Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in postpartum women with neurological conditions.

Objective: Postpartum, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have increased risk for disease activity. Anti-CD20 IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are increasingly used as disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Patients may wish to both breastfeed and resume DMT postpartum.

Cross-Trait Mendelian Randomization Study to Investigate Whether Migraine Is a Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: Migraine is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but the reasons for this are unknown. We tested 3 hypothesized mechanisms for this observed comorbidity, including migraine is a risk factor of MS, genetic variants are shared between the conditions, and migraine is because of MS.

Methods: Data were from 2 sources: publicly available summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of MS (N = 115,748) and migraine (N = 375,752 and N = 361,141) and a case-control study of MS recruited from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Health Plan (N = 1,991).

Minimal breast milk transfer of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody used in neurological conditions.

Objective: To determine the transfer of rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody widely used for neurologic conditions, into mature breast milk.

Methods: Breast milk samples were collected from 9 women with MS who received rituximab 500 or 1,000 mg intravenous once or twice while breastfeeding from November 2017 to April 2019. Serial breast milk samples were collected before infusion and at 8 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, and 18-21 days after rituximab infusion in 4 patients.

Exploratory proteomic analysis implicates the alternative complement cascade in primary CNS vasculitis.

Objective: To identify molecular correlates of primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS) through proteomic analysis of CSF from a biopsy-proven patient cohort.

Methods: Using mass spectrometry, we quantitatively compared the CSF proteome of patients with biopsy-proven PACNS (n = 8) to CSF from individuals with noninflammatory conditions (n = 11). Significantly enriched molecular pathways were identified with a gene ontology workflow, and high confidence hits within enriched pathways (fold change >1.

Multiple sclerosis patients have a diminished serologic response to vitamin D supplementation compared to healthy controls.

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), and patients do not always show the expected response to vitamin D supplementation.

Objective: We aimed to determine if vitamin D supplementation leads to a similar increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D) levels in patients with MS and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: Participants in this open-label study were female, white, aged 18-60 years, had 25(OH)D levels ⩽ 75 nmol/l at screening, and had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or were HCs.

A randomized controlled phase II trial of riluzole in early multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of riluzole versus placebo added to weekly IM interferon beta-1a in early multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: This is a randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of riluzole 50 mg twice daily in subjects with MS onset less than 1 year prior. Trial participation was up to 3 years.

Updates on clinically isolated syndrome and diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis.

Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is a central nervous system demyelinating event isolated in time that is compatible with the possible future development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Early risk stratification for conversion to MS helps with treatment decisions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the most useful tool to evaluate risk.

Severe hypercalcemia following vitamin d supplementation in a patient with multiple sclerosis: a note of caution.

Objective: To describe a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed severe hypercalcemia, attributed to the additive effect of 5500 IU of cholecalciferol and 2020 mg of calcium daily.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Utility of the Algase Wandering Scale in an outpatient Alzheimer's disease sample.

Background: Wandering represents a major problem in the management of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study we examined the utility of the Algase Wandering Scale (AWS), a newly developed psychometric instrument that asks caregivers to assess the likelihood of wandering behavior.

Methods: The AWS was administered to the caregivers of 40 AD patients and total and subscale scores were examined in relation to measures of mental and functional status, depressive symptoms and medication usage.

Effects of kappa-opioid receptor ligands on intracranial self-stimulation in rats.

Rationale: Elevations in cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) function within the mesolimbic system of rats reduce cocaine reward in place conditioning studies and increase immobility in the forced swim test. Each of these behavioral adaptations can be interpreted as a depressive-like effect (i.e.