Clinical correlation between disease progression and central vein sign in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis: A binational study.

Background: The central vein sign (CVS) has been proposed as a novel MRI biomarker to improve diagnosis of pediatric-onset MS (POMS). However, the role of CVS in POMS progression has yet to be discovered.

Objectives: To investigate the appearance of CVS and its correlation with POMS disease progression.

Deciphering the shift from benign to active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Insights into T regulatory cell dysfunction and apoptosis regulation.

Background: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a common demyelinating disease among young adults, follows a benign course in 10-15% of cases, where patients experience minimal neurological disability for a decade following disease onset. However, there is potential for these benign cases to transition into a clinically active, relapsing state.

Objective: To elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the transition from benign to active RRMS using gene expression analysis.

Practical recommendations on treatment of multiple sclerosis with Cladribine: an Israeli Experts Group‏ Viewpoint.

Cladribine tablets (Mavenclad) were approved by the European Union in 2017 as high-efficacy therapy for highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In Israel, Mavenclad was approved in 2018. Real-life experience has confirmed the efficacy of cladribine tablets over at least 4 years from the initial course.

In-depth characterization of long-term humoral and cellular immune responses to COVID-19m-RNA vaccination in multiple sclerosis patients treated with teriflunomide or alemtuzumab.

Background: The impact of disease-modifying therapies on the efficacy to mount appropriate immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently under investigation.

Objective: To characterize long-term humoral and cellular immunity in mRNA-COVID-19 MS vaccinees treated with teriflunomide or alemtuzumab.

Methods: We prospectively measured SARS-COV-2 IgG, memory B-cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 RBD, and memory T-cells secreting IFN-γ and/or IL-2, in MS patients vaccinated with BNT162b2-COVID-19 vaccine before, 1, 3 and 6 months after the second vaccine dose, and 3-6 months following vaccine booster.

Radiological Disease Activity in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Introduction: MRI activity is less frequent among secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients. In the current study, we aimed to identify SPMS patients with higher radiological disease activity (RDA) and determine their clinical characteristics.

Methods: We evaluated the occurrence of RDA in SPMS patients followed at the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis Center between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020.

COVID-19 Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7): Humoral, memory B and T cells in COVID-19 pediatric convalescents.

Background: Studies of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and adaptive response in COVID-19 non-vaccinated pediatric convalescents are controversial and further evidence from the pediatric population are needed.

Objectives: To elucidate SARS-CoV-2 humoral and memory B- and T-cells responses in pediatric convalescents as compared with the adult.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 80 non-vaccinated, IgG-positive, COVID-19 convalescents (age 8.

Cladribine treatment for highly active multiple sclerosis: Real-world clinical outcomes for years 3 and 4.

Introduction: Cladribine is an effective immunomodulatory treatment used for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To describe the clinical outcomes and rates of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in patients with highly-active disease treated with 2 years cumulative dose of cladribine, for years 3 and 4.

Methods: We used the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis computerized data registry to retrospectively evaluate year-3 and year-4 clinical outcomes and NEDA-2 rates in highly active RRMS patients who completed the 2-dose 2-year cladribine treatment protocol (3.

The Design, Development, and Testing of a Virtual Reality Device for Upper Limb Training in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Single-Center Feasibility Study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common nontraumatic, neurological, disabling disease that often presents with upper limb dysfunction. Exercise training has resulted in improvement for patients; however, there can be a lack of compliance due to access because of location and lack of MS experts. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising technology that can offer exercise therapy/rehabilitation at a distance.

Longitudinal relationships between disability and gait characteristics in people with MS.

Longitudinal data are vital in order to understand intra individual gait changes with the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between changes in disability with changes in major spatio-temporal parameters of gait in people with MS (PwMS). PwMS (n = 83) completed two gait assessments performed at separate time points (M1, M2).

Immune response to the third COVID-19 vaccine dose is related to lymphocyte count in multiple sclerosis patients treated with fingolimod.

Background: The majority of multiple sclerosis [MS] patients treated with fingolimod fail to develop a protective level of IgG humoral and adaptive cellular immune responses following full BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the third COVID-19 vaccine dose in vaccine non-responders fingolimod-treated MS patients.

Study Design: This is a prospective 3-month, single-center, randomized clinical trial.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: Safety and humoral efficacy of the third booster dose.

Background: As immunity against SARS-COV-2 wanes following first and second doses of vaccination, a third dose is administered in several countries around the world. Similarly to the first doses, risks related to vaccination and humoral immune response in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be assessed.

Objective: Characterize safety and humoral immune response following the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.

