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Background and Objectives: Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common chronic, progressive, and autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system, which affects the quality of people's lives in various areas including health, employment, economic, social, emotional, and family. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on the mindfulness and affective capital of women with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all women with multiple sclerosis in the city of Isfahan in 2023. Using a purposive sampling method, 30 women were selected and randomly assigned into the experimental group (15 people) and the control group (15 people). The data were collected with Golparvar's Affective Capital (2006) and Baer's Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaires (2015). The intervention of emotion-focused therapy was conducted based on the protocol of Greenberg and Goldman (2019) in 12 sessions for 60 minutes on the experimental group, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: Emotion-focused therapy was able to significantly improve mindfulness and its components including observation, description, action with mindfulness, non-judgment and non-reaction, and emotional capital and its components including positive affect pseudo-state and feeling of energy and happiness in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that emotion-focused therapy is effective in improving mindfulness and affective capital in multiple sclerosis patients in Isfahan. Therefore, it is recommended to use this approach to increase mindfulness and affective capital in women with multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. Oral manifestations in these patients include paralysis or spasm of facial muscles, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), trigeminal neuralgia, dysphagia, or dysarthria. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of orofacial pain in patients with MS. Materials and Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 patients with a definite diagnosis of MS referred to Iran MS Association and Iran MS Research Center. The patients were in the age group of 17 to 57 years and were selected completely randomly. Data were obtained based on two checklists and clinical examination. Finally, DC/TMD criterion was used to check TMD problems. Then the data was analyzed by SPSS version 26 software and by Fisher's Test. Results: The prevalence of MS disease was higher in women and the average age of patients was 37 years and the average duration of MS disease among patients was 8 years. The most common pain was related to shooting and shock-like pain with a frequency of 40.4% and the lowest quality was related to dull and diffuse pain with a frequency of 5.3%. In total, 24.5% of patients with buccaloral pain had TMD, and in this case, the DC/TMD criterion was used. Conclusion: Temporomandibular disorders and shooting and shock-like pains are usually observed in a number of patients with MS. As a result, dentists should be aware of the presence of these pains in the patient, the pain trigger, and the drugs used by the patients, in order to provide medical services and being aware of drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common neurological disorder that often affects young women. The current study aimed to assess the effect of expressive writing on the sexual and marital satisfaction of women with MS. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the sexual and marital satisfaction of 104 married women aged 18-45 years with MS referred to a selected specialized clinic in Tehran in 2022. The inclusion criteria entailed having minimal literacy, no use of psychotropic drugs, lack of other chronic diseases other than MS, and no pregnancy or breastfeeding. Sampling was performed consecutively, and samples were allocated to two groups based on the table of random numbers. The intervention group did writing at home at least once a week for four weeks. The personal characteristic questionnaire, Larson's sexual satisfaction, and Enrich's marital satisfaction questionnaire were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 21), and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The two groups were homogenous in terms of all examined personal characteristics. The results of this study demonstrated that performing expressive writing at home at least once a week for four weeks caused a significant increase in sexual satisfaction scores (P=0.01) and marital satisfaction (P

Background and Aim: Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is associated with an overexpression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and exacerbation of clinical symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity on the gene expression of IDO1 and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) in the cerebellum of the mice with EAE. Materials and Methods: 30 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups of 10: healthy control, EAE control, and physical activity in the enriched environment. Mice were placed in an enriched environment after induction of EAE with MOG35-55 for 4 weeks and then the cerebellum tissue was dissected and the expression of IDO1 and AANAT genes were measured by real time-PCR method in all three groups. Analysis of variance test was used for data analysis at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The group with physical activity in an enriched environment showed significant reduction in the gene expression of IDO1 (P = 0.02) and AANAT (P = 0.04) genes, and also significantly reduced the clinical score (P = 0.001) compared to the EAE group. Conclusion: Changing the environment and lifestyle in the enriched environment can prevent the progression of the autoimmune diseases such as MS, through downregulation of the expression of the IDO1 and AANAT genes.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the “resilience assessment questionnaire” in patients with multiple sclerosis. Materials & Methods The statistical population of the present study included all multiple sclerosis patients living in Tehran City in 2022. Of them, 250 people were selected through available sampling. The participants completed the questionnaires of Gromis et al. resilience and the hospital anxiety and depression scales. The validity of the questionnaire was investigated using the formal, content, construct, and predictor methods. Also, the reliability of the test was checked through the Cronbach α method and retesting. Data analysis was done using SPSS software, version 26. Results The face validity was confirmed by checking the content and solving the appearance problems. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed after correcting the questions. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the resilience questionnaire includes 5 components: Emotional and cognitive strategies, physical activity and diet, family and friends support, peer support, and spirituality. Also, the Cronbach α values of these components were 0.88, 0.79, 0.62, 0.76, 0.50, and 0.89, respectively. The eigenvalues of these components explained 47.49% of the variance. There was a significant relationship between the resilience and anxiety/depression questionnaire components. The correlation value between the first and second stages confirmed the retest validity of the resilience questionnaire. Conclusion The Persian version of the “multiple sclerosis resilience” scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing resilience features in Iranian MS patients, which can be used in policymaking and research studies.

