Neuromyelitis Optica by https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k Made with unicorn tears (and also Chloe Griggs) en-us 2019-03-25 21:57:17 UTC 2025-03-22 17:40:07 UTC hello@padlet.com Christine Ha cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345051211 Winner of MasterChef Season 3, Christine Ha is a blind chef who was diagnosed with NMO at the age of 19.12,13 She is very open about her initial struggle with NMO, how she gradually lost vision in both eyes while in college, and how she has incorporated this struggle into her love of cooking and writing.12 Christine became the first blind contestant to compete on season 3 of Masterchef and eventually went on to win the show.
"Everyone in this world is dealt a different hand—some better, some worse than others—but what's more important is how you play that hand.12"
]]> 2019-03-25 23:58:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345051211 Mayo Clinic Doctor Summarizes NMO cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345056817 It may not have any exciting animations or images, but he does a fairly good job summarizing what doctors currently know about NMO.11]]> 2019-03-26 00:33:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345056817 Foundation For NMO Research - Guthy-Jackson Foundation cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345057282 In 2008 Victoria Jackson, the founder of a cosmetic line, found out that her daughter was diagnosed with NMO. As a result Victoria and her husband founded the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation to raise awareness and research treatment for NMO. 
The foundation earned over $5.7 million in 2015, $5.58 million of which came from Mr. Guthy himself. Of the money earned, $4.1 million was spent on research or grants. Additionally, the foundation consists of a board of medical doctors who participate in the research, and the foundation releases annual reports detailing the research projects being worked on, as well as all donors from the year.14
]]> 2019-03-26 00:36:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345057282 Citations cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345069308
  • Pittock, S. J.; Lucchinetti, C. F. Neuromyelitis Optica and the Evolving Spectrum of Autoimmune Aquaporin-4 Channelopathies: A Decade Later. Ann N Y Acad Sci2016, 1366(1), 20–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12794.
  • Wingerchuk, D. M.; Lennon, V. A.; Pittock, S. J.; Lucchinetti, C. F.; Weinshenker, B. G. Revised Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica. Neurology2006, 66(10), 1485–1489. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000216139.44259.74.
  • Kimbrough, D. J.; Fujihara, K.; Jacob, A.; Lana-Peixoto, M. A.; Leite, M. I.; Levy, M.; Marignier, R.; Nakashima, I.; Palace, J.; de Seze, J.; et al. Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica: Review and Recommendations. Mult Scler Relat Disord2012, 1(4), 180–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2012.06.002.
  • Mandler, R. N.; Ahmed, W.; Dencoff, J. E. Devic’s Neuromyelitis Optica: A Prospective Study of Seven Patients Treated with Prednisone and Azathioprine. Neurology1998, 51(4), 1219–1220.
  • Jacob, A.; Matiello, M.; Weinshenker, B. G.; Wingerchuk, D. M.; Lucchinetti, C.; Shuster, E.; Carter, J.; Keegan, B. M.; Kantarci, O. H.; Pittock, S. J. Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica With Mycophenolate Mofetil: Retrospective Analysis of 24 Patients. Archives of Neurology2009, 66(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2009.175.
  • Jarius, S.; Aboul-Enein, F.; Waters, P.; Kuenz, B.; Hauser, A.; Berger, T.; Lang, W.; Reindl, M.; Vincent, A.; Kristoferitsch, W. Antibody to Aquaporin-4 in the Long-Term Course of Neuromyelitis Optica. Brain2008, 131(11), 3072–3080. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awn240.
  • Minagar, A.; Sheremata, W. A. Treatment of Devic’s Disease with Methotrexate and Prednisone. International Journal of MS Care2000, 2(4), 43–49. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073-2.4.43.
  • Watanabe, S.; Misu, T.; Miyazawa, I.; Nakashima, I.; Shiga, Y.; Fujihara, K.; Itoyama, Y. Low-Dose Corticosteroids Reduce Relapses in Neuromyelitis Optica: A Retrospective Analysis. Mult. Scler.2007, 13(8), 968–974. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458507077189.
  • Weinstock-Guttman, B.; Ramanathan, M.; Lincoff, N.; Napoli, S. Q.; Sharma, J.; Feichter, J.; Bakshi, R. Study of Mitoxantrone for the Treatment of Recurrent Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic Disease). Arch. Neurol.2006, 63(7), 957–963. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.63.7.957.
