Active clinical trials for "Sclerosis"

This is a single arm, pilot multicenter prospective study in up to 22 participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Patients screened for the study can either be scheduled for vaccine, have received a single vaccine with a scheduled second dose, or already completed full course (two dose) vaccination. Fully vaccinated participants must be able to complete immune assay No.1 ≥ 14 days after the second dose of vaccine

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), also known as extracorporeal photoimmunotherapy or photochemotherapy, is a leukapheresis-based therapy that has been in clinical use for over three decades after receiving FDA approval in 1988. Extracorporeal photopheresis was initially used for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma. Since its introduction, indications for initiating ECP were continuously extended to the treatment of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD), systemic sclerosis, and in the field of solid organ transplantation. There is also evidence supporting the use of ECP in generalized morphea, a form of scleroderma limited to the skin, and in eosinophilic fasciitis, which is a rare, localized fibrosing disorder of the fascia. Concluding the results of the published studies, there is evidence that ECP has a positive effect on fibrosing disorders of the skin. Furthermore, in clinical practice, it has been observed that patients with systemic sclerosis, who undergo ECP treatment, show improvement of the skin lesions or a deceleration in the formation progress of such lesions during the therapy. Same findings can be observed in patients with sclerotic skin lesions of the skin, for example in the context of a GvHD. There are no clinical studies so far that describe these processes using objective measuring methods. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of ECP in systemic sclerosis and other fibrosing disorders with skin manifestations, has not yet been conclusively clarified. Serological markers for monitoring the progress of the therapy and determining the prognosis are also missing. Thus, a consensus regarding the frequency and duration of ECP for the therapy of systemic scleroderma or sclerotic diseases has not yet been reached. This study aims at evaluating the influence of Extracorporeal Photopheresis on the quality and functionality of sclerotic skin lesions assessed by several objective methods. Furthermore, potential biomarkers, which are being investigated in current studies, are to be determined in order to evaluate the influence of ECP on those biomarkers and better understand the mechanism of action of ECP on systemic sclerosis and fibrosing disorders involving the skin.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) characterized by demyelination and axonal degeneration is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown that dysregulated miRNAs alter immune responses, so they may have roles basis on various genetic diseases such as MS and may be potential targets for biomarkers and new therapeutic approaches. In this study, we evaluated the dysregulation of miRNA expression levels at MS and MS stages. We also discussed the potential of these miRNAs to be biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in MS.

This study examines the feasibility and preliminary effects of user-centered exergames (video game-based physical exercise) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The user-centered exergames were developed within a interdisciplinary team to meet the requirements of the end-users. The individualized exergames were designed for the Dividat Senso, a pressure sensitive plate connected to a personal computer and a frontal screen. This concurrent motor-cognitive training aims to improve motor and cognitive functions in an ecological valid setting. The cognitive functions are triggered by specific stimuli in the game scenarios. The video games are controlled via specific (whole body) movements as steps, weight shifting, jumps, and arm movements. The training focus is mainly on balance and coordination as well as executive functions and attention. Furthermore, the meaningful games (colorful and appealing visuals) were designed to motivate the players to move. Participants are allocated to the either the intervention group or the control group (quasi-randomization). Participants in the intervention group perform 16 training session over a period of 4 to 8 weeks (depending on in- or out-patient). One training session lasts between 15-25 minutes. Since the difficulty of the games is adaptive to the ability level of each participant, they should neither be over- nor under-challenged. Participates in the control group continue their normal daily routine over 8 weeks. Measurements are performed before, in-between, and after the intervention period to assess feasibility parameters as well as motor and cognitive functions in all participants.

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between pain, anxiety and fatigue and knee position sense, balance and dual task performance during menstrual cycle in females with Multiple Sclerosis (FwMS). In the neurologic group, especially in MS patients, it is well known that disease activity, course, and symptoms can be influenced by the menstrual cycle. Previous studies have reported that the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle may have an effect on several neurological functions. Menstrual-related symptomatology has primarily been studied as a physiological phenomenon. Increased neurological symptoms, physical disorders and behavioral changes have been reported just before or at the beginning of menstruation in FwMS. For all these reasons,investigators think that relationship between pain, anxiety and fatigue and knee position sense, balance and dual task performance during menstrual cycle in FwMS.

Systemic sclerosis [SSc]; is a multisystem disease characterized by immune activation, microvascular disease and fibroblast dysfunction, which is thought to occur as a result of complex and not fully understood interaction between genetic and environmental factors, leading to fibrotic changes in the skin and some internal organs. It is characterized by the deposition of collagen and other matrix components in the skin and some internal organs. It has been shown by evaluating the health assessment questionnaire that it causes disability with increasing frequency over time. Although pain cannot be localized too well to be attributed to a particular anatomical area, there are several musculoskeletal pain syndromes that can be detected in patients with systemic sclerosis. These are tendonitis, polyarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and fibromyalgia. While there are several studies on others, the relationship between fibromyalgia syndrome and SSc is not known clearly. As with other connective tissue diseases, fibromyalgia is not considered to be rare in SSc.

It is known that respiratory functions, physical activities and functional capacities of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients decrease with the progression of the disease. However, there is not enough information about the severity of the effects of these parameters in mild Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Our aim in this study is to compare the respiratory functions, physical activities and functional capacities of mild RRMS patients with healthy controls and to examine the relationship between them.

This study was a retrospective, non-interventional, cross-sectional, multi-cohort study of patients clinically diagnosed with RMS (RRMS and SPMS). Patients were classified according to the immediate previous treatment in two groups, those who were prescribed with high efficacy treatments (HETs) and those who were prescribed with non-high efficacy treatments (non-HETs). HET include alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, ocrelizumab, natalizumab, cladribine, fingolimod and ozanimod; and non-HETs include molecules classified as with moderate or modest efficacy such as: interferons, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide.

Little is known about the potential effects of exercise on the underlying disease mechanisms in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although contactin-1 and contactin-2 are known as two proteins involved in axonal regeneration, it is unclear whether these proteins are induced by exercise in persons with MS (PwMS). The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of contactin-1 and contactin-2 in PwMS and to investigate the change of these markers with exercise. Although contactin-1 and contactin-2 are known as two proteins involved in axonal regeneration, the mechanism of action of these proteins in MS patients has not been fully elucidated in the literature. The investigators' aim was to determine the serum levels of contactin-1 and contactin-2 in a group of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and to evaluate the change of these markers with exercise. Thus, the investigators think that a valuable contribution will be made to the literature to shed light on the role of biomarkers in the mechanism mediating the beneficial effects of exercise in MS. In addition, as far as the investigators know, this study is the first to investigate the effect of exercise on contactin-1 and contactin-2 serum levels in MS patients.

Serum neurofilament-light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) measured by single molecule array (SIMOA) are novel biomarkers of multiple sclerosis patients (MS) activity and progression. Its use is limited due to low availability and high costs. ELLA is a cheaper platform with increasing availability. Recently, we compared SIMOA and ELLA platforms to assess serum NfL levels in 203 MS patients from the OFSEP-HD study. There was a strong correlation (Spearman r = 0.86, p < 0.0001) between both platforms. As for SIMOA, serum NfL levels measured by ELLA were correlated with age and EDSS and were significantly higher in active MS, suggesting that these assays are equivalent and can be used in any center for routine care. However, the accuracy of local measures acquired with ELLA has not been determined. The aim os this study is to assess the concordance of multi-site ELLA instruments, accuracy of GFAP measures as compared to SIMOA, and the predictive value of NfL and GFAP measured by ELLA in MS.