Background and Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and multi-factorial disease that substantially reduces patients' quality of life. Since physical activity may offer anti-inflammatory and axonal protection benefits to these patients, this study aimed to explore the impact of swimming training on the proteins critical for the myelination of hippocampal tissue in cuprizone-induced rat's model of MS. Materials and Methods: In the current investigation, 20 male Wistar rats with an average age of 12 weeks and the weight of 230 g were purchased and divided randomly into four groups: healthy control, MS control, healthy training, and MS training. The MS disease model was induced by administering food containing 0.5% cuprizone for 12 weeks. Upon confirming MS induction through the rotarod test, rats underwent a six-week swimming protocol. In the first week, they performed 10 min swimming without applying loads, and thereafter the duration of swimming was added by 5 min every week. In order to maintain the adaptations the duration of the swimming for the fifth and sixth weeks was constant and was kept at 30 min. At the end of the training protocol, memory and balance were assessed via shuttle box and rotarod tests. Subsequently, the hippocampal tissue was extracted, and analyzed for determining the proteolipid protein (PLP) and Myelin basic protein (MBP) protein levels by using western blot and the amount of Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein was measured by using the ELISA method. The data were analyzed using oneway ANOVA and post-hoc comparisons were made by using Tukey's test at a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The findings of the shuttle box and rotarod tests revealed that the MS group had impaired memory function and balance maintenance, but these improved significantly after swimming training (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the results of the shuttle box and rotarod tests between healthy training and healthy control groups (p>0.05). The results of the present study showed that NGF, PLP and MBP proteins in the patient control group were significantly lower compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, data analyses showed that the amounts of these proteins increased significantly in the MS training group compared to the MS control group (p<0.05). The results showed that there was a significant difference for NGF and PLP proteins between healthy training group and healthy control group (p<0.05), whereas, no significant differences in MBP protein levels were found between the healthy training and healthy control groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the current research findings, it can be concluded that swimming exercise has notable antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects through favourable molecular adaptations, and it can probably be considered as a safe, non-pharmacological and complication-free method to improve the symptoms in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Self-care training can improve the quality of life of chronic patients. Remote nursing is considered a new method in nursing care. The current study was designed and presented as a model for investigating the effect of self-care education on health-promoting behaviors, with a remote nursing approach, in MS patients. Methods & Materials: The present study is a guide for the implementation of a double-blind randomized parallel clinical trial. The sample size was calculated with the help of G-power software, and 70 MS patients were randomly divided into two intervention groups (35 people) and control (35 people). The inclusion criteria were: 1. Willingness to participate in the study; 2. Definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; 3. Age range from 18 to 50 years; 4. Using the WhatsApp messenger; 5. At least two years of medical history; 6. Self-care ability; 7. Mobile phone access; Exclusion criteria, including: 1. withdrawal from the study for any reason; 2. Inability to implement self-care plan due to acute illness; 3. Return of the disease; 4. Occurrence of acute heart, kidney, respiratory, digestive and metabolic diseases; 5. Absence of more than two sessions in the training course. Training sessions were held three days a week for six weeks. Information was collected using Walker's demographic and health promoting lifestyle questionnaires, before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests using SPSS version 21 software. Discussion: Considering the relatively high prevalence of multiple sclerosis and the high importance of self-care in it as a chronic disease, as well as the newness of the remote nursing discussion in the country, this current research can provide deep scientific evidence based on the clinical trial design, in the field of effectiveness of self-care education on health-promoting behaviors, with a remote nursing approach in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in young adults, and there is fear and concern about exercise among MS patients. The present study was designed to explain the barriers and strategies for performing exercise from the perspective of patients with MS. Methods: Methods: This study was conducted using the content analysis research method. Fourteen patients with MS referred to the Arak MS Society were interviewed by three nurses and one physician. A total of 18 in-depth individual interviews were conducted in this study. The method of data collection was semi-structured interviews. Purposeful sampling was performed, and data saturation was achieved. All interviews were analyzed using a qualitative method. Results: In this study, 77.78% of the participants were women, and 61.11% were married. The mean age was 34.52±5.6 years. The duration of the disease varied from 2 to 10 years. The findings of this study can be categorized into two general themes: barriers to exercise (including individual, environmental, and socio-cultural factors) and strategies for institutionalizing exercise for these patients. Conclusion: The findings of this study can assist authorities in identifying the specific issues faced by patients with MS and their barriers to exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Quality of life is important in improving the health of patients. The current study was developed to present a structural model of quality of life and health promotion of women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) based on illness perception, health hardiness with the mediating role of social cognition. Materials & Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlation. The statistical population consisted of all women with MS who were members of the MS Association of Iran and referred to the MS Research Center of Sina Hospital in Tehran, which numbered 470 in 1401, using the available and voluntary methods, to the MSIS-29 questionnaires, short-form illness perception, RHHI-24 and Emotion Recognition Task (social cognition) were answered online. Results: Data analysis showed that the structural model of the quality of life of women with MS based on illness perception and health hardiness with the mediating role of social cognition has a favorable fit of 0.375. There was a negative and significant relationship between quality of life, illness perception with the mediation of social cognition with an influence coefficient of -0.124, and between quality of life and health hardiness with the mediation of social cognition with an influence coefficient of -0.60 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the mediating role of social cognition in the impact of illness perception and health hardiness on the quality of life can provide a suitable model to explain the psychological improvement of women with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and background: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) on sleep quality and intensity of pain in women with multiple sclerosis. Material and Methods: This study was semi-experimental, with a pretest-posttest and follow-up control group design. Thirty individuals who met the inclusion criteria were selected using purposive sampling from all women with multiple sclerosis in Tabriz in 2023, who were members of the Multiple Sclerosis Association in the city. The sample consisted of 30 individuals who were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups (15 individuals in each group). The measurement tools used were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the McGill Pain Intensity Questionnaire. The participants in the experimental group received CFT in 8 sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours, while the control group did not receive any treatment. The findings were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In the pretest, the mean and standard deviation of sleep quality was 17.67±2.49 for the CFT group and 17.00±1.73 for the control group. The intensity of pain was 46.73±4.52 for the CFT group and 45.87±3.94 for the control group (P>0.05). In the post-test, compared to the control group, CFT showed an improvement in sleep quality (14.33±2.28) and a reduction in the intensity of pain (42.00±5.09) in women with multiple sclerosis (P<0.001). These effects of treatment persisted in the follow-up phase (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that compassion-focused therapy improves sleep quality and reduces the intensity of pain in women with multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and background: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on pain anxiety and sleep quality in elderly women with multiple sclerosis. Material and Methods: This study was semi-experimental, with a pretest-posttest and follow-up control group design. The statistical population of the study consisted of all elderly women with multiple sclerosis in Tabriz city in 2023. After meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 individuals were selected using the purposive sampling method and randomly divided into two groups, with 15 individuals in each group. The participants in the experimental group received ACT in 8 sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours, while the control group did not receive any treatment. The findings were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In the pretest, the mean and standard deviation of pain anxiety were 76.00±4.22 for the ACT group and 77.73±4.66 for the control group. Sleep quality scores were 17.67±2.49 for the ACT group and 17.00±1.73 for the control group (P>0.05). The results showed that ACT was effective in reducing pain anxiety (70.93±3.95) and improving sleep quality (14.53±2.38) in elderly women with multiple sclerosis (P<0.001). These effects of treatment persisted in the follow-up phase (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy reduces pain anxiety and improves sleep quality in elderly women with multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aim: Three oral drugs, including fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, and teriflunomide, which are clinically approved for the therapy of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were reviewed in this work. The present study aimed to recognize the side effects of the oral drugs in RRMS patients who were consulted in neurology clinic in west of Iran. Methods: The study population of the present prospective observational study conducted in 2016-2017 were patients with relapsing-remitting MS referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA). Three hundred patients with RRMS were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. The first group received fingolimod, the second group received dimethyl fumarate, and the third group received teriflunomide. The response to treatment assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the start of treatment. Eventually, the frequency of adverse effects characterized for each group and the collected data compared in each treatment group. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA statistical tests. Results: The findings of the present study revealed that the most common clinical complications were neurological (21.8%) and gastrointestinal complications (15.6%). The most common laboratory complications were liver (12.9%) and cardiovascular complications (10.3%). Moreover, the lowest clinical complications were musculoskeletal (4.6%) and endocrine complications (3%) and lowest laboratory complications were macular edema (0.6%). Conclusion: In the present study, fingolimod had the most side effects and triflunomide had the least side effects. Dimethyl fumarate was stopped due to the severity of side effects and triflunomide was continued.

Fateme Nekooyan , Fatemeh Nazari * , Shahla Abolhasani , Mohammad Javad Tarrahi Background and Objective: Physical disability caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) increases MS patients' need for support from others. Medication adherence is one of the main success factors in the treatment of chronic diseases, which is influenced by various factors. This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and medication adherence in patients with MS. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 110 patients (70 women and 40 men) aged 39±9 years with MS who visited the 2 medical training centers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Kashani and Al-Zahra), Isfahan, Iran during 2021. After sampling by the systematic random method, the data were collected by interviews and using Zimmet's Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Results: The mean and standard deviation of the scores of medication adherence and perceived social support were 6.10±1.72 and 62.83±14.97, respectively. According to the Pearson correlation coefficient, perceived social support did not show any significant relationship with medication adherence (r=0.185, P=0.053). Perceived social support showed a statistically significant relationship with income satisfaction (F=4.54, P=0.01), the pattern of clinical course (F=2.95, P=0.03), difficulty in accessing medical care (t=-2.29, P=0.02), and clinical symptoms, including motor (t=-3.72, P=0.001), balance (t=-3.23, P=0.002), and urinary disorders (t=-2.53, P=0.01). Conclusion: Perceived social support in patients with MS did not cause medication adherence.

