Health utilities and costs for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare, neurological disease that places a significant burden on patients, their carers, and healthcare systems.

Objectives: To estimate patient and carer health utilities and costs of NMOSD within the UK setting.

Methods: Patients with NMOSD and their carers, recruited via a regional specialist treatment centre, completed a postal questionnaire that included a resource use measure, the EuroQoL (EQ)-5D-5L, EQ-5D-VAS, Vision and Quality of Life Index (VisQoL), Carer Experience Survey (CES) and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Predictors of relapse in MOG antibody associated disease: a cohort study.

Objective: To identify factors predictive of relapse risk and disability in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD).

Setting: Patients were seen by the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) service in Liverpool, UK, a national referral centre for adult patients with MOGAD, NMOSD and related conditions.

Participants: Patients with MOGAD=76 from England, Northern Ireland and Scotland were included in this cohort study.

Seasonal distribution of attacks in aquaporin-4 antibody disease and myelin-oligodendrocyte antibody disease.

Background: Seasonal variation in incidence and exacerbations has been reported for neuroinflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). It is unknown whether seasonality also influences aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) disease and myelin-oligodendrocyte antibody (MOG-Ab) disease.

Objective: We examined the seasonal distribution of attacks in AQP4-Ab disease and MOG-Ab disease.

Size-Dependent Localization in Polydisperse Colloidal Glasses.

We have investigated concentrated suspensions of polydisperse hard spheres and have determined the dynamics and sizes of individual particles using confocal microscopy. With increasing concentration, the dynamics of the small and large particles start to differ. The large particles exhibit slower dynamics and stronger localization.

Seizures and Encephalitis in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein IgG Disease vs Aquaporin 4 IgG Disease.

Importance: Antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG (MOG-IgG) are increasingly detected in patients with non-multiple sclerosis-related demyelination, some of whom manifest a neuromyelitis optica (NMO) phenotype. Cortical involvement, encephalopathy, and seizures are rare in aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG)-related NMO in the white European population. However, the authors encountered several patients with seizures associated with MOG-IgG disease.

High risk of postpartum relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Objective: To study the effect of pregnancy on the frequency of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) relapse and evaluate rates of pregnancy-related complications in an international multicenter setting.

Methods: We administered a standardized survey to 217 women with NMOSD from 7 medical centers and reviewed their medical records. We compared the annualized relapse rate (ARR) during a baseline period 2 years prior to a participant's first pregnancy to that during pregnancy and to the 9 months postpartum.

What proportion of AQP4-IgG-negative NMO spectrum disorder patients are MOG-IgG positive? A cross sectional study of 132 patients.

Antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) have been described in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) without aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG). We aimed to identify the proportion of AQP4-IgG-negative NMOSD patients who are seropositive for MOG-IgG. In a cross sectional study, we reviewed all patients seen in the National NMO clinic over the last 4 years (after the availability of MOG-IgG testing), including clinical information, MRI, and antibody tests.

Female hormonal exposures and neuromyelitis optica symptom onset in a multicenter study.

Objective: To study the association between hormonal exposures and disease onset in a cohort of women with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: Reproductive history and hormone use were assessed using a standardized reproductive survey administered to women with NMOSD (82% aquaporin-4 antibody positive) at 8 clinical centers. Using multivariable regression, we examined the association between reproductive exposures and age at first symptom onset (FS).

Long-Lived Neighbors Determine the Rheological Response of Glasses.

Glasses exhibit a liquidlike structure but a solidlike rheological response with plastic deformations only occurring beyond yielding. Thus, predicting the rheological behavior from the microscopic structure is difficult, but important for materials science. Here, we consider colloidal suspensions and propose to supplement the static structural information with the local dynamics, namely, the rearrangement and breaking of the cage of neighbors.

Chronic neuropathic pain severity is determined by lesion level in aquaporin 4-antibody-positive myelitis.

Importance: Chronic, intractable neuropathic pain is a common and debilitating consequence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) myelitis, with no satisfactory treatment; few studies have yet to explore its aetiology.

Objective: To establish if myelitis-associated chronic pain in NMOSD is related to the craniocaudal location of spinal cord lesions.

Method: (1) Retrospective cohort of 76 aquaporin 4-antibody (AQP4-Ab)-positive patients from Oxford and Liverpool's national NMOSD clinics, assessing current pain and craniocaudal location of cord lesion contemporary to pain onset.

Patient-reported outcome measure for neuromyelitis optica: pretesting of preliminary instrument and protocol for further development in accordance with international guidelines.

Objective: This study outlines the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), an instrument to obtain self-reported health status for neuromyeltis optica (NMO), a disabling neurological condition.

