Effects of Spinal Cord Injury on Female Sexual Response
Female Sexual DysfunctionMultiple Sclerosis1 moreThe long term aims of this project are to 1) Understand the effect of varying degrees and levels of SCI and dysfunction(SCI/D)on females sexual response: 2) Identify the specific neuronal pathways involved in female sexual responses; and 3) Develop and evaluate new assessment and treatment methods for neurogenic sexual dysfunction in women.
Study of the Mechanisms of Action of Cladribine in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThe main objective of the project is therefore to study and thus better understand the immunomodulatory / anti-inflammatory effects of cladribine during multiple sclerosis. Most current and developing therapies targeting the immune system have no effect on the progressive phase of MS, during which neurodegeneration plays a predominant role. As mentioned above, the very promising results of clinical trials with cladribine tablets for the early and progressive phase of the disease have revealed immunomodulatory properties and suggested potential neuroprotective effects. It therefore plans to further dissect one of these two parameters by designing in vitro studies with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and MS patients.
Neurophysiological Assessment in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisDemyelinating Disease1 moreMain aim of this study will be the evaluation of the neurophysiological techniques of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) via electroencephalography (EEG) co-registration (TMS-EEG) with the study of TEPs (TEP: transcranial evoked potentials) as surrogates of white matter and grey matter functional integrity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Data will be compared with those obtained from a group of healthy control subjects. Secondary aim will be the longitudinal evaluation of these neurophysiological parameters in MS patients during routine clinical and radiological evaluations, performed according to clinical practice, for 12 months. To this aim a longitudinal multicenter study will be carried out, interventional (for neurophysiological techniques) and observational (for clinical and radiological evaluations), which involves the enrollment of 64 patients diagnosed with MS. Patients will keep their usual therapeutic regimen and their usual clinical-radiological checks according to clinical practice. The control group will consist of 64 healthy subjects, enrolled with prior written informed consent, age and sex-matched with MS patients and selected among the caregivers of the patients. Healthy subjects will only undergo neurophysiological assessment at baseline. The neurophysiological evaluation will include the study of the propagation of potentials induced by stimulation. This method allows the study of cortical responses in terms of time domain and frequency, obtaining a measurement of interhemispheric connectivity and of microstructural and functional integrity of white matter. In the same way, these methods allow the assessment of grey matter integrity through the study of intracortical excitability.
Effects of a Weight Based Training Program on MS Patients
Multiple SclerosisLow bone density is a health risk in older adults and especially people with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to steroid treatments and less mobility. Bone density is a measurement of how dense or strong bones are. Weight-based training may be one method in strengthening bones and providing a beneficial treatment for MS patient rehabilitation. Weight based training involves performing exercises without the use of actual weights, and instead with one's own bodyweight. This study aims to look at the effects of weight-based training on bone density, cognition (ability to learn and understand), and other quality of life issues (i.e. depression) in MS patients.
Online Spaced Education to Improve Fall Prevention by Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Education of PatientsMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive and neurodegenerative inflammatory disease that affects young adults. In many countries it has been described as the main cause of neurological incapacity in this age group. Due to the neurological impairment, patients with multiple sclerosis have a high incidence of fall. According to studies, MS patients fall three times more than general population. In the present study, the question to be answered is: education of individuals with MS on fall prevention using the method of online spaced education provides better retention of knowledge than the traditional method? This is a clinical trial to compare two methods of education of MS patients for prevention of fall. First stage: Development and validation of materials. Step two: Pilot questions with MS patients. Step three: Intervention and evaluation of outcome.
A Reeducation Program to Effort to Improve the Walking of Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the white matter of the central nervous system. In France, it concerns approximately 80 000 patients and represents one of the most frequent neurological affections in young adults. Effort deconditioning of people affected by MS is already proven, but it is not just linked to the disease itself. The decrease of capacities to produce an effort is aggravated by neurovegetative and cardiovascular disorders. The limitation or the complete stop of physical activity is often linked to the fear of a handicap aggravation. Causes of stop are multiple, including fatigue and balance disorders, even if the handicap level is low (average EDSS = 2). Walking disorders generated by MS are frequent, represent the first symptom of the disease (10 to 20 % of cases) and alter significantly the quality of life. Some reeducation programs were proposed in hospitalization with some efficiency on functional capacities. It is now admitted that physical exercise is not noxious, and allows the implementation of effort reeducation for MS. Randomized controlled studies have shown in MS patients an improvement of physical abilities, of O2max (aerobic capacity), of quality of life and a decrease of fatigue. For MS, only a few studies estimate the effect of effort reeducation on treadmill. Unfortunately, the efficiency of these programs on walking endurance are controversial. During the maximal cardiorespiratory effort test, the ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1) corresponds to a greater increasing of CO2 compared to O2. The identification of VT1 allows the precise determination of the limit from which the body is incapable of producing the necessary energy to realize an effort using the aerobic metabolism. The VT1 is situated at a level of load with enough intensity for the subject to support the test without dyspnea. A VT1 lower than 40 % of the theoretical VO2 max is considered as a marker of maladjustment to effort due to dyspnea and excessive muscular fatigue. This indication is very informative about the quality of life of patients. The goal of this study is to apply a personalized reeducation concerning the working load pre-hyperventilation to deconditioned subjects, easily worried by effort induced breathlessness and fatigue in order to get the optimization of the aerobic function. The hypothesis is that reeducation at this level improves the distance of walking and the quality of life of patients affected by MS.