  • Banwell, B.; Tenembaum, S.; Lennon, V. A.; Ursell, E.; Kennedy, J.; Bar-Or, A.; Weinshenker, B. G.; Lucchinetti, C. F.; Pittock, S. J. Neuromyelitis Optica-IgG in Childhood Inflammatory Demyelinating CNS Disorders. Neurology2008, 70(5), 344–352. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000284600.80782.d5. 
  • Pittock, S. (45) Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Overview -- Mayo Clinic - YouTube; Mayo Clinic, 2010.
  • Interview with Christine Ha, MasterChef Winner, Writer, and Chef - American Foundation for the Blind http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/for-job-seekers/our-stories/culinary-arts-and-food-service/chef-and-writer-interview/12345 (accessed Mar 26, 2019).
  • Berman, M. Christine Ha Becomes First Blind “MasterChef” Contestant https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/celebritydiagnosis/33102(accessed Mar 26, 2019).
  • The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation | Funding NMO Research https://guthyjacksonfoundation.org/(accessed Mar 26, 2019).
  • Paisley Powers Through Life-Changing Diagnosis of NMO https://www.wdio.com/news/paisley-forsell-nmo-treatment-benefit/5069315/(accessed Mar 26, 2019).

    • ]]>     2019-03-26 01:39:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345069308     What is Neuromyelitis Optica? cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345445225
  • Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease, which means that the antibodies in the immune system attack the myelin sheath surrounding neurons, preventing them from communicating signals in the brain properly.1-3
  • NMO is very similar to multiple sclerosis (MS), in that it results in inflammation around the central nervous system (CNS) that causes irreversible damage.1-3
  • The difference between NMO and MS is that NMO is a direct result of an autoantibody (an antibody that has gone haywire and doesn’t function properly) called NMO-IgG (immunoglobulin G).1,3
  • NMO-IgG attacks aquaporin 4 (AQP4), one of the most common proteins in the brain, and which is responsible for the uptake of water into the cell, along with other properties.1,3
  • NMO can result in blindness, caused by the attack on optic nerves, as well as loss of muscle function and inflammation of the spinal cord. It currently has no cure.1,2
  • Patients with NMO typically have a first attack that alerts them to this disease and they suffer from recurring attacks throughout their life in which they gradually lose eyesight until they are completely blind. During these attacks, patients can also lose muscle and bladder control.1

    • Image Source: Cylinder, M. U. M. Neuromyelitis Optica Information and Description. http://www.msunites.com/neuromyelitis-optica/ 
    ]]>     2019-03-26 19:50:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345445225     NMO-IgG - A review cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345502069 Immunoglobulin G, or IgG, is the most common antibody in the body. Recently, NMO-IgG, an autoantibody derivative of IgG was discovered that is highly specific to NMO. It's antigen, or receptor, is aquaporin 4, which is a channel protein that lets water into the cell, and is extremely important for passage through the blood brain barrier. The discovery of NMO-IgG has allowed for better, more accurate diagnosis of NMO. ]]> 2019-03-27 00:16:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345502069 cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345530817 https://microbiologyinfo.com/differences-between-antigen-and-antibody/]]> 2019-03-27 02:54:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345530817 cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345531054 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54500574]]> 2019-03-27 02:56:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345531054 Diagnosing NMO - Primary Article cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345531390
  • Old Method similar to diagnosing MS
  • Limits of the old method:
    • Doesn't include patients whose symptoms include regions of the CNS outside of the optic nerves
      • some patients have loss of bladder function, muscle weakness, and other non-vision related losses.
    • Doesn't include patients who meet some of the criteria for MS
      • This is important because many of the symptoms are the same, but the treatment approaches are very different.
