Sclerosis MDPI

30/09/2025

📖 New Study: "Biomarker Identification in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation"

🌟 This study identifies miR-146a as a potential biomarker to predict response to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Among six biomarkers analyzed, higher pre-transplant levels of miR-146a were associated with non-response at 12 months, suggesting its value in refining patient selection for aHSCT.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wWd9H

Introduction: Approximately 80% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a positive response to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). Markers that may predict the transplant outcome are necessary. The objective of this work is to identify markers that may refine the sel...

24/09/2025

🧠🚶‍♂️ New Research Highlights Augmented Reality's Role in Gait Assessment for MS Patients

A recent study published in Sclerosis explores how augmented reality combined with a self-paced treadmill can help quantify footfall placement variability and attention in middle-aged to older-aged adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).

📊 Key findings include:

Adults with MS and healthy older adults (HOAs) showed increased footfall placement bias and variability under dual-task conditions, compared to healthy young adults.

MS participants exhibited greater prefrontal cortex activation during obstacle walking, suggesting elevated attentional demands.

These findings suggest that AR-based dual-task walking assessments could serve as a sensitive tool to detect early gait impairments and fall risk in MS populations.

🔗 Read the full study: https://brnw.ch/21wW2Ee

18/09/2025

📖 New Paper: "The Impact of α-Lipoic Acid Treatment on Multiple Sclerosis Disability"

🌟 This systematic review and meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials involving 179 MS patients found that oral α-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation (600 mg twice daily) significantly reduced disability progression as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). These findings support ALA’s potential as an adjunct therapy to mitigate oxidative stress-related damage in MS, although further long-term studies are needed.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVS43

16/09/2025

📖 New Review: "From Gene to Clinic: The Role of APOL1 in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis"

🌟 This review explores the genetic and molecular basis of APOL1-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a kidney disease prevalent especially in people of African descent. It highlights mechanisms like podocyte dysfunction and inflammation, and discusses emerging therapies including small-molecule inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides targeting APOL1-related pathways.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVNaY

10/09/2025

📖 New Review: "B-Cell-Depleting Immune Therapies as Potential New Treatment Options for Systemic Sclerosis"

🌟 This review highlights the emerging role of B-cell depletion therapies in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Given B cells’ involvement in autoantibody production, cytokine release, and fibroblast activation driving fibrosis and inflammation, targeting B cells offers promising potential to modify disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVCJJ

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vasculopathy, and immune system dysregulation. The treatment of SSc has historically focused on symptom management and slowing down dis...

04/09/2025

📖 New Study: "Uncovering Subclinical Cardiac Involvement in VEDOSS: An Echocardiographic Driven Study"

🌟 This study investigates early cardiac dysfunction in patients meeting Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS) criteria. Findings reveal subclinical myocardial changes detectable by echocardiography—even without symptoms—and identify DLCO% as a key predictor of left ventricular diastolic impairment. These insights emphasize the importance of vigilant cardiac monitoring in VEDOSS patients to prevent progression.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVshY

02/09/2025

📖 New Review: "Microbial Influences on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Gut–Brain Axis and Therapeutic Potential of Microbiota Modulation"

🌟 This review examines the emerging role of gut microbiota in ALS progression, highlighting how microbial imbalances (dysbiosis) may contribute to neuroinflammation and motor neuron degeneration. It discusses key microbial metabolites and explores promising therapies like probiotics, prebiotics, and f***l microbiota transplantation (FMT). While preliminary, these microbiota-targeted interventions offer potential for slowing ALS progression pending further research.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVo3Q

28/08/2025

📖 New Paper: "Environmental Factors Associated with Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: A Synthesis of Epidemiological Evidence"

🌟 This review highlights that substance use—including smoking, alcohol, and drugs—is a significant modifiable risk factor for late-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS, onset ≥50 years). While diet quality showed no clear impact on LOMS risk, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) were found to reduce disability progression and mortality in older MS patients. These findings underscore the importance of targeted prevention and treatment strategies for LOMS.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVgb3

26/08/2025

📖 New Paper: "The Evolving Landscape of Systemic Sclerosis Pathogenesis: From Foundational Mechanisms to Organ-Specific Modifiers"

🌟 This comprehensive review integrates classic and cutting-edge insights into systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis, covering epigenetic dysregulation, chronic inflammation, vasculopathy, and fibrosis. It also highlights organ-specific factors influencing disease heterogeneity across the skin, lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. Advanced techniques like single-cell transcriptomics and spatial proteomics are transforming our understanding of SSc and paving the way for personalized therapies.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wVbYD

22/08/2025

📖 New Study: "Health Locus of Control and Its Relationship with Quality of Life and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis: Exploring the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy"

🌟 This study of 5,266 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) reveals that self-efficacy fully mediates the relationship between health locus of control (LOC) and quality of life (QoL). While internal and chance LOC influence QoL through self-efficacy, “powerful others” LOC showed no association. Findings suggest psychological interventions that boost self-efficacy could enhance QoL, especially in specific MS subtypes.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wV6OV

21/08/2025

📖 New Review: "Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis"

🌟 This review highlights the critical role of non-autoantibody biomarkers in systemic sclerosis (SSc), focusing on soluble proteins, cytokines, chemokines, epigenetic factors, and oxidative stress markers. These biomarkers reflect key pathogenic processes such as endothelial injury, fibroblast activation, and immune dysregulation. Advancing our understanding of these molecular markers can improve early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies in SSc.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wV52B

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, immune dysregulation, and progressive fibrosis affecting the skin and internal organs. Pulmonary complications, including interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), are major contr...

20/08/2025

📖 New Paper: "Acute Effects of Intermittent Walking on Gait Parameters and Fatigability in People with Mild Multiple Sclerosis"

🌟 This study examined how a 12-minute intermittent walking protocol affects gait and fatigue in people with mild multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Findings reveal that pwMS walked slower with shorter steps compared to healthy controls, and those classified as fatigable showed worsened walking speed, step length, and cadence during the test. Walking impairments were linked to perceived effort, cognitive function, and disability, emphasizing the complex relationship between fatigue and mobility in MS.

🔗 Read the full article: https://brnw.ch/21wV320