This study aimed to investigate a case of neuro-Behçet’s disease misdiagnosed as acute ischemic stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS). The studied case was a 29-year-old man with subacute onset of hemiparesis, dysarthria, and ataxia who was diagnosed as acute ischemic stroke at first. Due to no significant improvement, the patient was managed as an MS case, but he did not experience any improvements again. We noticed a history of oral and genital aphthous and cascade sign appearance in his brain MRI. Then, Behçet’s disease with secondary parenchymal involvement of brainstem was confirmed. The patient received infliximab, which resulted in clinico-radiological recovery. Practical Implications. Given the prevalence of Behçet’s disease in the Middle East, the possibility of its diagnosis should be considered in patients with atypical history or imaging for ischemic stroke or MS.

Background and Objective: Physical disability caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) increases MS patients' need for support from others. Medication adherence is one of the main success factors in the treatment of chronic diseases, which is influenced by various factors. This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and medication adherence in patients with MS. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 110 patients (70 women and 40 men) aged 39±9 years with MS who visited the 2 medical training centers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Kashani and Al-Zahra), Isfahan, Iran during 2021. After sampling by the systematic random method, the data were collected by interviews and using Zimmet's Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Results: The mean and standard deviation of the scores of medication adherence and perceived social support were 6.10±1.72 and 62.83±14.97, respectively. According to the Pearson correlation coefficient, perceived social support did not show any significant relationship with medication adherence (r=0.185, P=0.053). Perceived social support showed a statistically significant relationship with income satisfaction (F=4.54, P=0.01), the pattern of clinical course (F=2.95, P=0.03), difficulty in accessing medical care (t=-2.29, P=0.02), and clinical symptoms, including motor (t=-3.72, P=0.001), balance (t=-3.23, P=0.002), and urinary disorders (t=-2.53, P=0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate a case of neuro-Behçet’s disease misdiagnosed as acute ischemic stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS). The studied case was a 29-year-old man with subacute onset of hemiparesis, dysarthria, and ataxia who was diagnosed as acute ischemic stroke at first. Due to no significant improvement, the patient was managed as an MS case, but he did not experience any improvements again. We noticed a history of oral and genital aphthous and cascade sign appearance in his brain MRI. Then, Behçet’s disease with secondary parenchymal involvement of brainstem was confirmed. The patient received infliximab, which resulted in clinico-radiological recovery. Practical Implications. Given the prevalence of Behçet’s disease in the Middle East, the possibility of its diagnosis should be considered in patients with atypical history or imaging for ischemic stroke or MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease in which the myelin lining the central nervous system is damaged. The complex nature of the disease making the diagnosis more difficult for the patient to face. This study explored the experiences of facilitators and barriers adjustment to MS by Iranian patients. Materials & Methods This study was conducted by using descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants included 14 patients (8 women and 6 men) referred to Rafideh Hospital in Tehran. The participants were selected by purposive sampling and maximum variety. Data collection continued through semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation. The duration of the interviews was between 30-60 minutes. Data analysis was done with MAXQDA software and using the 7-step descriptive collaizzi,s method continuously and simultaneously with data collection. In order to check the robustness of the results, Lincoln and Goba criteria of validity, reliability, transferability and verifiability were used. Results The 5 main themes related to facilitators of adaptation that emerged included religious strategies, receive emotional and professional support, search and find information, psychological coping strategies, and life style (and 18 subcategories). Also the three main themes related to barrier of adaptation that emerged included health-related, patient-related and social-related barriers (and 8 subcategories). Conclusion These themes represent the perceived characteristics, facilitators and barriers of adaptation to Multiple Sclerosis by patients. Therefore, it is necessary to design or implement therapeutic interventions based on these findings by psychologists and counselors for patients to reduce psychological problems.

Background and Objective: One of the psychological factors that play an essential role in a person's adaptation to multiple sclerosis (MS) is the sense of coherence and self-compassion. Based on this, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of treatment based on commitment and acceptance in the sense of coherence and self-compassion of women with MS. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental research was conducted based on a pre-test-post-test control group design with a follow-up. The statistical population of this research included all female patients with MS in Urmia in 2021. The sample size includes 30 subjects (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) from the statistical population who were selected by the available sampling method and were assigned to two control and experimental groups by random allocation method. For the experimental group, acceptance and commitment therapy was implemented, while the control group did not receive any training. The research instruments were the Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1993) and the Self‐Compassion Scale (Raes et al., 2011).Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The mean scores of the sense of coherence in the experimental group in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases were 42.66±3.01, 50.46±3.09, and 50.06±2.98, respectively.These values were obtained at 42.53±3.29, 43.20±2.78 and 43.40±2.55, respectively, in the control group. Moreover, the mean scores of the sense of self-compassion in the experimental group in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases were 25.40±2.41, 32.86±2.85, and 33.73±2.73, respectively. These mean scores were calculated at 25.13±1.92, 25.26±198, and 24.33±1.95, respectively, in the control group. The scores of sense of coherence and self-compassion after the intervention in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P

Background: Due to the unpredictable nature of MS and high levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue, psychological interventions can help improve worry, rumination, stress, and anxiety. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, which includes the development of awareness, a specific attitude framework, and a correct understanding of vulnerability, has led to the improvement of psychological symptoms and self-efficacy. It encourages clients to focus on their abilities and capabilities and seek solutions to their problems. However, comparative research on these two treatments has been neglected in the past. Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and solution-focused therapy on the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group. The sample size was 60 patients with multiple sclerosis in the city of Mashhad who were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups (n = 40) and a control group (n = 20). The first experimental group received 8 two-hour sessions of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy by Segal et al. (2002) and the second experimental group also received 7 two-hour sessions of short-term solution–focused therapy by Desharz et al. (1970). The quality of life questionnaire of Vickery Multiple Sclerosis patients (1995) was completed by the subjects of all groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The results of the analysis of covariance showed that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and short-term solution–focused therapy increased the mean score of quality of life and its subscales in patients with multiple sclerosis in the experimental group compared with the control group (p0.05). Conclusion: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and solution-focused therapy have both been effective in improving physical health, reducing pain, and improving social functioning, as well as increasing psychological health, such as reducing depression and anxiety in MS patients.

