Association of Menopause With Functional Outcomes and Disease Biomarkers in Women With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objective: The impact of menopause on the brain is not well understood. Hormonal changes, including puberty and pregnancy, influence the onset and course of multiple sclerosis (MS). After menopause, a worsening of MS disease trajectory measured on the clinician-rated Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was reported in some, but not all, studies.

From "invisible" to "audible": Features extracted during simple speech tasks classify patient-reported fatigue in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Fatigue is a major "invisible" symptom in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), which may affect speech. Automated speech analysis is an objective, rapid tool to capture digital speech biomarkers linked to functional outcomes.

Objective: To use automated speech analysis to assess multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue metrics.

Clinical outcomes after use of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a novel class of agents approved for the treatment of several cancers and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). However, due to the risk of autoimmune side effects, their use in people with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) has been limited.

Objective: To characterize outcomes in a cohort of adults with MS who received ICIs.

Cognitive function influences cognitive-motor interference during dual task walking in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Both physical and cognitive impairments are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Performing a cognitive task while walking (i.e.

Re-WRAP (Remyelination for women at risk of axonal loss and progression): A phase II randomized placebo-controlled delayed-start trial of bazedoxifene for myelin repair in multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major cause of disability in young and middle-aged people, and myelin repair therapies are needed to slow or potentially reverse this damage. Bazedoxifene (BZA) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator identified in a novel high-throughput unbiased screen for its remyelinating potential, and its remyelinating effects were demonstrated in pre-clinical models.

Methods: This is a single-center, double blind, randomized, controlled, delayed-start Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04002934) investigating the remyelinating effects of BZA relative to placebo.

Well-being at midlife: Correlates of mental health in ambulatory menopausal women with multiple sclerosis.

Background: A majority of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed prior to menopause, yet their experiences during this transition are not well characterized.

Objectives: To explore associations between mental health, sleep, and other quality of life metrics, and vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) in ambulatory, menopausal women with MS.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed of baseline data from two trials enrolling ambulatory peri/postmenopausal women with MS: NCT02710214 ( = 24, bothersome VMS) and NCT04002934 (ongoing, = 35, myelin repair).

Clinical course of multiple sclerosis and patient experiences during breast cancer treatment.

Background: Over one-third of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are post-menopausal women, the primary demographic affected by breast cancer. After breast cancer diagnosis, there is little information about patients' clinical experiences with both diseases.

Objective: Utilize a case series of MS patients diagnosed with breast cancer to characterize oncologic and MS trajectories, and generate novel insights about clinical considerations using qualitative analysis.

Plasma Markers of Neurologic Injury and Inflammation in People With Self-Reported Neurologic Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background And Objectives: The biologic mechanisms underlying neurologic postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC) are incompletely understood.

Methods: We measured markers of neurologic injury (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], neurofilament light chain [NfL]) and soluble markers of inflammation among a cohort of people with prior confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at early and late recovery after the initial illness (defined as less than and greater than 90 days, respectively). The primary clinical outcome was the presence of self-reported CNS PASC symptoms during the late recovery time point.

Degradation of Carbon Nanotube Array Thermal Interface Materials through Thermal Aging: Effects of Bonding, Array Height, and Catalyst Oxidation.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) array thermal interface materials (TIMs) are promising candidates for high-performance applications in terms of thermal performance. However, in order to be useful in commercial applications, the reliability of the interfaces is an equally important parameter, which so far has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the reliability of CNT array TIMs is investigated through accelerated aging.

The burden of disease in early schizophrenia - a systematic literature review.

Background: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder with a burden that can vary greatly depending on the severity and the duration. Previous research has suggested that patients in the earlier stages of schizophrenia (typically first-episode schizophrenia) benefit from effective early treatment, however, a comprehensive review of the burden specifically in this population has not been undertaken. A systematic literature review was therefore conducted to characterize the clinical, economic, and humanistic burden, as reported in naturalistic studies of schizophrenia populations specifically at an early stage of disease in comparison with healthy controls, patients with chronic schizophrenia, and patients with other psychiatric disorders.

High porosity and light weight graphene foam heat sink and phase change material container for thermal management.

During the last decade, graphene foam emerged as a promising high porosity 3-dimensional (3D) structure for various applications. More specifically, it has attracted significant interest as a solution for thermal management in electronics. In this study, we investigate the possibility to use such porous materials as a heat sink and a container for a phase change material (PCM).

Effects of high temperature treatment of carbon nanotube arrays on graphite: increased crystallinity, anchoring and inter-tube bonding.

Thermal treatment of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can significantly improve their mechanical, electrical and thermal properties due to reduced defects and increased crystallinity. In this work we investigate the effect of annealing at 3000 °C of vertically aligned CNT arrays synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on graphite. Raman measurements show a drastically reduced amount of defects and, together with transmission electron microscope (TEM) diffraction measurements, an increased average crystallite size of around 50%, which corresponds to a 124% increase in Young's modulus.

Multiple growth of graphene from a pre-dissolved carbon source.

Mono- to few-layer graphene materials are successfully synthesized multiple times using Cu-Ni alloy as a catalyst after a single-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The multiple synthesis is realized by extracting carbon source pre-dissolved in the catalyst substrate. Firstly, graphene is grown by the CVD method on Cu-Ni catalyst substrates.

