OBJECTIVE To prospectively characterize the relation between 1-year changes in neurologist ratings of abnormalities as measured by means of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and changes in observations of functional impairment as measured by means of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) in the clinical assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS One hundred twenty p...

BACKGROUND The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) is a multidimensional clinical outcome measure that includes quantitative tests of leg function/ambulation (Timed 25-Foot Walk), arm function (9-Hole Peg Test), and cognitive function (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test). The MSFC is the primary outcome measure in the ongoing multinational phase 3 trial of interferon beta-1a (Avonex...

OBJECTIVE To assess practice effects, and intrarater and interrater reliability of the MS functional composite (MSFC) outcome measure. BACKGROUND To address the poor reliability and insensitivity to change of available MS clinical rating scales, the National MS Society's Clinical Outcomes Assessment Task Force developed the MSFC, a multidimensional quantitative clinical outcome measure that i...

Clinical outcome assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is challenging due to the diversity and fluctuating nature of MS symptoms. Traditional clinical scales such as the EDSS are inadequate in their assessment of key clinical dimensions of MS (e.g. , cognitive function), and they have psychometric limitations as well. Based on analyses of pooled data from natural history studies and from placeb...

With the advent and widespread use of partially effective disease modifying drug therapies for multiple sderosis (MS), future dinical trials will undoubtedly test experimental interventions against standard therapy, or will test combinations of drugs against standard therapy. In either case, incremental progress in slowing disability progression in future MS dinical trials will require much lar...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate concurrent and predictive validity for low-contrast letter acuity (L-CLA) testing as a candidate visual component for the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). METHODS L-CLA testing was conducted in two MS patient cohorts. In the MSFC Validation Study, 137 participants from a Phase III trial of inteferon beta-1a (Avonex) for relapsing-remitting MS were followed...

With the development of deep learning technology and abundance sensors, machine vision applications that utilize vast amounts image/video data are rapidly increasing in autonomous vehicle, video surveillance smart city fields. However, achieving a more compact representation lower latency solutions is challenging for such machine-based applications. Therefore, it essential to develop efficient ...

BACKGROUND Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Compo...

BACKGROUND The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) provides a focused and sensitive evaluation of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that may be more responsive to change than that provided by the Expanded Disability Status Scale. EXPERT CLINICAL OPINION The MSFC is a 3-part quantitative instrument that measures arm, leg, and cognitive function with the 9-Hole Peg ...