The clinical profile of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are an inflammation of the central nervous system associated with autoantibodies to aquaporin-4. We have undertaken a clinic-based survey of NMOSD in the Australia and New Zealand populations with the aim of characterising the clinical features and establishing the value of recently revised diagnostic criteria. Cases of possible NMOSD and age and sex-matched controls with multiple sclerosis (MS) were referred from centres across Australia and New Zealand.

Identification and outcomes of clinical phenotypes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease: Australian National Motor Neuron Disease observational cohort.

Objective: To capture the clinical patterns, timing of key milestones and survival of patients presenting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND) within Australia.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected and were timed to normal clinical assessments. An initial registration clinical report form (CRF) and subsequent ongoing assessment CRFs were submitted with a completion CRF at the time of death.

The cost of multiple sclerosis in Australia.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents a significant economic burden both to the patient and to society. This study aims to provide information about direct and indirect costs of MS in Australia. Detailed questionnaires were completed for 100 patients over a 6-month period (12 months for hospitalization costs).

Renal transplantation in the older end stage renal disease patient.

Transplant physicians in the United States continue to face an interesting problem when offering kidney transplantation as a form of renal replacement therapy to older end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The limited life-expectancy of these patients and an ever-present shortage of cadaveric organs makes kidney transplantation in this population a potentially controversial issue. Early results suggested poor outcomes for cadaveric renal transplantation in middle-aged or elderly ESRD patients.

Clearance of branched chain amino acids by peritoneal dialysis in maple syrup urine disease.

Thirty-eight hours of peritoneal dialysis (PD) was used in an 8-day-old, 3.35 kg boy with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) to enhance the removal of branched chain amino acids (BCAA). PD clearances for leucine, isoleucine, and valine were 3 ml/min/1.