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Genetic and environmental factors have important roles in multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility. Several studies have shown an association between smoking and MS risk. Here, in a population-based Canadian cohort, we investigate the relationship between personal and maternal smoking exposure and the risk of MS. Using the longitudinal Canadian database, 3,157 MS cases and 756 spouse controls were administered questionnaires on active and passive smoking history. Mothers of cases and controls were also asked about their smoking exposure during pregnancy. The MS cases were more likely to have smoked than spouse controls (odds ratio 1.32, 95 % confidence interval 1.10-1.60, p = 0.003). This association was driven by an excess of ever-smokers in male MS cases. No association was seen with maternal active or passive smoking exposure during pregnancy. Ever-smoking is associated with increased MS risk in males. Further work is needed to understand the mechanism underlying this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). A growing body of evidence supports a role for vitamin D in MS aetiology. Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is the major plasma carrier of vitamin D metabolites and genetic differences in DBP gene have been found to influence vitamin D levels. We review here evidence supporting a role of DBP in MS. Several recent studies show that DBP levels in the cerebrospinal fluid correlate with MS course, being lower during relapses and higher in the secondary progressive phase. Further studies are needed to elucidate the potential use of DBP as a biological marker of MS course, but may be of use given the current lack of diagnostic tools for the prediction of MS development and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system unsurpassed for its variability in disease outcome. As little is conclusively known about MS disease mechanisms, we have selected a variety of candidate genes that may influence the prognosis of the disease based on their function. A cohort of sporadic MS cases, taken from opposite extremes of the putative distribution of long-term outcome using the most stringent clinical criteria to date, was used to determine the role of on MS disease severity. The MS cases selected represent the prognostic best 5 % (benign MS) and worst 5 % (malignant MS) of cases in terms of clinical outcome assessed by the EDSS. Genotyping the two sets of MS patients (112 benign and 51 malignant) and a replication cohort from Sardinia provided no evidence to suggest that the genes selected have any outcome modifying activity, although small effects of these genes cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the ubiquity of Multiple sclerosis (MS) in immigrants of Iran to British Columbia, and Canada.

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses multiple sclerosis (MS) risk due to mother-child blood group incompatibility.