SMIM1, carrier of the Vel blood group, is a tail-anchored transmembrane protein and readily forms homodimers in a cell-free system.

Antibodies to the Vel blood group antigen can cause adverse hemolytic reactions unless Vel-negative blood units are transfused. Since the genetic background of Vel-negativity was discovered in 2013, DNA-based typing of the 17-bp deletion causing the phenotype has facilitated identification of Vel-negative blood donors. SMIM1, the gene underlying Vel, encodes a 78-amino acid erythroid transmembrane protein of unknown function.

Attitudes of European physicians towards the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics.

Background: Prescription rates for long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulations remain relatively low in Europe despite improved adherence over alternative oral antipsychotic treatments. This apparent under-prescription of LAI antipsychotics may have multiple contributing factors, including negative mental health practitioner attitudes towards the use of LAIs.

Methods: The Antipsychotic Long acTing injection in schizOphrenia (ALTO) non-interventional study (NIS), conducted across several European countries, utilised a questionnaire that was specifically designed to address physicians' attitudes and beliefs towards the treatment of schizophrenia with LAI antipsychotics.

Dimerization of small integral membrane protein 1 promotes cell surface presentation of the Vel blood group epitope.

The Vel blood group antigen is carried on the short extracellular segment of the 78-amino-acid-long, type II transmembrane protein SMIM1 of unknown function. Here, using biochemical analysis and flow cytometry of cells expressing wild-type and mutant alleles of SMIM1, we demonstrate that dimerization of SMIM1 promotes cell surface display of the Vel epitope. We show that SMIM1 dimerization is mediated both by an extracellular Cys77-dependent, homomeric disulfide linkage and via a GxxxG helix-helix interaction motif in the transmembrane domain.

Diverse definitions of the early course of schizophrenia-a targeted literature review.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder and patients experience significant comorbidity, especially cognitive and psychosocial deficits, already at the onset of disease. Previous research suggests that treatment during the earlier stages of disease reduces disease burden, and that a longer time of untreated psychosis has a negative impact on treatment outcomes. A targeted literature review was conducted to gain insight into the definitions currently used to describe patients with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia in the early course of disease ('early' schizophrenia).

Baseline results from the European non-interventional Antipsychotic Long acTing injection in schizOphrenia (ALTO) study.

Background: The Antipsychotic Long-acTing injection in schizOphrenia (ALTO) study was a non-interventional study across several European countries examining prescription of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics to identify sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients receiving and physicians prescribing LAIs. ALTO was also the first large-scale study in Europe to report on the use of both first- or second-generation antipsychotic (FGA- or SGA-) LAIs.

Methods: Patients with schizophrenia receiving a FGA- or SGA-LAI were enrolled between June 2013 and July 2014 and categorized as incident or prevalent users.

Quantifying the treatment goals of people recently diagnosed with schizophrenia using best-worst scaling.

Objective: This study seeks to quantify the treatment goals of people recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and explore their impact on treatment plan.

Methods: People aged 18-35 years with a confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia within the past 5 years were surveyed in the UK, Germany, and Italy. Treatment goals were assessed via a validated best-worst scaling instrument, where participants evaluated subsets of 13 possible treatment goals identified using a balanced incomplete block design.

Development of a stated-preference instrument to prioritize treatment goals in recent onset schizophrenia.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate a new stated-preference instrument to prioritize multiple treatment goals among people with recent onset schizophrenia.

Methods: A draft survey instrument was developed to assess preferences for 13 key treatment goals that were identified based on the literature. The survey incorporates best-worst scaling (BWS), which shows repeated subsets comprising 4 of the 13 goals, and respondents identify which is most important and which is least important to them.

Podoplanin is a negative regulator of Th17 inflammation.

Recent data indicate that there are different subpopulations of Th17 cells that can express a regulatory as opposed to an inflammatory gene signature. The transmembrane glycoprotein PDPN is critical in the development of multiple organs including the lymphatic system and has been described on T cells in mouse models of autoimmune Th17 inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that unlike in mice, PDPN+ T cells induced under classic Th17-polarizing conditions express transcription factors associated with Th17 cells but do not produce IL-17.

Relationship between response to aripiprazole once-monthly and paliperidone palmitate on work readiness and functioning in schizophrenia: A post-hoc analysis of the QUALIFY study.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease with negative impact on patients' employment status and quality of life. This post-hoc analysis uses data from the QUALIFY study to elucidate the relationship between work readiness and health-related quality of life and functioning. QUALIFY was a 28-week, randomized study (NCT01795547) comparing the treatment effectiveness of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg and paliperidone palmitate once-monthly using the Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality-of-Life Scale as the primary endpoint.

Long-term effectiveness of aripiprazole once-monthly for schizophrenia is maintained in the QUALIFY extension study.

Objective: To evaluate long-term safety and effectiveness of continued treatment with aripiprazole once-monthly 400mg (AOM 400) in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Patients who completed the QUALIFY study (NCT01795547) in the AOM 400 arm were eligible for 6 additional once-monthly injections of AOM 400 during an open-label, 24-week extension (NCT01959035). Safety data were collected at each visit.

Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Coaxial Carbon@Boron Nitride Nanotube Arrays.

We demonstrate the thermal conductivity enhancement of the vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays (from ∼15.5 to 29.5 W/mK, ∼90% increase) by encapsulating outer boron nitride nanotube (BNNT, 0.