A population-based survey of cognitive performance in a Sicilian elderly community.

2010

<i>Background:</i> The global burden of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing. Previous studies reported differences related to age, gender and socioeconomic status. We calculated the cognitive performances of a Sicilian population aged 65 years or older, by means of a door-to-door population-based survey in Bagheria city, Sicily. <i>Methods:</i> A door-to-door survey was carried out in the city of Bagheria, Sicily (prevalence day September 30, 2006). A cohort of 2,200 persons was randomly stratified, obtaining a 25% sample of the whole population. Cognitive function was assessed by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Percentile distributions by age, gender, edu…

Association between multiple sclerosis, cancer risk, and immunosuppressant treatment: a cohort study

2017

Abstract Background The association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer has long been investigated with conflicting results. Several reports suggest an increased cancer risk among MS patients treated with immunosuppressant (IS) drugs. Methods We performed a cohort study including MS patients recruited at the Neurological Department of the University of Palermo. Mean follow-up period was ten years for the whole cohort. We calculated cancer incidence among patients treated with IS. Incidence rates were compared in the cohort by calculating the relative risk according to length and dose of exposure to IS. Cancer incidence among MS patients was compared to cancer incidence in the general…

Tumor Diagnosis Preceding Alzheimer's Disease Onset: Is There a Link Between Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease?

2012

Studies reporting an inverse association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cancer are scant. Available data are mostly based on ancillary findings of mortality data or obtained from studies evaluating frequency of neoplasms in AD patients independently if they occurred before or after AD. Moreover, some studies estimated frequencies of neoplasms in demented individuals, who were not necessarily AD patients. We estimated frequency of tumors preceding the onset of AD in AD patients and compared it to that of age- and gender-matched AD-free individuals. Occurrence of tumors preceding AD onset was assessed through a semi-structured questionnaire. Tumors were categorized as benign, malignant,…

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

2011

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by fever, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, renal insufficiency, and thrombocytopenia. Neurological involvement, a prominent component of TTP, is characterised by a variety of brain lesions which include reversible cerebral oedema or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). TTP is frequently associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13.Here, we report a case of TTP with severe acute encephalopathy. Posterior leukoencephalopathy and brainstem oedema with triventricular hydrocephalus were observed on MRI. The …

Multiple sclerosis survival: a population-based study in Sicily

2009

Background and purpose:  There are few population-based surveys on multiple sclerosis (MS) survival. To investigate MS survival in MS patients recruited during surveys conducted in Sicily. Methods:  Multiple sclerosis patients identified during previous surveys were randomly matched to two referent subjects by residence, year of birth, and gender. Living status was obtained by municipality records (end of follow-up June, 30th 2007) and, for the deceased, date and causes of death were searched. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate differences in mortality between MS patients and referent subjects. MS risks for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Results:  …

Differences in intercellular communication during clinical relapse and gadolinium-enhanced MRI in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosi…

2018

This study was designed based on the hypothesis that changes in both the levels and surface marker expression of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be associated with the clinical form, disease activity, and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). The analyzes were performed on subjects affected by MS or other neurological disorders. EVs, which were isolated by ultracentrifugation of CSF samples, were characterized by flow cytometry. A panel of fluorescent antibodies was used to identify the EV origin: CD4, CCR3, CCR5, CD19, and CD200, as well as isolectin IB4. The Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used for statistical analyzes. EVs isol…

Cardiovascular comorbidity in multiple sclerosis patients treated with mitoxantrone therapy: a cohort study

2017

Abstract Background Mitoxantrone (MX) has been used as second line therapy for aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Potential cardiotoxic effects of MX limit its use; a cumulative dose of up to 100 mg/m2, has been long considered relatively safe. We calculated the frequency of cardiac side effects in MS patients treated with MX. Methods We performed a cohort study including all MS patients treated with MX at the Neurological Department of the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy. Two hundred-sixty-four MS patients diagnosed according to validated criteria were included and followed-up until the end of September 2010. Patients were treated with MX as a second line therapy if they had no prev…

Identification of Biomarkers in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Multiple Sclerosis Patients by Immunoproteomics Approach

2014

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. At present, the molecular mechanisms causing the initiation, development and progression of MS are poorly understood, and no reliable proteinaceous disease markers are available. In this study, we used an immunoproteomics approach to identify autoreactive antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients to use as candidate markers with potential diagnostic value. We identified an autoreactive anti-transferrin antibody that may have a potential link with the development and progression of MS. We found this antibody at high levels also in the serum of MS patients and created an immun…

BODY MASS INDEX DOES NOT CHANGE BEFORE PARKINSON'S DISEASE ONSET.

2008

Background and purpose:  Previous studies on the association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and body mass index (BMI) have reported conflicting results. We investigated the relationship between PD and BMI by a case–control study. Methods:  PD patients were randomly matched to healthy individuals by sex and age. BMI distribution in cases has been compared with BMI of controls and odd ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were calculated. Results:  We included 318 PD patients and 318 controls. We observed no association between PD and BMI. BMI distribution in cases and controls was similar also when we adjusted for diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and the time elapsed between PD onset and the interview (O…

Frequency and determinants for hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarction.

