Visual quality of life in NMOSD and MOGAD: profiles, dynamics and associations with ageing and vision.

Objective: In this multicentric study, we were interested in the vision-related quality of life and its association with visual impairment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in comparison to multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls.

Methods: We analysed extracted data from the German NEMOS registry including National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) scores, high and low contrast visual acuity (HCVA, LCVA), visually evoked potentials (VEP) and the scores for the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and other neurological tests which assessed their disease-related impairment. The mean follow-up time of our patients was 1.

Broader anti-EBV TCR repertoire in multiple sclerosis: disease specificity and treatment modulation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has long been associated with the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS patients have elevated titers of EBV-specific antibodies in serum and show signs of CNS damage only after EBV infection. Regarding CD8+ T-cells, an elevated but ineffective response to EBV was suggested in MS patients, who present with a broader MHC-I-restricted EBV-specific T-cell receptor beta chain (TRB) repertoire compared to controls.

Presentation and Outcome in S1P-RM and Natalizumab-Associated Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurologic disease resulting from JC virus reactivation in immunocompromised patients. Certain multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are associated with PML risk, such as natalizumab and, more rarely, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators (S1P-RMs). Although natalizumab-associated PML is well documented, information on S1P-RM-associated PML is limited.

Effect of Competing Metals and Humic Substances on Uranium Mobilization from Noncrystalline U(IV) Induced by Anthropogenic and Biogenic Ligands.

Anthropogenic and biogenic ligands may mobilize uranium (U) from tetravalent U (U(IV)) phases in the subsurface, especially from labile noncrystalline U(IV). The rate and extent of U(IV) mobilization are affected by geochemical processes. Competing metals and humic substances may play a decisive role in U mobilization by anthropogenic and biogenic ligands.

The Effect of an Interdisciplinary Dermatological-Rheumatological Consultation on the Outcome of Patients with Psoriasis with Musculoskeletal Pain: A Prospective, Single-Center Cohort Study.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a disease with complex inflammatory musculoskeletal manifestations, complicates psoriasis in up to 30% of patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of an interdisciplinary dermatological-rheumatological consultation (IDRC) for patients with psoriasis with musculoskeletal symptoms.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 202 patients with psoriasis.

Mercury Isotope Fractionation during Dark Abiotic Reduction of Hg(II) by Dissolved, Surface-Bound, and Structural Fe(II).

Stable mercury (Hg) isotope ratios are an emerging tracer for biogeochemical transformations in environmental systems, but their application requires knowledge of isotopic enrichment factors for individual processes. We investigated Hg isotope fractionation during dark, abiotic reduction of Hg(II) by dissolved iron(Fe)(II), magnetite, and Fe(II) sorbed to boehmite or goethite by analyzing both the reactants and products of laboratory experiments. For homogeneous reduction of Hg(II) by dissolved Fe(II) in continuously purged reactors, the results followed a Rayleigh distillation model with enrichment factors of -2.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients With NMO Spectrum Disorders and MOG-Antibody-Associated Diseases: COPANMO(G)-Study.

Background And Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the life of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated diseases (MOGAD).

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included data of 187 patients recruited from 19 different German and Austrian Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS) centers between July 2021 and March 2022. The effects of the pandemic on immunotherapeutic treatment and access to care, the possible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and the potential effect of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on disease incidence and relapse risk were assessed using a patient questionnaire.

Ligand-Induced U Mobilization from Chemogenic Uraninite and Biogenic Noncrystalline U(IV) under Anoxic Conditions.

Microbial reduction of soluble hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to sparingly soluble tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) has been explored as an strategy to immobilize U. Organic ligands might pose a potential hindrance to the success of such remediation efforts. In the current study, a set of structurally diverse organic ligands were shown to enhance the dissolution of crystalline uraninite (UO) for a wide range of ligand concentrations under anoxic conditions at pH 7.

Extracellular Matrix-Specific Platelet Activation Leads to a Differential Translational Response and Protein De Novo Synthesis in Human Platelets.

