Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Cladribine Used in Increased Dosage in Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: 20-Year Observational Study.

Cladribine is currently registered as a 10-milligram tablet formulation with a fixed cumulative dosage of 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years. It is important to investigate if an increased dosage may lead to further clinical stability with preserved safety.

Efficacy and safety of IVIG in CIDP: Combined data of the PRIMA and PATH studies.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a potential therapy for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). To investigate the efficacy and safety of the IVIG IgPro10 (Privigen) for treatment of CIDP, results from Privigen Impact on Mobility and Autonomy (PRIMA), a prospective, open-label, single-arm study of IVIG in immunoglobulin (Ig)-naïve or IVIG pre-treated subjects (NCT01184846, n = 28) and Polyneuropathy And Treatment with Hizentra (PATH), a double-blind, randomized study including an open-label, single-arm IVIG phase in IVIG pre-treated subjects (NCT01545076, IVIG restabilization phase n = 207) were analyzed separately and together (n = 235). Efficacy assessments included change in adjusted inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) score, grip strength and Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score.

Cladribine induces long lasting oligoclonal bands disappearance in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients: 10-year observational study.

Background: There has been long-term interest in cladribine as a drug for the treatment of MS. The current study focused on the effect of cladribine on oligoclonal bands (OCB) expression in the CSF in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients observed over 10 years.

Methods: 29 treatment-naive subjects with RRMS were prospectively enrolled and received induction therapy with subcutaneous parenteral cladribine (at a cumulative dose of 1.

Standards in neurosonology. Part III.

The paper presents standards related to ultrasound imaging of the cerebral vasculature and structures. The aim of this paper is to standardize both the performance and description of ultrasound imaging of the extracranial and intracranial cerebral arteries as well as a study of a specific brain structure, i.e.

Standards in neurosonology. Part II.

The paper presents standards related to ultrasound imaging of the cerebral vasculature and structures. The aim of this paper is to standardize both the performance and description of ultrasound imaging of the extracranial and intracranial cerebral arteries as well as a study of a specific brain structure, i.e.

Standards in neurosonology. Part I.

The paper presents standards related to ultrasound imaging of the cerebral vasculature and structures. The aim of this paper is to standardize both the performance and description of ultrasound imaging of the extracranial and intracranial cerebral arteries as well as a study of a specific brain structure, i.e.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of add-on therapy with tiagabine and evaluation of cognitive functions after application of this therapy in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy - an observational study (GABI-EPI)].

Objective: To assess the efficacy of add-on therapy with tiagabine and cognitive functions in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, when used in everyday clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: The total number of 437 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy with focal seizures were observed; 436 patients were treated with tiagabine as add-on therapy at a dose of 5-50 mg per day. During the study a number visits were secheduled: Visit V0 - upon enrolment of tiagabine-treated patients into the observational study, visit V1 - four weeks after reaching the initial dose of tiagabine, visit V2 - four weeks after reaching the target dose of tiagabine.

Disappearance of white matter lesions on MRI and clinical recovery after initiating antiretroviral therapy in a case of HIV infection presenting as spastic paraparesis.

We present a case of a 30-year-old Polish female who presented with increasing for about 2 years spastic paraparesis and urinary incontinence. She denied any risky sexual behaviors, drug abuse, there was no history of surgery or blood transfusions. MRI of the brain showed diffuse, hyperintensive in T2, poorly defined lesions in the white matter.

Reduction of thalamic tremor with deep brain stimulation performed for post stroke chronic central pain.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the sensory thalamus and the periventricular/ peri-aqueductal grey area complex may be applied for the treatment of intractable neuropathic pain syndrome. The presented study concerns a patient who experienced ischemic stroke within the posterolateral part of the left hypothalamus, with subsequent severe burning pain localized in the right upper limb, predominantly within the hand, and thalamic tremor which occurred 4 months after the stroke. After 2 years of ineffective pain treatment, the patient was offered implantation of electrodes to the periventricular grey matter (PVG)/periaqueductal grey matter (PAG), as well as implantation of an electrode to the ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus (VPL).

Quality of life in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: This study is a pilot evaluation of the quality of life (QoL) in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Material/methods: Data from 21 centers in Poland were collected from May 2008 to January 2009. QoL was assessed using the questionnaire Euro Quality of Life (EQ-5D), with Polish population norms.

