Multiple Sclerosis on Different Points of Views - Annotated Bibliography Example

Taylor, B. (2011). The major cause of multiple sclerosis is environmental: genetics as a minor role – Yes. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 17(10) 1171–1173 The author Bruce V Taylor is an associate professor at the Menzies Research Institute. The author seeks to provide evidence that supports the claim that the environment has effects on Multiple Sclerosis casualties. His target audience includes both the MS casualties as well as the medical professionals dealing with them. Such factors highlighted in this resource include latitude, sunlight, and vitamin D, EBV infection timing and adaptive immune response as well as cigarette smoking and hygiene hypothesis. According to the author, these factors have more effects compared to the genetic factors that contribute to MS. The genetic component of MS risk is around only 25%. The author dismisses massive genome-wide association studies by stating that 20-30% of perceived heritability of MS is explainable, and 70-80% is not explainable. The author also emphasizes one fact that there is no evidence to the existence of genetically MS immune population since the condition is noticeable globally. The author concludes that as much as genetic factors contribute to the development of MS, it is not evidently the major drive of MS causation among individuals. Taylor supports his claim using evidence obtained for a variety of journals such as J NeuralNeurosurgeon and Psychiatry in addition to the Journal of Epidemiology Community Health. Reder, A., Ogerb, J., Kappos, L., O’Connord, P., Ramettae, M. (2014).Short-term andlong-termsafetyand tolerabilityofinterferon β-1b inmultiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 3, 294–302 The authors, Reder, Ogerb, and,Kappos are researchers in different universities under the department of Neurology. O’Connord is based at St. Michael hospital and Ramettae is a researcher at Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Their study seeks to analyze the efficiency of interferon β-1b, which is useful for patients with MS. The authors base their research using data from Betaferons in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis, for Initial treatment (BENEFIT) and Betaferons Efficacy Yielding Outcomes of a New Dose (BEYOND) as well as the Long-Term Follow up (LTF) studies. In addition, they make use of the survival data from the 16-year LTF study. The authors claim that a comparison amongst multiple possible trials is necessary due to dynamics in the treatment of MS over the past ten years. The clinical trials of interferon β-1b-BENEFIT, BEYOND and 16-year old LTF provided critical evidence on the frequency and severity of adverse effects as reported by treating physicians. The BENEFIT trials assessed the potential effects of early vs delayed treatment within the interferon. The BEYOND study analyzed the helpfulness attributed to 2 doses of interferon β-1b 250 orglatir-amer acetate 20mg for at least 2 years. To add weight on their claims, the 16-year LTF study provided additional long-term follow up for 328 out of the 372 patients. Adverse effects were evident in all the three clinical trials, flu like symptoms were the most common adverse effects in addition to depression and other liver function abnormalities. The study concludes that interferon β-1b is one of the several treatment options for MS casualties since the adverse effects it causes is well comprehended hence can be easily managed over the long term without interruption. This study contrasts the study done by Feinstein, Rector, and Robert, which emphasizes on depression as a common effect of Multiple Sclerosis. Scott, T., Laforet, G., You, X. (2013). Aggressive relapsing multiplesclerosis characterized by rapid disability progression. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders (2013) 2, 370–376 One of the authors, Scott, is a researcher from Allegheny General Hospital whereas Laforet and You are from Biogen Indec. The authors seek to identify RMS patients with aggressive disease characterized by rapid disability progression. The researchers obtained their data from a 2 year period, phase 3, double- blind, placebo-supervised trial with long-term analysis (Scott, Laforet, You, 2013). Researchers in this study employed data Collected by the Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research group to identify patients with rapid MS progression. For the study, the researchers divided the patients into three disease progression categories.The patients identified with aggressive RMS are those who reached EDSS ≥4.0 at year 2 with a change in score of ≥2.0 from baseline to year 2. Patients who reached EDSS≥4.0 at year 2 with a change in score of 2.0 from base line were included in the less aggressive RMS (EDSS≥4.0) cohort. The remaining patients were in the less aggressive RMS (EDSS4.0) cohort. Compared to the study above, thisresearch did not vary greatly in the percentage of patients whoreached EDSS ≥8.0. According to this research, it is conclusive that as patients enter a more aggressive disease phase, they typically experience relapses in that relate with clinical progression. These findings have important clinical implications if put into consideration. Koutsouraki, E., Michmizos, D. (2014). Living