The primary chemical components of Astragalus membranaceus include polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and amino acids. Recent studies have shown that Astragalus membranaceus has multiple functions, including improving immune function and exerting antioxidative, anti-radiation, anti-tumor, antibacterial, antiviral, and hormone-like effects. Astragalus membranaceus and its extracts are widely used in clinical practice because they have obvious therapeutic effects against various autoimmune diseases and relatively less adverse reaction. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of central nervous system (CNS), which mainly caused by immune disorder that leads to inflammatory demyelination, inflammatory cell infiltration, and axonal degeneration in the CNS. In this review, the authors analyzed the clinical manifestations of MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and focused on the efficacy of Astragalus membranaceus and its chemical components in the treatment of MS/EAE.
Animals ; Humans ; Astragalus propinquus/chemistry* ; Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy* ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Polysaccharides

Multiple sclerosis(MS) shows the pathological characteristics of "inflammatory injury of white matter" and "myelin repair disability" in the central nervous system(CNS). It is very essential for MS treatment and reduction of disease burden to strengthen repair, improve function, and reduce disability. Accordingly, different from the simple immunosuppression, we believe that key to strengthening remyelination and maintaining the "damage-repair" homeostasis of tissue is to change the current one-way immunosuppression strategy and achieve the "moderate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis. Traditional Chinese medicine shows huge potential in this strategy. Through literature research, this study summarized the research on remyelination, discussed the "mode-rate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis and the "damage-repair" homeostasis based on microglia, and summed up the key links in remyelination in MS. This review is expected to lay a theoretical basis for improving the function of MS patients and guide the application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/pathology* ; Remyelination/physiology* ; Myelin Sheath/pathology* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Homeostasis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling neuroinflammatory disease. Psychiatric manifestations have a high prevalence in MS patients and may worsen the illness progression and the patients’ quality of life (QoL). Depression is a highly prevalent condition in MS patients, associated with poorer adherence to treatment, decreased functional status and QoL, and increased suicide risk. Diagnosis and treatment of this disorder is challenging because of symptom overlap. Other prevalent psychiatric comorbidities are anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, substance misuse and personality disorders. As the illness progresses, personality changes can happen, as well as affect abnormalities. Cognitive changes occur frequently in MS patients, and affect features like processing speed, attention, learning, memory, visual spatial capabilities, and some language deficits. Disease-modifying treatments may reduce cognitive impairment because of their container action on the brain’s lesion burden. Other QoL determinants such as fatigue, pain, sexual dysfunction, exercise, resilience and social support should be taken into account, in order to promote the individuals’ well-being. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and more neuroimaging studies are required to clarify the relationship between structural changes and psychiatric comorbidities.
Anxiety Disorders ; Bipolar Disorder ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neuroimaging ; Personality Disorders ; Prevalence ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quality of Life ; Suicide

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord involvement of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare in a young immunocompetent patient and can be misdiagnosed as an inflammatory demyelinating disease (IDD) of the central nervous system.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cervical Cord ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Drug Therapy ; Electrons ; Hand ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medulla Oblongata ; Methotrexate ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; Spinal Cord

