Disease Burden of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Comparative Cohort Study Using Insurance Claims Data in the USA.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by homozygous deletion or loss-of-function mutations of the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, resulting in reduced levels of SMN protein throughout the body. Patients with SMA may have multiple tissue defects, which could present prior to neuromuscular symptoms.

Objective: To assess the signs, comorbidities and potential extraneural manifestations associated with SMA in treatment-naïve patients.

Evaluating the Economic Burden of Relapses in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Real-World Analysis Using German Claims Data.

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which causes recurrent relapses, resulting in blindness, paralysis, and spinal cord damage. This study sought to explore the real-world burden, treatment, and cost of NMOSD in Germany using claims data.

Methods: Our study consisted of a retrospective analysis of two anonymized health insurance datasets covering around 9 million patients in Germany from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2019.

Classification, Prediction, and Concordance of Cognitive and Functional Progression in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment in the United States: A Latent Class Analysis.

Background: Progression trajectories of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are currently not well understood.

Objective: To classify patients with incident MCI into different latent classes of progression and identify predictors of progression class.

Methods: Participants with incident MCI were identified from the US National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (09/2005-02/2019).

Hepatitis B vaccination and central demyelination - History, description and observed/expected analyses of 624 cases reported to the French pharmacovigilance over a 20-year period.

Background: Confidence in vaccines is essential for achieving targeted immunization coverage. The current skepticism about vaccine safety feeds on controversies such as the suspicion about a link between hepatitis B (HB) vaccination and central demyelination (CD) after the massive HB immunization campaign in France in 1994-2000. This study assesses the robustness of this signal by analysing all validated cases reported in 1980-2000 and by conducting observed-to-expected (OE) comparisons.

Human papillomavirus vaccine and demyelinating diseases-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Approved in 2006, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines were initially targeted for girls aged 9-14 years. Although the safety of these vaccines has been monitored through post-licensure surveillance programmes, cases of neurological events have been reported worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the risk of developing demyelination after HPV immunization by meta-analysing risk estimates from pharmacoepidemiologic studies.

Central Demyelinating Diseases after Vaccination Against Hepatitis B Virus: A Disproportionality Analysis within the VAERS Database.

Introduction: Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination programs were set up worldwide in the early 1990s. Despite their major focus on reducing the burden of HB infection, they have seldom achieved the targeted population coverage in most countries, including the USA, with around 24.5% of adults being vaccinated against HB.

Hepatitis B vaccination and the putative risk of central demyelinating diseases - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The anti-hepatitis B immunization campaigns launched in the early 1990s were a major public health breakthrough and targeted various populations (at-risk adults, newborns, adolescents). However, debate is still active about a possible link between this vaccine and central demyelination. This study provides a pooled estimate of this risk based on a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of all available epidemiologic studies.

A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial of omega-3 supplementation in children with moderate ADHD symptoms.

Objective: Clinical trials and inconclusive meta-analyses have investigated the effects of omega-3 supplements in children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We performed a randomised placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids.

Methods: Children aged 6-15 years with established diagnosis of ADHD were randomised 1:1 to receive either supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or a placebo for 3 months.