Natalizumab in cerebrospinal fluid and breastmilk of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Natalizumab is a highly effective monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), which can diffuse in different anatomical compartments, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and milk.

Objectives: Starting from incidental detection of natalizumab in the CSF of MS patients, the objective of this study was to develope a flow-cytometry-based assay and apply it to quantify natalizumab in body fluids, including milk collected from nursing patients over 180 days and in patients with neutralizing antibodies against natalizumab.

Methods: CSF, milk and sera samples from patients with multiple sclerosis were tested by flow-cytometry for binding to a VLA-4 expressing cell line or to a control cell line.

The Role of Health Locus of Control in Pain Intensity Outcome of Conservatively and Operatively Treated Hand Surgery Patients.

Purpose: Psychological factors have shown to be associated with treatment outcomes in hand injury patients. This study aimed to investigate the role of health locus of control (HLOC) and its dimensions internal, social-external, and fatalistic-external HLOC in treatment outcomes of hand injury patients.

Method: One hundred thirty-two consecutive patients of a tertiary center for hand surgery undergoing treatment for acute hand injury or degenerative hand problems were included in this study.