Travelling Ultrasonic Wave Enhances Keyclick Sensation

International audienceA realistic keyclick sensation is a serious challenge for haptic feedback since vibrotactile rendering faces the limitation of the absence of contact force as experienced on physical buttons. It has been shown that creating a keyclick sensation is possible with stepwise ultrasonic friction modulation. However, the intensity of the sensation is limited by the impedance of the fingertip and by the absence of a lateral force component external to the finger. In our study, we compare this technique to rendering with an ultrasonic travelling wave, which exerts a lateral force on the fingertip. For both techniques, participants were asked to report the detection (or not) of a keyclick during a forced choice one interval procedure. In experiment 1, participants could press the surface as many time as they wanted for a given trial. In experiment 2, they were constrained to press only once. The results show a lower perceptual threshold for travelling waves. Moreover, participants pressed less times per trial and exerted smaller normal force on the surface. The subjective quality of the sensation was found similar for both techniques. In general, haptic feedback based on travelling ultrasonic waves is promising for applications without lateral motion of the finger

DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

Assessing the cumulative effects of disease-modifying therapies on the current risk of irreversible disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

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Developing tools to evaluate quality of care management for patients living with multiple sclerosis: An original French initiative

International audienceINTRODUCTION: Assessing the quality of care management for patients with a chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major challenge for healthcare systems around the world. It needs to be carried out using tools that are recognized by professionals and patients alike, and should concern practices, systems, and scientific data. No such tools are currently available in Europe. The purpose of the present study was to develop indicators to contribute to assess the quality of care management for patients with MS in France. METHODS: An expert panel comprising 25 professionals from well known teams across France selected the indicators on the basis of consensus. In accordance with the Rand/UCLA Appropriateness Method, each expert had to agree with the recommendations, and there had to be agreement among the experts. RESULTS: The expert panel selected 48 indicators representing seven domains of care management for patients with MS: physical and rehabilitation medicine, disease progression, access to care, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) management, relapse management, management of disease-modifying treatments, and management of the symptoms of disability progression. Some of these quality indicators (notably pertaining to MRI management) had not previously been identified in the literature. CONCLUSION: These indicators may allow professionals to comprehensively assess and compare their practices and cooperation, thereby contributing to improve the quality of care management for patients with MS in France

Discontinuation of high- versus middle-efficacy disease-modifying treatment in middle-aged patients with multiple sclerosis

International audienceMeeting Abstract EP116338th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-SclerosisAmsterdam, NETHERLANDSOCT 26-28, 202

Activated Tfh1 cells infiltrate the cerebrospinal fluid in early multiple sclerosis

International audienceMeeting Abstract 02

Cost-utility of oral methylprednisolone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis relapses: Results from the COPOUSEP trial

International audienceBackground: Studies have shown that oral high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) is non-inferior to intravenous MP in treating multiple sclerosis relapses in terms of effectiveness and tolerance. In order to assist with resource allocation and decision-making, its cost-effectiveness must also be assessed. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-utility of per os high-dose MP as well as the cost-savings associated with implementing the strategy.Methods: A cost-utility analysis at 28 days was carried out using data from the French COPOUSEP multicenter, double-blind randomized controlled non-inferiority trial and the statutory health insurance reimbursement database. Costs were calculated using a societal perspective, including both direct and indirect costs. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated and bootstrapping methods assessed the uncertainty surrounding the results. An alternative scenario analysis in which MP was administered at home was also carried out. A budgetary impact analysis was carried at five years.Results: In the conditions of the trial (hospitalized patients), there was no significant difference in utilities and costs at 28 days. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €15,360 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. If multiple sclerosis relapses were treated at home, oral MP would be more effective, less costly and associated with annual savings up to 25 million euros for the French healthcare system.Conclusions: Oral MP is cost-effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis relapses and associated with major savings

Harmonious textures: The perceptual dimensions of synthetic sinusoidal gratings

International audienceNatural gratings explored by a finger generate vibratory patterns. These vibrations contain a wide range of frequencies, which include the fundamental spatial frequency of the grating and other (higher) harmonics. In this study, it was proposed to investigate how the fundamental and harmonic frequencies contribute to the perception of a virtual grating presented in the form of spatial pattern of friction force. Using multidimensional scaling methods, we established that the first overtone was the main characteristic used by the participants to identify gratings. When asked to rate the pleasantness to the touch, participants' preferences were for gratings with low spatial frequencies and low amplitudes. These results suggest new ways of creating meaningful, pleasant human-computer interactions in the context of surface-haptic displays