Cardiopulmonary Coupling Spectrogram as an Ambulatory Method for Assessing Sleep Disorders in Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Background And Objectives: Sleep disorders are a common and important clinical feature in patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE); however, they are poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate whether cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC), an electrocardiogram-based portable sleep monitoring technology, can be used to assess sleep disorders in patients with AE.

Methods: Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of AE were age- and sex-matched with recruited healthy control subjects.

Safety of teriflunomide in Chinese adult patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A phase IV, 24-week multicenter study.

Background: Disease-modifying therapies have been approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study aims to examine the safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with RMS.

Methods: This non-randomized, multi-center, 24-week, prospective study enrolled RMS patients with variant (c.

Clinical and imaging features of patients with late-onset myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

Background: There is an age-dependent change in the clinical phenotype of Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). However, the clinical features of late-onset MOGAD have not been well described.

Methods: Clinical data of 110 MOGAD patients, including 21 late-onset patients with onset age greater than or equal to 50 years old were retrospectively analyzed.

Dual selective sensor for exosomes in serum using magnetic imprinted polymer isolation sandwiched with aptamer/graphene oxide based FRET fluorescent ignition.

The selective and sensitive detection of cancerous exosomes in serum is critical for early disease diagnosis and improved prognosis. Previous exosome-related research has been limited by a lack of well-understanding in exosomes as well as the challenging background interference of body fluid. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and nucleic acid aptamers can be regarded as the two alternatives to antibodies.

Dysregulated CD40 and CD40 ligand expression in anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a B cell- and antibody-mediated autoimmune disease which may be regulated by CD40/CD40L signaling pathway. we enrolled anti-NMDARE patients and measured the serum CD40 and CD40L concentrations. The serum concentration of CD40 was decreased, while CD40L was increased in anti-NMDARE patients compared with that of healthy controls.

Association of serum Gasdermin D with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is associated with autoimmune disorders and neuroinflammatory disorders, but its role in anti-NMDAR encephalitis is unclear. In this study, we measured serum levels of GSDMD in 42 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 25 healthy controls.

Comparison of Thalamus and Basal Ganglia Signs Between Multiple Sclerosis and Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System: An Exploratory Study.

Based on the symptoms, especially those affecting small vessels, it is difficult to distinguish multiple sclerosis (MS) from primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps understand the characteristics of deep gray matter lesions (DGML) in MS and PACNS. We aimed to compare the MRI characteristics of thalamus and basal ganglia lesions between relapsing-remitting MS and PACNS.

Rescue immunoadsorption treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder attacks unresponsive to intravenous methylprednisolone.

We aimed to evaluate the value of immunoadsorption (IA) treatment after the failure of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) therapy for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Sixty-one NMOSD attacks unresponsive to IVMP were included: 22 patients received rescue IA (IVMP+IA), 24 underwent rescue plasma exchange (PE) (IVMP+PE), and 21 received no further rescue therapy (IVMP alone). The improvement frequencies were higher in the IVMP+IA and IVMP+PE groups than in the IVMP-alone group (P = 0.

Integration of the Extreme Gradient Boosting model with electronic health records to enable the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Delayed multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnoses are not uncommon, an early diagnostic tool is urgently warranted. We aimed to develop an effective tool through electronic health records and machine learning techniques to early recognize MS patients from hospital visitors in China.

Methods: Two case sets were collected from January 2016 to December 2018.

Risk of relapse in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Recognition and preventive strategy.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that is mainly associated with serum autoantibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in astrocytes. The relapsing clinical course of NMOSD, which can be blinding and disabling due to severe visual impairment, spinal cord lesions and a group of brain syndromes, suggests the importance of accurately evaluating the likelihood and severity of relapse at an early stage of the disease. To date, many risk factors have been revealed in association with relapse, and only some of them are supported by substantial evidence.

NMOSD acute attack: Understanding, treatment and innovative treatment prospect.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a group of severe inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system that involves the optic nerve and spinal cord. Currently the therapeutic options for an acute attack in NMOSD are limited and rarely characterized in clinical studies. This review discussed the overall characteristics of acute attack of NMOSD, related risk factor, prognosis and management.

Long-term safety and efficacy of teriflunomide in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Results from the TOWER extension study.

Background: In the phase 3 TOWER core study (NCT00751881), the efficacy and safety of teriflunomide compared with placebo were demonstrated in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Here, the long-term safety and efficacy outcomes from the TOWER extension study (NCT00751881) are reported.

Methods: All patients who entered the extension (N = 751) were assigned to teriflunomide 14 mg and assessed for long-term safety and efficacy.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disorders are associated with HLA subtypes in a Chinese paediatric-onset cohort.

