Belly Dancer Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Abdominal Pain.

Background: Belly dancer syndrome is a rare condition consisting of involuntary, repetitive, often rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm, causing undulating movements of the abdomen that recall those of a belly dancer. It is frequently associated with pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen or lower chest, but clinical symptoms are highly variable often resulting in late diagnosis. Very few pediatric cases have been reported, all of which were secondary to other conditions, and to our knowledge, no idiopathic cases of Belly Dancer Syndrome have been reported in children.

The importance of physician-patient relationship for improvement of adherence to long-term therapy: data of survey in a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients with mild and moderate disability.

Patient involvement in the improvement of health care is important for the best long-term treatment outcomes. Our objective is to assess patient satisfaction with offered care service and to identify parameters which influence the adherence to long-term therapy. A prospective single-center study based on the administration of a structured interview to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients attending our MS Centre with mild and moderate disabilities.

Serum elements and oxidative status in clinically isolated syndromes: imbalance and predictivity.

Background: Metals are suspected of being involved in the pathogenesis of various neurologic diseases. We previously found a complex imbalance in serum chemical elements and oxidative status in patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS).

Objective: To understand whether this imbalance affects people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and, if so, whether it predicts conversion to CDMS.

Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to further evaluate the association between alexithymia and the occurrence of common disabling MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression.

Methods: Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a underwent a complete neurological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score assessment. Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and fatigue were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Fatigue Severity Scale.

Anti-myelin antibodies predict the clinical outcome after a first episode suggestive of MS.

The aim of this study was to test the contribution of anti-myelin antibodies in predicting conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS) when considering either Poser's or McDonald's diagnostic criteria. Fifty-one patients with CIS and abnormal brain MRI were imaged monthly for six months and then at 12, 18, 24, 36 months. At baseline serum samples testing antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG) and myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) were collected.