Neurofilament light chain as an indicator of exacerbation prior to clinical symptoms in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Biomarkers may be a sensitive measure of disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Objective: A pwMS had a marked increase of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in CSF 9-weeks prior to a clinical exacerbation.

Methods And Results: Brain MRI, CSF, EDSS were measured at baseline, 6 weeks and 28 weeks.

Reducing return of disease activity in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis transitioned from natalizumab to teriflunomide: 12-month interim results of teriflunomide therapy.

Background: Natalizumab is an effective treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis. Return of disease activity upon natalizumab discontinuance creates the need for follow-up therapeutic strategies.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of teriflunomide following natalizumab discontinuance in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients.

Patterns of injury in geriatric falls.

Falls are the most common cause of trauma in the elderly. Data regarding patterns of injury following geriatric falls are scant. We conducted a retrospective review of falls in patients aged 65 years and older seen at a trauma center over a nine year period.

Vital capacity as a predictor of outcome in elderly patients with rib fractures.

Background: This study tests the relationships between early bedside vital capacity (VC) measurement and morbidity, mortality, and resource consumption in geriatric blunt chest trauma patients with rib fractures.

Methods: This was a retrospective study examining all patients > or = 65 years old with rib fractures who had a VC measured within 48 hours of their emergency department evaluation. Outcome variables included pulmonary complications, death from pulmonary complications, hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS), and discharge disposition.