Active clinical trials for "Multiple Sclerosis"

This study will determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect damage to certain parts of the brain and analyze the thickness of the brain's outer surface in patients with multiple sclerosis. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. It can sometimes permit diagnosis even before symptoms develop. MS is a disease of white matter, the fatty covering around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The nerves themselves are called gray matter. Damage to white matter impairs nerve function, leading to a variety of symptoms, such as weakness, vision problems, difficulty walking, paralysis, and others. MRI can detect some changes in white matter, but changes that may also appear in gray matter may be more difficult to find. This study will use new MRI techniques to try to identify gray matter damage in patients with MS. Healthy volunteers and people with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (an early stage of MS in which the patient has had just one of the problems MS can cause) who are between 18 and 55 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and neurological examination, and blood and urine tests. Within one month of the screening evaluation, participants undergo MRI scanning on a standard 1.5 Tesla machine to confirm their health status. (The power of the MRI scanner is measured in Tesla; the higher the Tesla, the better the visualization.) For this procedure, the subject lies on a table that moves into the scanner (a narrow cylinder with a magnetic field), and wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. During the procedure, a contrast agent called Gadolinium is injected into the blood stream to brighten the images. The test lasts about 2 hours, during which time the subject must lie still for up to a few minutes at a time. Within a month after the first MRI, participants repeat the test for a second time. The procedure is identical to the first scan, except a 3.0 Tesla machine is used.

This study is designed to explore the expression of cell-surface markers in the following seven disease areas: (a) systemic lupus erythematosus, (b) Sjogren's syndrome, (c) multiple sclerosis, (d) systemic sclerosis, (e) Crohn's disease, (f) ulcerative colitis and (g) inflammatory myositis.

To determine the level of STAT4 expression in different cases of multiple sclerosis and its relation to disease severity . compare the sensitivity and specificity of STAT4 levels using both PCR and flow cytometry.

The objective of this study is to determine efficacy, safety and tolerability of interferon beta-1b for multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and adolescents

In this project the investigators will be using non-invasive brain stimulation on people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) to improve leg muscle function. Two groups of participants will be recruited. One group will perform strength testing with and without the brain stimulation. The second group of participants will perform a fatigue task, pulling against a wire at a low level of force, with and without the brain stimulation. This type of brain stimulation has been shown to transiently improve strength and fatigue measures in other populations, e.g. aged, Parkinson's, and improve cognitive abilities in people with multiple sclerosis. It is the investigator's hope that the increases in performance seen in other patient groups will also occur in people with multiple sclerosis. Future investigations will look to apply the non-invasive brain stimulation technique during physical rehabilitation to improve short and long term outcomes related to physical function.

The purpose of this prospective research study is to evaluate higher neural changes following intradetrusor injection of Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Concurrent Urodynamic and Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI) data will be recorded pre- and post- intravesical injection of BTX-A in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and neurogenic detrusor activity (NDO). Other objectives are to evaluate the role of urinary biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) associated with bladder overactivity and, to determine whether the common validated urgency questionnaires correlate with fMRI findings and urinary biomarker concentration pre- and post- BTX-A injection in patients with MS and NDO.

The purpose of this study is to assess effects of B cell depletion on the immune system in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with ocrelizumab. This will be done by collecting blood from patients starting treatment with ocrelizumab before the first infusion and before the infusions at 6 and 12 months. The effects on the immune system will be assessed by performing transcriptome profiling of immune cells, measuring serum levels of microRNAs, and analyzing serum autoantibody immune signatures using antigen arrays. In addition, blood will be collected once from a group of healthy individuals to serve as controls.

Up to 65% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience cognitive dysfunction. Diminution of mental capacity has a pervasive and profound impact on their quality of life. Subtle changes in white matter predict cognitive changes in these patients but how this disrupts brain function remains unclear. Development of effective therapeutics to restore normal cognition hinges on elucidating these functional changes. The investigators seek to uncover the patho-physiological basis for cognitive decline in MS. The investigators hypothesize that cognitive decline originates from disrupted gamma oscillations and that gamma oscillations are disrupted by molecular changes triggered by demyelination.

Respiratory functions and body control are affected in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Because of this effect, the dependency of individuals increases in daily living activities and their quality of life decreases. We think that respiratory functions, respiratory muscle strength and trunk control affect vital mobility as well as vital importance for individuals with MS. As a result of the investigations, it is concluded that the literature is insufficient in this area. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and trunk control on functional mobility in individuals with MS and compare with healthy individuals.

Central Nervous System (CNS) demyelinating conditions include multiple sclerosis (MS), Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), Optic Neuritis (ON) and Transverse Myelitis (TM). The symptoms of these conditions are quite variable from patient to patient, but can include motor, sensory, visual, gait and cognitive changes. Conventional MRI can be used to look for new anatomic changes, but fails to measure underlying biochemical changes in brain tissue. The purposes of this study are to identify the biologic and anatomic correlations between cognitive profiles and disease activity using MRI imaging techniques.