RENEWED: A follow-up study of the opicinumab phase 2 RENEW study in participants with acute optic neuritis.

Background: The randomized, phase 2 RENEW trial (NCT01721161) evaluated efficacy/safety of opicinumab (anti-LINGO-1) versus placebo in patients with first-episode unilateral acute optic neuritis (AON). Although no significant differences in the latency recovery of visual evoked potential (VEP) were observed between opicinumab and placebo groups in the intention to treat (ITT) population, the prespecified per-protocol (PP) population showed better recovery with opicinumab than with placebo. RENEWED (NCT02657915) was a one-visit, follow-up study 2 years after the last RENEW study visit (Week 32) designed to assess the long-term electrophysiological and clinical outcomes for participants previously enrolled and having received study treatment in RENEW.

Twenty-four Month Multidisciplinary Follow-up of Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome Patients in a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital in Chile: A Prospective Study.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) is a severe postinfectious condition. This study aims to detail long-term follow-up. Forty-five patients were followed up for 24 months, inflammatory markers were normalized at 3 months and echocardiographic alterations were resolved in all patients at 6 months, remaining normal.

Xylazine-Induced Necrotic Skin Ulcers in a Fentanyl-Injecting Individual in South Florida, United States: A Case Report.

Xylazine, commonly referred to as "Tranq," is an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist that is FDA-approved only as a sedative and tranquilizer for veterinary use. However, its use as an adulterant in various illicit drugs, including fentanyl, has been on the rise, leading to its street name, "Tranq-Dope." Intravenous injection use of xylazine produces distinctive skin ulceration with accompanying necrosis, which can be considered virtually pathognomonic.

Enhancing photodynamic and radionuclide therapy by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-RAD51 transfection via self-emulsifying delivery systems (SNEDDS).

Background Aims: Gene-silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) is an attractive therapy to regulate cancer death, tumor recurrence or metastasis. Because siRNAs are easily degraded, it is necessary to develop transport and delivery systems to achieve efficient tumor targeting. Self-nanoemulsifying systems (SNEDDS) have been successfully used for pDNA transport and delivery, so they may be useful for siRNA.

Dynamics of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated to COVID-19 in Chile: Epidemiologic trends during pandemic, before and after children vaccination.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated to Covid-19 (MIS-C) is one of the most severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in children. Covid-19 vaccines were successfully implemented in Chile for the pediatric population since 2021, using both mRNA and inactivated platforms. Effectiveness against MIS-C has been reported for mRNA vaccines.

Universal and Expanded Screening Strategy for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Is Pool Testing by a Rapid Molecular Test in Saliva a New Choice in Developing Countries?

Background: Several screening strategies for identifying congenital CMV (cCMV) have been proposed; however, the optimal solution has yet to be determined. We aimed to determine the prevalence of cCMV by universal screening with saliva pool testing and to identify the clinical variables associated with a higher risk of cCMV to optimize an expanded screening strategy.

Methods: We carried out a prospective universal cCMV screening (September/2022 to August/2023) of 2186 newborns, analyzing saliva samples in pools of five (Alethia-LAMP-CMV) and then performed confirmatory urine CMV RT-PCR.

No evidence for association between rs10191329 severity locus and longitudinal disease severity in 1813 relapse-onset multiple sclerosis patients from the MSBase registry.

Background: The International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium and MultipleMS Consortium recently reported a genetic variant associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) severity. However, it remains unclear if these variants remain associated with more robust, longitudinal measures of disease severity.

Methods: We examined the top variant, rs10191329, from Harroud et al.

Emulating randomised clinical trials in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with non-randomised real-world evidence: an application using data from the MSBase Registry.

Background: To mimic as closely as possible a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and calibrate the real-world evidence (RWE) studies against a known treatment effect would be helpful to understand if RWE can support causal conclusions in selected circumstances. The aim was to emulate the TRANSFORMS trial comparing Fingolimod (FTY) versus intramuscular interferon β-1a (IFN) using observational data.

Methods: We extracted from the MSBase registry all the patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) collected in the period 2011-2021 who received IFN or FTY (0.

Sleep disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis in Spain.

Objective: This study assesses the presence of sleep disturbances and their relationship with clinical and demographic variables in patients with MS, with a view to establishing correlations between the different variables and the frequency of sleep disturbances.

Methods: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to detect sleep disorders. We contacted patients treated at the MS unit and distributed a questionnaire (PSQI) to 221 patients, receiving 142 usable questionnaires between 8 and 30 September 2019.

Comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of natalizumab and fingolimod in rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom.