Design: Development was conducted in accordance with international guidance for PROMs including systematic review of existing literature, item generation guided by qualitative interviews, health-related quality of life conceptual framework and clinical expert panel and cognitive interviews with NMO patients.

Setting: Participants were identified through a national NMO clinic in a tertiary NHS neurosciences service.

The impact of 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders criteria on diagnostic rates.

Background: The international panel for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) diagnosis has proposed diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD).

Objectives: We assessed the impact of these criteria on diagnostic rates in a large cohort of patients.

Methods: We identified and applied the 2006 and 2015 criteria to all patients ( n = 176) seen in the NMO and non-multiple sclerosis central nervous system demyelination clinic (part of the UK NMO service) from January 2013 to May 2015.

If they are OK, we are OK: the experience of partners living with neuromyelitis optica.

Aim: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare neuro-inflammatory condition characterized by acute relapses causing severe visual or physical disability. The impact on family members and their experiences have not been studied. The study aims were to explore the lived experience of partners of people with NMO and to investigate potential carer burden in this population.

Cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities in neuromyelitis optica.

Objective: Our primary objective was to examine the neuropsychological and psychopathological profile of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and compare these to multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy control (HC) groups. We also examined for relationships between cognitive and psychiatric variables and clinical factors including accumulated neurological disability and disease duration.

Methods: A neuropsychological test battery was administered along with a structured psychiatric interview and quantitative measures of mood symptoms.

Development of a patient-centred conceptual framework of health-related quality of life in neuromyelitis optica: a qualitative study.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an auto-immune disease that can cause severe visual and mobility impairments. Research on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in NMO is scarce, limiting knowledge on factors influencing HRQoL and support needs.

Aim: This study provides the first qualitative exploration of HRQoL in NMO, conducted to provide a conceptual framework for the development of an NMO patient-reported outcome measure.

Bladder and bowel dysfunction affect quality of life. A cross sectional study of 60 patients with aquaporin-4 antibody positive Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder.

Background: Transverse myelitis (TM) associated with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) can be severe and is well known to reduce mobility early in the disease. However the burden of bladder and bowel dysfunction is unknown and overlooked. We studied the frequency of bladder and bowel dysfunction and their impact on quality of life.

Tonic spasms and short myelitis in an elderly woman--unique onset of neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica typically presents at a median age of 40-50 years. The myelitis is usually of acute onset, long (>3 vertebral segments) and causes severe sensorimotor and bladder and bowel disturbances. We describe a 73-year-old Caucasian woman with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica whose index event was intermittent paroxysmal tonic spasms (and no other myelitis features) that recurred for 6 months and was associated with a short spinal cord lesion on MRI.

Long-term efficacy, tolerability and retention rate of azathioprine in 103 aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients: a multicentre retrospective observational study from the UK.

Background: Azathioprine (AZA) is a common immunosuppressive drug used for relapse prevention in neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to assess efficacy, tolerability and retention of AZA in a large NMO cohort.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 103 aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMO and NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients treated with AZA.

Transverse myelitis associated with an itchy rash and hyperckemia: neuromyelitis optica associated with dermatitis herpetiformis.

Importance: Neuromyelitis optica is associated with severe neurodisability if not recognized and treated promptly. Several autoimmune disorders are associated with this condition and may vary in their presentation. It is essential that clinicians are aware of the uncommon presenting features of neuromyelitis optica and associated autoimmune conditions.

Neuropathic pain in neuromyelitis optica affects activities of daily living and quality of life.

Though pain in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) has been described in two recent reports, the proportion with true neuropathic pain (NP), its features, impact on activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life has not been well characterised. A cross-sectional study of 50 NMO patients with transverse myelitis was performed using Douleur Neuropathique 4, Brief Pain Inventory, Extended Disability Status Scale and Short Form 36. NP was identified in 62% of patients.

Confocal Raman spectroscopy of whole hairs.

This paper describes the application of Raman spectroscopy to whole hair fibers. Previously this has proved difficult because the hairs are relatively opaque, and spatial resolution diminishes with depth because of the change in refractive index. A solution is to couple confocal Raman with multivariate curve resolution (MCR) data analysis, which separates spectral differences with depth despite this reduction in resolution.

Characterization of neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients with a late onset.

Background: Few data are available for patients with a late onset (≥ 50 years) of neuromyelitis optica (LONMO) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (LONMOSD), defined by an optic neuritis/longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis with aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab).

Objective: To characterize LONMO and LONMOSD, and to analyze their predictive factors of disability and death.

Methods: We identified 430 patients from four cohorts of NMO/NMOSD in France, Germany, Turkey and UK.