    • Some MS patients actually show more signs of NMO than MS and thus get diagnosed incorrectly as well
  • New Method:
    • Definite criteria:
    1. Optic neuritis
                    - Demyelination of the optic nerve
                    - Symptoms include pain and partial to total vision loss 
    1. Myelitis
                    - Inflammation of the spinal cord
    At least ⅔ of the supportive criteria:
    1. MRI evidence of a contiguous spinal cord lesion, 3 or more segments in length
                    - Abnormalities in at least 3 spinal cord segments in a row
    1. Onset brain MRI nondiagnostic for multiple sclerosis
    2. NMO-IgG seropositivity
                    - Positive results for the NMO-IgG autoantibody
    ]]>     2019-03-27 02:59:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345531390     cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345532717 2019-03-27 03:07:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345532717 Treating Neuromyelitis Optica cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345533209 - There are six main medications currently used to treat NMO.2
    - Most treatments are immunosuppressive as opposed to immunomodulatory. IMS is more serious and completely shuts down the immune system
    - Most of the target drugs are those used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, and treat the symptoms, not the cause]]>     2019-03-27 03:11:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345533209     Azathioprine cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345533614
  • Immunosuppressive4
  • Typically used for organ donors and other autoimmune diseases
  • Inhibition of DNA synthesis
  • Taken with steroids (prednisone)
  • Case studies show little to no relapses4
  • Side effects
    •            1. nausea
               2. transaminases (liver damage)
               3. leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells)
               4. diarrhea
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:15:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345533614     Mycophenolate Mofetil cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345534276
  • Inhibits synthesis of guanine5
  • Typically used for organ donors and other autoimmune diseases
  • Inhibits antibody synthesis
    •            1. makes patients particularly susceptible to infections 
    • Side effects
               1. Headache
               2. Constipation
               3. Bruising
               4. Anxiety
               5. hair loss
               6. Diarrhea
               7. loss of white blood cells
               8. prolonged use can lead to tumors
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:20:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345534276     Rituximab cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345534829
  • An antibody that targets the CD20 antigen6
    •            1. CD20 is a protein that is found on B-cells and, when functioning normally, aids the cell in immune responses.
    • Shows a decrease in attacks
    • Many case studies showing high success rates
    • Side effects
               1. Infections
               2. multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a viral infection that targets the myelin in the brain)
               3. Decreased blood pressure
               4. Flu-like symptoms
               5. Nausea
               6. Diarrhea
    • Sometimes taken with steroids to prevent the most common side effects
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:24:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345534829     Methotrexate cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345535445
  • Intended for rheumatoid arthritis patients7
  • Decreases swelling and long term damage
  • inhibits enzymes needed for purine synthesis (blocks DNA synthesis)
  • Taken with prednisone
  • Very few reported cases
  • Stabilization of patients
  • Side effects
    •            1. Infections
               2. Mouth Sores
               3. Rash
               4. Leukopenia
    • Taking folic acid can help with some of the more adverse side effects, such as hair loss
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:28:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345535445     Oral Corticosteroids cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345535853
  • Anti-inflammatory treatment8
  • Intravenous
  • Not typically used for long-term treatment, but low dosages are being used as therapy treatments
  • Showed a decrease in relapse and attacks, but only in dosages higher than 10 mg/day
  • Side effects
    •            1. Hyperglycemia
               2. Insomnia
               3. Mood Swings
               4. Weight Gain
               5. Glaucoma
               6. Impaired growth in children
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:31:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345535853     Mitoxantrone cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345536200
  • Intercalates DNA, which is a way of saying it takes the place of nucleotide bases.9
  • Used to treat malignant tumors, specifically acute myeloid leukemia
    • chemotherapy drug
  • Relapse in patients over the course of 2 years
  • Side Effects
    •            1. Nausea
               2. Diarrhea
               3. Stomach pain
               4. Hair loss
               5. Flu-like symptoms
               6. Discolored urine
    ]]>     2019-03-27 03:34:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345536200     NMO Statistics cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345538079
  • ranges from 1-8 people out of every 2 million people, with Asian and African-American populations being more affected1
  • More likely to occur in women than men (9:1 women:men)
  • Median (not average) onset age is 39
  • more likely to occur in either children or elderly
  • Not known to be caused genetically
    • ]]>     2019-03-27 03:44:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345538079     NMO in children cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345539519
  • There is difficulty in diagnosing children with NMO compared to adults
  • Adults are confirmed with NMO-IgG specificity
  • Less damaging to perform MRI scans and other invasive detection measures
  • Literature suggests that children don't exhibit the same severity of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose
  • This study took a sample of children with various stages of NMOSD among other, similar, demyelinating autoimmune diseases to test for methods to identify NMO and NMOSD for future diagnosis of patients
  • Confirms that NMO-IgG occurs the same way in children
  • Also, it does not occur in other, similar autoimmune diseases
    • ]]>     2019-03-27 03:53:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345539519     Mainstream NMO cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345542405 This article discusses a less severe derivative of NMO called NMO Spectrum disorder. While the article focuses on the struggles of a young athlete, NMOSD is actually characterized by the lack of the autoantibody NMO-IgG. It doesn't always result in blindness, but as the article explains, loss of muscle function, numbness, and pain are all associated with NMOSD]]> 2019-03-27 04:09:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345542405 cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345544474 2019-03-27 04:23:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345544474 cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345544648 2019-03-27 04:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345544648 One Page Summary cgriggs01 https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345551378 2019-03-27 05:17:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cgriggs01/4f70x44vsv5k/wish/345551378