Journal ArticleDOI
Environmental factors and multiple sclerosis
TLDR
Studies in Canada have provided strong evidence that environmental factors act at a population level to influence the unusual geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis, but the available data accommodate more than one type of environmental effect.Abstract:
Studies in Canada have provided strong evidence that environmental factors act at a population level to influence the unusual geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the available data accommodate more than one type of environmental effect. Migration studies show that changes to early environment can greatly affect risk, and there are recent indications that risk can be altered in situ. The rising incidence rates of MS in Canada implied by longitudinal increases in sex ratio place this effect in temporal context and narrow the candidates for mediating the effect of environment. Similarly, geographical patterns in Australia imply that modifiable environmental factors hold the key to preventing some 80% of cases. Genetic epidemiology provides overwhelming evidence that genetic background has an important complementary role. If genetic factors are held constant, the environment sets the disease threshold. Although these could be independent additive risk factors, it seems more likely that susceptibility is mediated by direct interactions between the environment and genes.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
The Changing Demographic Pattern of Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology
TL;DR: The literature search and meta-regression analyses indicated an almost universal increase in prevalence and incidence of MS over time; they challenge the well accepted theory of a latitudinal gradient of incidence in Europe and North America, while this gradient is still apparent for Australia and New Zealand; and suggest a general, although not ubiquitous, increase in incidence ofMS in females.
Journal ArticleDOI
A ChIP-seq defined genome-wide map of vitamin D receptor binding: associations with disease and evolution.
Sreeram V. Ramagopalan,Andreas Heger,Antonio J. Berlanga,Narelle J. Maugeri,Matthew R. Lincoln,Amy M Burrell,Lahiru Handunnetthi,Adam E. Handel,Giulio Disanto,S M Orton,Corey T. Watson,Julia M. Morahan,Gavin Giovannoni,Chris P. Ponting,George C. Ebers,Julian C. Knight +15 more
TL;DR: ChIP-seq determination of transcription factor binding, in combination with GWA data, provides a powerful approach to further understanding the molecular bases of complex diseases.
Journal ArticleDOI
Expression of the Multiple Sclerosis-Associated MHC Class II Allele HLA-DRB1*1501 Is Regulated by Vitamin D
Sreeram V. Ramagopalan,Narelle J. Maugeri,Lahiru Handunnetthi,Lahiru Handunnetthi,Matthew R. Lincoln,Matthew R. Lincoln,S M Orton,S M Orton,David A. Dyment,David A. Dyment,Gabriele C. DeLuca,Gabriele C. DeLuca,Blanca M. Herrera,Blanca M. Herrera,Michael J. Chao,Michael J. Chao,A. Dessa Sadovnick,George C. Ebers,George C. Ebers,Julian C. Knight +19 more
TL;DR: In this article, a single MHC vitamin D response element (VDRE) was found to interact with inherited factors and sought responsive regulatory elements in the MHC class II region.
Journal ArticleDOI
Regulatory T Cells in the Control of Host-Microorganism Interactions*
TL;DR: This review describes various situations in which the balance between regulatory T cells and effector immune functions influence the outcome of host-microorganism coexistence and discusses current hypotheses and points of polemic associated with the origin, target, and antigen specificity of both endogenous and induced Regulatory T cells during these interactions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Europe: a systematic review.
Elaine Kingwell,James J. Marriott,Nathalie Jette,Tamara Pringsheim,Naila Makhani,Sarah A. Morrow,John D. Fisk,John D. Fisk,Charity Evans,Sarah Gabrielle Beland,Sophie Kulaga,Jonathan Dykeman,Christina Wolfson,Marcus W. Koch,Ruth Ann Marrie +14 more
TL;DR: Despite the breadth of the literature on the epidemiology of MS in Europe, inter-study comparisons are hampered by the lack of standardization and further research should focus on regions not yet studied and the evaluation of ethnic differences in MS prevalence and incidence.
References
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Book
The history and geography of human genes
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Journal ArticleDOI
The History and Geography of Human Genes.
Journal ArticleDOI
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TL;DR: Stochasticity in gene expression can provide the flexibility needed by cells to adapt to fluctuating environments or respond to sudden stresses, and a mechanism by which population heterogeneity can be established during cellular differentiation and development.
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Interferon beta-1b is effective in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. II. MRI analysis results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
D. W. Paty,David Kb Li +1 more
TL;DR: The MRI results demonstrate that IFNB has made a significant impact on the natural history of MS in these patients and support the clinical results in showing a significant reduction in disease activity as measured by numbers of active scans and appearance of new lesions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that high circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.
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