Neuromyelitis optica: Clinical course and potential prognostic indicators.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder associated with antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4). NMOSD has been thought to follow a progressive disease course, with step-wise accumulation of disability over time, even in patients undergoing immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapy. The influence of factors such as AQP4 seropositivity, AQP4 serum titer levels, and administration of plasmapheresis on NMOSD prognosis is, as yet, unclear.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease: Presentation and outcomes of adults at a single center.

Background/introduction: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a chronic demyelinating disorder that has been increasingly recognized since the serum antibody became commercially available in 2017. The most common clinical presentation is optic neuritis, and first line acute treatment is intravenous (IV) steroids. However, there are many questions that remain unanswered.

Spacecraft sample collection and subsurface excavation of asteroid (101955) Bennu.

Carbonaceous asteroids, such as (101955) Bennu, preserve material from the early Solar System, including volatile compounds and organic molecules. We report spacecraft imaging and spectral data collected during and after retrieval of a sample from Bennu's surface. The sampling event mobilized rocks and dust into a debris plume, excavating a 9-meter-long elliptical crater.

Biomarkers and Surrogate End points in Multiple Sclerosis Trials: Regulatory Issues.

Evoked potentials have assisted in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis for years, but the potential to demonstrate pathophysiologic change has prompted a reconsideration of their potential role as outcome measures in clinical trials of multiple sclerosis. The use of any surrogate end point or biomarker in clinical trials requires a thorough understanding of that end point's performance characteristics and utility in a particular setting. This article explores regulatory issues regarding the use of biomarkers and surrogate end points in clinical trials of multiple sclerosis with particular emphasis on challenges faced by evoked potential studies.