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Neuroimaging & ElectrophysiologyIMSVISUAL Consortium

OCT

Optical Coherence Tomography (Retinal pRNFL & GCIPL Neuroaxonal Thickness)

光干渉断層計(OCT:網膜神経線維層 pRNFL・神経節細胞層 GCIPL 定量イメージング)

High-resolution near-infrared interferometric imaging of unmyelinated retinal axons (pRNFL) and ganglion cell neurons (GCIPL), serving as a non-invasive 'window into CNS neurodegeneration' in MS.
Target CNS Conditions:Multiple SclerosisAlzheimer's & DementiaParkinson's & MovementBroad CNS / Neuroimaging

1. Biological & Technical Mechanism

Spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) generates cross-sectional tomograms of the retina at 3–5 μm axial resolution. Because retinal ganglion cell axons in the peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (pRNFL) lack myelin sheaths inside the eye before becoming myelinated past the lamina cribrosa in the optic nerve, thinning of the pRNFL and macular Ganglion Cell–Inner Plexiform Layer (GCIPL) provides a pure, unconfounded structural readout of neuroaxonal and neuronal loss—free from myelin edema or gliosis.

日本語での専門解説 (Japanese Reference):

光干渉断層計(OCT)は、近赤外光の干渉を利用して網膜の各層構造を数マイクロメートルの空間分解能で非侵襲的に断層撮像する技術です。視神経乳頭周囲の網膜神経線維層(pRNFL)は、眼球を出た後に視神経として髄鞘化される前の「無髄の純粋な中枢神経軸索」で構成されており、また黄斑部の神経節細胞・内網状層(GCIPL)は中枢ニューロン細胞体そのものを反映します。そのため、pRNFL(基準値約95��100μm、年間変化量約-0.5〜-1.5μm/年)およびGCIPLの菲薄化を計測することで、ミエリンの浮腫やグリオーシスの影響を受けずに純粋な軸索・神経細胞脱落速度を定量できます。

2. Open Science & Clinical Trial Significance

Adopted into the 2024 McDonald Criteria (inter-eye pRNFL/GCIPL asymmetry for optic nerve dissemination in space) and widely used as a primary outcome in remyelination and neuroprotection trials.

日本語での臨床・データ活用文脈 (Japanese Context):

2024年改訂マクドナルド診断基準において視神経病変(第5領域)を証明する客観的検査(左右眼のGCIPL/pRNFL厚非対称性)として正式採用されたほか、再髄鞘化・神経保護治験やIMSVISUAL国際オープンコンソーシアムで標準評価指標として活用されています。

Related Neuroscience Terms & Standards

McDonald Criteria — McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis (2017 / 2024 Revisions)

International consensus diagnostic framework integrating clinical attacks, MRI topography (Dissemination in Space/Time, optic nerve, CVS, PRLs), and CSF oligoclonal bands to diagnose MS.

PIRA — Progression Independent of Relapse Activity

Irreversible accumulation of neurological disability occurring outside of clinical relapses, driven by diffuse smoldering neuroinflammation, chronic active lesions, and neuroaxonal loss in MS.

EDSS — Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale

Standard 0.0–10.0 ordinal clinical rating scale quantifying neurological disability across 8 functional systems and ambulation capacity in Multiple Sclerosis.

NfL — Neurofilament Light Chain (Plasma / CSF NfL)

Axonal cytoskeletal protein released into CSF and blood upon neuroaxonal injury; a cross-disease biomarker of neurodegeneration rate in ALS, MS, AD, and FTD.

GFAP — Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (Serum / CSF Astrocyte Biomarker)

Intermediate filament protein of astrocytes released into CSF and blood during reactive astrogliosis; tracks smoldering PIRA progression in MS and amyloid-induced astrocytic reactivity in Alzheimer's.

Open Datasets & Research Publications Related to OCT

Open DatasetDANDI Archive

Dandiset 001537: Capillaries susceptible to frequent stall dynamics revealed by comparing OCT and Bessel-2PM measurements

BRAIN Initiative neurophysiology dataset deposited to DANDI Archive.

7/21/2025View Deep Brief →
Clinical Trial & PipelineMS Data Alliance

MSDA: COVID19 GDSI LocalDashboard - Federated MS Data Toolkit

Official open-source repository and tool for Multiple Sclerosis federated research and data harmonization under MS-DATA-ALLIANCE.

7/31/2022View Deep Brief →
Clinical Trial & PipelineMS Data Alliance

Global Data Sharing Initiative (GDSI): Containerized Federated Analysis Pipeline for MS Registries

International federated research initiative and containerized query framework allowing participating national MS registries to analyze disease-modifying therapy (DMT) safety, anti-CD20 outcomes, and PIRA progression without transferring identifiable patient data.

6/15/2026View Deep Brief →
PreprintmedRxiv (Neurology)

CNM-Au8 Treatment Is Associated With Reduced Chronic Lesion Tissue Expansion in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

BackgroundCNM-Au8, a catalytic nanocrystalline gold suspension, is proposed to support neuronal bioenergetics, but its effect on chronic lesion evolution in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been reported. ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of CNM-Au8 on chronic lesion tissue expansion (CLTE). Results...

9/25/2026View Deep Brief →
Peer-Reviewed PaperEurope PMC

Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Factors in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review

Research article from Europe PMC.

9/17/2026View Deep Brief →
Database / PortalMS Data Alliance

MSDA Core Dataset (CDS): Standardized Global Real-World Data Harmonization Framework for Multiple Sclerosis

The MSDA Core Dataset (CDS) establishes a 44-variable international harmonization schema mapped to the OMOP Common Data Model, enabling privacy-preserving federated analytics across global Multiple Sclerosis registries.

8/12/2026View Deep Brief →

Disclaimer: This encyclopedia entry is intended for academic neuroscience research and data science reference only, and does not constitute medical advice.

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