Identification of alemtuzumab-suitable multiple sclerosis patients in Slovakia and sequencing of post-alemtuzumab immunomodulatory treatment.

Background: Alemtuzumab (ALEM) is a humanised monoclonal antibody that depletes circulating lymphocytes by selectively targeting CD52, which is expressed in high levels on T- and B-lymphocytes. This depletion is followed by lymphocyte repopulation and a cytokine expression shift towards a lesser inflammatory profile, both of which may contribute to prolonged efficacy. National recommendations for enrolling and treating multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with ALEM have been established.

Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with NMOSD: a longitudinal retrospective analysis of a Slovak cohort of 63 patients.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoantibody-mediated inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system predominantly targeting optic nerves and the spinal cord. Two distinct phenotypes are recognized based on the presence of serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) antibodies. However, contrasting clinical course patterns have been identified between AQP4-IgG-positive and AQP4-IgG-negative patients.

Annual Plasma Neurofilament Dynamics Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Disease Activity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a sensitive biomarker of neuroaxonal damage. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the annual change in plasma NfL (pNfL) and disease activity in the past year, as defined by the concept no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in a cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Levels of pNfL (SIMOA) were examined in 141 MS patients and analyzed in relationship to the NEDA-3 status (absence of relapse, disability worsening, and MRI activity) and NEDA-4 (NEDA-3 extended by brain volume loss ≤ 0.

Associations of optical coherence tomography with disability and brain MRI volumetry in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate in a cross-sectional study the correlations of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Material And Methods: OCT parameters include the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC). Brain magnetic resonance volumetry (T2- and T1- lesions volume, whole brain volume and grey matter volume) was evaluated using the Icobrain program.

Incidence and prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Slovakia.

Objective: : Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are a group of rare, inflammatory, demyelinating diseases that affect the central nervous system. Neither the incidence nor the prevalence of NMOSD has been determined in Slovakia thus far. The aim of this study was to determine both the incidence and the prevalence of NMOSD in Slovakia using the 2015 International Panel of NMOSD diagnosis (IPND) criteria.

Psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis and its association with illness perception and self-esteem.

Background: Illness perception and self-esteem were found to improve adjustment to disease in many chronic conditions. However, so far, little is known about the role of illness-appraisal and self-appraisal factors in psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, we aimed to assess the association between illness perception, self-esteem and psychological well-being in people with MS while controlling for sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, and sleep-related problems.

Self-management, self-esteem and their associations with psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Optimal self-management seem to be protective factor of health-related quality of life and psychological well-being in many chronic conditions. However, the results in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are still inconclusive. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the associations between self-management, self-esteem and psychological well-being in people with MS when controlled for sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Associations between neurofilament light chain levels, disease activity and brain atrophy in progressive multiple sclerosis.

Background: Neurofilament light chain is a promising biomarker of disease activity and treatment response in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Its role in progressive MS is less clear.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept NEDA-3 (No Evident Disease Activity), and brain volumetry, in a cohort of patients with the progressive disease form (PMS).

Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Are Associated with Disease Activity Determined by No Evident Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Introduction: There is a need for blood biomarkers of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept three-domain no evident disease activity (NEDA-3).

Methods: Levels of pNfL (SIMOA) were examined in 159 MS patients and analyzed in relationship to NEDA-3 status (absence of relapse, disability score worsening, and brain magnetic resonance activity) during the last 12 months.

Plasma neurofilament light chain levels are predictors of disease activity in multiple sclerosis as measured by four-domain NEDA status, including brain volume loss.

Background: The research is focused on sensitive biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and disease activity as defined by the concept NEDA (no evident disease activity), including brain volumetry, in a cohort of MS patients treated with disease-modifying treatment (DMT).

Methods: Levels of pNfL (Single Molecule Array (SIMOA) technology) were examined in 95 RRMS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) patients and analyzed in relationship to NEDA-3 status and NEDA-BVL (brain volume loss; NEDA-3 extended by brain volumetry) during the last 12 months.

Approaches and challenges in the diagnosis and management of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A Central Eastern European perspective from healthcare professionals.

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is a debilitating condition characterized by gradual worsening after an initial relapsing disease course. Despite the recent advances in our understanding of the disease, the diagnosis and treatment of SPMS continue to be challenging in routine clinical practice. The aim of this review article is to present the views of leading MS experts on the challenges in the diagnosis and management of SPMS and clinicians' perspectives in Central and Eastern Europe.

Factors influencing daily treatment choices in multiple sclerosis: practice guidelines, biomarkers and burden of disease.

At two meetings of a Central European board of multiple sclerosis (MS) experts in 2018 and 2019 factors influencing daily treatment choices in MS, especially practice guidelines, biomarkers and burden of disease, were discussed. The heterogeneity of MS and the complexity of the available treatment options call for informed treatment choices. However, evidence from clinical trials is generally lacking, particularly regarding sequencing, switches and escalation of drugs.

Cognitive Event-Related Potentials-The P300 Wave Is a Prognostic Factor of Long-Term Disability Progression in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder with a variable course. The aim of our study was to find out whether cognitive event-related potentials are prognostic for patient disability at the 15-year follow-up.

Methods: In the observed cohort of patients with MS, we examined the event-related potentials at baseline (2003).

Sexual functioning in patients with multiple sclerosis and its association with social support and self-esteem.

Sexual dysfunction is very commonly reported by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, this problem often remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. Furthermore, still very little is known about protective psychosocial factors that may help to improve sexual functioning in MS patients.

Identification of new phosphorylation sites of CD23 in B-cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common lymphoproliferative disorder in adults. Patients with B-CLL strongly express the CD23 - C type of lectin (low affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RII), which is linked to B cell activation and proliferation. Phosphorylation in lymphocytes is tightly associated with regulation of protein activities, functional regulation and cell signaling, and may thus affect initiation and/or progression of the disease.

Management of multiple sclerosis patients in central European countries: current needs and potential solutions.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) experts in Europe are facing rapidly rising demands of excellence due to the increasing complexity of MS therapy and management. A central European expert board of MS experts met to identify needs and obstacles with respect to raising quality of MS care in central and Eastern European countries. There are substantial variations across countries regarding delivery of care and its cost structure, as well as access to treatment.

Management of multiple sclerosis: the role of coping self-efficacy and self-esteem.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) engage in various coping behaviours in order to manage their disease. The aim of this study is to find out if the self-esteem of patients is associated with coping strategies - problem-focused (e.g.

Poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis: gender differences.

Objectives: Most of the psychological and physical factors associated with poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a different prevalence in women and men, but whether or not these factors contribute differently to sleep quality in women and men with MS remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify possible gender differences in factors related to poor sleep quality in MS patients.

Material And Methods: We collected data from 153 patients with MS.

Do coping strategies mediate the association between Type D personality and quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis?

The aim of this study is to explore whether different coping strategies are able to mediate the association between Type D personality and quality of life. We collected information from 156 consecutive patients (response rate: 72.9%; 75.

Is Poor Sleep Quality Associated With Greater Disability in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis?

Poor sleep is a serious burden for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to assess whether the association between sleep quality and disability in MS patients is direct or mediated by depression, pain, and fatigue. We collected data from 152 patients with MS who filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and one item of the Short Form-36 regarding pain.

Self-esteem, social participation, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study is to explore whether self-esteem and social participation are associated with the physical and mental quality of life (Physical Component Summary, Mental Component Summary) and whether self-esteem can mediate the association between these variables. We collected information from 118 consecutive multiple sclerosis patients. Age, gender, disease duration, disability status, and participation were significant predictors of Physical Component Summary, explaining 55.

The mediating effect of coping on the association between fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Fatigue, as one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), has various adverse effects on the physical and mental health-related quality of life (PCS, MCS) of patients. The aim of this study was to explore whether coping mediates the relationship between fatigue and PCS and MCS. We collected data from 154 consecutive MS patients (76.