Differentiating multiple sclerosis with predominant spinal cord and optic nerve involvement from other autoimmune demyelinating diseases using B cell immunophenotyping and gene expression profiling.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) may present with predominant involvement of the spinal cord and optic nerve (MS/w-SCON) and mimic other autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disorders (AIDD) such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and relapsing inflammatory optic neuritis (RION). Thus, biomarkers are required for effective differential diagnosis of AIDD.

Methods: Patients with MS/w-SCON (n = 20), MS without involvement of SCON (MS/wo-SCON) (n = 22), NMOSD (n = 16), RION (n = 15) and healthy individuals (n = 21) were included.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies in autoimmune central nervous system disorders.

Background: Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are abundant in the central nervous system (CNS), playing critical roles in brain function. Antigenicity of nAChRs has been well demonstrated with antibodies to ganglionic AChR subtypes (i.e.

Kelch-like Protein 11 (KLHL11) Antibodies in Children With Seizures of Undetermined Cause.

Background/aim: Kelch-like protein 11 (KLHL11)-antibody may be found in paraneoplastic neurological disorders presenting with epileptic seizures. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of KLHL11-antibody in epilepsy.

Patients And Methods: Sera of 42 pediatric and 59 adult patients with seizures of undetermined cause were screened using a cell-based assay.

The effects of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphism on hepatitis B infection.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms with the clinical, histological, and virological outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) also the treatment responses of patients who received Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) therapy.

Methods: This study included 152 CHB patients who were underwent liver parenchymal biopsy. The IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphism were genotyped using the TaqMan assay.

Increased serum citrullinated histone H3 levels in COVID-19 patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Prevalence of acute ische-mic stroke (AIS) is increased in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A proposed hypothesis is increased virus-induced propensity to hypercoagulation resulting in arterial thrombosis. Our aim was to provide evidence regarding the involvement of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis) in COVID-19 related AIS.

Comparison of S gene mutations in patients with occult and chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to detect mutations in the HBV S gene and evaluate their relationship to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI).

Methods: The study included 32 patients with negative serum HBsAg and HBV DNA who underwent liver biopsy due to different clinical indications defined as the OBI group and 32 patients who underwent liver biopsy due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) as the comparison group. The HBV S gene region was amplified by Nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing was performed.

Leucine-Rich Glioma-Inactivated Protein 1 Antibody-Positive Polyradiculopathy Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with a plethora of neurological manifestations including polyneuropathy and polyradiculopathy. A 27-year-old man with a recent upper respiratory system infection presented with difficulty in walking. His neurological examination revealed reduced muscle strength in both proximal and distal lower limb muscles without sensory and autonomic signs.

A Case of HaNDL with Low Cerebrospinal Fluid Level of Neurofilament Light Chain.

Diagnosis of the syndrome of headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytosis (HaNDL) is based on clinical features, and no diagnostic biomarkers are available. We present a case presenting with characteristic features of HaNDL and an MRI lesion in the splenium of corpus callosum. CSF neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels were assessed in this patient together with 7 additional HaNDL patients, 18 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and 15 primary headache patients.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-antibody in children with focal seizures of undetermined cause.

Anti-neuronal antibodies that are related with autoimmune encephalitis syndromes may also be found in children with new onset seizures or chronic epilepsy. To unravel the significance of autoimmune astrocytopathy in epilepsy, we investigated serum antibody to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), another autoantigen described in autoimmune encephalitis with seizures, in 38 children with focal seizures of undetermined cause. GFAP antibody was screened with cell based assay and indirect immunohistochemistry and was found in two boys with normal brain MRI and unrevealing medical history prior to seizures.

Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-antibody in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Aim: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a disease of obscure origin, is characterized by headache and visual disturbances due to increased intracranial pressure. Recent line of evidence has suggested involvement of inflammation in IIH pathogenesis thus bringing forward anti-glial autoimmunity as a potential contributor of IIH. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a major astrocytic autoantigen associated with a specific form of meningoencephalitis.

Elevated IL-4 and IFN-γ Levels in Muscle Tissue of Patients with Dermatomyositis.

Background/aim: To investigate the contribution of muscle tissue-derived cytokines in dermatomyositis (DM).

Materials And Methods: Muscle homogenates were prepared from deltoid muscle biopsy specimens of 10 patients with DM and eight controls with no pathological signs of myopathy. Interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-17 levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analysis.

Immunization with Recombinantly Expressed LRP4 Induces Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in C57BL/6 Mice.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), characterized with muscle weakness. While MG develops due to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies in most patients, antibodies to muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) or low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) may also be identified. Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) has been previously induced by both LRP4 immunization and passive transfer of LRP4 antibodies.