Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic’s Disease) Samples

Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, aqueous humor with matched sera (serum), K2-EDTA plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio fluids from unique neuromyelitis optica (also known as spectrum disorder) patients.

Moreover, the serum, plasma and PBMCs are processed from Parkinson’s disease patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

Furthermore, fresh frozen tissue and matched biofluid samples are collected from unique patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Bio-samples are provided to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, discovery and drug development.

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Overview

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or Devic’s disease, is an inflammation of the sheath that protects the nerves in the eyes and the spinal cord. Consequently, it can lead to weakness, eye pain, and temporary vision loss. Fortunately, immunotherapies and other treatments can help manage it.

Moreover, doctors may also call this NMO spectrum disorder. Additionally, another name for it is Devic’s disease.

In fact, NMO is a rare, severe autoimmune disorder in which white blood cells and antibodies damage the optic nerve, spinal cord, and, in rare cases, the brain.

More specifically, they attack myelin, which is a protective layer that covers the nerves and helps them send signals to and from the brain. As a result, this process classifies NMO as a demyelinating disease.

Furthermore, demyelination temporarily prevents nerves in the spinal cord and the optic nerve from communicating. Consequently, this causes symptoms such as weakness, decreased vision, and, in some cases, scarring, which leads to lasting neurological effects.

In particular, people with NMO can develop optic neuritis, which causes eye pain and vision loss. Additionally, they can also develop transverse myelitis (TM), which causes weakness or paralysis in the arms and legs, as well as a loss of bladder and bowel control.

“Symptoms of NMO may vary and, consequently, become more severe after multiple episodes. Moreover, confirming the triggers for these episodes requires further research. As a result, the resulting nerve damage can cause permanent damage and disability.

NMO affects about 4,000 people in the United States and, in addition, 250,000 people worldwide. Notably, it is significantly more common in women, who experience more than 80% of cases.

Furthermore, it can develop at any age; however, doctors typically diagnose it in people aged 40–50 years.

Types of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

In general, everyone with NMO experiences at least one episode of inflammation of the optic nerve and spinal cord. Specifically, there are two types of the condition- relapsing, which is more common, and monophasic, which is rare.

Monophasic NMO

This, on the other hand, less common form of NMO causes a single episode that lasts for several months.

Relapsing NMO

In contrast, this type is significantly more common — 90% of people with the condition have more than one episode.

Initially, an initial, short episode of inflammation in one or both optic nerves and the spinal cord is followed by more episodes over several years.

Symptoms of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

Symptoms may include:

  • Bladder, bowel, and sexula difficulties
  • Increased sensitivity to cold and heat
  • Pain in the arms and legs
  • Tight, painful spasms in the arms and legs
  • Weakness in the arms and legs

Furthermore, signs and symptoms of optic nerve inflammation, also called optic neuritis, include:

  • Pain in the eye that can get worse with movement
  • Reduced sensitivity to color
  • Swelling of the optic disk
  • Temporary loss of eyesight in at least one eye

Consequently, patients with optic neuritis should not drive, due to vision changes. A person may experience additional symptoms, due to demyelination in the spinal cord.

Moreover, some patients with NMO also develop TM, which is symmetrical inflammation on both sides of the spinal cord. NMO can also cause demyelination in the spinal cord that is unrelated to TM.

If a person has NMO and TM, this leads to symptoms on both sides of the body and is more likely to cause incontinence.

In addition, other symptoms of TM include:

  • Altered sensations, such as increased temperature sensitivity, numbness, tingling, and a burning sensation
  • Changes in urination, including urinary incontinence, difficulty urinating, and more frequent urination
  • Fecal incontinence or constipation
  • Weakness in the limbs that may lead to complete paralysis

A person with NMO may have one mild episode of optic neuritis and one episode of TM, recover, and have no further episodes.

Others may have several episodes throughout their lives and experience lifelong disabilities.

In very rare cases, NMO can affect the brain, and the symptoms depend on the location of the damage. If it affects the lower part of the brainstem, for example, it can cause hiccups or vomiting.

Causes of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

The specific causes of NMO are unknown. In addition, it is an autoimmune disorder, and therefore, it causes the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells in the optic nerve and spinal cord. Consequently, this causes the symptoms.

Furthermore, the condition does not run in families. Although in some rare cases, tuberculosis and some environmental organisms may play a role in causing it, nevertheless, scientists have not been able to isolate the specific organisms responsible.

Moreover, many people with NMO have an antibody called neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin G in their blood. Interestingly, research suggests that this antibody may damage aquaporin-4, the water channel that surrounds the optic nerve and spinal cord cells, causing the characteristic inflammation.

However, confirming this and identifying the full range of causes requires more research.

Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

There is no cure; however, treatments can easeTrusted Source some of the symptoms and reduce the frequency and intensity of episodes.

These include:

  • Steroids: Firstly, steroids: A doctor may prescribe steroids, such as injected methylprednisolone followed by a course of oral steroids, for acute episodes.
  • Additionally, plasma exchange therapy, or plasmapheresis: Doctors typically recommend this when NMO has not responded to steroids. Plasma exchange removes inflammation-causing antibodies from the blood.
  • Moreover, relapse-preventing medications: Azathioprine is a medication that suppresses immune activity and can prevent NMO episodes.
  • Furthermore, immunotherapies: A range of new immunotherapies can significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing further episodes.

However, like other drugs, azathioprine can cause side effects, including:

  • Firstly, a fever
  • Secondly, colitis
  • Thirdly, dizziness
  • In addition, diarrhea
  • Next, hair loss
  • Moreover, low blood pressure
  • Furthermore, pneumonitis
  • Likewise, pancreatitis
  • Finally, vomiting

In addition, if damage from NMO is temporary, physical therapy can help a person regain strength. Conversely, if the damage is permanent, physical therapy can help a person adapt and ease discomfort.

Biospecimens

biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Moreover, human biospecimens are available including tumor tissue, serum, plasma and PBMC Samples from most other therapeutic areas.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and likewise normal healthy donors for controls. Additionally, available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples, human biofluids such as serum samples, plasma samples from various diseases and matched controls.

Also, all our human tissue collections, human biospecimens and human biofluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In fact, this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Additionally, researchers find the patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, as well as in other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and human biological samples, including fresh frozen human biospecimens cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as human serum, human plasma and human PBMCs.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) and human bio-fluids from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Firstly, peripheral whole-blood
  • Secondly, amniotic fluid
  • Thirdly, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Next, sputum
  • Also, pleural effusion
  • Moreover, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Likewise, serum (sera)
  • In addition, plasma
  • Moreover, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) 
  • Furthermore, saliva
  • Next, buffy coat
  • Accordingly, urine
  • For example, stool samples
  • Also, aqueous humor
  • And, vitreous humor
  • Lastly, kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Finally, other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human biospecimens and human biofluids, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples and human biofluids are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human biofluids such as  human plasma, human serum, and human PBMCs bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us in multiple format and sets.

Bay Biosciences also provides human biospecimens from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, Contact us Now.