Aquaporin4-IgG seropositivity significantly increases the risk of comorbid autoimmune diseases in NMOSD patients: population-based registry data.

Background: The aim of our study was to estimate the frequency of autoimmune comorbidities, in NMOSD patients from the national Serbian NMOSD Registry.

Methods: Our study comprises 136 patients with NMOSD, diagnosed according to the NMOSD criteria 2015. At the time of the study, in the Registry were collected demographic and clinical data, including those related to the coexisting comorbidities and pathogenic autoantibodies.

Targeted RNAseq Revealed the Gene Expression Signature of Ferroptosis-Related Processes Associated with Disease Severity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Detrimental molecular processes in multiple sclerosis (MS) lead to the cellular accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and iron in the CNS, which represents the main driving force for ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, with proposed roles in neurodegeneration, oligodendrocyte loss and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of MS. Ferroptosis-related gene expression signature and molecular markers, which could reflect MS severity and progression, are currently understudied in humans.

Potential beneficial effect of IFN-β1a and ocrelizumab in people with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background/aim: Disease-modifying therapy (DMT) has led to added challenges in the management of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) during the COVID-19 era. It can reduce relapse in MS or slow down disease progression, but some DMTs can increased risk of infection. The aim of study was to evaluate risk and severity of COVID-19 in pwMS.

Quality of sleep and fatigue in patients with the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Unlabelled: ОBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbances and fatigue are frequent symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients. The aim was to assess the quality of sleep (QoS) and fatigue in patients with the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: The study included 67 patients with RRMS and 85 healthy control subjects.

Psychological status of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis during coronavirus disease-2019 outbreak.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health emergency. The aim was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: Data on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of 95 RRMS patients were collected.

The impact of betaplus program on patient treatment satisfaction with interferon beta-1b in multiple sclerosis: Multicentric cross-sectional survey in the western Balkan countries.

Background: Long-term treatment adherence to disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) may have significant impact on clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been recently emphasized that low treatment satisfaction (TS) may be an important factor for achieving high rates of treatment adherence. Interferon (IFN) beta-1b was the first DMD approved for the treatment of MS.

Increasing signal intensity within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1W magnetic resonance images in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: correlation with cumulative dose of a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent, gadobutrol.

Objective: To evaluate correlation between cumulative dose of gadobutrol and signal intensity (SI) within dentate nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1-weighted images in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: Dentate nucleus-to-pons and globus pallidus-to-thalamus SI ratios, and renal and liver functions, were evaluated after multiple intravenous administrations of 0.1 mmol/kg gadobutrol at 27, 96-98, and 168 weeks.

The Prevalence of Pain in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objective: Examination of prevalence, intensity and associations of pain in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Multicenter, international cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Patients were recruited from seven MS centers: in Serbia (Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade; Clinic of Neurology, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade; Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Kragujevac; Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Nis; Department of Neurology, General Hospital-Uzice), in Republic of Srpska-Bosnia and Herzegovina (Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Banja Luka) and in Croatia (University Department of Neurology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb).

Disease relapses in multiple sclerosis can be influenced by air pollution and climate seasonal conditions.

Background/aim: Environmental factors may influence the disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the in- fluence of air pollution and seasonal climate factors of any on number of relapses in MS patients during a consecutive 5 years of observation.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of MS patients from the town of Niš, hospitalized at the Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Niš, Serbia, from 2005 to 2009.

Imaging characteristics of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL).

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an autosomal dominant vascular disorder. Diagnosis and follow-up in patients with CADASIL are based mainly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI shows white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunar infarcts and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs).

Erythrocytes' antioxidative capacity as a potential marker of oxidative stress intensity in neuroinflammation.

The study is designed to assess the oxidative stress intensity in erythrocytes obtained from patients in different clinical phenotypes of neuroinflammation, defined as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured and compared with patients' clinical severity (expanded disability status scale-EDSS), radiological findings (gadolinium enhancement lesion volume-Gd+) and disease duration (DD). AOPP, MDA values and SOD activity were significantly higher in both study patients than in the control group (p < 0.

Glutathione homeostasis disruption of erythrocytes, but not glutathione peroxidase activity change, is closely accompanied with neurological and radiological scoring of acute CNS inflammation.

