scholarly journals A Case of Double Standard: Sex Differences in Multiple Sclerosis Risk Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3696
Author(s):  
Benedetta Angeloni ◽  
Rachele Bigi ◽  
Gianmarco Bellucci ◽  
Rosella Mechelli ◽  
Chiara Ballerini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Double Standard ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Risk ◽  
Hormonal Levels

Multiple sclerosis is a complex, multifactorial, dysimmune disease prevalent in women. Its etiopathogenesis is extremely intricate, since each risk factor behaves as a variable that is interconnected with others. In order to understand these interactions, sex must be considered as a determining element, either in a protective or pathological sense, and not as one of many variables. In particular, sex seems to highly influence immune response at chromosomal, epigenetic, and hormonal levels. Environmental and genetic risk factors cannot be considered without sex, since sex-based immunological differences deeply affect disease onset, course, and prognosis. Understanding the mechanisms underlying sex-based differences is necessary in order to develop a more effective and personalized therapeutic approach.

scholarly journals A logistic regression analysis of risk factors in ME/CFS pathogenesis

BMC Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana M. Lacerda ◽  
Keith Geraghty ◽  
Caroline C. Kingdon ◽  
Luigi Palla ◽  
Luis Nacul
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Family History ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease, whose exact cause remains unclear. A wide range of risk factors has been proposed that helps understanding potential disease pathogenesis. However, there is little consistency for many risk factor associations, thus we undertook an exploratory study of risk factors using data from the UK ME/CFS Biobank participants. We report on risk factor associations in ME/CFS compared with multiple sclerosis participants and healthy controls. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 269 people with ME/CFS, including 214 with mild/moderate and 55 with severe symptoms, 74 people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 134 healthy controls, who were recruited from primary and secondary health services. Data were collected from participants using a standardised written questionnaire. Data analyses consisted of univariate and multivariable regression analysis (by levels of proximity to disease onset). Results A history of frequent colds (OR = 8.26, P <= 0.001) and infections (OR = 25.5, P = 0.015) before onset were the strongest factors associated with a higher risk of ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Being single (OR = 4.41, P <= 0.001), having lower income (OR = 3.71, P <= 0.001), and a family history of anxiety is associated with a higher risk of ME/CFS compared to healthy controls only (OR = 3.77, P < 0.001). History of frequent colds (OR = 6.31, P < 0.001) and infections before disease onset (OR = 5.12, P = 0.005), being single (OR = 3.66, P = 0.003) and having lower income (OR = 3.48, P = 0.001), are associated with a higher risk of ME/CFS than MS. Severe ME/CFS cases were associated with lower age of ME/CFS onset (OR = 0.63, P = 0.022) and a family history of neurological illness (OR = 6.1, P = 0.001). Conclusions Notable differences in risk profiles were found between ME/CFS and healthy controls, ME/CFS and MS, and mild-moderate and severe ME/CFS. However, we found some commensurate overlap in risk associations between all cohorts. The most notable difference between ME/CFS and MS in our study is a history of recent infection prior to disease onset. Even recognising that our results are limited by the choice of factors we selected to investigate, our findings are consistent with the increasing body of evidence that has been published about the potential role of infections in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS, including common colds/flu.

scholarly journals Physical activity is associated with a decreased multiple sclerosis risk: The EnvIMS study

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Wesnes ◽  
Kjell-Morten Myhr ◽  
Trond Riise ◽  
Marianna Cortese ◽  
Maura Pugliatti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Outdoor Activity ◽  
Early Disease ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Risk ◽  
Control Study

Background: The lifestyle factors smoking and obesity have been associated with the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Physical activity (PA) may also be of importance. Objective: To examine the association between PA and MS risk in Italy, Norway, and Sweden and to evaluate the possible influence by established risk factors. Methods: In this case–control study, 1904 cases and 3694 controls were asked to report their average weekly amounts of light and vigorous PA during adolescence on a scale ranging from none to more than 3 hours activity. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Vigorous PA was inversely associated with MS risk in the pooled analysis ( p-trend < 0.001) with an age- and sex-adjusted OR of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63–0.87) when comparing the highest and lowest levels. Adjusting for outdoor activity, infectious mononucleosis, body size, and smoking yielded similar results. The association was present in all countries and was not affected by exclusion of patients with early disease onset. Light PA was not associated with the risk of MS. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that vigorous PA can modify the risk of developing MS independent of established risk factors.

Shared breastfeeding & other early multiple sclerosis risk factors: A case-control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 102812
Author(s):  
Nuha M. Alkhawajah ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Yafa A. Alshamlan ◽  
Mohammad Osama Almohaini ◽  
Ghadah A. Aleissa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Risk ◽  
Control Study

Haemostatic Genetic Risk Factors in Arterial Thrombosis

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (07) ◽  
pp. 374-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Simmonds ◽  
José Hermida ◽  
Suely Rezende ◽  
David Lane
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Genetic Polymorphism ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Arterial Thrombosis ◽  
Membrane Glycoprotein ◽  
Thrombotic Disease ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Technical Simplicity ◽  
Digital Nature