Aim: To evaluate the real-world comparative effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness, from a UK National Health Service perspective, of natalizumab versus fingolimod in patients with rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RES-RRMS).

Methods: Real-world data from the MSBase Registry were obtained for patients with RES-RRMS who were previously either naive to disease-modifying therapies or had been treated with interferon-based therapies, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, or teriflunomide (collectively known as BRACETD). Matched cohorts were selected by 3-way multinomial propensity score matching, and the annualized relapse rate (ARR) and 6-month-confirmed disability worsening (CDW6M) and improvement (CDI6M) were compared between treatment groups.

Optimizing congenital cytomegalovirus detection by pool testing in saliva by a rapid molecular test.

Universal congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening in saliva is increasingly recommended. The aim of our study was to correlate the performance of a point-of-care rapid molecular test with CMV real time PCR (CMV RT-PCR) detection, using saliva pool-testing in newborns under a universal screening strategy. Saliva swabs were prospectively collected from newborns < 21 days old and tested by Alethia-LAMP-CMV assay in pools of 5 samples.

Biokinetics, radiopharmacokinetics and estimation of the absorbed dose in healthy organs due to Technetium-99m transported in the core and on the surface of reconstituted high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles.

Unlabelled: The development of rHDL-radionuclide theragnostic systems requires evaluation of the absorbed doses that would be produced in healthy tissues and organs at risk. Technetium-99m is the most widely used radionuclide for diagnostic imaging, therefore, the design of theragnostic reconstituted high density-lipoprotein (rHDL) nanosystems labeled with Technetium-99m offers multiple possibilities.

Objective: To determine the biokinetics, radiopharmacokinetics and estimate the absorbed doses induced in healthy organs by Technetium-99m transported in the core and on the surface of rHDL.

Risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis after early worsening of disability.

Background: Whether progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) heralds earlier onset of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and more rapid accumulation of disability during SPMS remains to be determined. We investigated the association between early PIRA, relapse-associated worsening (RAW) of disability and time to SPMS, subsequent disability progression and their response to therapy.

Methods: This observational cohort study included patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from the MSBase international registry across 146 centres and 39 countries.

Comparative effectiveness in multiple sclerosis: A methodological comparison.

Background: In the absence of evidence from randomised controlled trials, observational data can be used to emulate clinical trials and guide clinical decisions. Observational studies are, however, susceptible to confounding and bias. Among the used techniques to reduce indication bias are propensity score matching and marginal structural models.

Variability of the response to immunotherapy among subgroups of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: This study assessed the effect of patient characteristics on the response to disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: We extracted data from 61,810 patients from 135 centers across 35 countries from the MSBase registry. The selection criteria were: clinically isolated syndrome or definite MS, follow-up ≥ 1 year, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≥ 3, with ≥1 score recorded per year.

Tools, strategies and a qualitative approach for revealing the emotions in unemployed men.

This work offers an analysis of the quality and consistency of an interview guide created to study the emotions in unemployed men, as well as the method for the implementation of this instrument. Our objective is to reveal how researchers from two research groups at two universities in Mexico and Colombia applied and tested a semistructured interview guide with a biographical approach to reveal the emotions in a group of unemployed men. Their methodology involved the application and evaluation of this tool and was followed in (N = 7 in Colombia + N = 14 in Mexico) interviews with unemployed men in two Latin American cities - Bogotá, Colombia and Guadalajara, Mexico - by two research groups.

Not all roads lead to the immune system: the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis severity.

Multiple sclerosis is a leading cause of neurological disability in adults. Heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis clinical presentation has posed a major challenge for identifying genetic variants associated with disease outcomes. To overcome this challenge, we used prospectively ascertained clinical outcomes data from the largest international multiple sclerosis registry, MSBase.

Comparing switch to ocrelizumab, cladribine or natalizumab after fingolimod treatment cessation in multiple sclerosis.

Background: To compare the effectiveness and treatment persistence of ocrelizumab, cladribine and natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis switching from fingolimod.

Methods: Using data from MSBase registry, this multicentre cohort study included subjects who had used fingolimod for ≥6 months and then switched to ocrelizumab, cladribine or natalizumab within 3 months after fingolimod discontinuation. We analysed relapse and disability outcomes after balancing covariates using an inverse-probability-treatment-weighting method.

Early predictors of disability in paediatric multiple sclerosis: evidence from a multi-national registry.

Background: Early recognition of markers of faster disability worsening in paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is a key requisite of personalised therapy for children with MS at the earliest possible time.

Objective: To identify early predictors of rapid disability accrual in patients with paediatric-onset MS.

Methods: Using the global MSBase registry, we identified patients who were <18 years old at the onset of MS symptoms.