Clinical implications of serum neurofilament in newly diagnosed MS patients: a longitudinal multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND: We aim to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), indicating neuroaxonal damage, as a biomarker at diagnosis in a large cohort of early multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: In a multicentre prospective longitudinal observational cohort, patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were recruited between August 2010 and November 2015 in 22 centers. Clinical parameters, MRI, and sNfL levels (measured by single molecule array) were assessed at baseline and up to four-year follow-up. FINDINGS: Of 814 patients, 54.7% (445) were diagnosed with RRMS and 45.3% (369) with CIS when applying 2010 McDonald criteria (RRMS[2010] and CIS[2010]). After reclassification of CIS[2010] patients with existing CSF analysis, according to 2017 criteria, sNfL levels were lower in CIS[2017] than RRMS[2017] patients (9.1 pg/ml, IQR 6.2-13.7 pg/ml, n = 45; 10.8 pg/ml, IQR 7.4-20.1 pg/ml, n = 213; p = 0.036). sNfL levels correlated with number of T2 and Gd+ lesions at baseline and future clinical relapses. Patients receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT) during the first four years had higher baseline sNfL levels than DMT-naïve patients (11.8 pg/ml, IQR 7.5-20.7 pg/ml, n = 726; 9.7 pg/ml, IQR 6.4-15.3 pg/ml, n = 88). Therapy escalation decisions within this period were reflected by longitudinal changes in sNfL levels. INTERPRETATION: Assessment of sNfL increases diagnostic accuracy, is associated with disease course prognosis and may, particularly when measured longitudinally, facilitate therapeutic decisions

Isentropic Compression Experiments Performed By LLNL On Energetic Material Samples Using The Z Accelerator

Several experiments have been conducted by LLNL researchers using isentropic compression experiments (ICE) on energetic materials as samples from Fiscal Year 2001 (FY01) to Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05). Over this span of time, advancements of the experimental techniques and modeling of the results have evolved to produce improved results. This report documents the experiments that have been performed, provides details of the results generated, and modeling and analysis advances to fully understand the results. Publications on the topics by the various principal investigators (PI's) are detailed in the Appendices for quick reference for the work as it progressed

Participation in education among older people

National random sample data on 4254 people in four adult age categories were analyzed with regard to enrollments in different kinds of education settings, enrollment motives, and barriers to enrollment. Further analysis compared participants to nonparticipants. Most adult enrollments were at the college or university level before age 40, in other settings thereafter, and instrumental motives were predominant across the lifespan. Lack of time and interest were major barriers to enrollment among older people, and those enrolled generally had higher prior educational attainments, were younger, and lived in urban or suburban locations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44538/1/10755_2005_Article_BF01080356.pd

Aktuelle Diagnostik auf der Stroke Unit

ZusammenfassungUm Schlaganfall-Patienten eine effiziente Sekundärprophylaxe anbieten zu können, ist eine strukturierte Diagnostik hinsichtlich der vermuteten Schlaganfallätiologie auf einer Stroke Unit unabdingbar. Bei den ätiologisch „kryptogenen” Schlaganfällen wird zunehmend ein paroxysmales Vorhofflimmern (pVHF) als mögliche auslösende Ursache gefunden. Lässt sich das permanente Vorhofflimmern (VHF) einfach durch ein 12-Kanal-EKG detektieren, kann das häufig klinisch asymptomatisch und in Clustern auftretende pVHF diagnostische Schwierigkeiten bereiten. Aktuelle Studien konnten belegen, dass ein prolongiertes EKG-Monitoring über die derzeit empfohlenen 24 Stunden hinweg häufiger zur Detektion von pVHF führt. Dies hat direkte sekundärprophylaktische Konsequenzen, da in den meisten Fällen dann eine orale Antikoagulation indiziert ist. Sowohl permanentes als auch pVHF sind mit einem erhöhten Re-Schlaganfallrisiko vergesellschaftet. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund der Effektivität direkter oraler Antikoagulantien, kommt damit der Diagnostik von pVHF eine besondere Bedeutung zu. In der vorliegenden Übersicht werden die Möglichkeiten einer optimierten pVHF Diagnostik diskutiert.</jats:p