Introduction: Multiple­ sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system that affects the motor and sensory systems to control balance while standing and walking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of proprioceptive training on balance, fatigue, and quality of life of women with MS.Methods: The statistical population of this research included 20- to 50-year-old women with MS and a total score of 1 to 4 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) that are members of the Isfahan MS Association. From this population, 30 volunteers were selected conveniently and assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants of both groups completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests before starting the training program. The experimental group performed 60-minute proprioceptive training for eight weeks and three sessions a week, and the control group performed their daily activities during this period. After 8 weeks of training, both experimental and control groups repeated the previous tests. The data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests at the significant level of 0.05.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in balance, fatigue, and quality of life of the experimental group in the post-test compared with the pre-test (P

Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system. Various studies have shown that several factors influence this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Multiple studies have shown that several factors affect this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Helicobacter pylori can be mentioned among these factors. This study was conducted to determine Helicobacter pylori infection in MS patients and healthy individuals. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 patients with MS (mean age: 36.99±9.87 years) and 100 healthy subjects (mean age: 38.05±11.38 years) in Golestan province, north of Iran during 2021. The case group included eighty relapsing-remitting cases and twenty secondary progressive cases. Blood samples were taken from both groups, and after separating the serum using the ELISA test, anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody (IgG) was detected by determining the antibody titer. Results: Helicobacter pylori IgG in the MS and control groups was 21% and 44%, respectively (P

Background and Aims This study aims to develop an educational program for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran which is applicable by physiotherapists.Methods This is a survey study. Participants were 85 physiotherapists with at least one year of experience working with MS patients in Iran who were randomly selected. The tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with 61 items and four subscales based on the Tyler model, whose content validity was confirmed by 10 experts. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Friedman test) in SPSS software, version 22.Results Preventing the patient from getting stuck”, “improving the life quality and life expectancy and preventing depression”, “maximum individual independence in activities of daily living”, “educating the patients and their families how to control mental problems”, “emphasis on drug therapy and physiotherapy”, “preventing deterioration”, “educating how to control musculoskeletal injuries, improve musculoskeletal function, and prevent contracture”, “maintaining the patient’s morale, especially during the relapse period”, “muscle strength and endurance training, and coordination of the muscles and body balance”, and “returning to normal life” were the most important components related to objectives of the educational program for MS patients. “Educating appropriate exercises”, “educating the family members how to lower the patients’ stress”, “having light-intensity exercise”, and “using the successful experiences of other patients with MS and asking them to present it” were the most important components related to the content of the educational program. “In-person training”, “group training”, “treatment in a private center”, “group training in the MS Association”,” watching a movie where one of the characters has MS and showing his/her success to give hope” and “counseling with the family” were the most important components related to the method of education. Finally, “qualitative evaluation and reporting of patient function”, “quantitative assessment of paraments such as range of motion/muscle strength, balance with eyes closed/open, and single-leg stance”, “functionality of the patient”, and “using standard tests” were the most important components related to the program evaluation.Conclusion The developed educational program can be used directly by physiotherapists or by all people who are in contact with patients with MS in Iran.

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, which leads to demyelination of nerves. Treatment with interferon beta is one of the best approaches to reduce recurrence and progression of the disease. The aim of this study is to search for the relationship between 4 polymorphisms FokIrs10735810, TaqIrs731236, ApaIrs797532 and BsmIrs1544410 located in the vitamin D receptor in MS patients responsive and non-responsive to interferon beta treatment and pave the way for the correct and fast administration of the appropriate drug, as well as reducing time, cost and lack of success in treatment. Methods: The type of study is observational and the study method is case-control. Blood samples were taken from 200 MS patients who were treated with interferon (100 responders and 100 non-responders). Using PCR-RFLP technique, the samples were subjected to enzymatic digestion with restriction enzymes ApaI, FokI, TaqI and BsmI. The data were evaluated using SPSS version 16, SNP Analyzer and Prism software, and K-tests and logistic regression. Results: A significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of ApaI (p=0.68), BsmI (p=0.65), FokI (p=0.57) and TaqI (p=0.50) polymorphisms in the patients between the two responsive and non-responsive groups to treatment was not observed. Conclusion According to our findings, there was no significant correlation between ApaI, FokI, TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms located in vitamin D receptor gene and response to treatment.

Background and Objective: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has many complications and consequences, one of which is the reduction of sexual satisfaction. Having the support of people around can be useful for these patients. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and sexual satisfaction in patients with MS in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical study. The research community were patients with MS in Isfahan in the first half of 2021. A total of 240 eligible patients were included in the study through random sampling. To collect data, patients' demographic form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and Larson sexual satisfaction questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16) using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results: The level of Perceived social support (27.35±9.06) and sexual satisfaction (88.36±13.12) was moderate. The relationship between perceived social support and patients 'sexual satisfaction (r = 0.510, P

Introduction: Introduction: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of compassion-focused acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological flexibility and self-efficacy in females with MS.Method: To carry out this research, 30 women at Kashani Hospital in Isfahan who were diagnosed with MS were selected. In two stages pre-test and post-test, they were measured through the cognitive flexibility inventory (CFI) and Sherer & Maddux general self-efficacy scale (GSSES) in 1 group of treatment and 1 control group. The experimental group was treated for 8 sessions based on compassion-focused acceptance and commitment therapy, but the control group did not receive any treatment. Research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and one-way analysis of covariance and SPSS software were used.Result: The results showed that the treatment increased psychological flexibility and self-efficacy in the post-test compared to the pre-test. But this change was not observed in the control group.Discussion and conclusion: using compassion-focused acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in increasing psychological flexibility and self-efficacy of women with multiple sclerosis.

Background and Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of the educational package based on motivational interview, therapy based on acceptance and commitment and therapy focused on compassion on tolerance of failure and health anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: The current research was a quasi-experimental research design with a control group, pre-test, post-test and follow-up. 40 women with MS referred to the Tehran MS Association in 2018 were selected by purposive sampling and divided into two experimental and control groups through random replacement (20 people in each group). The data were obtained using demographic information questionnaire, failure tolerance questionnaire and health anxiety questionnaire of MS patients. The data were analyzed using variance analysis with repeated measurements and Benferoni's post hoc test. Results: The results of the present study showed that there was no significant difference between the average variables examined in the pre-test stage between the two groups, that the training package based on motivational interview, treatment based on acceptance and commitment and treatment focused on compassion on tolerance of failure (F= 8327.20, P