Platelets are exposed to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins like collagen and laminin and to fibrinogen during acute vascular events. However, beyond hemostasis, platelets have the important capacity to migrate on ECM surfaces, but the translational response of platelets to different extracellular matrix stimuli is still not fully characterized. Using 2D-gel electrophoresis, confocal microscopy, polysome analysis and protein sequencing by mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that platelets show a differential expression profile of newly synthesized proteins on laminin, collagen or fibrinogen.

The Integrin Activating Protein Kindlin-3 Is Cleaved in Human Platelets during ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Kindlins are important proteins for integrin signaling and regulation of the cytoskeleton, but we know little about their precise function and regulation in platelets during acute ischemic events. In this work, we investigated kindlin-3 protein levels in platelets isolated from patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to patients with non-ischemic chest pain. Platelets from twelve patients with STEMI and twelve patients with non-ischemic chest pain were isolated and analyzed for kindlin-3 protein levels and intracellular localization by immunoblotting and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Heat-Shock Protein 27 (HSPB1) Is Upregulated and Phosphorylated in Human Platelets during ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Heat-shock proteins are a family of proteins which are upregulated in response to stress stimuli including inflammation, oxidative stress, or ischemia. Protective functions of heat-shock proteins have been studied in vascular disease models, and malfunction of heat-shock proteins is associated with vascular disease development. Heat-shock proteins however have not been investigated in human platelets during acute myocardial infarction ex vivo.

Extensive immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in Fingolimod-associated PML: a case report with 7 Tesla MRI data.

Background: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare complication of patients treated with fingolimod.

Case Presentation: Routine MRI eventually led to diagnosis of asymptomatic early PML that remained stable after discontinuation of fingolimod. As blood lymphocyte counts normalized, signs of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and renewed MS activity developed.

Heterogeneity in coverage for measles and varicella vaccination in toddlers - analysis of factors influencing parental acceptance.

Background: In 2004, routine varicella vaccination was introduced in Germany for children aged 11-14 months. Routine measles vaccination had already been introduced in 1973 for the same age group, but coverage is still too low (<95%) in some areas to eliminate measles. The present study assessed varicella and measles vaccination coverage and determinants of parental acceptance in two study regions, situated in Northern and Southern Bavaria (Germany).

Movement symptoms in European Moyamoya angiopathy - First systematic questionnaire study.

Objective: Movement disorders are a rare manifestation of Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA). Data on prevalence and clinical presentation are warranted. Possible involuntary movements include focal motor seizures, tremor, limb-shaking transient ischemic attacks, choreiform and spastic or dystonic movement disorders.

Development of chronic pain following severe accidental injury. Results of a 3-year follow-up study.

Objective: Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) and work-related injuries are two of the more common causes of chronic pain. Nevertheless, there is little evidence on predicting factors regarding the development of chronic pain following physical injury.

Methods: The present study investigated temporal associations between accident-related factors, psychological factors [symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, coping], and the development of chronic pain in a sample of individuals who had sustained severe accidental injuries (N=90).

Parents' mental health after the birth of an extremely preterm child: a comparison between bereaved and non-bereaved parents.

Objective: To assess the impact of extremely preterm birth (24-26 weeks of gestation) on the mental health of parents two to six years after delivery, and to examine potential differences in post-traumatic growth between parents whose newborn infant died and those whose child survived.

Method: A total of 54 parents who had lost their newborn and 38 parents whose preterm child survived were assessed by questionnaires with regard to depression and anxiety (HADS) and post-traumatic growth (PTGI).

Results: Neither group of parents had clinically relevant levels of depression and anxiety.

Lumbar epidural perineural injection: a new technique.

Two controlled studies for a new epidural, perineural, single-shot, selective nerve root injection with a double-needle approach to the anterior epidural space of the lumbar spinal canal are presented. The results were analysed to determine the effectiveness of the new epidural perineural injection technique. The trial comprised two controlled studies on 182 patients.