The effect of novel simple saffron syrup on fatigue reduction in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive and often debilitating neurological disorder. This chronic disease has a high prevalence in the world and also in Iran. Fatigue is a common symptom of the disease, which causes serious mental and psychological discomfort. Simple saffron syrup, contains some compounds that can be effective in relieving the symptom. The object of this study is to investigate the effect of simple saffron syrup on fatigue in patients with MS. Methods This study is a pre-post study which evaluates the fatigue rate of MS patients (30 participants) according to the FSS scale. The participants were given a saffron simple syrup to consume a tablespoon (7.5 cc) every 8 h for two months. After 60 days of prescribing, patients are assessed for fatigue based on fatigue severity scale (FSS) criteria. Results One-way ANOVA showed that there was a notable difference between the mean score of fatigue in MS patients before and after the intervention (p<0.001). So, the fatigue severity of the subjects after saffron syrup consumption dropped dramatically for two months. (p<00.01). Conclusions According to the outcomes of this study, simple saffron syrup can be effective as an adjunct therapy for fatigue reduction in patients with MS due to effectiveness besides no significant side effects.

Effects of interferon and glatiramer acetate on cytokine patterns in multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable autoimmune disease, which causes neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Since the main cause of MS remains obscure, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the serum levels of some cytokines, including interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-8, IL-9, IL-17A, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in relapsing-remitting (RR)-MS patients, treated with IFN-ß and glatiramer acetate (GA). Serum samples of RR-MS patients, treated with high-dose IFN-ß1a, low-dose IFN-ß1a, IFN-ß1b, and GA, were assessed by ELISA assay and then compared with the results of treatment-naive patients and healthy controls. The findings showed that the serum levels of IL-8, IL-9, and IFN-γ in treatment-naive patients were significantly higher than the healthy controls, while there was no significant difference in terms of other cytokines between the groups. A significant reduction was observed in the levels of IL-9 and IFN-γ, while there was a significant increase in TGF-ß level among patients treated with GA. IFN-ß1b resulted in a significant decline in the levels of IL-9 and TGF-ß. In addition to these findings, some cytokines were positively correlated in different groups. Overall, the present results support the inflammatory and aggravating effects of IL-8, IL-9, and IFN-γ on MS. Furthermore, based on the results reported in the GA treatment group, we suggest GA as an effective treatment for RR-MS patients.

Characterization of Regulatory T-Cells in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Interferon Beta-1a.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory T-Cells (Treg Cells), as one of the immune system components, have been highly effective in the autoimmune diseases prevention, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Cytokine-based therapies such as interferon beta-1a (IFN-ß1a) is a common drug in MS treatment; however, its exact mechanisms are insufficiently described. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the in vivo impact of IFN-ß1a on the Treg Cells in MS. METHODS: In this case-control study, Treg Cells were analysed by flowcytometry in IFN-ß1a-treated relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in comparison with new cases of MS and healthy subjects. RESULTS: The frequency of Treg Cells in the IFN-ß1a treated-RRMS was increased compared to the new MS cases (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the MFIs of the CD4 and CD25 in T-Cells were significantly reduced in new cases of MS and IFN-ß1a-treated RRMS than the control subjects (P < 0.05). Additionally, the FoxP3 MFIs in CD4 + CD25 + T-Cells of IFN-ß1a-treated RRMS were significantly lower than the new cases of MS. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present study indicated that IFN-ß1a as an immunomodulatory drug led to an enhancement in Treg Cells population without CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 molecules upregulation in Treg Cells.

Interferon ß-1a and Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-ß in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group (n=45) received 30 µg/week interferon ß-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group (n=50) received interferon ß-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-ß and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-α and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. CONCLUSION: Although combined atorvastatin and interferon-ß do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses.

Prognostic factors in acute stroke, regarding to stroke severity by Canadian Neurological Stroke Scale: A hospital-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is an acute vascular disease and the second leading cause of death in the world. We have assessed the patients on hospital admission with some other prognostic factors besides the preliminary neurological examinations in order to estimate their clinical status in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was performed on the patients admitted to Valiasr Hospital of Arak within 72 h of stroke onset from April to October 2011. Diagnosis of stroke in the suspected patients was done by a neurologist and verified by the findings of the computed tomography scans. For each patient, a specific questionnaire, which described its stroke severity according to canadian neurological scale of stroke (CNSS), was prepared in order to define the severity of the stroke. Systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure of the patients was measured at the admission and their level of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride was also determined. RESULTS: Out of 62 patients under study (mean age, 66.14 ± 10.9 years), 36 (58.1%) were males and 26 (41.9%) were females. Overall, 66.1% of the patients were diagnosed with the ischemic stroke, while 33.9% were diagnosed with the hemorrhagic stroke. Regression analysis showed that cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure were the most important prognostic factors of the severity of stroke (CNSS). CONCLUSION: Diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol level have the potential to be used for assessing the stroke outcome as well as to improve the stroke rehabilitation.

High copper and low zinc serum levels in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the serum of Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: The serum levels of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured in sixty Iranian patients with MS and compared with sixty age-, gender- and socioeconomic status-matched healthy subjects without any neurological disorders as controls from the same geographical area. RESULTS: Significantly lower serum Zn and higher serum Cu levels were found in the MS patients compared with the controls (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively). The serum Zn level of the secondary-progressive MS patients was significantly lower compared with the relapsing-remitting MS patients (p = 0.009). There was no significant difference between the serum Cu levels of the two subgroup of MS patients (p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest significant deviations of the Iranian MS patients' serum Zn and Cu levels from the norm.

Evaluation of viral antibodies in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the viral antibodies in new Iranian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, sera from 61 MS patients and 60 healthy individuals were collected from January 2009 to March 2010 in the Immunology Department of Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran, and examined for the presence of the anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), measles, mumps, and para-influenza viruses IgG and IgM using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the MS patients and the healthy individuals (controls) in the seroprevalence of anti-HHV-6 IgM (odds ratio [OR]=4.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2-9.3, p=0.001); anti-HHV-6 IgG (OR=2, 95% CI=1-4, p=0.04); anti-measles IgM (OR=3.2, 95% CI=1.5-6.9, p=0.002); and the anti-mumps IgM (OR=4.1, 95% CI=1.9-8.8, p=0.0001) and IgG (OR=9.5, 95% CI=3-29.6, p=0.0001). Almost all MS patients and the control individuals were negative to EBV and parainfluenza IgM. CONCLUSION: These results confirm an association between the incidence of MS and the antibodies to HHV-6 and the measles and mumps viruses, and show induction of a primary immune response (IgM), or virus reactivation, in MS patients. These viruses may have an important role in development of MS as an initial trigger in this geographical area.

Therapeutic effect of vitamin D3 in multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease in which the myelin sheaths around the axons of the central nervous system are damaged. The damage leads to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. The epidemiological data suggest a possible influence of vitamin D as an immunomodulatory agent on multiple sclerosis susceptibility as well as on clinical course of the disease. We investigated the effects of short-term vitamin D3 therapy on Iranian patients with MS. In a prospective randomized controlled trial study, 62 MS patients received 300,000 IU/month vitamin D3 or placebo as intramuscular injection for 6 months. Our results showed no significant difference between the treatment and the control groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 6-month treatment period. After 6 months, the levels of cell proliferation in the vitamin D treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. Also, the levels of transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-10 in the vitamin D treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. This result suggests that vitamin D therapy may help prevent the development of MS and could be a useful addition to the therapy.