Different lymphocyte counts of multiple sclerosis patients treated with ofatumumab and ocrelizumab: A retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) treated with anti-CD20 (cluster of differentiation) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as ocrelizumab (OCR) and ofatumumab (OFA) show a reduction mainly of B-lymphocytes, but also other lymphocyte subsets can be affected by these treatments. There is limited data on differences between lymphocyte subset counts of pwMS after treatment initiation with OCR or OFA.

Objective: To compare lymphocyte subset counts after treatment initiation in pwMS treated with OCR and OFA.

Efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Real-world experience of two Swiss multiple sclerosis centers.

Background: Ocrelizumab (OCR) is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD-20 positive lymphocytes, mainly B-lymphocytes. OCR is approved for treatment of primary progressive (PPMS) and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). This study aims to provide real-world safety and efficacy data of people with RMS treated with OCR in two Swiss Multiple Sclerosis (MS) centers.

Sex differences in multiple sclerosis relapse presentation and outcome: a retrospective, monocentric study of 134 relapse events.

Background: Reporting of sex-specific analyses in multiple sclerosis (MS) is sparse. Disability accrual results from relapses (relapse-associated worsening) and independent thereof (progression independent of relapses).

Objectives: A population of MS patients during relapse treated per standard of care was analyzed for sex differences and short-term relapse outcome (3-6 months) as measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) change.

Anti-kelchlike protein 11 antibody-associated encephalitis: Two case reports and review of the literature.

Background And Purpose: Kelchlike protein 11 antibodies (KLHL11-IgGs) were first described in 2019 as a marker of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs). They have mostly been associated with testicular germ cell tumors (tGCTs).

Methods: Two patients with KLHL11-IgG encephalitis are reported, and the literature is comprehensively reviewed.

Multiple sclerosis as a model to investigate SARS-CoV-2 effect on brain atrophy.

Introduction: Data on structural brain changes after infection with SARS-CoV-2 is sparse. We postulate multiple sclerosis as a model to study the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on brain atrophy due to the unique availability of longitudinal imaging data in this patient group, enabling assessment of intraindividual brain atrophy rates.

Methods: Global and regional cortical gray matter volumes were derived from structural MRIs using FreeSurfer.

Reliable brain morphometry from contrast-enhanced T1w-MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Brain morphometry is usually based on non-enhanced (pre-contrast) T1-weighted MRI. However, such dedicated protocols are sometimes missing in clinical examinations. Instead, an image with a contrast agent is often available.

Leptomeningeal enhancement under different MS immunotherapies: A monocentric retrospective cohort study of 214 patients.

Background: Leptomeningeal inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) mainly affects meningeal B-cell follicle-like structures linked to cortical and subpial lesions and can be visualized as leptomeningeal enhancement (LME).

Objective: To evaluate the evolution of LME under different MS immunotherapies.

Methods: A total of 214 MS patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies or fingolimod at the university hospital Bern were screened for LME.

Hypogammaglobulinemia: A contributing factor to multiple sclerosis fatigue?

Objective: Fatigue is one of the most disabling and difficult to treat symptoms of autoimmune diseases and frequently presents in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Hypogammaglobulinemia for immunoglobulin G (IgG) affects approximately 8-25% of PwMS. We performed a retrospective analysis to investigate the association of MS-fatigue and IgG hypogammaglobulinemia.

Multidimensional phenotyping of the post-COVID-19 syndrome: A Swiss survey study.

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects approximately 10-25% of people after a COVID-19 infection, irrespective of initial COVID-19 severity. The aim of this project was to assess the clinical characteristics, course, and prognosis of post-COVID-19 syndrome using a systematic multidimensional approach.

Patients And Methods: An online survey of people with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome, distributed via Swiss COVID-19 support groups, social media, and our post-COVID-19 consultation, was performed.

Ocrelizumab-related neutropenia: Effects of age, sex and bodyweight using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

Objective: Neutropenia is a rare complication of anti-CD20 treatment, such as Ocrelizumab (OCR) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Using FDA´s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), a post-marketing, open access pharmacovigilance database, we aimed to identify risk factors of neutropenia in OCR-treated patients.

Methods: Data were retrieved from FAERS identifying OCR-treated patients with and without neutropenia.