Development and Evaluation of a Cognitive Rehabilitation Program for Persons With Multiple Sclerosis...
Multiple SclerosisCognitive ImpairmentMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disease that affects over 2.5 million people worldwide. Up to 50% of persons with MS (PwMS) will experience some form of cognitive impairment as a result of the disease including disturbances in memory, attention, concentration, information processing, and executive functions such as problem solving, and self-monitoring. MS-related cognitive impairments negatively affect many aspects of functioning and independent participation in everyday life. Thus, PwMS who experience cognitive impairments face a wide array of recurring barriers that pose grave challenges to carrying out everyday activities while trying to maintain multiple life roles and as they age. Management of cognitive symptoms can be addressed through rehabilitation which has the potential to reduce disability, prevent complications of the disease, and enhance participation, independence, and quality of life. Considering the high frequency of cognitive impairments in MS and their significant, complex impact on functioning and independence, it is critical that cognitive interventions be an essential component of MS rehabilitation. The overarching goal of this study is to develop and test a self-management, group-based cognitive rehabilitation program designed specifically for PwMS.
Exercise Intensity and Immune Function in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThis study aims to determine the effect of exercise intensity within a 15 week programme in moderately disabled people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although earlier research has shown that exercise is safe and may improve health related factors such as mobility and fatigue, the intensity at which exercise offers the most benefit has not yet been defined. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups - high intensity, moderate intensity or usual care. Participants in the exercising groups (high and moderate intensity) will take part in a supervised 15 week cycling exercise programme based in the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre. Those assigned to the usual care (control) group will continue to receive their usual medical care and will not participate in the exercise programme. The acute immune response to exercise will also be measured. Participants from all three groups will be monitored regularly. Clinical outcomes of the study include immunological markers, exercise capacity, mobility, fatigue, quality of life and cognitive ability. These will be measured by a combination of blood tests, physical assessments and questionnaires. It is hypothesised that high intensity exercise will cause a favourable, anti-inflammatory response which will be associated with greater improvements in physical and psychological outcomes than both moderate intensity exercise and usual care.
Endpoint Calibration for a Phase 2 Study of Lisinopril in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisRelapsing-RemittingThis study aims to calibrate the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) for home implementation in a phase 2 trial of lisinopril in multiple sclerosis. In this initial stage, participants are required to travel to the study site one day a week for three weeks to complete the MSFC. They are also required to complete the MSFC at home once weekly for three weeks using remote sensing technology and video conferencing.
Testing Mitochondria Activity and Blood Lipid Content of Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Multiple SclerosisBackground: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and multifactorial neurological disease characterized by infiltration of immune cells and progressive damage to myelin and axons. Remyelination, the generation of new myelin in the adult nervous system, is an endogenous repair mechanism that restores function of axons. Neurons require considerable energy for their activities, including synaptic neurotransmission, and hence have significant numbers of mitochondria. Unlike other cell types that are able to utilize glycolysis as an alternative energy source, glycolysis in fully differentiated neurons is basically suppressed to maintain their antioxidant status. This property makes neurons highly vulnerable to ATP deficiency, and may be a factor in the susceptibility of neurons to cell death. Mitochondria provide cellular energy by converting oxygen and nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP); and reflect local metabolic needs and via oxidative phosphorylation. Nervous tissues contain about 70% lipids of their dry weight, and around 40% of these lipids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Goal: Understanding the relationship between blood composition, mitochondria role and clinical status. Here, we will examine expression levels of different fatty acids in the blood and monitor mitochondrial transmembrane potential as marker for the mitochondria general function. Hypothesis: Remyelination efficiency in MS is likely mediated by many factors, besides reducing inflammation. Remyelination may not be achieved correctly /sufficient in MS patients due to nutrition low content causing mitochondrial dysfunction and/or due to fatty acid molecules deficit unable to create a new myelin layer.