Polysomnography parameters in a large cohort of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Disordered and disturbed sleep is quite common among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It is associated with fatigue one of most disabling symptoms in MS. This study aims at comparing polysomnographic (PSG) sleep parameters in a large single cohort of PwMS from a single center to that of the published norms.

Multiple Sclerosis, Fatigue, Expanded Disability Status Scale: A Cross-Sectional Exploration of Sleep Efficiency and Quantitative Sleep Parameters.

Background: Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders are more prevalent in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population. Poor sleep has been correlated with worse MS outcomes. Sleep efficiency (SE) is one of the most sensitive markers of sleep quality.

Effectiveness of rituximab versus oral immunosuppressive therapies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in a racially diverse cohort of subjects: A single-center retrospective study.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder characterized by severe relapses and high level of disability. In clinical trials of NMOSD, Black patients are under-represented, < 12%, compared to a relatively high prevalence of NMSOD in this population, 10/100,000. Despite the higher prevalence of NMOSD in Black and Asian patients, there is limited knowledge of the effectiveness of disease modifying treatments across racially diverse groups.

Effectiveness of ocrelizumab on clinical and MRI outcome measures in multiple sclerosis across black and white cohorts: A single-center retrospective study.

Objective: To examine differences in the therapeutic response to ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who self-identified as either White or Black, assessed longitudinally by expanded disability status scale (EDSS) progression and MRI brain volume loss.

Methods: MS subjects treated with ocrelizumab were retrospectively identified. Clinical data were available for 229 subjects (White 146; Black 83) and MRI data from for 48 subjects (White 31; Black 17).

Analysis of the extent of limbic system changes in multiple sclerosis using FreeSurfer and voxel-based morphometry approaches.

Background And Purpose: The limbic brain is involved in diverse cognitive, emotional, and autonomic functions. Injury of the various parts of the limbic system have been correlated with clinical deficits in MS. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine different regions of the subcortical limbic system to assess the extent of damage within this entire system as it may be pertinent in correlating with specific aspects of cognitive and behavioral dysfunction in MS by using a fully automated, unbiased segmentation approach.

Predictive model for bacterial co-infection in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a multicenter observational cohort study.

Objective: The aim of our study was to build a predictive model able to stratify the risk of bacterial co-infection at hospitalization in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: Multicenter observational study of adult patients hospitalized from February to December 2020 with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Endpoint was microbiologically documented bacterial co-infection diagnosed within 72 h from hospitalization.

Narcolepsy type 1 comorbid with myasthenia gravis: possible immunological link.

Unlabelled: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) has a probable autoimmune pathophysiology. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an auto-antibody-mediated neuromuscular junction disorder. In the case report below we describe 2 women who were diagnosed with NT1 at ages 33 and 46 years, respectively.

Clinical Characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis in African-Americans.

Purpose Of Review: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects nearly 1 million people in the USA and has the potential to profoundly affect physical ability and income potential at a young age. Since a landmark paper was published in 2014, few studies have looked at differences in MS disease characteristics between African-American and Caucasian patients.

Recent Findings: African-American patients often have a more severe MS disease course, as well as biomarker data which can portend a worse prognosis.

Reduction in ocrelizumab-induced infusion reactions by a modified premedication protocol.

Background: Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20+ B cells that is approved for MS. The most common side effect is infusion-associated reactions (IARs). This study examines whether a modified premedication protocol reduces incidence of IARs and further examines predictors of IARs.