Background: Disease-modifying therapy is the standard treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in remission. The primary objective of the current analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of two teriflunomide doses (7 mg and 14 mg) in the subgroup of Chinese patients with relapsing MS included in the TOWER study. Methods: TOWER was a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group (three groups), placebo-controlled study. This subgroup analysis includes 148 Chinese patients randomized to receive either teriflunomide 7 mg (n = 51), teriflunomide 14 mg (n = 43), or placebo (n = 54). Results: Of the 148 patients in the intent-to-treat population, adjusted annualized relapse rates were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44, 0.92) in the placebo group, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.70) in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.36) in the teriflunomide 14 mg group; this corresponded to a significant relative risk reduction in the teriflunomide 14 mg group versus placebo (-71.2%, P = 0.0012). Teriflunomide 14 mg also tended to reduce 12-week confirmed disability worsening by 68.1% compared with placebo (hazard ratio: 0.319, P = 0.1194). There were no differences across all treatment groups in the proportion of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; 72.2% in the placebo group, 74.5% in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 69.8% in the teriflunomide 14 mg group); corresponding proportions for serious adverse events were 11.1%, 3.9%, and 11.6%, respectively. The most frequently reported TEAEs with teriflunomide versus placebo were neutropenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, and hair thinning. Conclusions: Teriflunomide was as effective and safe in the Chinese subpopulation as it was in the overall population of patients in the TOWER trial. Teriflunomide has the potential to meet unmet medical needs for MS patients in China. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00751881; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00751881?term=NCT00751881&rank=1.
China ; Crotonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Toluidines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The number of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) available for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is increasing. Numerous drugs have been approved since 2010 in South America, which has increased the complexity of the treatment algorithm. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in multiple sclerosis treatments relative to the underlying causes and the availability of new DMDs in Argentina. METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out on a group of 59 patients diagnosed with RRMS who use more than one DMD. RESULTS: The first treatment switch occurred before 2010 in 27% of the patients and after 2010 in the other 73%. Efficacy was the main reason for switching during both periods. A second treatment switch was required in 25% of the patients, with this occurring after 2010 in 86.6% of them. Interferon was the most-used drug before 2010 and fingolimod was the most-used drug thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified that the tendency for treatment changes has increased following the arrival of new drugs. Efficacy has been the main cause of these changes.
Argentina ; Drug Therapy ; Fingolimod Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Interferons ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting ; Retrospective Studies ; South America

BACKGROUNDBoth lower urinary tract dysfunction and urinary symptoms are prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the significance of identifying and treating urinary symptoms in MS is currently well-known, there is no information about the real prevalence and therapeutic effect of urinary symptoms in patients with MS. The purpose of this study was to analyze the major symptoms and urodynamic abnormalities, and observe the therapeutic effect in different MS characteristics.

METHODSWe enrolled 126 patients with urological dysfunction who were recruited between July 2008 and January 2015 in Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University and conducted overactive bladder system score (OABSS), urodynamic investigation, and expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Changes of urinary symptoms and urodynamic parameters were investigated.

RESULTSUrgency was the predominant urinary symptom, and detrusor overactivity was the major bladder dysfunction. There was a positive correlation between EDSS and OABSS. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) had lowest EDSS and OABSS. CIS exhibited significant improvements in OABSS, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and bladder volume at the first desire to voiding and maximum bladder volume after the treatment (P < 0.05). Relapsing-remitting MS showed significant improvements in the OABSS, Qmax, and bladder volume at the first desire to voiding, maximum bladder volume and bladder compliance after the treatment (P < 0.05). Progressive MS exhibited significant increase in the bladder volume at the first desire to voiding, the detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (PdetQmax), and bladder compliance after the treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUrodynamic parameters examined are important in providing an accurate diagnosis, guiding management decisions of MS. Early and effective treatment may improve the bladder function and the quality of life at the early stages of MS.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Urinary Bladder ; physiopathology ; Urination Disorders ; physiopathology ; Urodynamics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effect of Chinese herbs used by Prof. LI Tao on peripheral blood T subsets in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) by using association rules and statistical methods, thereby providing evidence for optimizing prescriptions.

METHODSData of MS inpatients and outpatients recorded by data collecting system, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences were resorted. The relationship between Chinese herbs and T cell subsets were analyzed using SPSS17.0 and Aprior module in SPSS Clementine 12.0.

