Use of herbal remedies by multiple sclerosis patients: a nation-wide survey in Italy.

Though recent progress in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment is remarkable, numerous unmet needs remain to be addressed often inducing patients to look for complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), especially herbal remedies (HR). HR use, scarcely investigated in MS, may cause adverse reactions (AR) and interfere with conventional treatment. We performed a survey aimed at evaluating use and attitudes towards HR and factor associated to HR use.

Dietary supplement and drug use and doping knowledge and attitudes in Italian young elite cyclists.

Objective: To explore use and attitudes toward drugs and dietary supplements (DS) and knowledge concerning doping in cycling.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Professional cycling.

Hepatotoxicity after high-dose methylprednisolone for demyelinating disease.

Liver toxicity, although not mentioned among the possible adverse effects of corticosteroids, has been occasionally reported in literature. We observed 2 cases of hepatotoxicity after a high-dose methylprednisolone treatment of a demyelinating disease and evaluated the potential relationship in the light of available evidence. The first patient developed a histologically documented acute hepatitis and recovered after 3 weeks.

Cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients studied for suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atherosclerosis-related inflammation has been poorly investigated, particularly focusing on functional responses of immune cells playing a key role in atherogenesis and in comparison with control groups with similar cardiovascular risk factors which are known to be themselves associated with inflammation. We sought to determine cellular tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and interleukin (IL)-8 release from neutrophils (PMNs) in patients studied for suspected OSA.

Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients who underwent a nocturnal complete cardiorespiratory evaluation for suspected OSA were initially evaluated.

Simvastatin treatment in subjects at high cardiovascular risk modulates AT1R expression on circulating monocytes and T lymphocytes.

Objective: Angiotensin II, through the activation of angiotensin II type 1 receptors, plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis. Statins may interfere with the effects of angiotensin II.

Methods: We have investigated the expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor, angiotensin II type 2 receptor and angiotensinogen on circulating monocytes and T-lymphocytes from subjects at high risk for vascular events before and during simvastatin treatment, and healthy controls.

Pain perception, blood pressure levels, and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in patients followed for differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a longitudinal study in hypothyroidism and during hormone treatment.

Background: Elevated blood pressure levels that are associated with hypalgesia and hypothyroidism have major influences on the cardiovascular system. The potential modulation of pain sensitivity by thyroid hormones is largely undetermined. Moreover, a few experimental studies show that peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs), which may be altered in hypothyroidism, seem to be related with pain perception.