Depressive symptoms and MRI changes in multiple sclerosis.

To determine whether changes in specific regions of the brain can contribute to the development of depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We prospectively studied 90 patients with clinically definite MS. Disability, independence, cognitive performances, and depressive and anxiety symptoms have been assessed at baseline and 2 years later.

Verbal versus olfactory cues: affect in elicited memories.

Verbal processing has a reduced role for olfactory stimuli. It is difficult to provide a label for an odor experience. Odor perception can retrieve memories of life events with personal meaning and elicit affective experiences.

ALS with variable phenotypes in a six-generation family caused by leu144phe mutation in the SOD1 gene.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disorder. The mutations of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1) are responsible for familial ALS. We investigated a large family of Istro-Rumanian origin characterized by an autosomal dominant ALS occurring in 18 cases (three of which are still alive) throughout six generations.

Sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: II. Correlation analysis.

Sexual dysfunction affects a large part of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, but some aspects of its clinical presentation and aetiology are not clearly defined yet. In an unselected sample of 108 patients with definite multiple sclerosis we investigated the relationship between symptoms of sexual dysfunctioning and sphincteric dysfunction, patients' and disease characteristics, disability and neurological impairment, psychological and cognitive functioning. Sexual dysfunction directly correlated with presence of physical disorders (r=0.

Sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: a case-control study. I. Frequency and comparison of groups.

Sexual dysfunction is a very important but often overlooked symptom of multiple sclerosis. To investigate the type and frequency of symptoms of sexual dysfunction in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, we performed a case-control study comparing 108 unselected patients with definite multiple sclerosis, 97 patients with chronic disease and 110 healthy individuals with regard to sexual function, sphincteric function, physical disorders impeding sexual activity and the impact of sexual dysfunction on social life. Information has been collected from a face-to-face structured interview performed by a doctor of the same gender as the patient.