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a course dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) training program on balance and ankle proprioception in female patients with MS. Material and Method For this study, 24 people were selected who were divided into control (Number: 12 people, Age: 45.50 ± 3.06 years, Height: 1.66 ± 0.02 m, Weight: 58.08 ± 3.05 kg, BMI: 20.99 ± 1.04 Kg/m², EDSS: 2.05 ± 0.75) and training (Number: 12 people, Age: 43.91 ± 2.84 years, Height: 1.65 ± 0.03 m, Weight: 56.91 ± 4.73 kg, BMI: 20.75 ± 1.17 Kg/m², EDSS: 1.91 ± 0.51) groups. In this study, static balance was evaluated by Sharpen Romberg test and dynamic balance was evaluated by Timed Up and Go test. Also, ankle proprioception was evaluated in two positions dorsiflexion and plantar-flexion with a goniometer. At the end of the evaluations, the training group performed the exercises for 6 weeks (3 sessions per week). The control group also engaged in their daily activities during this period. Assessments were performed again after the exercises. In this study, Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check the normality of the data. Analysis of covariance and paired t-test, Yu Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon were also used to analyze the effect of exercise on variables and differences between groups. SPSS24 software was also used to analyze the data in this study. Results The results of this study showed that the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercise program had a significant effect on improving static balance with open eyes (P=0.001) and (P=0.001), dynamic balance (P=0.001) and proprioception the foot is in dorsiflexion (P=0.01) and plantar flexion position (P=0.001). Also, the results of comparison between the two groups showed a significant difference between the two groups (P≤0.05). Conclusion Based on the results of using this exercise program, it is recommended to the therapists involved with these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the unpredictable nature of MS and high levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue, psychological interventions can help improve worry, rumination, stress, and anxiety. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, which includes the development of awareness, a specific attitude framework, and a correct understanding of vulnerability, has led to the improvement of psychological symptoms and self-efficacy. It encourages clients to focus on their abilities and capabilities and seek solutions to their problems. However, comparative research on these two treatments has been neglected in the past. Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and solution-focused therapy on the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group. The sample size was 60 patients with multiple sclerosis in the city of Mashhad who were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups (n = 40) and a control group (n = 20). The first experimental group received 8 two-hour sessions of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy by Segal et al. (2002) and the second experimental group also received 7 two-hour sessions of short-term solution–focused therapy by Desharz et al. (1970). The quality of life questionnaire of Vickery Multiple Sclerosis patients (1995) was completed by the subjects of all groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The results of the analysis of covariance showed that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and short-term solution–focused therapy increased the mean score of quality of life and its subscales in patients with multiple sclerosis in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between the two treatments in improving quality of life (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and solution-focused therapy have both been effective in improving physical health, reducing pain, and improving social functioning, as well as increasing psychological health, such as reducing depression and anxiety in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system. Various studies have shown that several factors influence this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Multiple studies have shown that several factors affect this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Helicobacter pylori can be mentioned among these factors. This study was conducted to determine Helicobacter pylori infection in MS patients and healthy individuals. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 patients with MS (mean age: 36.99±9.87 years) and 100 healthy subjects (mean age: 38.05±11.38 years) in Golestan province, north of Iran during 2021. The case group included eighty relapsing-remitting cases and twenty secondary progressive cases. Blood samples were taken from both groups, and after separating the serum using the ELISA test, anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody (IgG) was detected by determining the antibody titer. Results: Helicobacter pylori IgG in the MS and control groups was 21% and 44%, respectively (P<0.05). The mean concentration of IgG in the case group was significantly lower than the control group (13.48±10.83 versus 19.78±16.14 AU/ml). The percentage of positive cases of IgG antibody against Helicobacter pylori in the relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive group of patients with MS was determined as 21.2% and 20%, respectively, and the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The history of Helicobacter pylori infection is less than two times in patients with MS compared to healthy people probably indicate the protective role of this bacterium against this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Cognitive dysfunctions may be brought about following the diseases which have destructive effects on the central nervous system. One way of studying the relationship among brain, behavior and thought, is examining and investigating the brain damaged people, among them Multiple sclerosis is one of the most prevalent diseases of CNS. Material and Method The aim of present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of simple and selective reaction time in discriminating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from normal people. For that purpose, two groups of patient with MS (n=44), a group of normal people (n=48) were selected as the control group. Their reaction time in simple and selective modes were measured by reaction timer, then demographic information of all subjects were collected and their inability was evaluated by EDSS. Mann-Withney U test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results:Following analysis of data, it was revealed that both simple (z= - 2.566, p=0.011) and selective (z=6.348, p<0.001) modes of reaction time in patients with MS, were significantly more than control group. Selective reaction time was statistically able to predict health and illness (χ2= 51.067, df= 2, p<0.0001). Results Both simple and selective reaction times were significantly longer in the patient group, and it was able to differentiate the MS patients from normal people. Conclusion According to the findings of the research, reaction time in both simple and selective modes is appropriate in differentiating the patient with MS, from normal people, and hence it is worthy to be utilized in clinical situations including clinics and neurology wards of hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative processes play an important role in the progression of MS. Appropriate exercise training and living in an enriched environment (EE) can improve or prevent the progression of the disease through the secretion of some neurodevelopmental factors in the hippocampus, including irisin and the neutrophic factor derived from the mouse. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of aerobic and resistance training and EE on irisin protein and hippocampus BDNF levels in female C57BL6 mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). 50 female mice (age 8 weeks, average weight 18 ± 2 grams) were randomly divided into five equal groups (10 mice in each group): 1- healthy control, 2- control + EAE, 3- resistance activity + EAE, 4- Aerobic activity + EAE and 5- EE + EAE. The first and second weeks of adaptation to the environment and then induction of EAE were performed. The training groups trained 5 days a week for half an hour a day for 4 weeks, and the EE group was transferred to its equipped cage. 48 hours after the last training session, the mice were anesthetized and then dissected and tissue removed. The ELISA method was used to measure the amounts of proteins, and the analysis of variance and Tukey's t-test were used to determine the differences between the research variables. All analyzes were performed at a significance level of 0.05 and with SPSS22 software. Hippocampal BDNF expression was increased in all three training groups compared to the EAE control group. This increase in the EE and resistance training group was significant compared to both the EAE control group and the swimming training group. Also, hippocampal irisin expression increased in all three training groups compared to the EAE control group, and this increase was significant in the EE and resistance training groups. Also, the expression of irisin in the EE group increased more than the two aerobic swimming and resistance training groups, and this increase was proportional to It was meaningful to the swimming aerobic training group. It seems that EE and resistance training can increase the secretion of nerve growth factors such as irisin and BDNF and thus help to improve MS disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown cause and complex pathogenesis, characterized by chronic inflammation, demyelination and loss of neurons. This disease usually manifests as movement disorders, vision disorders, or sensory problems. The etiology of MS is not precisely known, although environmental factors such as nutrition, physical inactivity, smoking and low vitamin D concentration play a role in this case. Researches show that patients with MS are at risk of malnutrition and reduced intake of micronutrients due to inactivity, anorexia, depression and side effects of drugs. Many studies have investigated the effects of nutrients and dietary patterns in patients with MS, however, the role of diet and nutrients in the progression of the disease is not well known. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the role of some nutritional supplements in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Methods: In the present narrative review article, reliable Persian and English databases including Google Scholar, Pubmed, Scopus, Magiran were searched and articles that studied the effect of nutritional supplements in the treatment of multiple sclerosis were reviewed. Results: The results of the present review study indicated that some nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin A, biotin, as well as omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics may improve disability, reduce disease progression, reduce disease recurrence, improve fatigue and depression in patients. get MS Conclusion: Considering that some nutrients can improve the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in MS patients, a suitable nutritional intervention or following a healthy diet may improve the severity and symptoms of MS and as a Possible complementary treatment should be considered in this disease.

Background. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system and most often occurs in people between the ages of 20 to 50 years. Orem's self-care model is one of the models that have had a special approach to human and health care issues. The aim of this study was to review the effect of self-care training based on the Orem model on the burden on caregivers of patients.. Methods. The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 76 main members of the family caring for patients with multiple sclerosis in Bandar Abbas with a pre-test, post-test design and a control group. The study units were randomly selected and divided into two groups of control and intervention. The intervention group was trained according to the Orem training program in patients with amnesia during 6-8 sessions of 40 minutes. In order to assess the burden on caregivers, a 22-item "Zarit" questionnaire was used and a questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention in both groups. The results were analyzed with SPSS software version 26. Results. The difference between the mean of burden before the intervention (44.6 13 13) and after the intervention (33.7 10 10) in the intervention group was significant (P

