Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system which leads to myelin destruction. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of aerobic training on functional capacity and percent body fat in women with moderate multiple sclerosis.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 15 women with multiple sclerosis (aged 33.68±8.22 years) with EDSS<4 were randomly divided into experimental (n=8) and control (n=7) groups. An aerobic program prolonged for 8 weeks, 3 days/week, 20-40 minutes/day, with 60-80% of HRmax was run in the experimental group. Some functional capacities, such as speed running, walking endurance, balance, and VO2 Max, as well as BF% were measured before and after the training program in both groups.

Results: The results showed that aerobic training led to significant increases in walking endurance, walking speed, balance, and VO2max (p<0.001). These indices, however, decreased significantly in the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, after the training program, percent body fat decreased significantly in the experimental group (p=0.005), but it increased significantly in control group (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study, it can be stated that aerobic training can improve functional capacity and decrease percent body fat in multiple sclerosis patients

Background: Several clinical studies suggest that melatonin is a neuroprotective molecule in neurodegenerative disorders and it showed to be reduced in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. MS also results in blurred vision, papillitis and diplopia. The main objective of the study was to asses the influence of Melatonin supplimentation on visual characteristics in patients with MS.

Materials and Methods: In a Quasi Experimental plan, approved by AUMS ethical Committee, 34 (9 males and 25 females) patients with stable MS were asked to voluntearly participate in the study. All subjects (Mean EDSS 3.14) were taking their routine medications. Visual funtions were evaluated by Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFO-25) and standard Pattern Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials (PR-VEP) records. Serum Melatonin levels were also measured using an ELISA assay. Recordings were performed after a single dose and after taking 1 tablet every night for 14 days, at the day 16th.

Results: In all subjects, Serum Melatonin levels were significantly enhanced. VFQ scores also showed significat improvement. Except the change in N75 latencies of left eyes, VEP latencies of P100, N145 of both eyes and N75 of right eyes were significantly (p<0.05) reduced.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest significat improvements of visual symptoms of MS after daily intake of 3 mg Melatonin. The results calls for further studies and clinical trails before asking all MS patients to take Melatonin suppliment every night.

Background: Sudden visual loss is one of the emergent problems that it may be a sign of a life-threatening disease. It should be quickly evaluated and identified the treatable causes.

Case report: A young man without any history of certain disease was referred to the emergency department with complaints of sudden blindness. He was presented with fever, coriza symptoms and progressive blurring of vision that ultimately led to his visual loss. After carefully evaluation, finally suspected diagnosis of acute fulminant multiple sclerosis was made.

Discussion: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with acute attacks of neurological dysfunction. Some of these attacks are an emergent situation and need to early detection and treatment. There is a variant of Multiple sclerosis that called Acute Fulminant Multiple sclerosis which can cause sudden visual loss.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder with unknown etiology. Genetic and environmental factors associated with MS susceptibility. Genetic studies show an important role for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as MS. There is controversy between the association of HLA alleles with MS susceptibility in various studies. However, with consider the high incidence of MS in Iranian population and limit information about association of HLA and MS, we analyzed HLA alleles in MS patients.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 60 MS patients and 40 normal individuals with the same ethic background and geographic area were analyzed for HLA-DRB and DQB alleles by single specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method.

Results: HLA-DRB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles frequencies in MS patients were greater than healthy controls. There was no significant difference in frequency of other HLA-DR alleles between the MS patients and normal individuals.

Conclusion: DRB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles confer increased susceptibility to MS in this population. However, to determine the role of HLA in Iranian MS patients, more studies are needed.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive  disease  of the central nervous system with signs and symptoms such as fatigue and balance that are disable. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of training which instructions focus of attention on postural sway of multiple sclerosis patients.

Materials and Methods: The present quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest design. The subjects with the age of 27-42, expanded disability status scale 1-4 and were purposefully and voluntarily selected and randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Training program for groups was carried out in 3 weeks, five sessions per week, and each session lasted about one hour. Berg Balance Scale was used to measure balance. The data was analyzed by using analysis of independent and dependent sample t-test at a significance level of p≤0.05.

Results: The results showed that significant improvements observed in balance (p≤0.05). Also significant differences observed between  post hoc scores in the experimental and control groups (p≥0.05).

Conclusion: According to research findings, the exercise walking program on textured surface resulted in considerable improvements in balance in multiple sclerosis. Also, the respective specialists can use these exercies as a complementary treatment along with the drug therapy for patiens with multiple sclerosis.

