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Background: Appropriate treatment reduces the severity and duration of relapses in demyelinating diseases of Central Nervous System (CNS). If high-dose corticosteroids treatment fails, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is considered as a rescue treatment. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate early clinical response and complications of TPE and prognostic factors in CNS demyelinating relapses. Design: This prospective observational study was designed in a tertiary center during one year. Methods: All adult patients diagnosed corticosteroid-resistant Multiple Sclerosis (MS), NeuroMyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), idiotypic Transverse Myelitis or Clinical Isolated Syndrome relapses, were eligible. Clinical response is defined based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at discharge. Clinical and laboratory complications recorded. Results: Seventy-two patients were analyzed which 58.3% patients were female. MS was diagnosed for 61.1% of cases. Thirty-five patients (48.6%) responded and the mean differences of EDSS significantly decreased 0.60 score (CI95%:0.44-.77). Electrolyte imbalances and thrombocytopenia occurred in 80.6% and 55.6% of cases respectively and 40.3% of patients had systemic reactions. However, 26.4% patients experienced moderate to severe complications. In patients with moderate to severe disability, responders were younger (MD: 8.42 years, CI95%: 1.67-15.17) and had lower EDSS score at admission (median:6, IQR: 5.5-6 against 7.5 IQR: 6.5-8). The risk of failure was higher in active progressive MS patients compared with RRMS patients (OR: 6.06, CI 95%:1.37-26.76). Patients with thrombocytopenia were hospitalized more than others (MD: 1.5 days, CI 95%: 0-3). Females were more prone to hypokalemia and systemic reactions (OR: 3.11, CI 95%:1.17-8.24 and OR: 6.67, CI 95%:2.14-20.81 respectively). Conclusion: The most common indication of TPE was corticosteroid-resistant severe MS relapses. About half of the patients presented an early clinical response. Lower disability, younger age and RRMS diagnosis are prognostic factors of better response. One out of four patients experienced moderate to severe complications, mainly electrolyte imbalances and systemic reactions. Appropriate interventions against these complications should be considered during TPE, especially in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) analysis, the most successful technique for discovering disease‐related genetic variation, has some statistical concerns, including multiple testing, the correlation among variants (single‐nucleotide polymorphisms) based on linkage disequilibrium and omitting the important variants when fitting the model with just one variant. To eliminate these problems in a small sample‐size study, we used a sparse Bayesian learning model for finding bipolar disorder (BD) genetic variants. Methods: This study used the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium data set, including 1998 BD cases and 1500 control samples, and after quality control, 380,628 variants were analysed. In this GWAS, a Bayesian logistic model with hierarchical shrinkage spike and slab priors was used, with all variants considered simultaneously in one model. In order to decrease the computational burden, an alternative inferential method, Bayesian variational inference, has been used. Results: Thirteen variants were selected as associated with BD. The three of them (rs7572953, rs1378850 and rs4148944) were reported in previous GWAS. Eight of which were related to hemogram parameters, such as lymphocyte percentage, plateletcrit and haemoglobin concentration. Among selected related genes, GABPA, ELF3 and JAM2 were enriched in the platelet‐derived growth factor pathway. These three genes, along with APP, ARL8A, CDH23 and GPR37L1, could be differential diagnostic variants for BD. Conclusions: By reducing the statistical restrictions of GWAS analysis, the application of the Bayesian variational spike and slab models can offer insight into the genetic link with BD even with a small sample size. To uncover related variations with other traits, this model needs to be further examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mil‐125(Ti) metal–organic framework nanoparticles were modified with different compounds i.e. polyamidoamine dendrimer (Mil‐Den), chitosan (Mil‐CS) and Mil‐CS‐Den to prepare functional and hydrophilic nanocomposites. These nanocomposites were characterized and applied for modification of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane by blending them in the dope solutions. The mixed matrix PES membranes were manufactured by the nonsolvent‐induced phase inversion method. The introduction of the nanocomposites into the membrane structure led to positive alterations such as the improvement of hydrophilicity and morphology causing the development of permeability and antifouling properties. The bare PES membrane contact angle was decreased from 60° to 34.5° by adding 0.5 wt% of Mil‐CS‐Den nanocomposite. Applications of novel structures with special absorption in 0.5 wt% of Mil‐CS‐Den membrane, caused an increment of porosity, mean pore size and reduction of surface roughness. The permeability was enhanced from 4.2 to 21.43 L/m2 h bar, while fouling was reduced from 48.5% to 13.5% which indicates the strengthening of the antifouling feature of the hydrophobic PES membrane. Also, the flux recovery ratio was enhanced from 66.7% to 89.3% by blending 0.5 wt% of Mil‐CS‐Den. The modified membranes showed an excellent dye separation performance. The attachment of dendrimer and chitosan to the Mil‐125(Ti) surface increased the efficiency of Mil‐125(Ti) in the modification of the PES membrane. The utilization of nanomaterial features can reduce the limitation of membrane processes and reach desirable outcomes. The results of this work indicate the high potential of the modified MOF for the removal of dye contaminants as well as provide a suitable perspective for water purification with the help of membrane processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]