Background and purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The prevalence of disease is higher in women and it seems that sex hormones, which usually exert their effects through receptors, are involved in susceptibility to MS. Considering the functional role of Alu insertion 306 bp polymorphism of progesterone receptor in expression level of progesterone receptor, in this study, the association of Alu insertion polymorphism in intron 7 of progesterone receptor with the risk of MS was investigated. Materials and methods: In a case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 200 patients (180 women and 20 men) with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and 226 healthy individuals (186 women and 40 men) as a control group. In order to determine the polymorphic genotype of Alu insertion, PCR technique was used and the PCR product was electrophoresed on 2% agarose gel. Data were analyzed in SPSS V21 using logistic regression test. Results: Findings showed that WI (P= 0.003) and II (P= 0.001) genotypes increase the risk of MS compared to WW genotype, and allele I acts as a risk allele (P

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system that affects the motor and sensory systems to control balance while standing and walking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of proprioceptive training on balance, fatigue, and quality of life of women with MS. Methods: The statistical population of this research included 20- to 50-year-old women with MS and a total score of 1 to 4 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) that are members of the Isfahan MS Association. From this population, 30 volunteers were selected conveniently and assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants of both groups completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests before starting the training program. The experimental group performed 60-minute proprioceptive training for eight weeks and three sessions a week, and the control group performed their daily activities during this period. After 8 weeks of training, both experimental and control groups repeated the previous tests. The data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests at the significant level of 0.05. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in balance, fatigue, and quality of life of the experimental group in the post-test compared with the pre-test (P<0.05). Also, the comparison of the post-test results of the two experimental and control groups showed a significant difference in the balance and quality of life of MS patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: Overall, eight weeks of proprioceptive training improved the balance and quality of life of MS patients, but it was not effective in reducing their fatigue. Therefore, the use of proprioceptive training is recommended for the well-being of MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease which can affect all aspects of a person's life. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between stress, anxiety and depression with the quality of life of patients with MS. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2018-2019 on 245 patients with MS in Shahrekord city. Non-random sampling method was used and data collection tool was Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) and Quality of Life Questionnaire in MS Patients (MISIS-29). The data were analyzed through SPSS 20 software. Results: In the present study, only 26/6% of the patients experienced high quality of life, and 30/5% of patients had severe to moderate anxiety, 13/8% moderate stress, and 34/2% experienced moderate and severe depression. There was a significant relationship between the stress and anxiety of the patients and their jobs (p<0/05) and also there was a significant difference between the quality of life and the patients’ education (p<0/05). A significant relationship was observed between the level of stress, depression, and anxiety of the patients with the quality of life and with the physical and mental subscales (p<0/001). Conclusion: The results indicated the prevalence of mental disorders in patients with MS, which has affected the quality of life of patients. Therefore, providing suitable interventions to deal with or adapt to these symptoms and ultimately improve the quality of life in MS patients seems necessary. This article is the result of the general practice thesis of Razia Hashemi from Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown cause and complex pathogenesis, characterized by chronic inflammation, demyelination and loss of neurons. This disease usually manifests as movement disorders, vision disorders, or sensory problems. The etiology of MS is not precisely known, although environmental factors such as nutrition, physical inactivity, smoking and low vitamin D concentration play a role in this case. Researches show that patients with MS are at risk of malnutrition and reduced intake of micronutrients due to inactivity, anorexia, depression and side effects of drugs. Many studies have investigated the effects of nutrients and dietary patterns in patients with MS, however, the role of diet and nutrients in the progression of the disease is not well known. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the role of some nutritional supplements in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Methods: In the present narrative review article, reliable Persian and English databases including Google Scholar, Pubmed, Scopus, Magiran were searched and articles that studied the effect of nutritional supplements in the treatment of multiple sclerosis were reviewed. Results: The results of the present review study indicated that some nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin A, biotin, as well as omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics may improve disability, reduce disease progression, reduce disease recurrence, improve fatigue and depression in patients. get MS Conclusion: Considering that some nutrients can improve the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in MS patients, a suitable nutritional intervention or following a healthy diet may improve the severity and symptoms of MS and as a Possible complementary treatment should be considered in this disease.

Background: Studies have shown that changes caused by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can not only affect the mental health and self-esteem of these patients, Rather, a positive self-image and high self-esteem are the best predictors of a person with MS. Despite studies on the self-esteem of Mitella patients with MS, few studies have been conducted to discover strategies that affect their self-esteem. Aims: The aim of this study was to discover psychosocial strategies effective in reducing or increasing self-esteem in women with multiple sclerosis. Methods: This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and custom / conventional analysis method in 2020 and 2021 in Tehran. The population or field studied in this study included all available women with MS in Tehran (with confirmation of membership in the Iranian MS Association) in 2020 and the first half of 2021. The research sample was saturated by selecting 11 women with MS using snowball sampling. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used to collect data. Results: Analysis of participants' experiences led to the identification of three main categories of another experience, nurture yourself, grown inhibition for participants with high self-esteem, and 1 main category entitled frustration for participants with low self-esteem. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that women with MS can restore their self-esteem and move towards greater adaptation to the disease by thinking about advancing another life experience, using their remaining resources and accepting and coping with the disease. The findings also suggest that physical despair, over-focusing on the past and being passive in the face of illness can destroy a patient's self-esteem, and ultimately challenge the patient's acceptance and recovery process.

In addition to the destructive effects of MS, there are emotional and psychological problems. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance, commitment and reality therapy based on reducing anxiety sensitivity in women with MS in Urmia. The research design was a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with a control group. The statistical population of this study included women with MS referred to the MS Association of Urmia in 1398, from which a sample of 45 people were selected voluntarily and were divided into two experimental groups and a control group. For the first experimental group, the intervention based on acceptance and commitment was performed, and for the second experimental group, reality therapy was performed, while the control group did not receive any training. The research instruments included Reese and Peterson Anxiety Sensitivity Scale (1985). Both treatments showed an effect on reducing anxiety sensitivity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and the most effective intervention acceptance and commitment (p

Background: People with chronic diseases of the immune system, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), are at risk for Covid-19 disease. However, more research is needed with long-term follow-up. The aim of the study was to follow up people with MS (PwMS) for up to three months after AstraZeneca vaccination for the recurrence of MS and Covid-19 infection. Methods: This study was a case study (descriptive-analytical) of follow-up type. The study population was PwMS over 18 years of age in Kermanshah province who received both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This study was conducted from August to November 2021. Sampling was done with existing methods based on the National MS Registry of Iran (NMSRI). Demographic information of patients was extracted from NMSRI. A researcher-made form was used to collect information by telephone three months after vaccination about clinical characteristics, Covid-19 infection, and recurrence of MS. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 software. Results: Study participants were 40 MS patients with a mean (SD) age of 39.27 (8.8) years, including 32 (80.0%) women. A mean of 9.39 (4.6) years had passed since The patients were diagnosed with MS, and 29 (76.4%) had RR type MS. Four patients (10%) relapsed between the second dose and three months later, of whom two (50%) had sensory symptoms, one (25%) had optic nerve involvement, and one (25%) had motor symptoms and pyramidal pathway involvement. The symptoms of Covid-19 were mild in three patients (10%), while severe symptoms developed in one patient (10%) who received rituximab. Among the patients, no cases of thrombosis were observed. Infusion therapy, a leg fracture, and kidney stones were the only hospitalized cases. Conclusion: Covid-19 and MS relapse prevalence did not differ significantly in the three months before and after vaccination. There is a need for further studies with a longer follow-up period.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based cognitive intervention and a metacognitive intervention on anxiety symptoms and rumination in patients with multiple sclerosis. The method of this study was based on the purpose and research design and was quasi-experimental and pretest-posttest with a control group. For this purpose, among all women with MS under the auspices of MS Association of Mazandaran Province year 2019, residing in Sari, 45 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly divided into three groups (2 intervention groups and one control group). Members of the intervention groups were trained in 8 one-hour sessions. Participants answered the Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) once before the intervention and once after the intervention. Data were then analyzed using SPSS version 26. The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that the difference between the two groups of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and metacognitive therapy on anxiety and rumination was significant (p

