Long-term modifications of the peripheral immune repertoire after switching from sequestering disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Scarce data are available on the long-term immunological effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying treatments (DMTs).

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the long-term modifications of the peripheral immune repertoire on interruption of a sequestering DMT (natalizumab, fingolimod) and switch to another high-efficacy DMT.

Methods: Lymphocyte subpopulations were assessed, every 6 months up to 48 months, in patients switched from fingolimod or natalizumab to ocrelizumab, and in patients switched from fingolimod to natalizumab, compared to patients switched to ocrelizumab or natalizumab from a moderate-efficacy DMT and to naive patients.

Association of MRI leptomeningeal enhancement with disability worsening in progressive multiple sclerosis: A clinical and post-mortem study.

Background: Leptomeningeal enhancement (LME) has been described as a biomarker of meningeal inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to (1) assess if LME is predictive of disability worsening in progressive MS (pMS) patients and (2) investigate the pathological substrates of LME in an independent post-mortem MS series.

Methods: In total, 115 pMS patients were imaged yearly with 1.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as a model to assess the relationship between intercurrent viral infections and disease activity in Multiple Sclerosis: A propensity score matched case-control study.

Introduction: An association between intercurrent viral respiratory infections and exacerbations of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease activity has been proposed by several studies. Considering the rapid spread of SARS-CoV2 worldwide and the systematic effort to immediately detect all incident cases with specific diagnostic tests, the pandemic can represent an interesting experimental model to assess the relationship between viral respiratory infections and MS disease activity.

Aims And Methods: In this study, we have performed a propensity score matched case-control study with a prospective clinical/MRI follow-up, on a cohort of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 in the period 2020-2022, with the aim to evaluate if the SARS-CoV2 infection influences the short-term risk of disease activity.

Association of vitamin D serum levels and vitamin D supplementation with B cell kinetics and disease activity in Multiple Sclerosis patients treated with ocrelizumab: an Italian multi-center study.

Background: Several observational studies have shown an association between low circulating levels of 25-hydroxy- vitamin D (25(OH)D) and an increase in inflammatory activity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Among its immunomodulatory functions, 25(OH)D suppresses proliferation and immunoglobulin production of B cells. 25(OH)D supplementation has been associated with better radiological outcomes in MS patients treated with interferon (IFN)-B, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, natalizumab and rituximab.

Fetal and post-natal growth in infants of mothers with multiple sclerosis: A case-control stud.

Background: Multiple sclerosis does not seem to adversely affect fetal and neonatal outcomes, although some studies reported a possible reduction in mean birth weight and length, and a higher incidence of preterm delivery, mainly in relation to the exposure to disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) during pregnancy. Few data are available on intrauterine fetal growth and postnatal somatic development of newborns from mothers with multiple sclerosis compared to those from healthy women. For these reasons, we decided to investigate fetal growth, neonatal anthropometric parameters, and postnatal somatic development up to 12 months of life in offsprings from MS mothers.

Dietary habits, nutritional status and risk of a first demyelinating event: an incident case-control study in a southern European cohort.

Background: The relationship between dietary habits and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk is still controversial. Most studies have involved populations from Scandinavia, North America, and Australia. Data on populations from southern Europe (an area of high MS prevalence) are scarce.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on progressive multiple sclerosis patients.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the lifestyle and in the access to health services worldwide. Progressive multiple sclerosis (pMS) patients are a vulnerable population at high risk of disability worsening.

Objective And Methods: The objective of this study was to assess the health outcomes of COVID-19 lockdown in a cohort of 225 pMS patients.

Case Report: Covid-19 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated With Ocrelizumab: A Case Series.

Limited data are available on the course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). More real-world data are needed to help the MS community to manage MS treatment properly. In particular, it is important to understand the impact of immunosuppressive therapies used to treat MS on the outcome of COVID-19.

CD19 Cell Count at Baseline Predicts B Cell Repopulation at 6 and 12 Months in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Ocrelizumab.

Background: The kinetics of B cell repopulation in MS patients treated with Ocrelizumab is highly variable, suggesting that a fixed dosage and time scheduling might be not optimal. We aimed to investigate whether B cell repopulation kinetics influences clinical and radiological outcomes and whether circulating immune asset at baseline affects B cell repopulation kinetics.

Methods: 218 MS patients treated with Ocrelizumab were included.

Acute and chronic synaptic pathology in multiple sclerosis gray matter.

Objectives: To investigate the extent of synaptic loss, and the contribution of gray matter (GM) inflammation and demyelination to synaptic loss, in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue.

Methods: This study was performed on two different post-mortem series of MS and control brains, including deep GM and cortical GM. MS brain samples had been specifically selected for the presence of active demyelinating GM lesions.

Efficacy of different rituximab therapeutic strategies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Objective: To evaluate disease activity according to rituximab (RTX) induction and maintenance regimens in a multicenter real-life dataset of NMOSD patients.

Methods: This is an observational-retrospective multicentre study including patients with NMOSD treated with RTX in 21 Italian and 1 Swiss centers. Demographics, relapse rate and adverse events over the follow-up were summarized taking into account induction strategy (two-1 g infusions at a 15-day interval (IND-A) vs.

Temozolomide as salvage treatment for recurrent intracranial ependymomas of the adult: a retrospective study.

Background: Few data are available on temozolomide (TMZ) in ependymomas.We investigated the response, survival, and correlation with MGMT promoter methylation in a cohort of patients with adult intracranial ependymoma receiving TMZ as salvage therapy after failure of surgery and radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: We retrieved clinical information from the institutional database and follow-up visits, and response to TMZ on MRI was evaluated according to the MacDonald criteria.

Antiangiogenic therapy of brain tumors: the role of bevacizumab.

Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancer, including brain tumors. Malignant gliomas have the highest degree of vascular proliferation among solid tumors; thus, angiogenic pathways represent an attractive target to interfere with tumor growth. Up to date VEGF pathway targeting with specific drugs has yielded interesting therapeutics results.

Seizure control following radiotherapy in patients with diffuse gliomas: a retrospective study.

Background: Little information is available regarding the effect of conventional radiotherapy on glioma-related seizures.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the seizure response and outcome following conventional radiotherapy in a cohort of 43 patients with glioma (33 grade II, 10 grade III) and medically intractable epilepsy.

Results: At 3 months after radiotherapy, seizure reduction was significant (≥ 50% reduction of frequency compared with baseline) in 31/43 patients (72%) of the whole series and in 25/33 patients (76%) with grade II gliomas, whereas at 12 months seizure reduction was significant in 26/34 (76%) and in 19/25 (76%) patients, respectively.