Targeted cognitive game training enhances cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta 1-a.

Background: Prevention of cognitive decline in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is of major importance. We explored the effect of a 6 months computerized game training program on cognitive performance in MS patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Methods: This was a single-center, randomized prospective study.

SARS-CoV-2 memory B and T cell profiles in mild COVID-19 convalescent patients.

Objectives: Antiviral adaptive immunity involves memory B cells (MBC) and memory T cells (MTC). The dynamics of MBC and MTC in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) convalescents warrant further investigation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional and longitudinal study, blood-derived MBC and MTC responses were evaluated in 68 anti-spike IgG-positive mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescents at visit 1, between 1 and 7 months (median 4.

Effect of natalizumab treatment on the rate of No Evidence of Disease Activity in young adults with multiple sclerosis in relation to pubertal stage.

Approximately 40% of young-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience breakthrough disease, which carries a high risk for long-term disability, and requires using therapies beyond traditional first-line agents. Despite the increasing use of newer disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in this population, data are not available to guide the need for escalating DMTs and there is a scarcity of data on the effects of natalizumab in children and young adults with active disease. We performed a retrospective analysis of the rate of No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA), tolerability, and safety of natalizumab in a multi-center cohort of 36 children and young adults with highly active MS.

Humoral immune response in multiple sclerosis patients following PfizerBNT162b2 COVID19 vaccination: Up to 6 months cross-sectional study.

Appropriate immune response following COVID-19 vaccination is important in the context of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). In a prospective cross-sectional study, we determined SARS-COV-2 IgG response up to 6 months following PfizerBNT162b2 vaccination in 414 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 89 healthy subjects. Protective response was demonstrated in untreated MS patients (N = 76, 100%), treated with Cladribine (N = 48, 100%), Dimethyl fumarate (N = 35, 100%), Natalizumab (N = 32, 100%), and Teriflunomide (N = 39, 100%), similarly to healthy subjects (N = 89, 97.

MANAGEMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL PERFORATION: A CASE REPORT.

Esophageal perforation (EP) is a devastating condition. In modern times it is still associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. 62-year-old male patient came to Surgical Department of the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University on 17.

Humoral immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

Background And Aims: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other expert organizations recommended that all patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) should be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the effect of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the efficacy to mount an appropriate immune response is unknown. We aimed to characterize humoral immunity in mRNA-COVID-19 MS vaccinees treated with high-efficacy DMTs.

Potential role of indolelactate and butyrate in multiple sclerosis revealed by integrated microbiome-metabolome analysis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease whose precise etiology is unknown. Several studies found alterations in the microbiome of individuals with MS, but the mechanism by which it may affect MS is poorly understood. Here we analyze the microbiome of 129 individuals with MS and find that they harbor distinct microbial patterns compared with controls.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: What we have learnt by February 2021.

Background: Since vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became available, risks related to vaccinating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be carefully assessed.

Objective: Characterize safety and occurrence of immediate relapses following COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.

Methods: We assessed the safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination in adult MS patients.

Definitions of primary-progressive multiple sclerosis trajectories by rate of clinical disability progression.

Background: Patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) vary in the rate of disability progression.

Objective: To classify clinical disability trajectories by rate of disability progression and evaluate predictive variables in PPMS patients.

Methods: We analyzed the cumulative incidence of progression to disability and in accordance defined clinical PPMS disability trajectories.

Physical activity behavior in people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: Results of an online survey.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) itself and first-line disease modifying therapies do not increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, home isolation is likely to result in a significant decrease in participation in leisure time physical activities and an increase in sedentary behavior. Therefore, using an online cross-sectional survey we examined the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on physical activity (PA) behavior and fitness level in an Israeli cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Clinical and transcriptional recovery profiles in pediatric and adult multiple sclerosis patients.

Objective: To determine whether pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and adults-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS) patients are different in initial disease severity and recovery and to investigate the associations with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) transcriptional profiles.

Methods: Clinical and radiological severity of first and second relapses and 6-month recovery were analyzed in 2153 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and compared between POMS (onset at 8-18years old) and AOMS (onset at 19-40 years old) patients. PBMCs transcriptomes of 15 POMS and 15 gender-matched AOMS patients were analyzed 6 months after the first relapse and compared to 55 age-matched healthy controls.

Parity and disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Aim: It is unclear whether parity and increasing parity are risk factors for long-term disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, data on the effects of immunomodulatory treatments in this context are limited.

Objectives: To examine the association between parity and long-term neurological sequela among relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.