Background: Implementing a coherent multidisciplinary self-care program in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) based on their needs can improve their health status. This study was conducted to investigate the self-care education needs in patients with MS from the perspective of experts and patients.Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Neishabour in 2020. A total of 100 participants who were selected by non-probability sampling method participated in this study. Data were collected from two 22-item Likert-based researcher-made questionnaires. The validity of the content of the items was confirmed based on the Waltz and Basel index (CVI > 0.79) and the reliability of the instrument was retested with a correlation coefficient of 0.89. The questionnaires included two sections: demographics and education needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney and t-test).Findings: With regards to the type and method of learning, 52 (86.7%) patients preferred to learn self-care educational materials electronically. According to experts, teaching effective physical exercises was most necessary, while from the patients' point of view, teaching complementary therapies and traditional medicine was most needed. The most important educational priority of patients was about how to overcome sexual problems, while according to experts, education on how to deal with intestinal and urinary disorders and management of weakness and fatigue caused by the disease had the highest priority.Conclusion: The results showed the scope and content of self-care education in patients with M S differed from experts and patients point of view.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. Rituximab (Zytux) is a type of monoclonal antibody against B cells with CD20 antigen that reduces B cells. The present study examined the one-year effectiveness and side effects of Rituximab. Methods: This quasi-experimental clinical trial was conducted from September 2018 to September 2019 in Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. 44 eligible patients were selected by the available sampling method and entered the study after evaluation in terms of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were treated with rituximab for one year. At the beginning of the study and at the end of the year, the disability score based on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and active lesions based on MRI for patients were evaluated. Also, the patients were followed up in terms of relapse and medication side effects throughout the year. This study was performed with the support of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. The data were analyzed by SPSS-25 software. Results: 44 patients with MS including 29 (65.9%) female and 15 (34.1%) male were studied. 22 patients had RRMS and 22 patients had progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS). In patients with RRMS, the EDSS score at the end of the study was significantly reduced compared to the beginning of the study (P=0.010) but in PRMS patients EDSS was increased but this increase was not significant (P=0.148). In both RRMS and PRMS patients, the number of MRI lesions at the end of the study was lower than the beginning of the study and this decrease was not significant (P>0.05). More Immediate side effects occurred in RRMS patients (13.6% vs. 4.5%) and more delayed side effects were observed in PRMS patients (54.5% vs. 36.3%). Conclusion: rituximab caused a greater reduction in EDSS in the treatment of RRMS than PRMS and its use had few side effects.

Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease that increases oxidative stress and causes immune system disorders. Curcumin is the active component of turmeric with anti-inflammatory properties. This study was conducted to determine the effects of curcumin on cortisol, catalase, and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in an animal model of MS. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 30 female Wistar rats. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was chosen as an experimental model of MS. The rats were divided into 3 groups of 10, including a healthy control group, an affected group, and a group treated with curcumin. The disease was induced by immunization of rats with homogenized guinea pig spinal cord and Freund's complete adjuvant. Then, the immunized animals were allocated into two equal groups. Treatment with curcumin (100 mg/kg daily) was started 12 days after the immunization when the rats showed the first symptoms of neurologic disability. The treatment was continued until day 24 post-immunization. Simultaneously, the EAE group received the medicine solvent (distilled water). Finally, the rats' weights as well as cortisol, catalase, and NGF levels were measured in the study groups. Results: Curcumin significantly increased the level of cortisol to a level equal to that of healthy rats (P

