Switch from eculizumab to satralizumab in aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case series report.

Objectives: This case series describes adults with aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G-seropositive (AQP4-IgG+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who switched treatment from eculizumab to satralizumab.

Methods: Case information for patients with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD who received satralizumab for ≥6 months was obtained from US healthcare providers from April 2022 to January 2024. Patient characteristics, examination findings, diagnostic test results, treatment response, and adverse events were recorded.

A systematic review of liposomal nanofibrous scaffolds as a drug delivery system: a decade of progress in controlled release and therapeutic efficacy.

Drug-loaded liposomes incorporated in nanofibrous scaffolds is a promising approach as a multi-unit nanoscale system, which combines the merits of both liposomes and nanofibers (NFs), eliminating the drawback of liposomes' poor stability on the one hand and offering a higher potential of controlled drug release and enhanced therapeutic efficacy on the other hand. The current systematic review, which underwent a rigorous search process in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Central (Cochrane) employing (Liposome AND nanofib* AND electrosp*) as search keywords, aims to present the recent studies on using this synergic system for different therapeutic applications. The search was restricted to original, peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2014 and 2024.

Formulation and Development of Nanofiber-Based Ophthalmic Insert for the Treatment of Bacterial Conjunctivitis.

A novel ophthalmic delivery system utilizing levofloxacin-loaded, preservative-free, nanofiber-based inserts was investigated. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Poloxamer 407 (Polox)were employed as matrix materials, while hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was a solubilizer. The formulations were prepared via electrospinning and characterized for fiber morphology, drug dissolution, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity.

Spinal movement disorders in NMOSD, MOGAD, and idiopathic transverse myelitis: a prospective observational study.

Background: Retrospective studies suggest that spinal movement disorders, especially tonic spasms, are prevalent in NMOSD. However, there have been no prospective studies evaluating spinal movement disorders in NMOSD, MOGAD, and idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM).

Methods: Patients referred to a tertiary neuroimmunology clinic for spinal cord demyelination (excluding MS) were evaluated.

Sex ratio and age of onset in AQP4 antibody-associated NMOSD: a review and meta-analysis.

Background: Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an antibody-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. We have undertaken a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the sex ratio and mean age of onset for AQP4 antibody associated NMOSD. We have also explored factors that impact on these demographic data.

Unilateral cortical autoimmune encephalitis: A case series and comparison to late-onset Rasmussen's encephalitis.

Objective: To report a novel anatomical pattern of autoimmune encephalitis characterized by strictly unilateral cortical inflammation and a clinical picture overlapping with late-onset Rasmussen's encephalitis.

Methods: We retrospectively gathered data of patients identified at two tertiary referral academic centers who met inclusion criteria.

Results: We identified twelve cases (average age 65, +/- 19.

Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Bilinguals: What Is the Influence of the Language of Assessment?

Background: Bilingualism's impact on cognitive assessment remains underexplored. This study analyzes the efficacy of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a screening tool for bilinguals, specifically examining the influence of language choice on balanced and unbalanced Lebanese bilinguals (Arabic-French) and its implications for diagnosing cognitive impairment.

Methods: Ninety-three bilingual healthy controls (mean age = 67.

Characterization of neurological morbidity associated with thyroid antibodies: Hashimoto's encephalopathy and beyond.

Background: Hashimoto's Encephalopathy (HE) manifests with various neurologic symptoms associated with elevated thyroglobulin (TG) and/or thyroperoxidase (TPO) antibodies. Some patients with thyroid antibodies exhibit neurological presentations not consistent with HE. This study aims to characterize the spectrum of neurological morbidity in patients with thyroid antibodies.

Utility of the 2023 international MOGAD panel proposed criteria in clinical practice: An institutional cohort.

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a recently defined demyelinating disorder with a rapidly evolving clinical spectrum. Recently, consensus criteria have been proposed (Banwell et al., 2023) to help with disease diagnosis.

Pathological findings in autoimmune encephalitis autopsy specimens from cases of suspected prion disease.

