Evaluating Rituximab Failure Rates in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Nationwide Real-World Study From South Korea.

Background And Purpose: Treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) such as eculizumab, ravulizumab, satralizumab, and inebilizumab have significantly advanced relapse prevention, but they remain expensive. Rituximab is an off-label yet popular alternative that offers a cost-effective solution, but its real-world efficacy needs better quantification for guiding the application of newer approved NMOSD treatments (ANTs). This study aimed to determine real-world rituximab failure rates to anticipate the demand for ANTs and aid in resource allocation.

2,514 Cases of Thoracoabdominal and Descending Thoracic Aorta Surgery: Strategies Associated with Improved Survival, Stroke and Paraplegia.

Background: Despite the remarkable outcome of open thoracoabdominal aortic repairs of high-volume aortic centers, generalized result that spans diverse clinical settings are needed in the era of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). This study explored the national real-world data focusing on the impact of cumulative surgical volume on the operative outcomes.

Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database, the cohort included adult patients who underwent open thoracoabdominal or descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs from 2008 to 2020.

HLA Association With AQP4-IgG-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in the Korean Population.

Background And Objectives: Association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with anti-aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG NMOSD) has been reported. However, this association in the Korean population has not been previously investigated. We aimed to evaluate whether specific HLA subtypes were associated with Korean patients with AQP4-IgG NMOSD and whether the HLA genotype is associated with specific clinical features.

The prognostic value of preoperative CAD-RADS classification in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve surgery.

To investigate the association between preoperative coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, as classified by the Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS), and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). A total of 897 patients (452 women; mean age, 66.1 ± 9.

Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Schwann Cell-like Cells Spared Neuromuscular Junctions and Enhanced Functional Recovery After Peripheral Nerve Injury.

In general, the nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system regenerate normally within a certain period after the physical damage of their axon. However, when peripheral nerves are transected by trauma or tissue extraction for cancer treatment, spontaneous nerve regeneration cannot occur. Therefore, it is necessary to perform microsurgery to connect the transected nerve directly or insert a nerve conduit to connect it.

Blood-Based Biomarkers for Identifying Disease Activity in AQP4-IgG-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Importance: The temporal dynamics of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) as biomarkers of disease activity for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remain underexplored.

Objective: To determine optimal timing for assessing sGFAP and sNfL, establish cutoff values differentiating between attacks and remissions in NMOSD, and evaluate these findings across independent cohorts.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective, longitudinal, multicenter cohort study was conducted among patients with aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG)-positive NMOSD.

Neurofilament Light Chain as a Discriminator of Disease Activity Status in MOG Antibody-Associated Disease.

Background And Objectives: In patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), acute disease activity is generally identified through medical history, neurologic examination, and imaging. However, these may be insufficient for detecting disease activity in specific conditions. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) after clinical attacks and to assess their utility in discriminating attacks from remission in patients with MOGAD.

Robotic repair of atrial septal defect: Pre-groove vertical right atriotomy approach.

Objective: Minimally invasive repair using robotic systems has been accepted as an attractive alternative in the surgical repair of atrial septal defects (ASDs). Clear exposure of the entire rim of the ASD is often hindered during a robotic approach. Here, we describe an approach using vertical right atriotomy along the interatrial groove that may enhance the exposure of the ASD.

Prognostic impact of mild renal dysfunction in patients undergoing valve surgery.

Objectives: To analyse the impact of mild renal dysfunction on the prognosis of patients undergoing valve surgery.

Methods: A total of 6210 consecutive patients (3238 women; mean age 59.2 ± 12.

Differential diagnosis of suspected multiple sclerosis: global health considerations.

The differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can present specific challenges in patients from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, eastern Europe, southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. In these areas, environmental factors, genetic background, and access to medical care can differ substantially from those in North America and western Europe, where multiple sclerosis is most common. Furthermore, multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria have been developed primarily using data from North America and western Europe.

Efficacy of tocilizumab in highly relapsing MOGAD with an inadequate response to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: A case series.

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system that may require long-term immunotherapy in relapsing cases. While immunotherapies utilized in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder have shown varying efficacy in MOGAD, intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) recently emerged as a promising treatment. Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, has been reported to be effective in refractory MOGAD in several case studies, where tocilizumab was introduced primarily due to rituximab failure.

B cell and aquaporin-4 antibody relationships with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder activity.

This post hoc analysis of the randomized, placebo-controlled N-MOmentum study (NCT02200770) of inebilizumab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) evaluated relationships between circulating B-cell subsets and aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-lgG) titers and attacks. Among participants receiving placebo, CD20 and CD27 B-cell counts were modestly increased from the pre-attack visit to attack; plasmablast/plasma cell gene signature was increased from baseline to the pre-attack visit (p = 0.016) and from baseline to attack (p = 0.

Difference in discrepancies of mandibular incisor compensation relative to Menton deviation between Class III roll- and yaw-dominant asymmetries.

Objectives: To compare mandibular incisor compensation relative to Menton (Me) deviation between skeletal Class III patients with roll- and yaw-dominant mandibular asymmetries.

Materials And Methods: Sixty skeletal Class III patients (21.62 ± 2.

More molar distal movement than pretreatment cone-beam computed tomography posterior space available at the root level in mandibular dentition distalization with microimplants.

Objectives: To compare the mandibular posterior space available before treatment and the distance of molar distalization achieved after mandibular dentition distalization with microimplants.

Materials And Methods: A total of 66 Class I or III adult patients (mean age = 24.46 ± 4.

Is Hooke's law applicable to an orthodontic cantilever?

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the load-deflection characteristics of an orthodontic cantilever by using the large deflection elastic model.

Methods: We experimentally measured the vertical deflections of a cantilever with round or rectangular cross-sections, with lengths of 20 mm and 30 mm, and made of either stainless steel or titanium molybdenum alloy. The measurements were obtained under clinically relevant loading ranges (20-60 g of force for round and 20-140 g of force for rectangular wires) and compared with theoretical predictions derived from small and large deflection elastic models.

Mitral valve repair with leaflet resection versus preservation for degenerative posterior leaflet prolapse.

Objectives: The optimal technique for repairing posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse remains undetermined. We aimed to compare leaflet resection and neochordae implantation in patients undergoing mitral valve repair for posterior leaflet prolapse, focusing on transmitral pressure gradient and recurrence of mitral regurgitation.

Methods: We enrolled patients undergoing mitral valve repair using either leaflet resection or neochordae implantation for single-segment prolapse of posterior mitral valve leaflet between 2000 and 2021 at our institution.