2009

<i>Background:</i> Frequency and associated risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT), a worrying complication of ischemic stroke (IS), are not clearly defined. Our aim was to estimate the overall frequency and risk factors for HT in a hospital-based population. <i>Methods:</i> A retrospective review of medical records of patients discharged from our department during the period 2004–2006 with a diagnosis of anterior IS. Demographic, clinical and hematological information was collected. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate risk for spontaneous HT. <i>Results:</i> We included 240 patients (125 males, 52%), mean ag…

Leprosy: report of a case with severe peripheral neuropathy

2009

Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. Leprosy is very rare in Europe but some cases are reported, especially among people coming from endemic areas. Here, we report a case of Hansen's disease and emphasize the importance of a prompt diagnosis and treatment also in non-endemic areas.

Clinical features and disease out come in patients with pediatric and young adult onset Multiple Sclerosis

2012

PREGNANCIES MODIFY RELAPSES AND PROGRESSION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

2014

Natalizumab therapy of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: an evaluation of the safety profile and a comparison of efficacy with interferon beta …

2010

Clinical features, disease course and prognosis in patients with paediatric and young adult onset multiple sclerosis

2013

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients develop their first symptoms before adolescence approximately in 5%. Studies comparing clinical and prognostic characteristics in early onset MS, did not show homogeneous results. Objective. Aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of early onset MS patients and compare them with patients who experienced MS onset later. Methods. MS patients diagnosed as affected by MS according to Poser's criteria, were included if they experienced symptoms onset before age 25. They were classified in three groups. Group A: patients who had their onset until they were 16 years old Group B: individuals with onset between 17 and 20 yearsGroup C: patient…

Lifestyle factors and multiple sclerosis: a case control study

2010

Multiple sclerosis survival: a population-based study in Sicily.

2010

Background and purpose: There are few population-based surveys on multiple sclerosis (MS) survival. To investigate MS survival in MS patients recruited during surveys conducted in Sicily. Methods: Multiple sclerosis patients identified during previous surveys were randomly matched to two referent subjects by residence, year of birth, and gender. Living status was obtained by municipality records (end of follow-up June, 30th 2007) and, for the deceased, date and causes of death were searched. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate differences in mortality between MS patients and referent subjects. MS risks for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Results: We …

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT TREATMENT AND CANCER RISK IN A COHORT OF PATIENTS AFFECTED BY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

2011

Cholesterol level and hemorrhagic trasformation after ischemic stroke

2009

Clinical and instrumental predictors of efficacy of natalizumab therapy in the course of multiple sclerosis: a retrospective study from a single cent…

2013

Frequency of Mitoxantrone related heart involvement in patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis

2010

Multiple reversibile MR signals in course of Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis

2010

Hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid in plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

2010

TREATMENT CHOICE AFTER 24 NATALIZUMAB DOSES IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY, THE TY-STOP

2014

Quetiapine dose-sparing effect with addiction of memantine: two cases report of Lewy Body disease and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease

2012

Return of disease activity after natalizumab therapy discontinuation in patients with multiple sclerosis: frequency and clinical and instrumental pre…

2012

DENTATO-RUBRAL PALLIDOLUYSIAN ATROPHY: CLINICAL AND GENETIC ANALYSIS OF A SICILIAN PEDIGREE

2010

Acute onset parkinsonism during leukoencephalopathy and CMV infection

2012

Extracellular vesicles isolated by cerebrospinal fluid as biomarkers of inflammation in multiple sclerosis and inflammatory neurological diseases.

2014

LEPROSY: A CASE REPORT FROM SICILY, ITALY

2009

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Frontal dementia related to thalamic stroke: a case report.

2012

Purine metabolism and multiple sclerosis: pattern varies according to disease stage and clinical form

2013

Clinical and instrumental predictors of efficacy of Natalizumab therapy in multiple sclerosis patients: a retrospective study from a single centre

2012

Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure performance in patients with degenerative dementia using Boston Qualitative Scoring System

2013

Heart involvement in patients treated with mitoxantrone for multiple sclerosis

2010

Frequency of John Cunningham virus (JCV) DNA and of antibodies against JCV in patients affected by multiple sclerosis and their relationship with nat…

2012

Purine metabolism and Multiple Sclerosis: different pattern according to different disease stage and different clinical form.

2013

P422 Purine metabolism and multiple sclerosis: pattern varies according to disease stage and clinical form G. Salemi, M. Gueli, V. Cusimano, M. Lo Re, V. Lo Re, M.A. Mazzola, S. Realmuto, P. Ragonese, G. Savettieri University (Palermo, IT) Background: Serum concentration of uric acid (sUA) was variably associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Many papers reported lower sUA in MS patients respect to healthy controls, expecially in course of relapse. This lower sUA was considered as a marker of oxidative stress. However, this association was not confirmed by many other papers. Recently, an increase in the concentration of sUA, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and sum of oxypurine (sPU) was reported in…

Purine metabolism in course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

2010