Objective: The underlying pathology of autoimmune encephalitis is not well characterized due to the limited opportunities to study tissue specimens. Autopsy specimens available at prion surveillance centers from patients with suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease offer a unique opportunity to study the pathology of autoimmune encephalitis. Our objective was to describe pathological findings of autoimmune encephalitis specimens submitted to the U.

Verbal fluency in bilingual Lebanese adults: Is the prominent language advantage due to executive processes, language processes, or both?

Although bilingualism is widespread, little data on verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) within bilingualism subtypes and the underlying mechanisms exist. The study's objective was to explore executive and language processes in 10 semantic and letter VFTs and a set of language and executive tests among 100 elderly Arabic-French bilinguals from three bilingualism subgroups: Arabic-dominant, French-dominant, and balanced. We observed a prominent-language advantage for semantic and letter VFTs in French but not for letter VFTs in Arabic.

Predicting the final clinical phenotype after the first attack of optic neuritis.

Background And Objectives: To evaluate the factors determining the final clinical phenotype after an initial isolated attack of optic neuritis (ON). ON could be an isolated event or the initial presentation of a chronic neuroimmunological condition.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients presenting to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center for an initial, isolated attack of ON.

Predictors of hypogammaglobulinemia and serious infections among patients receiving ocrelizumab or rituximab for treatment of MS and NMOSD.

Background And Objectives: Ocrelizumab and rituximab are monoclonal antibodies targeting the CD20 marker on B lymphocytes. The enhanced efficacy of B lymphocyte depleting therapies poses a greater risk of decreased immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. The rate and risk factors of hypogammaglobulinemia in MS and NMOSD patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies are unknown.

Sustained Upregulation of Endothelial Nox4 Mediates Retinal Vascular Pathology in Type 1 Diabetes.

NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in retinal endothelial cells (ECs) and is upregulated under hyperglycemic and hypoxic conditions. However, the role of endothelial Nox4 upregulation in long-term retinal blood vessel damage in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains undefined. Here, we attempted to address this question using humanized EC-specific Nox4 transgenic (hNox4EC-Tg) and EC-specific Nox4 knockout (Nox4EC-KO) mouse models.

Prevalence of iatrogenic CNS inflammation at a tertiary neuroimmunology clinic.

Background: Various vaccines, tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha inhibitors (TNFAIs), immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and other immunomodulators have been linked to inflammatory CNS events. The prevalence of iatrogenic events in the neuroimmunology clinic is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of iatrogenic CNS inflammation in a tertiary neuroimmunology clinic.

Bulbar Symptoms as an Unusual Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report.

Unlabelled: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex multifactorial disease with different clinical manifestations. Bulbar symptoms such as dysarthria and dysphagia are common in MS patients with advanced secondary progressive disease. However, they are not common at disease onset.

Impact on quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: Which urinary symptoms are to blame?

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects, and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the bother caused by these symptoms and subjects' quality of life (QoL).

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 subjects with persistent LUTS secondary to MS who were recruited from the registry of a national NGO, between October 2017 and November 2019. Subjects with a history of any disease besides MS that could otherwise explain the presence of LUTS, as well as those with other neurological conditions were excluded.

Parkinsonism in multiple sclerosis patients: A prospective observational study.

Background: Rare cases of coexisting multiple sclerosis and parkinsonism have been reported in the literature. However, the true prevalence, clinical characteristics, and causal relation between the two entities have not been systematically evaluated.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of parkinsonism in patients with multiple sclerosis and examine the causal relationship, if any.

The humoral response to SARS-COV-2 vaccines in MS patients: A case series exploring the impact of DMT, lymphocyte count, immunoglobulins, and vaccine type.

Background & Objectives: Certain disease modifying therapies may negatively impact the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Many MS related clinical, demographic, and immunological characteristics can also affect vaccine response but those have not been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate potential correlations between clinical, demographic, and immunological variables in MS patients to post-vaccination spike protein antibody positivity rates and levels.