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BackgroundThe circulating metabolome is altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its prognostic capabilities have not been extensively explored. Lipid metabolites might be of particular interest due to their multiple roles in the brain, as they can serve as structural components, energy sources, and bioactive molecules. Gaining a deeper understanding of the disease may be possible by examining the lipid metabolism in the periphery, which serves as the primary source of lipids for the brain.ObjectiveTo determine if altered serum lipid metabolites are associated with the risk of relapse and disability in children with MS.MethodsWe collected serum samples from 61 participants with pediatric-onset MS within 4 years of disease onset. Prospective longitudinal relapse data and cross-sectional disability measures (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]) were collected. Serum metabolomics was performed using untargeted liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Individual lipid metabolites were clustered into pre-defined pathways. The associations between clusters of metabolites and relapse rate and EDSS score were estimated utilizing negative binomial and linear regression models, respectively.ResultsWe found that serum acylcarnitines (relapse rate: normalized enrichment score [NES] = 2.1, q = 1.03E-04; EDSS: NES = 1.7, q = 0.02) and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (relapse rate: NES = 1.6, q = 0.047; EDSS: NES = 1.9, q = 0.005) were associated with higher relapse rates and EDSS, while serum phosphatidylethanolamines (relapse rate: NES = -2.3, q = 0.002; EDSS: NES = -2.1, q = 0.004), plasmalogens (relapse rate: NES = -2.5, q = 5.81E-04; EDSS: NES = -2.1, q = 0.004), and primary bile acid metabolites (relapse rate: NES = -2.0, q = 0.02; EDSS: NES = -1.9, q = 0.02) were associated with lower relapse rates and lower EDSS.ConclusionThis study supports the role of some lipid metabolites in pediatric MS relapses and disability.

Background: Circulating metabolite levels are altered in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are associated with MS severity. However, how metabolic profiles shift following highly efficacious therapies, like ocrelizumab remains unclear. Objective: Circulating metabolite levels are altered in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are associated with MS severity. However, how metabolic profiles shift following highly efficacious therapies, like ocrelizumab remains unclear. To assess changes in the circulating metabolome produced by ocrelizumab treatment in people with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS). Methods: Thirty‐one individuals with RRMS eligible for beginning treatment with ocrelizumab were recruited and followed with demographic, clinical, quality‐of‐life, and global metabolomics data collected at each visit. Modules of highly correlated metabolites were identified using the weighted correlation network analysis approach. Changes in each module's eigenmetabolite values and individual metabolites during the study were evaluated using linear mixed‐effects models. Results: Patients with a mean age of 40.8 (SD = 10.30) years, and median disease duration of 4.0 (IQR = 8.5) years, were monitored for a median of 3.36 (IQR = 1.43) years. Two out of twelve identified sets of metabolites were altered significantly. The first module mainly contained androgenic and pregnenolone steroids (p‐value <0.001, coefficient: −0.10). The second module primarily consisted of several lysophospholipids, arachidonic acid, some endocannabinoids, and monohydroxy fatty acid metabolites (p‐value = 0.016, coefficient: −0.12), which its reduction was significantly associated with improvement based on overall disability response score (OR 3.09e‐01, 95% CI: 6.83e‐02, 9.09e‐01, p‐value = 3.15E‐02). Interpretation: In this longitudinal observational study, using a global untargeted metabolomics approach, we showed significant alteration in circulating metabolome in RRMS patients undergoing ocrelizumab treatment. In particular, we observed a significant reduction in metabolites involved in the lysophospholipid pathway, which was associated with patients' improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of studies examining quality of life (QoL) in people with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Methods: A cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey was distributed. Data elements included demographic and clinical characteristics, and QoL in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) short form questionnaires. Neuro-QoL domain scores were compared to reference populations, yielding standardized T-scores. Symptom severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, using standard Neuro-QoL cut points. Results: A total of 259 participants completed the survey. Neuro-QoL domain impairment was present in a significant proportion of respondents (anxiety: 58.1%, depression: 30.7%, stigma 29.8%, cognition: 58.5%, social function: 57.7%). T-scores were significantly worse than the reference population for anxiety (p<0.001), stigma (p=0.005), cognitive function (p<0.001) and social interactions (p<0.001). There was no clear association between QoL domains and demographics, disease-modifying therapy class, or type of clinical presentation. A relapsing vs monophasic disease course was associated with worse anxiety, stigma, cognition, and social interactions (p<0.05). Conclusion: People with MOGAD may exhibit impairment in multiple domains of QoL. Practicing clinicians should be aware of this burden in MOGAD. Further research is needed to better understand factors associated with QoL impairment in MOGAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In‐package cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) processing, which refers to the generation of CAP inside a sealed package, enables a local disinfecting reaction, allowing no post‐process contamination and extending the shelf‐life (SL) of perishable food products, such as fresh fish. In the present study, four in‐package CAP treatments, differing in frequency and processing time, were applied on fresh gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fillets, prepacked in low‐permeability pouches. Fish SL was evaluated during isothermal storage at 2°C, whereas untreated packaged fillets were used as control samples. The SL assessment of the fish fillets was based on microbial enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic count (TMC), total aerobic psychrotrophic count (TPC), Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), pH measurement, determination of color and texture parameters, lipid oxidation, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) measurement, and sensory evaluation. All CAP treatments were effective against microbial inhibition in fish fillets, especially regarding TMC, TPC, and Pseudomonas spp., resulting in maximum reduction of 1.49, 1.24, and 1.43 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to the control samples after 16 days of storage. However, minor effect was observed against Enterobacteriaceae and no effect against LAB. CAP processing did not affect the color and texture parameters of fish fillets, and TVB‐N production was slightly reduced in CAP‐treated samples; however, lipid oxidation was accelerated, especially at the more intense processing conditions, by a maximum of 75.5%. The results of the study indicated that in‐package CAP processing could be effectively applied for inhibiting spoilage during refrigerated storage and extending SL of fresh fish fillets. Practical Application: In‐package cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) processing was tested on gilthead seabream fillets, a highly perishable product with high commercial potential if its shelf‐life can be extended through minimal processing. The food industry could benefit from in‐package CAP technology as it is a cost effective nonthermal processing method while preventing post‐processing contamination of the products. Although in‐package CAP processing has not been extensively tested on fish, this study examined the quality and shelf‐life of a highly perishable fish species, and the results could be further used as a reference for processing optimization of the CAP treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) progression that is thought to be inhibited by ibudilast. SPRINT-MS was a phase 2 placebo-controlled trial of ibudilast in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). Objective: To determine whether baseline MIF levels predict imaging outcomes and assess the effects of ibudilast on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MIF levels in people with PMS treated with ibudilast. Methods: Participants in the SPRINT-MS trial were treated with either ibudilast or placebo and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) every 24 weeks over a duration of 96 weeks. MIF was measured in serum and CSF. Results: MIF levels were compared with imaging outcomes in 223 participants from the SPRINT-MS study. In the primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) cohort, males had higher serum (p < 0.001) and CSF (p = 0.01) MIF levels, as compared with females. Higher baseline serum MIF levels in PPMS were associated with faster brain atrophy (beta = −0.113%, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.204% to −0.021%; p = 0.016). These findings were not observed in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Ibudilast did not affect either serum or CSF MIF levels. Conclusions: Serum MIF levels were associated with male sex and predicted brain atrophy in PPMS, but not SPMS. Ibudilast did not demonstrate an effect on MIF levels, as compared with placebo, although we cannot exclude a functional effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to assess the effect of alternative packaging materials on the quality retention and shelf-life of whole fish under low and abuse temperature conditions. Red sea bream (Pagrus major) was harvested and stored in different packaging containers, i.e., a conventional polystyrene (PS) box, a CaCO3-based box and a cardboard box (tested as a simple alternative container for transportation and short-term storage of food). After harvesting and transportation, fish was stored in the tested containers at 2 °C for 11 days and periodically kept at room temperature (25 °C) to simulate potential temperature fluctuations in the actual supply chain. The effect of temperature fluctuations and packaging materials on the quality and remaining shelf-life of fish was determined by microbial enumeration (total viable counts, Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae). PS retained fish quality and maintained a low temperature of fish for longer periods of time during storage at ambient conditions. The CaCO3-based containers also showed satisfactory performance, resulting in a similar microbial load in fish flesh to the samples stored in PS boxes after 11 days of simulated transportation and storage (TVC load 7.8–8.0 logcfu/g). Cardboard resulted in a rapid increase in the internal temperature during the temperature fluctuations at ambient conditions, resulting in higher microbial loads of fish flesh at all stages of the simulated cold chain. The replacement of conventional plastic packaging materials with alternative, environmentally friendly packaging systems without affecting the shelf-life of fish may reduce plastic waste while ensuring the high quality and shelf-life of perishable food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]