COVID-19 risk factors and outcomes in individuals with stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders before and after omicron.

Background: Stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders (SPSD) are rare, disabling disorders of the nervous system that are associated with risk factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, limited data exist on the overall impact of COVID-19 on SPSD.

Methods: Patients with SPSD and COVID-19 who are followed at Johns Hopkins SPS Center were included.

Structural MRI measures are associated with fatigue severity and persistence in a large, real-world cohort of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Results of research on radiological hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue have been conflicting.

Objective: To investigate the associations of lesion and brain compartment volumes with fatigue severity and persistence in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Methods: The Multiple Sclerosis Partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS) network collects standardized data during routine care of PwMS from 10 healthcare institutions.

Expanding clinical profiles and prognostic markers in stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of a cohort of individuals with stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders (SPSD) and identify potential early predictors of future disability.

Background: There is a need to better understand the full spectrum of clinical and paraclinical features and long-term impact of SPSD.

Design/methods: Observational study from 1997 to 2022 at Johns Hopkins.

Early Aggressive Treatment Approaches for Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose Of Review: This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the current high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) available for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). We discuss the existing approved and emerging therapeutics in patients with relapsing and progressive forms of MS using data from clinical trials and observational studies. Treatment considerations in pediatric and pregnant populations are also reviewed.

MOG antibody disease: A review of MOG antibody seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

MOG antibody disease is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system associated with a serological antibody against MOG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. MOG is a glycoprotein expressed on the outer membrane of myelin and solely found within the central nervous system, including in the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. Clinically, the disease resembles neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in the predilection for relapses of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis.

Exosomal microRNA predicts and protects against severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely premature infants.

Premature infants are at high risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), characterized by chronic inflammation and inhibition of lung development, which we have recently identified as being modulated by microRNAs (miRNAs) and alterations in the airway microbiome. Exosomes and exosomal miRNAs may regulate cell differentiation and tissue and organ development. We discovered that tracheal aspirates from infants with severe BPD had increased numbers of, but smaller, exosomes compared with term controls.

Insufficient treatment of severe depression in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Objective: To investigate depression frequency, severity, current treatment, and interactions with somatic symptoms among patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: In this dual-center observational study, we included 71 patients diagnosed with NMOSD according to the International Panel for NMO Diagnosis 2015 criteria. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was classified into severe, moderate, or minimal/no depressive state category.

A novel gene, lstC, of Listeria monocytogenes is implicated in high salt tolerance.

Listeria monocytogenes, causative agent of human listeriosis, has been isolated from a wide variety of foods including deli meats, soft cheeses, cantaloupes, sprouts and canned mushrooms. Standard control measures for restricting microbial growth such as refrigeration and high salt are often inadequate as L. monocytogenes grows quite well in these environments.

Predictors of recurrence following an initial episode of transverse myelitis.

Objective: This study sought to identify factors that increased the risk of recurrence after an initial transverse myelitis (TM) presentation.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 192 patients initially presenting with TM of unknown etiology. Patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during the first myelitis episode were excluded.

Evaluation of a serotyping scheme using a combination of an antibody-based serogrouping method and a multiplex PCR assay for identifying the major serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes.

To evaluate a simplified serotyping scheme, we used a combination of an antibody-based serogrouping assay that identified only type 1 and type 4 strains and a multiplex PCR-based serogrouping assay to analyze 362 L. monocytogenes isolates collected over more than 20 years. The multiplex PCR assay also incorporated a set of primers specific for L.