Exclusive Papers from the Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of Neurology International

Editor


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Collection Editor
1. Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
2. Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: molecular mechanisms underlying myelination and demyelination; molecular and cellular therapeutic procedures for Charcot–Marie–Tooth diseases; Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease and hypomyelinating leukodystrophies; frontotemporal dementia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the Editor in Chief of Neurology International, I am pleased to announce the creation of a Topical Collection titled “Exclusive Papers from the Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of Neurology International”. This will be a collection of high-quality research works of the Editorial Board Members of Neurology International. The aim of this Topical Collection is to provide a platform for networking and communication between members of this journal and scholars in its related field.

We welcome both original research articles and comprehensive review papers that address current critical issues in the field, which are grounded in sound science, and which provide authoritative commentaries, as well as those presenting novel concepts. All manuscripts will be published and made fully open access following successful peer review.

Prof. Dr. Junji Yamauchi
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Neurology International is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stroke
  • multiple sclerosis
  • movement disorders
  • neurooncology epilepsy
  • neurorehabilitation
  • neurointensive care
  • neuroinfectious disorders
  • neurometabolic disorders
  • headache
  • other neurological pain syndromes
  • sleep disorders
  • traumatic disorders
  • neuropathies
  • cognition
  • neurobehavior
  • neurosurgery

Published Papers (1 paper)

2025

16 pages, 1269 KiB  
Article
The Association of Axonal Damage Biomarkers and Osteopontin at Diagnosis Could Be Useful in Newly Diagnosed MS Patients
by Eleonora Virgilio, Chiara Puricelli, Nausicaa Clemente, Valentina Ciampana, Ylenia Imperatore, Simona Perga, Sveva Stangalini, Elena Boggio, Alice Appiani, Casimiro Luca Gigliotti, Umberto Dianzani, Cristoforo Comi and Domizia Vecchio
Neurol. Int. 2025, 17(7), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070110 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 100
Abstract
(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a biologically highly heterogeneous disease and has poor predictability at diagnosis. Moreover, robust data indicate that early disease activity strongly correlates with future disability. Therefore, there is a need for strong and reliable biomarkers from diagnosis to [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a biologically highly heterogeneous disease and has poor predictability at diagnosis. Moreover, robust data indicate that early disease activity strongly correlates with future disability. Therefore, there is a need for strong and reliable biomarkers from diagnosis to characterize and identify patients who require highly effective disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). Several biomarkers are promising, particularly neurofilament light chains (NFLs), but the relevance of others is less consolidated. (2) Methods: We evaluated a panel of axonal damage and inflammatory biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and matched serum obtained from a cohort of 60 newly diagnosed MS patients. Disability at diagnosis, negative prognostic factors, and the initial DMT prescribed were carefully recorded. (3) Results: We observed correlations between different axonal biomarkers: CSF and serum NFL versus CSF total tau; and between the inflammatory marker osteopontin (OPN) and axonal biomarkers CSF p-Tau, CSF total tau, and serum NFL. CSF and serum NFL and total tau, as well as CSF OPN, positively correlated with EDSS at diagnosis. Moreover, CSF and serum NFL levels were increased in patients with gadolinium-enhancing lesions (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively) and in those treated with highly effective DMT (p = 0.049). Furthermore, CSF OPN and both CSF and serum NFL levels significantly differentiated patients based on EDSS, with a combined ROC AUC of 0.88. We calculated and internally validated biomarker (in particular serum NFL) thresholds that significantly identified patients with higher disability. Finally, CSF OPN levels and dissemination in the spinal cord were significant predictors of EDSS at diagnosis. (4) Conclusions: These preliminary exploratory data confirm the pathological interconnection between inflammation and axonal damage from early disease stages, contributing to early disability. Follow-up data, such as longitudinal disability scores, repeated serum measurements, a healthy control group, and external validation of our results, are needed. We suggest that combining several fluid biomarkers may improve the clinical characterization of patients. Full article
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