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Background and purpose: Increasing evidence has demonstrated that aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G causes damage to the kidney in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, changes in urinalysis in NMOSD have not been investigated thus far. Our objective was to evaluate the changes in urinalysis in NMOSD patients. Methods: Case data were collected from 44 patients with AQP4 antibody‐positive NMOSD, 53 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 79 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Analyses of early morning urine and 24‐h urine samples comparing NMOSD with MS patients were conducted. Results: In the acute phase, urine pH levels (P < 0.001) and urine specific gravity levels (P < 0.001) from NMOSD patients were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than for MS patients. 24‐h urine sodium and 24‐h urine volume from NMOSD patients were significantly higher than for MS patients (both P = 0.001). A 24‐h urine volume higher than 2500 ml (odds ratio 11.7, 95% confidence interval 1.863–73.066) and a 24‐h urine sodium higher than 200 mmol (odds ratio 16.0, 95% confidence interval 2.122–120.648) are more likely to occur in NMOSD patients in the acute phase than in MS patients. Conclusions: The urinalysis results were significantly different between NMOSD patients and MS patients. The pathophysiological changes in AQP4 antibody‐positive NMOSD patients were not limited to the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of various articles related to allergy. Predictors of obstructive airways disease have been identified and models for estimating risk of developing OAD have been derived for' the adult population of Tecumseh. Seventeen out of thirty three workers who have been exposed to airborne papain at their place of work regularly developed asthmatic symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, sneezing, rhinorrhea and conjunctival irritation upon contact with proteolytic enzyme.