Objectives And Methods: The levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured in the erythrocytes of 50 patients with clinically isolated syndrome of CNS (CIS) and 57 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Results: A decrease in GSH content and GPx activity showed significance in both study groups compared to the control values (p = 0.0025 and 0.

The glutathione S-transferase T1 deletion is associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs as a result of interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Recent data support the view that oxidative damage is one of an early event in MS tissue injury. The safe elimination of reactive oxygen species and toxins via glutathione S-transferase (GST) pathways is required in order to protect cells against reactive oxygen-induced damage.

Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma oxidative stress biomarkers in different clinical phenotypes of neuroinflammatory acute attacks. Conceptual accession: from fundamental to clinic.

Oxidative stress is revealed as the main contributor in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammation. Analyzing plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with different clinical phenotypes of neuroinflammation, defined as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and those defined as relapsing remitting multiples sclerosis (RRMS), we tested peripheral and CNS oxidative stress intensity in these neuroinflammatory acute attacks. All obtained values changes were assessed regarding clinical and radiological features of CNS inflammation.

Association of serum bilirubin and uric acid levels changes during neuroinflammation in patients with initial and relapsed demyelination attacks.

In order to examine the endogenous antioxidants values in the earliest phase of demyelination, we have determined bilirubin and uric acid (UA) serum values in the patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), regarding their clinical disability, measured by Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), disease duration, gender and other parameters. The bilirubin and UA levels were lower in CIS and RRMS patients than in control group, whether male or female (p < 0.05).

The patients with clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis show different levels of advanced protein oxidation products and total thiol content in plasma and CSF.

Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total thiol (SH) groups levels in plasma and CSF were studied in a cohort of 50 clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and 57 relapsing remittent multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients related to 20 control group (CG) patients' values. The obtained results were compared regarding patients demographic, biochemical, clinical (EDSS) and MRI features (total T2 weighted lesions number and Gd enhancement lesion volume). Plasma and CSF AOPP levels in CIS and RRMS patients were higher than those in CG, while SH groups showed lower values compared to CG (p<0.

INF-β1b therapy modulates L-arginine and nitric oxide metabolism in patients with relapse remittent multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The scope of this study is the examination of NO(2)+NO(3), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), arginase activity and asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethyl-L-arginine concentrations in plasma of MS patients during interferon-β1b therapy.

Methods: The study population included 15 (12 women, 3 men) untreated MS patients and 12 (10 women, 2 men) interferon-β1b treated MS patients with clinically definite relapsing MS (McDonalds criteria) for at least 1 year and a baseline EDSS score of 1.0 to 3.

Correlation of nitric oxide levels in the cerebellum and spinal cord of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rats with clinical symptoms.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established cell-mediated autoimmune inflammatory disease of the CNS, which has been used as a model of the human demyelinating disease. EAE is characterized by infiltration of the CNS by lymphocytes and mononuclear cells, microglial and astrocytic hypertrophy, and demyelination which cumulatively contribute to clinical expression of the disease. EAE was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats, 3 months old (300 g ± 20 g), by immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) in combination with Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA).

[Syringomyelia in demyelinating disease of the central nervous system: report of two cases].

Introduction: Syringomyelia is a cavitary extension inside the spinal cord which can be either symptomatic or congenitally-idiopathic. Syringomyelia during the course of the disease in patients presenting with clinically definite multiple sclerosis was described earlier. Syringomyelia in patients presenting with a clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis is unusual.

A case of complex arteriovenous malformation with skull destruction presented in sixth decade of life.

Intracranial AVMs are typically diagnosed before the patient has reached the age of 40 years, and a few cases have been reported of AVM with skull destruction. We described a rare case of a complex cerebral AVM with skull destruction, presented de novo in 52-year-old woman with epileptic seizures. Neuroimaging investigations revealed complex AVM in right hemisphere as well as extracranially, with signs of skull destructions, likely caused by significant involvement of feeders from external carotid artery.

[Effects of alfacalcidol therapy on serum cytokine levels in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a consequence of genetic and environmental factors. Geographic, genetic, and biological evidence suggests that an important immunopathogenic factor might be the insufficiency of vitamin D. The aim of our study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of alfacalcidol, a vitamin D analogue, on cytokine levels in RRMS patients in relapse.