Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of B001 injection in patients who have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and test positive for aquaporin-4 antibodies. This condition involves recurrent attacks affecting the nervous system. The study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in phases II and III to understand how well B001 works and how safe it is for these patients. Participants will receive intravenous doses of either B001 or a placebo on Day 1 and Day 15 during the randomized controlled period. The study includes two groups: one receiving B001 injections and the other receiving placebo injections matching B001's schedule. The trial will extend over several years, monitoring patients closely for disease relapse and treatment side effects. During the study, participants will be regularly assessed for the time to their first NMOSD attack, changes in disability status, vision acuity, and opticospinal function. Researchers will also observe the annual relapse rate and document any adverse events. The trial includes safety monitoring for about three years to ensure comprehensive data collection on treatment impact and participant health.

Researchers are conducting the GENESIS clinical study to map the HLA genomic region in the Greek population and explore its possible links with various underlying diseases. This non-interventional, multicenter study aims to provide a pilot map of genetic variation in HLA that may be useful in medical research and clinical applications related to selected diseases. The study plans to include 12,000 participants over a total duration of 36 months. Each participant will attend one visit at a participating site during which they will provide demographic data, lifestyle information such as smoking and alcohol use, blood pressure measurements, details on diagnosed diseases and treatments, and recent laboratory test results if available. Buccal swab samples will be collected from each participant to extract DNA for HLA genotyping analysis. Selected samples will undergo further whole genome sequencing to investigate associations with autoimmune diseases. Participants will receive a personalized ancestry report after analysis completion. During the study visit, data collection includes demographic and health information, as well as laboratory and clinical test results from the past year. The genetic material from buccal swabs will be stored and processed for genetic analysis. Researchers will measure allele frequency of HLA alleles in the Greek population and assess the prevalence and risk associations of selected HLA-related diseases. The study's total duration is 36 months with results available at the end of this period.

Researchers are developing a multicenter registry to collect and share data on pediatric patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders such as dystonia, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, and mood disorders. The study aims to improve understanding of DBS safety and effectiveness in children, as current data are limited and individual centers often have too few cases for strong research. This registry will support large-scale analyses and help refine DBS as a treatment option for hyperkinetic movement disorders in the pediatric population. The study involves gathering both retrospective and prospective clinical data from multiple pediatric centers. The registry will collect information on surgical techniques, patient outcomes, implant sites, and long-term effects of DBS. This collaborative data-sharing approach enables comprehensive evaluation of which patients benefit most from DBS and how it impacts their quality of life over time. Participants include children aged 0 to 18 years who have already received or are scheduled to receive DBS for neurological movement disorders. Data will be collected over five years to monitor safety, efficacy, and quality of life outcomes. The study does not involve treatment administration but focuses on gathering and analyzing clinical information. Parental or legal guardian consent is required for prospective participation.

This research aims to evaluate postoperative respiratory complications (PORC) in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who undergo (adeno)tonsillectomy. It combines data from two centers: University Hospital Antwerp and Heim Pal National Pediatric Institute in Hungary. The study examines how common these complications are and whether they vary according to different health conditions such as obesity, craniofacial malformations, Down syndrome, or neurological disorders that affect airway muscle tone. Data come from a retrospective analysis of electronic health records originally collected in two prospective studies. These records include children who had (adeno)tonsillectomy for OSA, with postoperative care following a set protocol. The study looks at factors like the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen levels during sleep studies, age at surgery, and presence of other health conditions to understand their relationship with PORC and to help develop a management plan. Participants' information was collected without needing additional consent because it uses existing anonymized data. Researchers assess the prevalence of PORC within 24 hours after surgery and analyze how different factors affect this risk. This study does not involve new treatments but reviews existing data to improve postoperative care. The study includes children aged 1 to 18 years who had (adeno)tonsillectomy for OSA, with follow-up limited to the immediate postoperative period.

Researchers are investigating the feasibility of producing artificial vision in people who are blind by using a device called the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP). This study aims to test the safety of the ICVP system and evaluate whether electrical stimulation of the brain's visual processing areas can create visual percepts. The study involves participants with no light perception or very limited vision who have been blind for at least one year and have a history of normal or near-normal vision in early life. The intervention involves implanting wireless floating microelectrode arrays (WFMAs) into the visual cortex on one side of the brain. These devices deliver wirelessly transmitted electrical stimulation intended to induce artificial vision. Each participant will have multiple WFMA devices implanted. After surgical recovery, participants will undergo weekly testing for one to three years to assess the ability of electrical stimulation to generate visual percepts and evaluate the device's safety and efficacy. Participants will attend regular testing sessions to measure visual perception responses to stimulation and monitor safety outcomes. Researchers will perform assessments from two weeks after surgery through the entire device use period, up to three years. The primary outcome is the safety of the WFMA-based cortical interface, while secondary measures evaluate its effectiveness at producing visual percepts. The study includes video and audio recordings, cognitive and spatial functioning tests, and MRI scans. Participant involvement may last up to three years, with ongoing monitoring throughout the study.