SummaryHaemostasis plays an integral role in arterial thrombotic disease. However, establishing which of the factors are risk factors has proven surprisingly difficult. Because of its technical simplicity and digital nature, the study of haemostatic polymorphisms as risk factors has grown in popularity. Once established as a risk factor, a genetic polymorphism has the potential to aid selective prophylaxis and therapy of disease. Numerous reports have now been published on polymorphisms of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors, of coagulation and fibrinolytic inhibitory proteins, and of platelet membrane glycoprotein receptors. This article describes the polymorphisms and evaluates the results of these studies using the premises of consistency of within-report genotype/phenotype/disease relationships and consistency of outcome between studies. Many studies have been only of association between polymorphisms and disease, a type of study that is prone to error. Furthermore, the collective outcome of these studies has primarily been inconsistent. It is concluded that despite the early promise of polymorphisms as risk factors, fresh approaches differing in scale and design are now required to clarify their possible importance.

scholarly journals Analytical epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1S) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
L. B. Tlapshokova ◽  
A. R. Zikhova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Scarlet Fever ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Place Of Residence ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Republic

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disease, which etiology includes a complex of genetic and environmental factors. Data suggests that their interaction can influence the age of the clinical manifestations and the course of the disease. Therefore, the study of risk factors of MS in regions with different ethnic compositions of the population and climatic and geographical characteristics is of considerable interest.Objective: to study MS risk factors prevalence in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria (RKB).Patients and methods. This case-control study of the representation of risk factors included a cohort of 112 MS patients living in two regions of the RKB (Nalchik and the Prokhladnensky district). The MS diagnosis was established with the McDonald criteria (2017). MS risk factors were assessed with a unified questionnaire. 112 respondents (matched by the main demographic characteristics and place of residence) were included in the control group.Results and discussion. MS patients from the Prokhladnensky district were significantly more likely to contact harmful chemical compounds, had higher consumption of smoked meat products; and suffered from viral infections more often (all differences were significant, p<0.05). More patients with MS, regardless of their place of residence, had a history of scarlet fever than the controls (n=23; 19.5% and n=14; 13.4%, ratio indicator 0.43 (95% CI 0.32–1.01), p=0.041), and the maximum significance of this factor was found in patients who suffered from scarlet fever after the age of 15 years (n=7; 6.3% and n=1; 0.9%, ratio indicator 2.45 (95% CI 1.92–3.21), p=0.041). More patients with MS had a history of chickenpox (n=70; 62.5% and n=55; 41.1%; ratio indicator 0.78 (95% CI 0.65–0.94, p=0.032), the frequency of this factor was most significant in early (up to 7 years) disease onset. Regardless of the place of residence, patients with MS were more likely to suffer from tonsillitis and sinusitis in childhood (p=0.032).Conclusion. In the RKB, as in other regions of the Russian Federation, the risk of MS, along with a genetic predisposition, is primarily determined by environmental factors, such as contact with potentially harmful chemicals, history of somatic diseases, characteristics of the ecological situation, etc. Therefore, MS risk is higher in people exposed to these factors before the age of 7 years and does not depend on the place of residence. 

Body size and the risk of multiple sclerosis in Norway and Italy: The EnvIMS study

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Wesnes ◽  
Trond Riise ◽  
Ilaria Casetta ◽  
Jelena Drulovic ◽  
Enrico Granieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Population Based ◽  
The Body ◽  
Outdoor Activity ◽  
Control Study

Background: Obesity may be a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: We examined if body size influences the risk of MS in a population-based, case control study. Methods: A total of 953 cases and 1717 controls from Norway and 707 cases and 1333 controls from Italy reported their body size by choosing a silhouette 1 to 9 (largest) every fifth year from age 5 to 30 and at time of study. The body size-related MS risk was defined by odds ratios (ORs) in logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, smoking and outdoor activity. Results: In Norway a large body size (silhouettes 6–9) compared to silhouette 3 increased the risk of MS, especially at age 25 (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.09–4.46 for men and OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.90–2.27 for women). When comparing silhouette 9 to 1, we found a significant dose-response from age 10 until age 30 peaking at age 25 (sex-adjusted OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.68–4.78). The association was present for at least 15 years prior to disease onset. No significant associations were found in Italy. Conclusions: Obesity from childhood until young adulthood is a likely risk factor for MS with a seemingly stronger effect in Norway than in Italy.

Assessment of The Influence of Non-Genetic Risk Factors on The Disease Onset and Progression of Androgenetic Alopecia in Egyptian Males

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naziha Hafez Khafagy ◽  
Marwa Yassin Soltan ◽  
Ahmed Adel Ali Ali
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hair Loss ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Androgenetic Alopecia ◽  
Major Type ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a patterned hair loss with multifactorial background including genetic, hormonal as well as environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors. The impact of non-genetic risk factors on the onset and disease progression of androgenetic alopecia in Egyptian males. Objective To explore the potential role of non-genetic risk factors on the disease development and progression of androgenetic alopecia in Egyptian males. Patients and Methods The study included 2000 subjects with and without AGA, during the period from February 2019 to September 2019. The study protocol was approved by faculty of medicine, Ain Sham University, Research ethics committee (FWA 000017585). An informed written consent for participation in this study was obtained from patients and controls before enrollment. One thousand male patients with AGA were recruited in the study. The diagnosis was made via clinical diagnosis, dermatological findings, trichoscopic assessment. Results Our study showed that after skin examination 416 patients had acne and 344 patients had seborrhea, with statistically significant association to AGA cases. Conclusion From our study, it can be concluded that AGA became a major type of hair loss complaint among Egyptian males especially young males. Many potential risk factors were found to be associated with the disease as smoking, stress, obesity, family history, exercise, HTN and unbalanced diet. Avoidance of such risk factors may help improve the disease.

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