Neutrophils and Multiple Sclerosis

StudyLTCOVID.com

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The primary purpose of this site is to serve as a "Users' Manual" for participants in our study.

To recall, that's a study of those with "long-term" COVID-19 (LTC) and the potential utility of an intervention with light (PBM) in response to that disease entity and its findings.

To better define that "potential utility," tests are done of subjects with presumed LTC, a protocol of intervention is implemented, and tests are subsequently repeated and analyzed, looking for evidence of effectiveness of the intervention.

One such test, looks at neutrophil size and shape as a marker for differences found from control subjects, in those with LTC. That may also include as a variable, brief, moderate exercise to see what that addition adds to understanding.

But the primary focus remains making comparisons that help define the effectiveness (or lack thereof!) of an intervention with light, and as it gets applied in this study.

Not too infrequently, significant differences have appeared in neutrophil findings.

For example, between control subjects and those with LTC who have all used the light in the same way when comparisons are made. The protocol includes several different "same way(s)" if that makes sense, to allow comparisons of interventions that differ somewhat, and in a way considered important for study.

Then, one has a problem. Or if not a problem, an invitation to explain such differences.

Making other comparisons has potential use. Learning from the prior work of others adds interest, and certainly saves on time, effort and expense, compared with "starting over."

In the case of the study of neutrophil characteristics, as has been done and reported on this site, reviewing the literature can provide very useful insights about how neutrophils behave, in various clinical settings of human health and illness.

One example of such a foray was to see how a medication with a long history of use, colchicine, relates to neutrophils and their form and function.

Here, we take the same approach, a literature review, of

multiple sclerosis and neutrophils.

The articles linked to below teach that much can and has been written (quantitatively, as well as works of quality one hopes!). But they also teach that this domaine is rather new, having only recently attracted the full attention it deserves.

If that last statement is true, it can be largely attributed to a new found level of scientific "respect" for neutrophils. Without repeateing explanations given elsewhere, an understanding of neutrophil forms, functions and interactions has moved from very basic (even if important) to much more expansive.

There have been stepping stones. For instance: detailed descriptions of neutrophil "NETS" appearing around 2004. That "new appreciation" at times seems to unfortunately also mean: much more complicated: Puzzle pieces that are hard to place: Trees in the larger Forest, that has yet to be recognized as a completed puzzle.

And, oh yes: one can get lost in the Forest.

And many of these forays lead to desciptions that at present must terminate with an explanation of findings that I phrase as: "Why? We do not know!"

As you have certainly heard: each trip begins with that first step.

We certainly hope to have selected a good destination.

Where do you hope your trip will lead to?

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Some headings will be provided below to help group these references.

The links open a new tab on your system. I could have selected a "click on the back button up top on the left" method of presentation and closure, but didn't. You may have lots of browser windows to close. I hope that inflicts a minimum of suffering.

I will limit any notes or annotations to a rare indication of approval if I think a particular article merits it. Opinions may vary.

I will NOT be providing marginal notes or annotations aimed at summarizing the information provided by each article. I have other demands that I place higher on my list.

Article abstracts usually serve that function if well formulated.

Your primary interest may be different than mine, and as I expressed it above.

If what follows can serve that interest of yours, all the better!

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