RESULTSRadix bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, Fructus Aurantii, Atractylodes, and Radix Glycyrrhizae were most commonly used herbal combinations.Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata and Rhizoma Smilacis glabrae were often added. Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata was associated with decreased Th1 cells (confidence level 83.78%, supportive level 36.26%). Decreased Th1 cell was associated with Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata (confidence level 71.26%, supportive level 36.26%).Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata was obviously associated with decreased Th1 cells. Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, bitter orange, Atractylodes , Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata could reduce peripheral blood Th1 subsets of MS patients and elevate Th2 subsets (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe herbal combination of Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, Fructus Aurantii, Atractylodes, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Smilacis glabrae, and Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata could lower peripheral blood Th1 cells and elevate Th2 cells, and prevent the relapse of MS possibly by reducing Th1 cells and elevating Th2 cells. Especially Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata played important roles in aforesaid changes of Th1 and Th2.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis ; therapy ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Smilacaceae ; chemistry ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of pediatric neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD).

METHODA retrospective analysis was performed evaluating clinical and laboratory characteristics of ten NMO and NMOSD children who were seen in our hospital from December 2010 to May 2014. Median age at onset was 8.9 years (range 0.8-13.8 years). Seven cases were female and three were male. Median disease duration was 1.5 months (range 1-18.5 months).

RESULTEight patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for NMO and two patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for NMOSD. The two NMOSD patients had recurrent longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Four cases had a monophasic disease course, and six cases had a recurrent course. In eight NMO patients, neuritis was the initial presentation. The two NMOSD patients had no neuritis in the first attack. Nine cases had clinical manifestations of myelitis, one case had asymptomatic spinal cord MRI anomaly. Among the ten patients, seven cases had brain lesions, wherein, four cases had the midbrain involvement and in four cases extensive hemispheric white matter was involved. Three cases had medullary involvement. And two cases had posterior limb of the internal capsule involvement, two cases had thalamus involvement. In one case there was pons, cerebellum or corpus callosum involvement, respectively. One case had accompanied brain symptoms. Of the five patients who had symptomatic brain lesions, four cases had encephalopathy accompanied by large hemispheric lesions on MRI, having a presentation similar to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. And one case had multiple sclerosis like brain lesion. Of the ten patients tested, nine were seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibody. One-patient was complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Oligoclonal bands were negative in all cases. All patients received treatment for acute attacks with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone and intravenous gammaglobulin. The symptoms of 8 cases mitigated. Two cases whose symptoms showed no sign of improvement received plasmapheresis for acute attacks. Seven of the patients were followed up. The median duration of follow-up was 19 months (ranged from 13 months to 30 months). The median Expanded disability status (EDSS) score was 3 (range 1-7).

CONCLUSIONPediatric NMO and(or) NMOSD have a diverse clinical presentation which are more than just optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, including brain symptom. So it may be difficult to distinguish NMO and( or) NMOSD from acute disseminating encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis in the early stages of the disease. Antibodies to aquapoin-4 (AQP-Ab) testing is very important for differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aquaporin 4 ; Autoantibodies ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Multiple Sclerosis ; etiology ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta) induces the production of binding antibodies (BAbs) and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). NAbs against IFN-beta are associated with a loss of IFN-beta bioactivity and decreased clinical efficacy of the drug. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the prevalence of binding antibodies (BAbs) and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to IFN-beta in MS patients receiving CinnoVex, Rebif, or Betaferon. The presence of BAbs was studied in serum samples from 124 MS patients using one of these IFN-beta medications by ELISA. The NAbs against IFN-beta were measured in BAb-positive MS patients receiving IFN-beta using an MxA gene expression assay (real-time RT-PCR). Of the 124 patients, 36 (29.03%) had BAbs after at least 12 months of IFN-beta treatment. The proportion of BAb+ was 38.1% for Betaferon, 21.9% for Rebif, and 26.8% for CinnoVex. Five BAb-positive MS patients were lost to follow-up; thus 31 BAb-positive MS patients were studied for NAbs. NAbs were present in 25 (80.6%) of BAb-positive MS patients receiving IFN-beta. In conclusion, the three IFN-beta preparations have different degrees of immunogenicity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies/*blood/immunology ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/*blood/immunology ; Cross Reactions ; DNA, Complementary/metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-beta/*immunology/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy/*immunology ; Myxovirus Resistance Proteins/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult