Publications by authors named "Jessica A Sagen"
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dried blood spot (DBS) compared with conventional serum Aquaporin-4-IgG (AQP4-IgG) testing.
Methods: Prospective multicenter diagnostic study was conducted between April 2018 and October 2023 across medical centers in the United States, Uganda, and the Republic of Guinea. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and controls collected blood on filter paper cards along with concurrent serum samples.
Objective: Therapeutic strategies for patients with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) are limited, ad hoc, and frequently ineffective. Based on evidence that inflammation drives pathogenesis in FIRES, we used ex vivo stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to characterize the monocytic response profile before and after therapy in a child successfully treated with dexamethasone delivered intrathecally six times between hospital Day 23 and 40 at 0.25 mg/kg/dose.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSame day processing of biospecimens such as blood is not always feasible, which presents a challenge for research programs seeking to study a broad population or to characterize patients with rare diseases. Recruiting sites may not be equipped to process blood samples and variability in timing and technique employed to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at local sites may compromise reproducibility across patients. One solution is to send whole blood collected by routine phlebotomy via overnight courier to the testing site under ambient conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are inflammatory diseases linked to a specific biomarker (AQP4-IgG) and this study aimed to address gaps in previous research, particularly regarding ethnic representation and seroprevalence in specific populations.
- The study compared NMO/NMOSD incidence and prevalence between Olmsted County, Minnesota (predominantly white) and Martinique (predominantly black) from 2003 to 2011, finding significantly higher rates in Martinique.
- Results indicated that Martinique had a higher incidence and prevalence of NMO/NMOSD, suggesting around 16,000 to 17,000 cases, and highlighted similarities in
Background: The effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is controversial.
Aims: The clinical outcomes of subjects with nonpsychotic MDD were reported and compared with the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study outcomes to provide guidance on the effectiveness of SSRIs.
Methods: Subjects were treated with citalopram/escitalopram for up to 8 weeks.