Characteristics of childhood-type multiple sclerosis Recently, some foreign scholars screened 111 pediatric patients with onset of disease <16 years of age from 2,068 patients with multiple sclerosis, and analyzed their clinical characteristics including symptoms, time points of reaching the Expanded Disability Scale (EDSS) of 4.0 (assisted able to walk), 6.0 (needing a wheelchair for mobility), and 8.0 (bed-ridden), and evolving into the secondary progressive phenotype, and compared it with the adult patients. Comparison. There were no differences in sex ratio, incidence in families, relapse rate, religion, or clinical presentation. Primary progressive MS is relatively rare in children, about 0.9%, and in adults, 8.5%. The timing of second relapses varies. The mean time between second relapses was 5 years in children and 2 years in adults; the time to evolve into secondary progressive MS differed significantly between the two groups, taking 32 years in children and 18 years in adults. The time to reach disability scale scores 4, 6, and 8 was 23.8, 30.8, and 44.7 years in children and 15.5, 20.4, and 39 years in adults, respectively. Note: How about adherence to treatment? My patient has has been 13 years and living as normal. Multiple Sclerosis Relapses and Depression Recently, a study investigated the relationship between multiple sclerosis and depression. They collected 132 consecutive patients in an outpatient clinic, with clinical data including the Extended Disability Scale (EDSS), depression and anxiety symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) recorded at the time of relapse, and 2 and 6 months after relapse. Findings: Depression (scores over 8) occurred in 44.5% during relapse, decreased to 29.2% at 2 months, and returned to 34.4% at 6 months. This shows a low prevalence of depression after relapse compared to at relapse. That is, the likelihood of depression was higher during the relapse period, and depression improved as the disability improved. Even so, there was a high prevalence of depression during follow-up. This suggests that once depression occurs, symptoms of depression may persist for a long time. Implementing psychological interventions may benefit the patient. Note: Happiness is also life and misery is also life, so why torture yourself. Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy: a summary of experience from a German-wide data base Recently German scholars summarized national data to investigate the problems associated with multiple sclerosis and pregnancy. A total of 78 patients were collected who conceived during interferon use, 41 patients who conceived with acetylgranuloma, and 216 patients who conceived without medication. As has been previously demonstrated, drug-free patients had a reduced recurrence rate during pregnancy and an increased recurrence rate after delivery. In contrast, there were no significant changes in patients using either drug. The incidence of congenital anomalies in patients using the drugs was within the normal range. A total of 170 patients practiced self-lactation, and patients with complete self-lactation had a significantly lower rate of recurrence in the first 3 months postpartum compared with those with partial lactation and those with absolutely no lactation in their polyposis. The authors concluded that complete breastfeeding may result in a lower recurrence rate in patients, and that interferon and acetylgranuloma may not increase the risk of teratogenesis. Note: Breastfeeding may reduce the relapse rate. Effective Treatment of Cerebellar Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis Recently, a group of patients with severe cerebellar tremor (unsteady shaking of the hands when moving) were treated with paraprofen (a drug used to treat epilepsy). 10 patients were started on paraprofen at a dose of 31.5 mg, which was gradually increased to a maximum dose of 750 mg. Efficacy was evaluated using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, a 9-point scale, and a 9-point scale. scale (ADL), 9-hole pile test, and Fahn tremor rating scale. The scoring was done at the beginning of the medication (baseline) and at weeks 6 and 12 after the medication, respectively. The results were: functional status improved after treatment in either the dominant or nondominant hand; ADL scores decreased from 51.8 at baseline to 36.8 after 12 weeks; tremor scores decreased from 14.8 at baseline to 9.5 after 12 weeks; there was a statistically significant difference between the two tests, which was not reached after 6 weeks of medication use, despite the improvement in the 9-hole test. Note: The drug is not available domestically. A patient contacted a friend to buy it abroad, and because it is a prescription drug, it requires a domestic notary to be available.