The impact of COVID-19 infection on multiple sclerosis disease course across 12 countries: a propensity-score-matched cohort study.

Background: The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse and disease progression remains unclear. Previous studies are limited by small sample sizes and most lack a propensity-matched control cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on MS disease course with a large propensity-matched cohort.

Active and non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients exhibit similar disability progression: results of an Italian MS registry study (ASPERA).

'Active' and 'non-active' secondary progressive MS (SPMS) have distinct pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical characteristics, but there is still no consensus regarding the frequency of these MS forms in the real-world setting. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of 'active' and 'non-active' SPMS in a large cohort of Italian MS patients and the differences in terms of clinical and MRI characteristics and disease progression. This multicenter study collected data about MS patients who have transitioned to the SP form in the period between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2019 and followed by the MS centers contributing to the Italian MS Registry.

Comparative clinical efficacy and safety of biosimilar ABP 959 and eculizumab reference product in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

ABP 959 is a biosimilar to the eculizumab reference product (RP), which is approved for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, two-period crossover study randomized eculizumab RP-treated patients with PNH to one of two treatment sequences (ABP 959/eculizumab RP or eculizumab RP/ABP 959) to evaluate the clinical similarity of ABP 959 when compared with eculizumab RP. This study evaluated the efficacy of ABP 959 when compared with eculizumab RP based on control of intravascular hemolysis as measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and by the time-adjusted area under the effect curve of LDH.

Effectiveness of cladribine compared to fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab and alemtuzumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Comparisons between cladribine and other potent immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) are lacking.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of cladribine against fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab and alemtuzumab in relapsing-remitting MS.

Methods: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated with cladribine, fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab or alemtuzumab were identified in the global MSBase cohort and two additional UK centres.

Clinical and diagnostic implications of Alzheimer's disease copathology in Lewy body disease.

Concomitant Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is a frequent event in the context of Lewy body disease (LBD), occurring in approximately half of all cases. Evidence shows that LBD patients with AD copathology show an accelerated disease course, a greater risk of cognitive decline and an overall poorer prognosis. However, LBD-AD cases may show heterogeneous motor and non-motor phenotypes with a higher risk of dementia and, consequently, be not rarely misdiagnosed.

A comparison of natalizumab and ocrelizumab on disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: No direct comparisons of the effect of natalizumab and ocrelizumab on progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) and relapse-associated worsening (RAW) events are currently available. We aimed to compare the risk of achieving first 6 months confirmed PIRA and RAW events and irreversible Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.0 and 6.

Efficacy of bezlotoxumab in preventing the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection: an Italian multicenter cohort study.

Objectives: Bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is a promising tool for preventing the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). The aim of the study was to emulate, in a real-world setting, the MODIFY trials in a cohort of participants with multiple risk factors for rCDI treated with BEZ in addition to the standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone.

Methods: A multicenter cohort study was conducted including 442 patients with Clostridioides difficile infection from 2018 to 2022, collected from 18 Italian centers.

Alemtuzumab-Related Lymphocyte Subset Dynamics and Disease Activity or Autoimmune Adverse Events: Real-World Evidence.

Background And Objectives: alemtuzumab is a monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody acting on B and T cells in highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). We analyzed changes in lymphocyte subsets after alemtuzumab administration in relation to disease activity and autoimmune adverse events.

Methods: lymphocyte subset counts were assessed longitudinally using linear mixed models.

Early non-disabling relapses are important predictors of disability accumulation in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: The prognostic significance of non-disabling relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether early non-disabling relapses predict disability accumulation in RRMS.

Methods: We redefined mild relapses in MSBase as 'non-disabling', and moderate or severe relapses as 'disabling'.

The multifaceted role of neurofilament light chain protein in non-primary neurological diseases.

The advancing validation and exploitation of CSF and blood neurofilament light chain protein as a biomarker of neuroaxonal damage has deeply changed the current diagnostic and prognostic approach to neurological diseases. Further, recent studies have provided evidence of potential new applications of this biomarker also in non-primary neurological diseases. In the present review we summarize the state of the art, future perspectives, but also limitations, of neurofilament light chain protein as a CSF and blood biomarker in several medical fields, including intensive care medicine, surgery, internal medicine and psychiatry.

New International Guidelines and Consensus on the Use of Lung Ultrasound.

Following the innovations and new discoveries of the last 10 years in the field of lung ultrasound (LUS), a multidisciplinary panel of international LUS experts from six countries and from different fields (clinical and technical) reviewed and updated the original international consensus for point-of-care LUS, dated 2012. As a result, a total of 20 statements have been produced. Each statement is complemented by guidelines and future developments proposals.

Clinicoradiological Profile and Functional Outcome of Acute Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study.

Introduction Acute cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) may result in a variety of clinical presentations, with headache being the most common. The relationship between clinical and neuroradiological characteristics in acute CVT patients is still not univocally characterized. Materials and methods We enrolled 32 consecutive acute CVT patients admitted to our emergency department from January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2019.

Benefits and Harms of Lung Cancer Screening by Chest Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aims to combine and analyze randomized clinical trials comparing computed tomography lung screening (CTLS) versus either no screening (NS) or chest x-ray (CXR) in subjects with cigarette smoking history, to provide a precise and reliable estimation of the benefits and harms associated with CTLS.

Materials And Methods: Data from all published randomized trials comparing CTLS versus either NS or CXR in a highly tobacco-exposed population were collected, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Subgroup analyses by comparator (NS or CXR) were performed.

When the Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Challenges Textbooks and Guidelines.

The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (MPM) does not pose difficulties when presenting with usual clinico-radiologic features and morphology. Pathology textbooks and national/international guidelines generally describe the findings of classic MPM, underlining common clinical presentation, the gold standard of sampling techniques, usual morphologic variants, immunohistochemical results of several positive and negative primary antibodies in the differential diagnosis, and the role of novel molecular markers. Nevertheless, MPM often does not follow the golden rules in routine practice, while the literature generally does not sufficiently emphasize unusual features of its manifestation.