Curriculum innovation: Interactive educational workshop improves neurology resident knowledge of multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Establishing a solid resident knowledge of multiple sclerosis (MS) during neurology residency is crucial for independent clinical practice. We created a case-based and interactive educational workshop on MS with the aim of improving neurology resident clinical and theoretical knowledge of various aspects of MS diagnosis and care.

Methods: MS neurologists from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine designed a 4-hour in-person case-based interactive educational workshop for all neurology residents.

Sex ratio and age of onset in AQP4 antibody-associated NMOSD: a review and meta-analysis.

Background: Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an antibody-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. We have undertaken a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the sex ratio and mean age of onset for AQP4 antibody associated NMOSD. We have also explored factors that impact on these demographic data.

ANCA-associated vasculitis presenting with isolated neurological manifestations in a patient with cocaine abuse: a case report and literature review.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of rare conditions predominantly affecting small vessels of skin, musculoskeletal, pulmonary, renal, and rarely central and peripheral nervous systems. Isolated neurological manifestations of AAV are uncommon and challenging to diagnose. Cocaine has been reported as a potential trigger for the development of AAV.

Long-term outcome and prognosis in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from Serbia.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) most commonly, although not exclusively, targets optic nerves and spinal cord. Untreated, early and severe disability is common. We evaluated the long-term outcome in NMOSD patients diagnosed according to the 2015 criteria.

Brain and cord imaging features in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Objectives: To validate imaging features able to discriminate neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders from multiple sclerosis with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, brain and spinal cord scans were evaluated from 116 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients (98 seropositive and 18 seronegative) in chronic disease phase and 65 age-, sex-, and disease duration-matched multiple sclerosis patients. To identify independent predictors of neuromyelitis optica diagnosis, after assessing the prevalence of typical/atypical findings, the original cohort was 2:1 randomized in a training sample (where a multivariate logistic regression analysis was run) and a validation sample (where the performance of the selected variables was tested and validated).

Dynamic volumetric changes of hippocampal subfields in clinically isolated syndrome patients: A 2-year MRI study.

Background: Different subregional patterns of hippocampal involvement have been observed in diverse multiple sclerosis (MS) phenotypes.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of regional hippocampal variations in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients, their relationships with focal white matter (WM) lesions, and their prognostic implications.

Methods: Brain dual-echo and three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted scans were acquired from 14 healthy controls and 36 CIS patients within 2 months from clinical onset and after 3, 12, and 24 months.

Prediction of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in patients with clinically isolated syndrome using the 2016 MAGNIMS and 2010 McDonald criteria: a retrospective study.

Background: In 2016, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS) network proposed modifications to the MRI criteria to define dissemination in space (DIS) and time (DIT) for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Changes to the DIS definition included removal of the distinction between symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions, increasing the number of lesions needed to define periventricular involvement to three, combining cortical and juxtacortical lesions, and inclusion of optic nerve evaluation. For DIT, removal of the distinction between symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions was suggested.

Bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: a 6-year follow-up study.

Bladder dysfunction (BD) is the most common autonomic disturbance in multiple sclerosis, but often overlooked and undertreated. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to explore the changes in the frequency of BD symptoms in MS cohort after a period of 3 and 6 years of follow-up, as well as to investigate the correlations between the presence of BD symptoms and both clinical characteristics and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at each subsequent point of estimation. The study population comprises a cohort of 93 patients with MS (McDonald's criteria, 2001).

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation and steroids in the management of multiple sclerosis relapses: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Periodic relapses are one of the main characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS), from which recovery is often incomplete despite high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential benefits of short-term HDMP combined with multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR) in persons with MS in relapse in order to assess whether combination of steroid therapy with MDR is more beneficial than steroid therapy alone.

Material And Methods: This investigation was conducted as a randomized controlled trial.

IL-11 Induces Th17 Cell Responses in Patients with Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the earliest clinically evident phase of the disease, which may provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of the initiation of the autoimmune response in MS. Our results introduce IL-11 as a new cytokine that plays a role in the autoimmune response in the early phase of the disease. IL-11 is the highest upregulated cytokine in the sera and cerebrospinal fluid from CIS patients, which is also increased in patients with clinically definitive relapsing-remitting MS in comparison with healthy control subjects.

Interferon-beta and disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the impact of interferon (IFN)-beta treatment on the progression of unremitting disability in IFN-beta treated and untreated relapsing-remitting (RR) patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using prospective cohort study.

Methods: A cohort of 419 RRMS (236 IFN-beta-treated and 183 untreated) patients was followed for up to 7 years. Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for the number of relapses in the last year before first visit was used to assess the differences between the two groups for the three end points: secondary progression (SP), and sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 4 and 6.

Change in quality of life and predictors of change among patients with multiple sclerosis: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and predictors of change among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 3 and 6 years during the follow-up period.

Methods: A group of 109 consecutive MS patients (McDonald's criteria) referred to the Clinic of Neurology, Belgrade, were enrolled in the study. At three time points during the study (baseline, and at 3 and 6 years during the follow-up period), the HRQoL (measured by MSQoL-54), Expanded Disability Status Scale, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Fatigue Severity Scale were assessed.

Wallerian and trans-synaptic degeneration contribute to optic radiation damage in multiple sclerosis: a diffusion tensor MRI study.

Background: Optic radiation (OR) damage occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of local and distant mechanisms associated with OR damage in MS.

Methods: Diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tractography probability maps of the ORs were derived from 102 MS patients and 11 controls.

Predictive value of health-related quality of life in progression of disability and depression in persons with multiple sclerosis: a 3-year study.

In our study, we examined whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) could predict changes in disability, depression, and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) over a 3-year follow-up period. A group of 109 consecutive MS patients (McDonald's criteria) referring to the Institute of Neurology, Belgrade were enrolled in the study. At two time points during the study (baseline, and after a 3-year period) an HRQoL (measured by MSQoL-54), EDSS, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were assessed.

Expression of Th1 and Th17 cytokines and transcription factors in multiple sclerosis patients: does baseline T-bet mRNA predict the response to interferon-beta treatment?

We studied the effect of one-year interferon (IFN)-beta treatment on the in vivo mRNA expression of IFN-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17, T-bet and RoR-gammat, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 36 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In the total MS group, IFN-beta induced decrease in mRNA levels of IFN-gamma and T-bet (p<0.0001), while the levels of IL-17 and RoR-gammat remained similar.

Survival of Huntington's disease patients in Serbia: longer survival in female patients.

The objective of this study was to estimate probability of survival of Huntington's disease (HD) patients in Serbia as a function of CAG repeat length and selected demographic variables. This follow-up study was carried out at the Institute of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, 1982-2004. The study group consisted of 112 HD patients.

[Acute sciatic neuropathy--"post-Saturday palsy"].

This is a case report of 25-year old, unemployed male, admitted to hospital due to acute onset of the left foot drop, subsequent walking difficulty and numbness of the left calf and foot. Symptoms began after prolonged sleep with previous heroin abuse by sniffing. During neurological examination, mild weakness of knee flexors, moderate weakness of plantar flexors and paralysis of foot dorsiflexors, together with hypesthesia of the left calf, foot and fingers, predominantly in the innervation area of common peroneal nerve on the same side, were observed.