Digital Innovation in MS management.

We welcome manuscripts from researchers and clinicians working in the fields of neurology, immunology, pharmacology, rehabilitation, psychology, and other related disciplines. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive resource for clinicians and researchers in the field of Multiple Sclerosis, advancing knowledge and improving patient outcomes.

Through a rigorous peer-review process, we assure authors that their research will be given the utmost consideration and the opportunity to be published in a reputable and high-impact journal.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and sharing your insights with our readers.

Prof. Dr. Tjalf Ziemssen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • multiple sclerosis
  • innovation
  • emerging therapies
  • emerging diagnostics
  • digital health
  • digital management

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

12 pages, 1152 KiB  
Article
The Cortical Silent Period and Its Association with Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: The Need for Standardized Data Collection
by Sebastian Strauss, Thorsten Herr, Christina Nafz, Nelly Seusing and Matthias Grothe
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14010028 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1210
Abstract
The cortical silent period (CSP), assessed with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), provides insights into motor cortex excitability. Alterations in the CSP have been observed in multiple sclerosis (MS), although a comparison of the sometimes contradictory results is difficult due to methodological differences. The [...] Read more.
The cortical silent period (CSP), assessed with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), provides insights into motor cortex excitability. Alterations in the CSP have been observed in multiple sclerosis (MS), although a comparison of the sometimes contradictory results is difficult due to methodological differences. The aim of this study is to provide a more profound neurophysiological understanding of fatigue’s pathophysiology and its relationship to the CSP. Twenty-three patients with MS, along with a matched control group, underwent comprehensive CSP measurements at four intensities (125, 150, 175, and 200% resting motor threshold), while their fatigue levels were assessed using the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) and its motor and cognitive subscore. MS patients exhibited a significantly increased CSP duration compared to controls (p = 0.02), but CSP duration was not associated with the total FSMC, or the motor or cognitive subscore. Our data suggest a systematic difference in MS patients compared to healthy controls in the CSP but no association with fatigue when measured with the FSMC. Based on these results, and considering the heterogeneous literature in the field, our study highlights the need for a more standardized approach to neurophysiological data collection and validation. This standardization is crucial for exploring the link between TMS and clinical impairments in diseases like MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1612 KiB  
Article
Association between Daytime Sleepiness, Fatigue and Autonomic Responses during Head-Up Tilt Test in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
by Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska, Łukasz Rzepiński, Mirosława Cieślicka, Jacek J. Klawe and Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(9), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13091342 - 19 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 989
Abstract
We aimed to assess dynamic changes in hemodynamic and autonomic function in response to the head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls (HCs) and evaluate its relationship with the patients’ reported daytime sleepiness and fatigue symptoms. [...] Read more.
We aimed to assess dynamic changes in hemodynamic and autonomic function in response to the head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls (HCs) and evaluate its relationship with the patients’ reported daytime sleepiness and fatigue symptoms. A total of 58 MS patients and 30 HCs were included in the analysis. Fatigue and sleepiness were evaluated using the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), respectively. Hemodynamic response, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) variability (SBPV, DBPV) parameters were calculated at rest, and in response to the HUTT. The MS patients displayed attenuated BP responses coupled with a more pronounced decrease in cardiac index as well as a reduced increase in the low frequency (LFnu) of DBPV (p = 0.021) and the sympathovagal ratio (p = 0.031) in the latter-phase orthostatic challenge compared to HCs. In MS patients, the ESS score showed no correlation with CFQ or clinical disease outcomes, but exhibited a moderate correlation with LFnu of BPVrest. Fatigue and disease variants predicted blood pressure response to HUTT. These findings underscore the importance of subjective daytime sleepiness and fatigue symptoms and their role in blood pressure regulation in MS patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

6 pages, 491 KiB  
Brief Report
Enhancing the Quality of Life of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Promising Results on the Role of Cognitive Tele-Rehabilitation Plus Virtual Reality
by Maria Grazia Maggio, Antonino Cannavò, Angelo Quartarone, Alfredo Manuli, Paolo Tonin and Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(12), 1636; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13121636 - 25 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 772
Abstract
(1) Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis often face obstacles accessing traditional rehabilitation programs, primarily due to mobility limitations. Tele-rehabilitation (TR) is seen as a promising solution to overcome these barriers, though its precise influence on patients’ quality of life (QoL) has not been [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis often face obstacles accessing traditional rehabilitation programs, primarily due to mobility limitations. Tele-rehabilitation (TR) is seen as a promising solution to overcome these barriers, though its precise influence on patients’ quality of life (QoL) has not been thoroughly investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of a cognitive TR in a sample of Italian patients with MS. (2) Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with MS, attending the Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Unit of the IRCCS “Bonino-Pulejo” Neurolesi Center in Messina, Italy, between October 2019 and March 2020 were enrolled in the study. All patients were randomly assigned, using block randomization with a block size of 2 × 2, to two groups: the control group (CG), composed of 16 patients who received traditional cognitive training, and the experimental group (EG), composed of 20 patients who underwent TR training with a VRRS (virtual reality rehabilitation system). Each patient underwent an assessment before (T0) and immediately after (T1) the rehabilitation treatment, using the Quality of Life-54 Multiple Sclerosis (MSQoL-54). (3) Results: Only in the EG, we observed a statistically significant improvement in the QoL related to mental well-being following the paired T-test (MSQoL p-value < 0.001). Notably, no significant differences were found in the CG (MSQoL p-value of 0.67). (4) Conclusions: Our data suggest that TR training combined with VR has the potential to improve the well-being of individuals with MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop