Publications by authors named "Fatma Belgin Balci"

Background: Follow-on disease modifying therapies (FO-DMTs) do not always require Phase III studies. There are concerns that cheaper FO-DMTs are only used to reduce healthcare costs. However, the well-being of people with MS (pwMS) should be a priority.

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Background: During multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment different modes of action such as lateral (interferon beta to glatiramer acetate or glatiramer acetate to interferon beta) or vertical (interferon beta/glatiramer acetate to fingolimod) drug switch can be performed. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of switching from the first-line injectable disease modifying treatments (iDMTs) to fingolimod (FNG) compared to switching between first-line iDMTs.

Methods: This is a multicenter, observational and retrospective study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS who had lateral and vertical switch.

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Background: Difficulties of self-management in people with MS (pwMS) is considered as one of the most important factors contributing to low rehabilitation efficacy, more severe long-term complications and increase in healthcare costs. Despite the emergence of research in the last decade documenting causes, types, and course of cognitive difficulties in MS disease subtypes, limited evidence is available in the literature for direct comparison of self-management and cognitive deficits. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance and self-management in pwMS.

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Introduction: Stroke prevalence is known to increase with age. Approximately 50% of acute ischemic stroke patients are aged between 70 and 89 years.

Methods: In this study, records of 770 ischemic stroke patients who were 70-89 years old were retrospectively examined (407 septuagenarians and 363 octogenarians).

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