Background & Aims: Multiple Sclerosis or MS is one of the most common chronic diseases of the central nervous system, which causes physical changes in the body and limits the performance of patients. Multiple sclerosis or M. S. is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, which leads to this disease being the most common cause of disability in adolescents. This disease leads to many mental disorders in people, among which anxiety thoughts and lack of hope for life and future are more than other negative consequences of this disease. Also, among the complications of this disease, it can be mentioned that the person's performance drops, which affects the way patients play their personal and social roles in their lives. On the other hand, research results show that patients with chronic debilitating diseases such as MS also face other specific problems related to their disease. These problems increase secondary complications and limit independent life and have negative and destructive consequences on patients' lives. This disease and similar chronic debilitating diseases lead to a decrease in the quality of life of patients and create a background for their depression. Depression in these patients generally appears with aggression, irritability, anxiety, sociability, and specific reluctance. Depression is a motivating factor for the deterioration of the patients' disease, and the presence of depression in these people causes biological changes for the patients. Depression in these patients is accompanied by chronic fatigue, reduced quality of life and reduced results of drug treatments. Therefore, knowing the factors related to depression in these patients is one of the most important mental health factors and a productive factor in the disease process. On the other hand, research results show that the prevalence of MS in women is much higher than in men. Research results show that the prevalence of MS in women is 2 to 3 times higher than in men, and this rate is in the age range of 20 to 40 years. Life expectancy is one of the key indicators of human development, which is influenced by factors such as income, education, health and nutrition, and can help patients with chronic and debilitating diseases such as MS in better treatment of their disease. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing anxiety thoughts and life expectancy of women with MS living in Tehran. Methods: The current research can be classified from different dimensions. This research is a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with a control group and using the selection of test and control group subjects. The method of collecting information was library (using books, theses, publications, reliable internet sites, using information) and the method of collecting information was field and questionnaire. The statistical population of the current study includes all women with MS living in Tehran who are members of the MS Association of this city. The sample of the present study was based on the purposeful sampling method and included 30 people with this disease who were randomly divided into two experimental groups including 15 respondents and 15 controls. The collected data are related to the year 2019. The experimental group underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy for 8 1.5- hour sessions, which was not done for the control group. The current research tools include the hope scale of Schneider et al. (1991), which includes the THS Trait Hope Scale (1991), the CHS Children's Hope Scale (1993), the SHS State Hope Scale (1996), and the Wells Anxiety Thinking Scale (1994). Also, Wells' Anxious Thoughts Scale (1994) is a multidimensional tool for assessing worries. The content of this questionnaire was obtained from interviews with patients with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The analysis method in this research was based on multivariate and univariate covariance analysis as well as variance analysis with repeated measurements. Results: The results of the current research, which were obtained from different age groups; So that it includes 20% of the respondents in the age group of 20 to 30 years, 46.67% in the age group of 31 to 40 years, 20% in the age group of 41 to 50 years and 13.33% in the age group of 51 to 60 years. and also, 13.33% of subjects in the control group are in the age group of 20 to 30 years, 40% in the age group of 31 to 40 years, 20% in the age group of 41 to 50 years and 26.67% of the subjects in age group are 51 to 60 years old, it shows that the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing anxiety thoughts and life expectancy in women with MS, a member of the Tehran MS Association, and cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce the negative and destructive consequences of MS. improve S in these patients.. heal and provide the basis for improving their quality of life. In other words, the application of cognitive-behavioral treatment methods based on cognitive strategies in challenging thoughts and inefficient cognitive and behavioral systems through skill training can be effective in improving the life expectancy of women with MS. Cognitive behavioral therapy with the mechanisms it brings is effective in reducing anxiety thoughts and increasing people's life expectancy. In fact, the key concept in the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and its more positive effectiveness than drug therapy is improving anxious thoughts and increasing life expectancy in accepting reality and responsibility for what has happened and the change that should occur. Although these people feel better by taking the drug due to the change in the chemical process related to brain neurotransmitters, they do not consider themselves responsible for this phenomenon. Also, tasks such as functional analysis, skill training and a feeling of mastery and empowerment are created in people, which are effective in increasing the motivation of treatment or at least continuity in treatment and avoiding irrelevant thoughts such as rumination. Therefore, it can be expected that cognitive-behavioral therapy has been able to increase the life expectancy of women with MS. The assumption of the normality of the distribution of the scores of the experimental and control groups in the variables of anxious thoughts, resilience and life expectancy according to the output results of the software, indicates the verifiability of the results. This means the normality of all data in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up comparison groups. Also, the non-significance of Levin's test in most cases, which is equal to (P<0.05), shows that the assumption of homogeneity of variances has been confirmed. Conclusion: The richness of the present study is that patients with MS. They are prone to other diseases in the field of psychology, which we call multifaceted. Institutions related to the affairs of these patients should always consider the consequences of this disease. Therefore, the results of this research show that patients with MS are more likely to suffer from depression, and suffering from depression along with chronic motion sickness, including MS, can overshadow these patients even more. and this affects the quality of life of these patients. Therefore, focusing on resilience and creating sparks of hope and motivation in these patients can increase their vigor and vitality and facilitate the path of disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disease related to the central nervous system, which affects the patients' quality of life. Several factors play the roles of facilitators and inhibitors concerning the life quality of these patients. This study aims to explain the facilitating and inhibiting factors with regard to the life quality of MS patients. Methods: The present study was conducted through a conventional content analysis approach. Through purposive sampling and semi -structured interviews, 18 MS patients referring to the Isfahan MS Association were selected. Data collection continued until data saturation was reached. For data management, MAXQDA -10 software was used. Results: Through content analysis of the interviews, 4 main categories and 15 sub -categories were identified. The main categories included personal facilitators (leisure time and coping strategies), interpersonal facilitators (exercise therapy, social support and social organizations), interpersonal inhibitors (physical problems, psychological disorders, uncertain future, functional limitations, losing job and poverty),and environmental inhibitors (disease and treatment process, caregivers' fatigue, insufficient information about MS, family tensions, and fun and entertainment). Conclusion: According to the results of the current research, by taking measures such as providing educational and psychological services for patients and their caregivers, appropriate insurance coverage, easy access to drugs, especially foreign ones with reasonable tariffs, social and financial support, raising the society's awareness regarding this disease and developing an appropriate urban texture can help to improve the quality of life in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system that can affect the basic sensory and motor systems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of neuromuscular training on motor function, fatigue severity, and quality of life in women with Multiple Sclerosis in Isfahan City. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, women aged 20-40 years with Multiple Sclerosis with an Expanded Disability Status Scale between 2-4 formed the study population, and 20 patients were selected using a simple random sampling method and were randomly divided into experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Initially, both groups participated in a timed up-and-go test and completed questionnaires on the fatigue severity scale and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis. The subjects in the experimental group performed an eight-week training program of neuromuscular that included three sessions per week and each session lasted 50 minutes. After eight weeks, the subjects in the two groups were reevaluated through previous tests. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at the error level of (P<0.05). Results: The results showed that post-tests of motor function, fatigue severity, and quality of life were significantly different between the experimental and control groups of women with multiple sclerosis (P=0.001). Conclusion: Considering the beneficial effects of eight weeks of neuromuscular training, it is recommended that this training be used to better perform daily activities of life, reduce the severity of fatigue, and increase the quality of life and well-being of women 20-40 years old with moderate multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The prevalence of disease is higher in women and it seems that sex hormones, which usually exert their effects through receptors, are involved in susceptibility to MS. Considering the functional role of Alu insertion 306 bp polymorphism of progesterone receptor in expression level of progesterone receptor, in this study, the association of Alu insertion polymorphism in intron 7 of progesterone receptor with the risk of MS was investigated. Materials and methods: In a case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 200 patients (180 women and 20 men) with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and 226 healthy individuals (186 women and 40 men) as a control group. In order to determine the polymorphic genotype of Alu insertion, PCR technique was used and the PCR product was electrophoresed on 2% agarose gel. Data were analyzed in SPSS V21 using logistic regression test. Results: Findings showed that WI (P= 0.003) and II (P= 0.001) genotypes increase the risk of MS compared to WW genotype, and allele I acts as a risk allele (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to this study, it seems that allele I of Alu insertion polymorphism may play a dominant role in susceptibility to MS by decreasing PGR gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Given the increasing number of patients with multiple sclerosis and the psychological complications that affect this group, the present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion-focused therapy for these patients Methods & Materials This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. A total of 45 patients with multiple sclerosis were selected from MS patients in Tehran Clinic, Tehran City, Iran, in 2020. They were randomly divided into three groups: the first group was under treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy, the second group was assigned to the compassion-focused therapy, and the third group was the control. The participants completed the Connor and Davidson resilience questionnaire and the Pennsylvania concern questionnaire in the pretest and post-test stages. The first and second groups participated in eight sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy and ten sessions of compassion-focused therapy, respectively. The control group did not receive any intervention. The post-test was done at the end of the therapy sessions. Data were reported by analysis of covariance. Ethical Considerations This research was approved by the Torbat Jam Branch, Islamic Azad University (Cod: IR.IAU.TJ.REC.1399.012). Results The results of univariate analysis of covariance were obtained at the statistical level of P<0.05. In this regard, F=5.88 for resilience and F=42.60 for anxiety intensity were obtained, which indicated the greater effectiveness of acceptance and commitment treatment. Conclusion Considering the effectiveness of both treatments, it is suggested that these treatments be given more attention to controlling patients’ psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system and most often occurs in people between the ages of 20 to 50 years. Orem's self-care model is one of the models that have had a special approach to human and health care issues. The aim of this study was to review the effect of self-care training based on the Orem model on the burden on caregivers of patients.. Methods. The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 76 main members of the family caring for patients with multiple sclerosis in Bandar Abbas with a pre-test, post-test design and a control group. The study units were randomly selected and divided into two groups of control and intervention. The intervention group was trained according to the Orem training program in patients with amnesia during 6-8 sessions of 40 minutes. In order to assess the burden on caregivers, a 22-item "Zarit" questionnaire was used and a questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention in both groups. The results were analyzed with SPSS software version 26. Results. The difference between the mean of burden before the intervention (44.6 13 13) and after the intervention (33.7 10 10) in the intervention group was significant (P<0.05), which indicated the positive effect of training on decrease in the burden. The increase in the age of the intervention group was associated with an increase in the burden on the caregivers (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the burden on caregivers and the amount of income in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion. Educating the caregiver of these patients can play an important role in reducing the burden on the caregiver during the long period of care. Applying Orem self-care model enables people to play a more active role in their care and treatment, thereby improving self-care, reducing fear and dependence, increasing motivation and self-confidence, and a sense of independence. Practical Implications. Application of research findings in nursing practice, nursing service management and nursing training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]