Retraction Notice to "New relapse of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica as a potential adverse event of AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccination for COVID-19" [Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 57 (2022) 103321].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal).

Depression and sedentary behaviour in women with multiple sclerosis.

Depression affects around 50% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) during their lifetime. PwMS are typically less physically active and spend twice as much time engaging in sedentary behaviour compared to the general population. Therefore, a better understanding of the factors associated with depression in pwMS, as well as the relationship between depression and sedentary behaviour and physical activity, is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies MS treatment.

Cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 N protein in Central and West Africa precedes the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early predictions forecasted large numbers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) cases and associated deaths in Africa. To date, Africa has been relatively spared. Various hypotheses were postulated to explain the lower than anticipated impact on public health in Africa.

New relapse of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica as a potential adverse event of AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccination for COVID-19.

We report on nine patients (eight cases of MS and one case of NMOSD) who presented a disease relapse in close temporal association with their first AZD1222 vaccination dose against COVID-19. These patients had been stable for a median period of six years, with no evidence of disease activity and no change in their medication. After a median of 13 days (7 to 25 days) from vaccination, they developed a new relapse with increased disability and new lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.

Recommendations by the Scientific Department of Neuroimmunology of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (DCNI/ABN) and the Brazilian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases (BCTRIMS) on vaccination in general and specifically against SARS-CoV-2 for patients with demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system.

The Scientific Department of Neuroimmunology of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (DCNI/ABN) and Brazilian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases (BCTRIMS) provide recommendations in this document for vaccination of the population with demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) against infections in general and against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. We emphasize the seriousness of the current situation in view of the spread of COVID-19 in our country. Therefore, reference guides on vaccination for clinicians, patients, and public health authorities are particularly important to prevent some infectious diseases.

Depression and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon-beta or fingolimod: Role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Depression/anxiety (D/A) occurs in up to 50% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Proinflammatory cytokines induce classical symptoms of depression. Activation of the inflammatory response also triggers production of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which catabolizes tryptophan, the amino acid precursor of serotonin and melatonin.

Effects of hippotherapy on postural balance, functional mobility, self-perceived fatigue, and quality of life in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Secondary results of an exploratory clinical trial.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in worsening of postural balance, functional mobility, and self-perceived fatigue as influences of quality of life.

Objective: To examine the effects of hippotherapy on postural balance, functional mobility, self-perceived fatigue, and quality of life in people with MS.

Methods: Participants were assigned into a hippotherapy intervention group (n= 17) or a control group (n= 16).

The impact of physical functions on depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system. The impact of MS transcends physical functions and extends to psychological impairment. Approximately 50% of people with MS develop depressive symptoms during their lifetime and depressive symptoms may predict impairment of physical functions.

Efficacy outcomes reported in trials of multiple sclerosis: A systematic scoping review.

Background: This study aimed to map the outcome measures of clinical efficacy reported in Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) to evaluate disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS).

Methods: A systematic scoping review was performed to identify RCT that assessed the efficacy of DMT in adult patients with RMS. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and The Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials and complemented by manual search.

Effect of hippotherapy on walking performance and gait parameters in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Walking dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an 8-week hippotherapy intervention on walking performance and spatiotemporal gait parameters in people with relapsing-remitting MS; and to examine whether the effects of hippotherapy on walking performance are mediated by changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters.

Methods: Participants were assigned into a hippotherapy intervention group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 16).

Migraine in 746 patients with multiple sclerosis.

Migraine adds to the burden of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The ID-migraine is a useful tool for screening migraine, and the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire can evaluate disease burden. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence and burden of migraine in patients with MS.

From Charcot's descriptions to the current understanding of neuropsychiatric symptoms in multiple sclerosis.

Neuropsychiatric disorders in multiple sclerosis have been known since the original clinicopathological description by Charcot in the late nineteenth century. Charcot, in the last decades of his life, became involved in the field of neuropsychiatry. This produced a battle between rival schools in the era that still echoes to this day.

Late Onset of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. NMOSD starting after the age of 50 years is considered a "late onset" (LO-NMOSD) and seems to be particularly aggressive. The objective of this paper is to present a series of 37 Brazilian patients with LO-NMOSD.

Validation of the Brazilian version of the patient-determined disease steps scale in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The present study translated and adapted the Brazilian version of the Patient-Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale and tested its validity and reproducibility in Brazilian persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: The PDDS underwent translation and back-translation procedures for producing a Brazilian Portuguese version of the PDDS (PDDS/BR). Sixty-three patients with MS (48 females) completed the PDDS/BR and underwent a neurological examination for generation of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.

Clinical characteristics of 153 Brazilian patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Background: The 2015 criteria for diagnosing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have encouraged several groups across the world to report on their patients using these criteria. The disease typically manifests with severe relapses of optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive myelitis and/or brainstem syndromes, often leading to severe disability. Some patients are seropositive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), others are positive for anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), while a few are negative for both biomarkers.

Brazilian Consensus for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: Brazilian Academy of Neurology and Brazilian Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

The expanding therapeutic arsenal in multiple sclerosis (MS) has allowed for more effective and personalized treatment, but the choice and management of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is becoming increasingly complex. In this context, experts from the Brazilian Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and the Neuroimmunology Scientific Department of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology have convened to establish this Brazilian Consensus for the Treatment of MS, based on their understanding that neurologists should be able to prescribe MS DMTs according to what is better for each patient, based on up-to-date evidence and practice. We herein propose practical recommendations for the treatment of MS, with the main focus on the choice and management of DMTs, as well as present a review of the scientific rationale supporting therapeutic strategies in MS.

High levels of alexithymia in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Unlabelled: Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties identifying and describing feelings. Some researchers describe high levels of alexithymia among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) but literature data on this subject are scarce.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to characterize findings of alexithymia in patients with MS.

Knee flexor strength and balance control impairment may explain declines during prolonged walking in women with mild multiple sclerosis.

Background: Physiological factors such as muscle weakness and balance could explain declines in walking distance by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize levels and examine associations among decline in walking distance, balance and muscular strength in women with mild MS.

Methods: Participants included 28 women with mild relapsing-remitting MS and 21 women without MS.

Correlation of clinical findings and brain volume data in multiple sclerosis.

Brain volume measurements are becoming an important tool for assessing success in controlling multiple sclerosis (MS) activity. MSmetrix (icometrix) is an easy-to-use platform, specific for MS magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. It provides data on total brain volume, grey matter volume and lesion load volume.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare and possibly underdiagnosed disorder.

Methods: Series of cases collected from Brazilian centers.

Results: We studied 13 cases of patients presenting with progressive histories of neurological dysfunction caused by SS-CNS. The most frequent clinical findings in these patients were progressive gait ataxia, hearing loss, hyperreflexia and cognitive dysfunction.

Real-life experience with fampridine (Fampyra®) for patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders.

Background: Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS.

Alternatives for reducing relapse rate when switching from natalizumab to fingolimod in multiple sclerosis.

Natalizumab is a therapeutic option for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and is particularly efficacious for patients with highly active disease. A long washout period has been recommended between withdrawal of natalizumab and start of fingolimod (another option for treating MS). This long washout period has been associated with a significant increase in MS activity.

Fingolimod Prescribed for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis in Patients Younger Than Age 18 Years.

Background: There have been no clinical trials for approval of medications for treating multiple sclerosis in patients younger than age 18 years. All treatments are based on personal experience and data from open observational studies. Fingolimod is an oral drug for multiple sclerosis that has been shown to be efficient and safe in adults.