Identification of cellular factors associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Serum biomarkers as neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) enabled early identification of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at risk of relapse-associated worsening (RAW) or progression independent of relapses (PIRA). However, the immunological mechanisms underlying these clinical phenotypes remain unclear.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 117 MS patients and 84 healthy controls (HC).

Cerebrospinal 14-3-3 Protein Levels as a Neuroaxonal Biomarker in Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Background And Objectives: To investigate whether CSF 14-3-3 protein levels discriminate aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) and the association of CSF 14-3-3 protein levels with clinical features in patients with AQP4-NMOSD.

Methods: This was a multicentric retrospective cohort study of patients with AQP4-NMOSD, MOGAD, and MS, with available CSF samples. 14-3-3 protein levels were quantified using ELISA and compared between the 3 conditions.

Cognitive interviewing study to assess the content validity of a Spanish version of the Multiple Sclerosis Health Literacy Questionnaire.

Objectives: To develop a Spanish version of the Multiple Sclerosis Health Literacy Questionnaire (MSHLQ) and assess its content validity from the perspective of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Study Design: Cognitive interviewing study.

Methods: We used a step-by-step process to translate the MSHLQ into Spanish and employed purposive sampling to achieve a representative sample of the target population.

An expert patient program for people living with multiple sclerosis improves knowledge and empowerment: a pre-test, post-test multicenter implementation study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with complex needs and demands, which require patient-centered care. Expert patient (EP) programs foster knowledge transfer through peer learning, facilitating patients' empowerment to self-manage their disease. Based on a previous focus group study, we designed an EP program for MS coordinated by nursing professionals for implementation in the different MS reference units of Catalonia (Southwestern Europe).

Economic burden of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: DISCOVER study.

Background: To estimate the socioeconomic burden of people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS), considering direct health care, direct non-health care, and indirect costs, and to evaluate the relationship between costs and patients' functional outcomes.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study with retrospective real-life clinical practice data collection from pwSPMS visiting the neurology services of 34 hospitals during 2019-2020. Clinical data included Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, number of relapses, magnetic resonance imaging, disease-modifying treatment (DMT), symptoms, and comorbidities from 24 months before the study visit.

Assessment of clinical prognosis in autoimmune encephalitis: Girona score.

Background: The assessment of clinical prognosis in autoimmune encephalitis: Girona (ACPE-Gi) score is a scale for evaluating the severity in the acute phase of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and predicting the risk of disability at 3 months, measured by modified Rankin scale (mRS).

Methods: Patients were strictly diagnosed with AE according to the current criteria between 1 January 2009 to 31 March 2023 at the University Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Archaea methanogens are associated with cognitive performance through the shaping of gut microbiota, butyrate and histidine metabolism.

The relationship between bacteria, cognitive function and obesity is well established, yet the role of archaeal species remains underexplored. We used shotgun metagenomics and neuropsychological tests to identify microbial species associated with cognition in a discovery cohort (IRONMET,  = 125). Interestingly, methanogen archaeas exhibited the strongest positive associations with cognition, particularly ().

Corrigendum: Biomarkers of response to ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.

Complement Activation Profiles Predict Clinical Outcomes in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease.

Background And Objectives: The role of the complement system in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is not completely understood, and studies exploring its potential utility for diagnosis and prognosis are lacking. We aimed to investigate the value of complement factors (CFs) as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with MOGAD.

Methods: Multicentric retrospective cohort study including patients with MOGAD, multiple sclerosis (MS) and aquaporin-4 seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) with available paired serum and CSF samples.

Biomarkers of response to ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To ascertain the changes of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) values in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with ocrelizumab and their association with treatment response.

Methods: Multicenter prospective study including 115 RRMS patients initiating ocrelizumab treatment between February 2020 and March 2022 followed during a year. Serum samples were collected at baseline and every 3 months to measure sNfL and sGFAP levels using single-molecule array (SIMOA) technology.

Beyond lines of treatment: embracing early high-efficacy disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis management.

Recent advances in multiple sclerosis (MS) management have shifted perspectives on treatment strategies, advocating for the early initiation of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (heDMTs). This perspective review discusses the rationale, benefits, and challenges associated with early heDMT initiation, reflecting on the obsolescence of the traditional "first-line" and "second-line" treatment classifications. The article emerges from the last update of the consensus document of the Spanish Society of Neurology on the treatment of MS.

Clinical characteristics and impact on patient-reported outcomes and quality of life of people with ambulatory secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: DISCOVER study.

