Assessment of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in migraine patients with and without aura.

Background And Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are the enzymes responsible for proteolytic ac-tivity of extracellular matrix proteins. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are their endogenous inhibitors. MMP-9 acts on the basal membrane of cerebellar epithe-lium and is antagonized by TIMP-1.

Lymphopenia and tuberculous lymphadenitis under immunomodulatory agents in a multiple sclerosis patient: Follow-up of a challenging case.

Interferon-beta (IFN-β) 1a and glatiramer acetate (GA) are first-line therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) with immunomodulatory effects. We present a patient who developed lymphopenia and tuberculous lymphadenitis under treatment with these agents. The female patient who at present 65 year old is followed at our MS outpatient clinics had received GA (20 mg/day, subcutaneous injection) and later IFN-β 1a (44 µg, thrice weekly, subcutaneous injection).

An invisible cause of disability: stigma in migraine and epilepsy.

Objective: Our purpose was to identify the ratio and severity of stigmatization in patients with migraine and epilepsy. We also collected demographic and clinical data to search for possible facilitators.

Methods: In total, 196 patients with migraine and 60 patients with epilepsy were enrolled.