
The Wearing-off Phenomenon of Ocrelizumab in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThe primary goal of this research is to study the prevalence of the wearing-off effect and possible risk factors for wearing-off symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis using ocrelizumab with the use of questionnaires. Furthermore, the goal is to study whether patients receiving extended dosing of ocrelizumab experience more wearing-off symptoms or adverse events in general. Finally, we would like to extend knowledge on wearing-off symptoms in general.

The Gut Microbiome in Adult Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThis study aims to assess the following research questions: Map and benchmark the gut microbiome of patients with RRMS, and PPMS versus matched healthy controls Determine whether RRMS or PPMS have a unique bias for a gut microbiome classification recently characterized. Search for relationship with inflammation, amino acid plasma levels, heart rate variability (vagus nerve tone) and hair cortisol as a biological marker of chronic stress Determine whether the gut microbiome is different in MS patients during a relapse. Determine whether the gut microbiome remains stable after 3 months

Humoral and T-Cell Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated With...
Multiple SclerosisDemyelinating Autoimmune Diseases7 moreThe primary goal of this study is to provide additional data regarding B and T-cell mediated responses to COVID-19 vaccines in MS patients treated with OCR and to determine which clinical and paraclinical variables correlating with vaccine immunogenicity. B-cell mediated humoral responses and adaptive T-cell mediated cellular responses were measured in patients treated with OCR who received any of the available SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, 3-4 weeks after completion of vaccination.

Creating Satisfying Engagement in Daily Life Through Coaching for People With Multiple Sclerosis...
Multiple SclerosisQuality of LifeMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease that negatively impacts a person's ability to participate in a wide range of important and meaningful activities1-4. MS rehabilitation interventions often focus on reducing symptoms, with the assumption that fewer symptoms will lead to improved participation in daily activities5-8. Yet, literature shows that engagement in necessary and desired activities requires more than symptom reduction - it requires people with chronic diseases like MS to apply their knowledge and skills to a complex self-management process9-11 that balances personal values, and activity and environmental demands. Core self-management skills include self-monitoring, problem-solving, decision-making, goal setting, action planning, and the ability to adjust plans when necessary12. Looking beyond MS, coaching interventions have enabled people with stroke13-16, traumatic brain injury17, and Parkinson's disease18, 19 to develop self-management skills and achieve personally meaningful activity goals. Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is a well-developed form of coaching that builds competence in core self-management skills and improves participation in daily activities20, 21. The investigator's preliminary work indicates that OPC is an acceptable and feasible intervention for people with MS22. The investigators now must determine if OPC reduces the impact of MS on participation in daily activities and increases the satisfaction of people with MS in performance of personally important daily activities. Therefore, the investigators will conduct a waitlist-control randomized clinical trial (RCT) with 30 adults with MS to determine if receipt of six OPC sessions improves participants' satisfaction with performance in daily activities (primary outcome). The investigators will also examine whether OPC reduces illness intrusiveness (MS impact), improves resilience, and improves autonomy and participation (secondary outcomes).

Examining the Impact of an Online, Non-restrictive Diet Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThe current study aims to test an online, non-restrictive diet among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Diet is the number one searched second-line therapy among persons with MS, however there are currently no established dietary approaches to improve health and wellbeing among persons with MS. Participants will complete the 8-week diet program using an online application. The primary research question is whether the diet program is acceptable and can improve general health indicators including cholesterol, glucose, body weight, body fat as well as MS symptoms (i.e., walking, cognition, fatigue, and quality of life).

Depicting Neurogenic Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Patients; Clinical and Endoscopic Studies
Multiple SclerosisThe purpose of this study is to evaluate neurogenic dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis patients using dysphagia questionnaires and endoscopic study; and to correlate that to MS types, severity, duration, and imaging modalities

Monitoring of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Participants With the Use of Digital Technology (Smartphones...
Multiple SclerosisThis prospective pilot study will assess the feasibility of remote participant monitoring using digital technology in participants with MS and healthy controls. At the enrollment visit, the participants as well as the healthy controls will be provided with a remote patient monitoring solution which includes preconfigured smartphone and smartwatch. The configured smartphone and smartwatch pair will contain application software that prompts the user to perform various assessments, referred to as active tests and passive monitoring. Active tests will include Hand Motor Function Test (HMFT), gait test, static balance test, electronic version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (eSDMT), Mood Scale Question (MSQ), MS Impact Scale (29-item scale) (MSIS-29) questionnaire, MS Symptom Tracking (MSST). Passive monitoring will be done to collect metrics on gait and mobility throughout the daily life of participants in a continuous and unobtrusive manner.

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Transitioning Patients From Natalizumab to Ocrelizumab
Relapsing Remitting Multiple SclerosisThe primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of Ocrelizumab (OCR) in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis patients who have been previously treated with natalizumab (NTZ) by evaluating relapse rate, progression on MRI and disability progression.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Disease Progression
Clinically Isolated SyndromeRelapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis2 moreWhile the last several years have seen great strides in the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, progressive MS, responsible for the majority of MS-related disability, lags far behind. Despite much research, the lack of understanding related to what causes patients' relentless decline in function results in an inability to develop targeted treatment strategies suitable for clinical trials. This grant has two main goals. The first goal is to extend the investigators preliminary study on rat neurons treated with the CSF of MS patients to a larger number of Progressive patients in order to validate the initial findings and extend the study to include analysis of human neurons. The initiating PI (Dr. Casaccia) and the Partnering PI and Clinical Neurologist (Dr. Katz Sand) have recently identified components that are present in the CSF of progressive patients that impair the ability of rat neurons to produce energy. The partnering PI, Dr. Quinzii (Columbia University) together with collaborator Dr. Fossati (NY Stem Cells Foundation), have characterized human neurons generated from stem cells derived from skin biopsies of progressive patients and detected the presence of energetic deficits. The experimental plan will build on these results and test hypotheses of disease progression. The overall goal is to improve understanding on how to stop neurons from degenerating and stop clinical progression. The second goal is to ask whether it is possible to define a progressive disease course on the basis of combined biochemical, functional and imaging measurements. The initiating PI will be responsible for the biochemical assessment of CSF and serum samples and, together with partnering PI Quinzii, will also provide functional bioassays measurements of mitochondrial bioenergetics impairment in patients. These data will be combined with clinical assessment and MRI evaluations conducted by the partnering PI Katz Sand and collaborator Inglese. A two year clinical and imaging follow up from the initial recruitment will allow to define whether the combined measurements can be used by clinical neurologists to define the disease course and better identify therapeutic options for patients. The expectation is that the completion of the stated aims of research will allow an advancement of the current knowledge of the progressive form of MS and lead to potential new therapeutic targets.

Study to Assess Effect and Safety of High Dose of Biotin (Qizenday®) in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis...
Progressive Multiple SclerosisThe purpose of this observational study is to collect efficacy and safety data in real life condition within the first year of treatment in patients with progressive multiple receiving a daily dose of biotine of 300 mg.