Objective: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disorders (MOGADs) are a rare new neurological autoimmune disease with unclear pathogenesis. Since a linkage of the disease to the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) has not been shown, we here investigated whether MOGAD is associated with the HLA locus.

Methods: HLA genotypes of 95 patients with MOGADs, assessed between 2016 and 2018 from three academic centres, were compared with 481 healthy Chinese Han individuals.

The Effects of Carbenoxolone against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in a Mouse Model.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex demyelinating disease involving central nervous system (CNS). It is still a challenge to secure an effective therapeutic strategy against this disease. Carbenoxolone (CBX) is a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid, which is widely used in brain research for its gap-junction inhibition effects.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist reduces inflammation and blood-brain barrier breakdown in an astrocyte-dependent manner in experimental stroke.

Background: Preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is beneficial to avoid further brain damage after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Astrocytes, an important component of the BBB, promote BBB breakdown in subjects with AIS by secreting inflammatory factors. The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) protects the BBB and reduces brain inflammation from cerebral ischemia, and GLP-1R is expressed on astrocytes.

Mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate multiple sclerosis IDO-dependent increasing the suppressive proportion of CD5+ IL-10+ B cells.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, is a major cause of neurological disability worldwide. The existing clinical treatments are not curable, and better treatments are urgently needed. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise for treating MS, but the favorable effects and mechanism of MSC therapy on MS are still not fully understood.

Efficacy and Safety of Toutongning Capsule in Patients with Migraine: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Toutongning (TTN) capsule, a Chinese patent medicine, is used as a prophylactic treatment for migraine. The present study was conducted as a postmarketing evaluation of the efficacy and safety of TTN capsule. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Gut dysbiosis and lack of short chain fatty acids in a Chinese cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Recent studies, mostly conducted in Western countries, showed that gut microbes are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether gut dysbiosis is relevant to the initiation and progression of MS in a Chinese population.

Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and gas chromatography (GC) were integrated and used to compare the fecal bacterial communities and the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels among relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (n = 34), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients (n = 34), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 34).

Neutralization of interleukin-9 ameliorates experimental stroke by repairing the blood-brain barrier via down-regulation of astrocyte-derived vascular endothelial growth factor-A.

Astrocytes mediate the destruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during ischemic stroke (IS). IL-9 is a pleiotropic cytokine that we previously found to be highly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IS, and the presence of IL-9 receptors on astrocytes has been reported in the literature. Here, we detected the effect of IL-9 on astrocytes using an anti-IL-9-neutralizing antibody to treat rats with experimental stroke.

HLA class II allele is associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Background And Objective: Aetiology and pathogenesis of anti--methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, the most common autoimmune encephalitis, is largely unknown. Since an association of the disease with the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) has not been shown so far, we here investigated whether anti-NMDAR encephalitis is associated with the HLA locus.

Methods: HLA loci of 61 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 571 healthy controls from the Chinese Han population were genotyped and analysed for this study.

Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide in Chinese Patients with Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis: A Subgroup Analysis of the Phase 3 TOWER Study.

Background: Disease-modifying therapy is the standard treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in remission. The primary objective of the current analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of two teriflunomide doses (7 mg and 14 mg) in the subgroup of Chinese patients with relapsing MS included in the TOWER study.

Methods: TOWER was a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group (three groups), placebo-controlled study.

Serum Bilirubin and Albumin in Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis.

Background And Objective: Low serum levels of bilirubin and albumin are associated with multiple autoimmune diseases, but their role in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is unknown.

Methods: Serum bilirubin and albumin levels were evaluated in 60 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, 50 cryptococcal encephalitis, and 145 healthy controls (CTLs). Of the 60 anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients, 30 had a follow-up evaluation at 3 months after admission.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Level of Soluble CD27 Is Associated with Disease Severity in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Object: CD27 belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and is constitutively expressed on T cells. The concentration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble (s)CD27 is elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether the level of CSF sCD27 is elevated in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains unknown.

Low-Dose Mycophenolate Mofetil for Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: A Prospective Multicenter Study in South China.

Unlabelled: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, 1,000 mg/day) treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). This study was a multicenter, open, prospective, follow-up clinical trial. The data include retrospective clinical data from the pretreatment phase and prospective data from the post-treatment phase.

Elevated soluble syndecan-1 levels in neuromyelitis optica are associated with disease severity.

Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a transmembrane member that has a profound influence on the resolution of inflammation. Soluble syndecan-1 (sSDC-1) levels have been shown to increase in many inflammatory diseases. However, it remains unknown whether sSDC-1 concentration is elevated in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.