Brain atrophy and lesion load in a large population of patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: To measure white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) atrophy and lesion load in a large population of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a fully automated, operator-independent, multiparametric segmentation method. Methods: The study population consisted of 597 patients with MS and 104 control subjects. The MRI parameters were abnormal WM fraction (AWM-f), global WM-f (gWM-f), and GM fraction (GM-f). Results: Significant differences between patients with MS and control subjects included higher AWM-f and reduced gWM-f and GM-f. MRI data showed significant differences between patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive forms of MS. Significant correlations bet…

ITALIAN NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETY GUIDELINES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA: REVISION 1

Brain atrophy evolution and lesion load accrual in multiple sclerosis: a 2-year follow-up study

Background To investigate in a large cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), lesion load and atrophy evolution, and the relationship between clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates of disease progression. Methods Two hundred and sixty-seven patients with MS were studied at baseline and two years later using the same MRI protocol. Abnormal white matter fraction, normal appearing white matter fraction, global white matter fraction, gray matter fraction and whole brain fraction, T2-hyperintense, and T1-hypointense lesions were measured at both time points. Results The majority of patients were clinically stable, whereas MRI-derived brain tissue fractions were signifi…

Refsum disease. Clinical and morphological report on a case

An atypical case of Refsum disease is reported together with the peripheral nerve morphological data. The body fluids must be assayed for phytanic acid whenever an atypical chronic peripheral neuropathy is observed.

Central action of cinnarizine and flunarizine: A saccadic eye movement study

The mechanism of action of flunarizine (FZ) and cinnarizine (CZ) on the CNS is not fully understood. Computer analysis of saccadic eye movements (SEM) provides a sensitive and objective method for evaluating drug effect on the function of specific brain structures. This study aimed to assess the effect of a single oral dose of FZ (20 mg) and CZ (150 mg) on CNS function by means of computer analysis of SEM. Ten healthy volunteers were studied according to a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design. Peak saccadic velocity (PSV), which is related to the function of a specific group of burst neurons located in the brain stem, was significantly reduced by FZ. No significant effect of …

Brain Nucleotides and Excitatory Processes

The trivial analogy in the structure of barbiturates and pyrimidines has suggested a series of studies, which were undertaken in our Laboratory since 1961 (Bonavita et al., 1960 to investigate on the role of some free nucleotides in cerebral activity.

TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS WITH INTERFERON BETA IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP DATA FROM THE SOUTH ITALY MOBILE MRI PROJECT

Behavioural studies on rats injected with l-cycloserine and other compounds

l-cycloserine, a cyclic derivative of O-substituted hydroxylamine, causes the suppression of the conditioned avoidance reaction in the rat. The subsequent injection of equimolar amounts of pyridoxine hydrochloride is responsible for a complete reversal of this suppression. The suppression of the conditioned response is not observed with the d-isomer of cycloserine. Isoniazid is a strong antagonist of l-cycoserine. Changes in the brain level of GABA under several conditions are described. These changes suggest though do not establish a relationship between the block of the conditioned response and the elevation of the aminoacid above its physiological concentration.

An exploration of anger phenomenology in multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose:  Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are often emotionally disturbed. We investigated anger in these patients in relation to demographic, clinical, and mood characteristics. Patients and methods:  About 195 cognitively unimpaired MS patients (150 relapsing–remitting and 45 progressive) were evaluated with the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. The patients’ anger score distribution was compared with that of the normal Italian population. Correlation coefficients among scale scores were calculated and mean anger scores were compared across different groups of patients by analysis of …