Cognitive problems often occur in people with neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers are exploring how sleep disorders relate to the progression of these diseases by studying their clinical signs, brain imaging, and biological markers. This observational study aims to better understand the mechanisms behind sleep problems in neurodegenerative conditions. Participants will have assessments including neuropsychological tests, brain MRI scans, and electroencephalograms. Biological samples will also be collected to measure markers like plasma Ab2-42 levels. These evaluations will help observe changes in sleep quality, cognitive function, heart rate variability, and other relevant outcomes over time. People in the study will undergo baseline and follow-up tests such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-III). Researchers will monitor sleep patterns and biological markers to track disease progression. The study includes adults aged 30 to 80 years and will continue through June 2030, providing long-term data on sleep disorders linked to neurodegeneration.

Researchers are investigating epilepsy-dyskinesia syndromes, which are rare genetic diseases causing both movement disorders and epilepsy in children. This multinational retrospective survey, supported by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, aims to collect detailed clinical and molecular data to better understand these conditions. The study focuses on identifying patterns in disease features, progression, and genetic links to improve knowledge and support precision medicine. The study collects previously recorded data from multiple countries, harmonizing information on clinical features, disease progression, age of onset, genetic variants, and coexisting neurological conditions. By standardizing this data, the survey addresses challenges in rare disease research like small, dispersed patient groups and inconsistent protocols. The goal is to build a shared clinical database and analyze how movement and seizure disorders relate at both clinical and molecular levels. Participants are children aged 0 to 18 years with diagnosed movement disorders linked to specific genetic variants. The study reviews existing medical records and genetic information without new treatments or interventions. Researchers will assess the disease spectrum, how movement disorders affect quality of life, and the effectiveness of symptomatic treatments over one year. The study encourages international collaboration to advance understanding and improve care for these rare conditions.

Researchers are evaluating the pharmacokinetics of satralizumab in children aged 2 to 11 years who have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positivity. This study also descriptively assesses the drug's efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics due to the small number of participants. The study is a phase III, open-label, uncontrolled trial sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche. Satralizumab will be given as a subcutaneous injection with an initial dosing schedule at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by injections every 4 weeks thereafter. Participants are grouped into cohorts based on body weight (10 to under 20 kg, 20 to under 40 kg, and 40 kg or more). Treatment will continue for at least 48 weeks, after which participants may opt to join an extension period to receive satralizumab further. Participants will undergo assessments including blood sampling to measure satralizumab concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters at Week 48. Other evaluations include relapse frequency, disability status, visual acuity, pain rating, quality of life, and monitoring for adverse events. The study involves regular visits and monitoring over the treatment period to track these outcomes and the drug's effects in pediatric patients with NMOSD.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of JYP0061 in patients with acute Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD). This open-label, multicenter phase 2 trial aims to determine how well JYP0061 works and how safe it is when used alone or with glucocorticoids in treating acute NMOSD. The study includes participants diagnosed by the 2015 International consensus criteria and who test positive for Aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG). Participants will be assigned randomly to one of three groups. One group receives low-dose JYP0061 combined with reduced-dose glucocorticoids. Another group is given a standard glucocorticoid regimen that starts with intravenous administration and tapers to oral dosing. The third group receives a high dose of JYP0061 initially, followed by a lower maintenance dose. Treatment dosing and adjustments will follow the study protocol. The study starts with a 2-week screening to confirm eligibility, followed by treatment and assessments of recovery based on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) after 6 weeks. Additional evaluations include measuring JYP0061 levels in plasma and how the drug is processed in the body at various weeks during treatment. Participants are monitored closely for safety and response throughout the trial, which continues until July 2026.

Researchers are conducting an observational prospective study to build a large-scale multiomic database of adult patients undergoing advanced imaging studies. The study focuses on using recently introduced photon counting CT scanners and high-field 3T MRI scanners to explore latent imaging information, called "opportunist features," which may provide new insights into disease risk and progression. This research aims to improve understanding of pathological mechanisms and enhance diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in fields such as oncology, neurology, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. The study enrolls consecutive adults undergoing advanced imaging examinations at a single center using the Photon Counting CT scanner (Neaotom Alpha, Siemens) and 3T MRI (MR 7700, Philips). Imaging raw data along with conventional images will be stored. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory information, including genetic test results when available, will be collected at enrollment. Blood samples for lab analysis will be taken during contrast media administration when applicable. Annual updates through clinical visits, telehealth, or phone interviews will be conducted to gather follow-up clinical, lab, and imaging data over a 10-year period. Participants will be asked to provide informed consent and undergo routine imaging and clinical assessments as part of their standard care. Data collection includes questionnaires, interviews, and automatic record updates when examinations occur at the study site. Researchers will monitor the development of imaging signatures linked to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The primary outcome is the creation of a comprehensive multiomics archive to support broad scientific research, with yearly follow-ups for up to 10 years.