with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Vol. 20 (2) 133-134 The first symptom of living with Multiple Sclerosis starts with denial of the problem and ignoring it. Fear then takes over denial, the symptoms persist, and it comes accompanied with anger towards oneself. The medical evaluations then come around and the professionals start mentioning MS. As much as it brings relief that one is not having a mental problem, anger kicks in because the patient cannot understand what they are going through yet they have to deal with it. Most often, the patients direct their anger towards family, friends in addition to the physicians.Due to depression in the initial stages; the casualty goes through sleep disorders, anorexia, and feelings of giving up. The self-esteem of the patients also drops and one loses clear vision of the future. Because of the anger the patients possess, they end up pushing everybody around them hence they are not there for support. These dynamics of emotions among his patient’sace people associate some personalities with MS. The process of living with MS demands acceptance and it is not usually an easy process. Most patients fail toadd the reality and form a new base to deal with the challenges. The study provides practical solution for the MS patients and they include identifying how to help the society, asking for help from professionals, making a list of people to count on, staying healthy, and make plans of going out, learning to control situations in addition to regulating needs and desires. Spouse can find it hard to deal with such situations and have more stress compared to the patients. It leads to separation or divorce in some cases. The patients become overprotective and insecure. Children feel neglected and guilty about the extra burden they have to incur. Others feel obliged to help and they grow into mature responsible adults. This study advises health professionals on ways useful when dealing with these aspects. This study is different form the others cited because it emphasizes on how to live with the MS condition positively. Benedict, R., Rodgers, J., Emmert, N., Kininger, R., Weinstock-Guttman, B. (2013). Negative work events and accommodations in employed multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. , Vol20(1) 116–119 Multiple Sclerosis is a common cause of unemployment. The authors carry out a vocational research with two objectives, which are clinical and mythological. They aim at the employed MS patients as well as their employers and colleagues.The long-term goal of the study involves analysing work-related problems less continuously so that clinicians can identify the problems the patients can face before they lose work. The second long term goal involves monitoring work status with more fine-tuned outcomes. This way, the researchers hope to relate negative work events with increased changes on neuropsychological metrics. This study employs a monitoring tool thatemphasizes on work events based on behaviour.The researchers used 52 patients with clinically definite MS and the criteria used emphasized on other major medical neurologic or psychiatric disorder, previous or current substance use, and relapse or steroid pulse treatment within eight weeks before evaluation. The researchers recruited the participants through advertisements on social media and through MS advocacy groups. The study group was divided into four sections, which are demographic disease characteristics, self-reported symptoms, general employment information, general employment information as well as work related problems. The findings from the research showed that the negative work events and accommodation reported online by employment MS patients relate with low performance on not only motor and cognitive tests but also self-reported symptoms. Feinstein, A., Rector, N., Robert, M. (2013). Exercising away the blues: can it helpmultiple sclerosis-related depression?Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Vol 19(14) 1815– 1819 These researchers derived their data from tertiary care neurological clinics and supported their findings from community sample where a 1-year prevalence rate of approximately 25% is evident. According to these researchers, depression in MS patients is one of main determinants ofthe way of living. The authors emphasize on the fact that depression is an important factor in morbidity and mortality since it there are high rates ofsuicide among MS patients. Because of these factors, treatment of depression is critical in managing the disease. According to the study, currently, there are hundreds of RCTs testing the benefitsof exercise on depressed mood.The importance of having MS specific data for exercise and depression include the fact that the pathogenesis of depression may not be the same as that of primitive depressive illness. The second importance is that the response to treatment and sensitivity to side effects can differ. In addition, the symptom specificity is different with some common symptoms of MS such as fatigue and insomnia as well as poor concentration. The authors suggest that a well-designed RCT that includes neurological data and a psychiatric assessment is necessary. This study emphasizes on depression contrary to the previous study done by Reder, Ogerb, Kappos, O’Connord, and Ramettae. Read More