0000000001102796
AUTHOR
P Ragonese
Acute myeloid leukemia in Italian patients with multiple sclerosis treated with mitoxantrone
none 25 no Abstract OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence and dose-dependency of mitoxantrone (MTX)-associated acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) in the network of Italian multiple sclerosis (MS) clinics. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients treated with MTX in MS centers under the Italian national health care system between 1998 and 2008. Demographic, disease, treatment, and follow-up information were collected using hospital records. RESULTS: Data were available for 3,220 patients (63% women) from 40 Italian centers. Follow-up (mean ± SD) was 49 ± 29 months (range 12-140 months). We observed 30 cases of AML (incidence 0.93% [95% confidence interval 0.60%…
Is season of birth associated with multiple sclerosis?
Objective - To compare the monthly distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients' births with that of the Sicilian population. Background - Studies on the association between season of birth and risk of MS are scanty and controversial. Design and methods - Archives of the Institute of Neuropsychiatry of the Universities of Palermo and Catania were searched up to 1995 for definite MS patients (McDonald and Halliday criteria). The monthly distribution of MS patients' births (N = 965) was compared with that of the Sicilian population (N = 5,608,307). Results - The distribution of births among MS patients compared with the general population was not different when tested by the χ2 statistic …
Effect of extracellular vesicles from CSF of multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls on astrocytes in culture
INTRODUCTION Secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV-mediated exchange of molecules among brain cells, under physiological conditions, has been described years ago. At the same time, ability of EVs to transfer proteins and nucleic acids to the surrounding cells, thus modifying their phenotypes, has been clearly demonstrated for tumor cells of different origins, including brain cancers. More recently, involvement of EVs in pathological processes affecting the Central Nervous System (CNS), and their capacity of transferring damaging cargoes have been also suggested. To explore these functions, we exposed primary cultures of astrocytes to EVs isolated from cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) …
Application of tRNS to improve Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue: a sham-controlled study
Background and aims: Fatigue is one of the most common, early, and disabling symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). tDCS on Dorso-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex seems to give positive results on MS fatigue. Recently, a new stimulation protocol, transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS), showed powerful facilitatory effects on motor cortex in healthy subjects and ameliorated pain in MS patients. Here we aimed to explore effects of motor cortex tRNS in MS fatigue.Methods: 13 MS fatigued patients were enrolled in a blind, sham controlled tRNS study. 7 patients received 1.5 mA, 101-640 Hz tRNS stimulation and 6 patient received sham stimulation, both stimulations applied daily over M1 for 15 minutes…
Accuracy of death certificates for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis varies significantly from north to south of Italy: Implications for mortality studies
<i>Objective:</i> To evaluate the accuracy of death certificates (DCs) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in different parts of Italy. Studies based on DC diagnosis for ALS have shown a reduced mortality comparing northern with southern Italy. These data are in contrast with results from other surveys on the incidence of ALS performed in Italy and other countries. <i>Methods:</i> Archives of neurological clinics from northern (Milano, Monza, Pavia, and Bologna) and southern Italy including islands (Napoli, Sassari, Palermo, and Messina) were searched for patients discharged with a diagnosis of ALS in the period 1970–1995. Subjects affected by definite/probable A…