Background: People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS) experience increasing disability, which impacts negatively on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our aims were to assess the impact of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) on functional status and HRQoL and describe the clinical profile in this population.

Methods: DISCOVER is an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study with retrospective data collection in real-world clinical practice in Spain.

Evaluating the complement C1q levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis patients: Could it serve as a valuable marker in clinical practice?

Immunohistochemical studies have identified complement component C1q in MS lesions. We aimed to compare serum (sC1q) and CSF (csfC1q) levels in a large cohort of MS patients (pwMS) (n = 222) with those of healthy controls (HC, n = 52), individuals with other immune (IND, n = 14), and non-immune neurological disorders (nIND, n = 15), and to analyze their correlation with other biomarkers. pwMS were divided into three series based on their origin.

A two-years real-word study with fingolimod: early predictors of efficacy and an association between EBNA-1 IgG titers and multiple sclerosis progression.

Background: Although fingolimod, a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonist, has shown to be an effective treatment reducing relapse rate and also slowing down the disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, it is important to quickly identify those suboptimal responders.

Objective: The main objective was to assess different clinical, radiological, genetic and environmental factors as possible early predictors of response in MS patients treated with fingolimod for 24 months. The secondary objective was to analyze the possible contribution of the environmental factors analyzed to the progression and activity of the disease along the 2-years of follow-up.

Predictive potential of serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for disease activity in treated multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Our objective was to explore various biomarkers for predicting suboptimal responses to disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in patients with MS (pwMS).

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, bicentric study with pwMS stratified based on their DMTs responses. Treatment failure (TF) was defined as the onset of a second relapse, presence of two or more T2 new lesions, or disability progression independent of relapse during the follow-up period.

Metformin-induced changes in the gut microbiome and plasma metabolome are associated with cognition in men.

Background: An altered gut microbiome characterized by reduced abundance of butyrate producing bacteria and reduced gene richness is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). An important complication of T2D is increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The biguanide metformin is a commonly prescribed medication for the control of T2D and metformin treatment has been associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia and improved cognition, particularly in people with T2D.

Practical tool to identify Spasticity-Plus Syndrome amongst patients with multiple sclerosis. Algorithm development based on a conjoint analysis.

Introduction: The Spasticity-Plus Syndrome (SPS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) refers to a combination of spasticity and other signs/symptoms such as spasms, cramps, bladder dysfunction, tremor, sleep disorder, pain, and fatigue. The main purpose is to develop a user-friendly tool that could help neurologists to detect SPS in MS patients as soon as possible.

Methods: A survey research based on a conjoint analysis approach was used.

Unraveling the gut-brain connection: The association of microbiota-linked structural brain biomarkers with behavior and mental health.

Aim: The gut microbiota can influence human behavior. However, due to the massive multiple-testing problem, research into the relationship between microbiome ecosystems and the human brain faces drawbacks. This problem arises when attempting to correlate thousands of gut bacteria with thousands of brain voxels.

Lower serum ferritin levels are associated with worse cognitive performance in aging.

Objectives: Iron is important for neurogenesis, synaptic development, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Serum ferritin (SF) is a reliable marker for assessing iron stores. Therefore, we evaluated the cognitive function associated with SF levels.

The nature of memory impairment in multiple sclerosis: understanding different patterns over the course of the disease.

Introduction: Memory deficit is one of the most common and severe cognitive impairments in patients with multiple sclerosis and can greatly affect their quality of life. However, there is currently no agreement as to the nature of memory deficit in multiple sclerosis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, carried out at the Dr.

Iatrogenic Shapiro syndrome: a case report.

Objectives: Shapiro's syndrome (SS) is a rare condition characterized by spontaneous periodic hypothermia. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and etiology of this syndrome remain controversial, and fewer than 100 cases have been reported to date. The objective of this case report is to present a unique iatrogenic case of SS and contribute additional insights into the underlying etiology of this rare disorder.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis under Disease-Modifying Therapies: A Multi-Centre Study.

Background: The EMCOVID project conducted a multi-centre cohort study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in MS patients enrolled in the EMCOVID database. The DMTs were used to manage MS by reducing relapses, lesion accumulation, and disability progression.

Gut microbiota links to serum ferritin and cognition.

Iron is required for the replication and growth of almost all bacterial species and in the production of myelin and neurotransmitters. Increasing clinical studies evidence that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in iron metabolism and cognition. However, the understanding of the complex iron-microbiome-cognition crosstalk remains elusive.