Background: studies in adults have shown that external focus of attention is better than internal focus in motor learning. So, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of focus of attention- self talk on balance of women with multiple sclerosis.

Materials and Methods: In this semi- experimental study, statistical population included women with MS referred to MS Society of Arak. Whereas balance disorder in patients was diagnosed by neurologyist, they were invited to the study. Patients were accidentally divided into 3 groups each of 15 concluding control, self tak-external focus of attention and self talk- internal focus of attention groups and were evaluated by Berg balance scale. 42 samples completed executive steps of study. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to compare balance score between groups with significant level of less than 0.05. All patients practiced balance tasks for 9 days and then they were undergone post test.

Results: Balance was improved in all groups. Although the external- self talk group was better than the two other groups, there was no significant difference between external and internal- self talk groups.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the effect of practice on improvement of balance skill and superiority of the experimental groups in comparison with control group. Probably, focus of attention with self talk has effect on balance of women with MS.

Abstract

Background: Self-talk is a psychological intervention that can affect the performance of an individulal, so the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balance-training with educational and motivational self-talk on balance in women with MS in the city of Arak.

Materials and Methods: This study was a semi-experimental research with pre-test and post-test. The statistical population included women with MS in the city of Arak. 42 patients with the age range of 20-50 years old were chosen as samples and randomly were divided in 3 groups of individuls as control, educational self-talk and motivation self-talk and were experimented by Berg balance test.The experimental groups practiced the balance excercises for a month , 3 times a week and 45 minutes in each session. Then, post-test was performed for them. For data collecting, the demographic questionnaire, Berg balance test, one leg balance test and star test were used. Data analysis was done by using ANOVA and Tokey post-test by SPSS23 software at a significant level less than 0.05.

Results: The results of this study showed that the mean score of balance in educational self- talk group than motivational self-talk group (p = 0.045) a control group (p = 0.008) was significantly higher. Thus, the mean score balance performance test, motivational self-talk and control groups showed no significant difference (p = 0.689)

Conclusion: According the findings of this study, balance training with educational self-talk affects on balance in women with MS. Thus, balance training with educational self-talk can be a good approach to improve the balance in the women with MS. oxidative stress and DNA damage considerably. Thus, it is advisable for operating room personnel to consume green tea as a natural antioxidant supplement.

Abstract

Background: The multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Since the level of sex hormone and multiple sclerosis (MS) disease affects one another, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the hydroalcoholic extract of truffle on the hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone administered in experimental model of MS-induced rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 42 Wistar female rats, weighing 180±10 grams selected into 6 groups each consisting of 7 rats. Normal control didn’t receive any treatment and experimental group was given Cuprizone toxin (as a MS model inducer) for 40 days. The experimental groups (2, 3, 4 and 5) in addition to Cuprizone received the normal saline, 110, 220 and 330 mg/kg/0.2ml (i.p.) of Hydroalcoholic extract of truffle for 12 days too. Blood samples were taken at the end of the twelfth day from all groups involved and levels of sex hormones were measured.

Results: Cuprizone decreases estrogen, progesterone levels and also causes weight loss, while injection of hydroalcoholic extract of truffle increased serum levels of estrogen (in experimental group 4) and progesterone (in experimental group 4 & 5) compared to MS-induced group.

            Conclusion: Results of the study revealed that the hydroalcoholic extract of truffle (at dosages of 220 and 330 mg/kg) could increase estrogen and progesterone levels in rats experienced experimental multiple sclerosis.

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder described by central nervous system (CNS) demyelination and axonal damage. While the cause of MS is still unknown, it is extensively accepted that novel drug targets need to attention. Retromers are protein complex that have an essential role in endosomal trafficking, and retromer dysfunction has been associated to several neurological disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the expression of SNX2 gene as a part of retromer complex in MS patients with health individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 50 samples of cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Followed verifying disease, 3cc peripheral blood was given from all subjects. Total RNA was extracted and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized. The relative gene expression was determined using quantitative real-time RT PCR (qRT-PCR) and evaluated by  method.

Results: The expression of SNX2 gene was lower in MS patients compared with healthy controls and it was statistically significant (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study showed that the expression of SNX2 is lower in multiple sclerosis disorder. Considering the functional role of SNX2 as a protein involved in trafficking process, SNX2 may affect receptor function or drug targeting. Therefore, supplementary studies should be done to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of the gene in cellular trafficking.