Seasonal adherence to, and effectiveness of, subcutaneous interferon β-1a administered by RebiSmart® in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: results of the 1-year, observational GEPAT-SMART study.

Background: Little is known about whether tolerability and adherence to treatment can be influenced by weather and temperature conditions. The objective of this study was to assess monthly and seasonal adherence to and safety of sc IFN-β1a (Rebif®, Merck) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients using the RebiSmart® electronic autoinjector.

Methods: A multicentre, prospective observational study in Greece in adult RRMS patients with EDSS < 6, under Rebif®/RebiSmart® treatment for ≤6 weeks before enrollment.

Observational study assessing demographic, economic and clinical factors associated with access and utilization of health care services of patients with multiple sclerosis under treatment with interferon beta-1b (EXTAVIA).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in an extensive use of the health care system, even within the first years of diagnosis. The effectiveness and accessibility of the health care system may affect patients' quality of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the health care resource use of MS patients under interferon beta-1b (EXTAVIA) treatment in Greece, the demographic or clinical factors that may affect this use and also patient satisfaction with the health care system.

The STAR Study: a real-world, international, observational study of the safety and tolerability of, and adherence to, serum-free subcutaneous interferon β-1a in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Background: Adverse reactions, particularly injection site reactions (ISRs), are common reasons for nonadherence to injectable multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments. Adherence to MS treatment is important to ensure good treatment outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the local tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) serum-free interferon (IFN) β-1a in patients with relapsing MS over 1 year in a real-life, international setting.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modulates epileptiform discharges in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy: a preliminary EEG-TMS study.

Background: TMS is being increasingly used as a noninvasive brain stimulation technique for the therapeutic management of partial epilepsies. However, the acute effects of TMS on epileptiform discharges (EDs, i.e.

Apathy, cognitive dysfunction and impaired social cognition in a patient with bilateral thalamic infarction.

We describe the case of a patient with bilateral thalamic lesions due to brain infarcts in the paramedian thalamic artery territories. The patient demonstrated symptoms of apathy (e.g.

Impact of pregabalin treatment on pain, pain-related sleep interference and general well-being in patients with neuropathic pain: a non-interventional, multicentre, post-marketing study.

Background And Objectives: Numerous controlled clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The objectives of the present study were to assess the impact of pregabalin under real-world conditions on pain, pain-related sleep interference and general well-being, and to assess the tolerability and safety of pregabalin in patients diagnosed with neuropathic pain of central or peripheral origin.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, multicentre study in which pregabalin was administered for 8 weeks, at the therapeutic dosages of 150-600 mg/day, to patients with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain.

Severely stressful events and dementia: a study of an elderly Greek demented population.

There is evidence that proneness to experience psychological distress is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, an attempt is made to examine the possible association between stressful events and cognitive impairment of the elderly, based on a sample of 1271 patients (500 male, 771 female) diagnosed with dementia according to the DSM-IV criteria and 140 age- and gender-matched cognitive healthy subjects. All patients were recruited from the Memory and Dementia Outpatient Clinic of the 3rd University Department of Neurology in "G.

Auditory processing disorder and brain pathology in a preterm child with learning disabilities.

Background: Auditory processing disorders involve deficits in the processing of information in the auditory domain that are not due to higher order language, cognitive or other related factors.

Purpose: To evaluate the possibility of structural brain abnormalities in preterm children manifesting as auditory processing disorders.

Research Design: A case report of a young girl, preterm at birth, with language difficulties, learning problems at school, and additional listening problems.

Increased plasma homocysteine levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and depression.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the plasma levels of homocysteine in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate whether an association with depression exists.

Methods: Plasma homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and plasma folate were measured in 65 moderately disabled patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RR-MS) and 60 healthy controls. All subjects were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Depression and anxiety in epilepsy: the association with demographic and seizure-related variables.

Background: Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric symptoms in patients with epilepsy, exerting a profound negative effect on health-related quality of life. Several issues, however, pertaining to their association with psychosocial, seizure-related and medication factors, remain controversial. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the association of interictal mood disorders with various demographic and seizure-related variables in patients with newly-diagnosed and chronic epilepsy.

The effect of valproate on silent period and corticomotor excitability.

Objective: To investigate, by transcranial magnetic stimulation, the effects of valproate on silent period and corticomotor excitability.

Methods: thirty patients with generalized epilepsy were studied at baseline, and re-examined 4 (S1) and 25 (S2) weeks after the administration of valproate (mean dose: 1040 +/- 284 mg). Transcranial magnetic stimulation was performed with a figure of eight coil (recording, first dorsal interosseous).