Comparison of mRNA Vaccinations with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 in Anti-CD20-Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

: Anti-CD20-treated patients are at risk of a reduced humoral immune response during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our aim was to compare the antibody response after two vaccinations with the mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 in patients with multiple sclerosis. : Data from the University Hospital of Bern and Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne were retrospectively collected from medical records and then analyzed.

Fatigue in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Clinical Phenomenology, Comorbidities and Association With Initial Course of COVID-19.

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects approximately 10-25% of people suffering from COVID-19 infection, irrespective of initial COVID-19 severity. Fatigue is one of the major symptoms, occurring in 30-90% of people with post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study aims at describing factors associated with fatigue in people with Post-COVID-19 seen in our newly established Post-Covid clinic.

[Primary CNS Vasculitis - An Overview].

Primary CNS Vasculitis - An Overview Cerebral vasculitis, especially the primary vasculitis of the central nervous systems (primary CNS vasculitis), are rare inflammatory diseases of the small- and medium-sized vessels of the CNS. The pathogenesis of primary CNS vasculitis is unclear. Infectious triggers are hypothesized to induce an activation of the immune system with resulting inflammation of the blood vessels within the CNS.

Application of the "risk of ambulatory disability" (RoAD) score in a "real-world" single-center multiple sclerosis cohort.

Survival analysis of reaching EDSS ≥4.0 based on RoAD score ≥4 (dashed line) and <4 (solid line) by Cox regression analysis. (A) Unadjusted regression analysis.

Predicting conversion to multiple sclerosis in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome: a retrospective study.

Aims: To retrospectively analyse the Bernese radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) cohort with the goal of developing a prediction score for conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: A total of 31 patients with RIS were identified by screening medical records of neurological patients seen at the University Hospital of Bern between 2004 and 2017 for the diagnoses 'radiologically isolated syndrome' and 'RIS' adhering to 2009 Okuda recommendations. We analysed clinical, paraclinical and magnetic resonance imaging data during a maximum follow-up period of 3 years and identified significant predictors of conversion to MS.

Vaccine Hesitancy in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Preparing for the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Challenge.

Objective: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex public health issue referring to concerns about safety, efficacy, or need for vaccination. Using pneumococcal vaccination, which is recommend in anti-CD20-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, as a model, we assessed vaccination behavior in patients with MS to prepare for the upcoming SARS-CoV-2 vaccination challenge.

Methods: By a medical chart review, we retrospectively identified patients with MS treated with ocrelizumab at the University Hospital Bern in 2018-2020.

Natalizumab induced blood eosinophilia: A retrospective pharmacovigilance cohort study and review of the literature.

Objective: To describe frequency of natalizumab related eosinophilia and clinical symptoms of eosinophilic disease in our monocentric cohort.

Methods: Comparison of clinical characteristics of 115 natalizumab treated and 116 untreated RRMS patients and review of literature.

Results: 38% of natalizumab treated patients had eosinophilia, which occurred significantly more frequently compared to untreated MS patients (3%, p-value<0.

Evaluation of diagnostic criteria and red flags of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein encephalomyelitis in a clinical routine cohort.

Aims: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-IgG) have been proposed to define "MOG encephalomyelitis" (MOG-EM), with published diagnostic and "red flag" criteria. We aimed to evaluate these criteria in a routine clinical setting.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with borderline/positive MOG-IgG and applied the diagnostic and red flag criteria to determine likelihood of MOG-EM diagnosis.

Automatic detection of lesion load change in Multiple Sclerosis using convolutional neural networks with segmentation confidence.

The detection of new or enlarged white-matter lesions is a vital task in the monitoring of patients undergoing disease-modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis. However, the definition of 'new or enlarged' is not fixed, and it is known that lesion-counting is highly subjective, with high degree of inter- and intra-rater variability. Automated methods for lesion quantification, if accurate enough, hold the potential to make the detection of new and enlarged lesions consistent and repeatable.

Endothelial dysfunction as a modifier of angiogenic response in Zucker diabetic fat rat: amelioration with Ebselen.

Background: Progression of nephropathy in metabolic syndrome is associated with microvasculopathy and vascular dropout.

Methods: Eight- and 22-week-old Zucker diabetic fat (ZDF) and Zucker lean (ZL) rats were studied to characterize the progression of nephropathy, and to test the effect of a peroxynitrite scavenger, Ebselen, on renal microvasculature and angiogenic competence.

Results: Capillary density was increased, both in the cortex (P < 0.