Aggressive behavior as a rare side effect of subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

Although deep brain stimulation (DBS) has a well-established position in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), it may be accompanied by different side effects including behavioral changes. We present a patient with advanced PD after bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) who developed attacks of aggressive behavior. The patient with a 12 year history of PD underwent the procedure of DBS with one-stage bilateral stereotactic approach using the Leksel G stereotactic frame.

Impact of cladribine therapy on changes in circulating dendritic cell subsets, T cells and B cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cladribine causes sustained reduction in peripheral T and B cell populations while sparing other immune cells. We determined two populations of dendritic cells (DCs): namely CD1c(+)/CD19(-) (myeloid DCs) and CD303(+)/CD123(+) (plasmacytoid DCs), CD19(+) B lymphocytes, CD3(+) T lymphocytes and CD4(+) or CD8(+) subpopulations in patients with multiple sclerosis after cladribine therapy.

Methods: We examined 50 patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SP MS) according to McDonalds et al.

Efficacy and safety of Privigen(®) in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: results of a prospective, single-arm, open-label Phase III study (the PRIMA study).

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label Phase III study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Privigen(®) (10% liquid human intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG], stabilized with L-proline) in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Patients received one induction dose of Privigen (2 g/kg body weight [bw]) and up to seven maintenance doses (1 g/kg bw) at 3-week intervals. The primary efficacy endpoint was the responder rate at completion, defined as improvement of ≥1 point on the adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability scale.

Bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction with hypothalamic dysfunction.

Unilateral thalamic lesions cause transient or permanent behavioral, sensory and oculomotor disturbances; bilateral lesions of thalamus result in more severe and longer lasting symptoms. We present an atypical case of bilateral paramedian thalamic infarct with concomitant hypothalamic dysfunction. The only risk factor of ischaemic stroke found in the patient was a short lasting episode of atrial fibrillation.

Neurofilament heavy chain and heat shock protein 70 as markers of seizure-related brain injury.

Purpose:   Status epilepticus (SE) has deleterious effects on brain tissue, but whether brief recurrent seizures may also damage neurons represents a matter of controversy. Therefore, it remains a central area of epilepsy research to identify individuals at risk where disease progression can be potentially prevented. Biomarkers may serve as tools for such identification.

Factors predicting quality of life in a group of Polish subjects with multiple sclerosis: accounting for functional state, socio-demographic and clinical factors.

Objectives: Quality of life (QoL) has presently a firmly established position as an important endpoint in medical care. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease with considerable effect on patients' QoL. QoL of MS patients from many European countries has already been assessed but little is known on health-related QoL of Polish subjects with MS.

Some markers of neuronal damage in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients in relapse.

In this paper the performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein biomarkers important for monitoring damage of brain astrocytes and neurons for MS is reviewed. We estimated neurofilament, tau and phospho-tau proteins, β-APP, Aβ, S-100B and neuron-specific enolase in CSF of MS patients during relapse. We noted elevation of neurofilament, tau and phospho-tau proteins, S-100B, neuron-specific enolase and c-terminal epitopes of β-APP; concomitantly decrease of Aβ was observed.

[Efficacy and tolerability of dose-escalation with generic gabapentin--a multicenter, non-interventional study].

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of 1800-2400 mg/day of generic gabapentin (Gabapentin Teva) as add-on treatment for refractory partial - onset epilepsy. This was a multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study of patients with refractory epilepsy (median age of 45.5 years [41-50; 25-75% percentile range], male 45.

Analysis of ventricular late potentials in signal-averaged ECG of people with epilepsy.

Purpose: There has been growing interest in cardiac disturbances in epilepsy patients and their etiologic role in the context of sudden death. Ventricular late potentials (VLPs) recorded on signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) reflects delayed ventricular depolarization and identifies the structural or functional substrate for the ventricular tachycardia in the reentry mechanism. Therefore, abnormal SAECG poses the potential of identifying patients at increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Simvastatin displays an antioxidative effect by inhibiting an increase in the serum 8-isoprostane level in patients with acute ischemic stroke: brief report.

Objectives: Oxidative stress plays an important role in ischemic stroke pathophysiology. Some drugs are known to have a substantial influence on oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the antioxidant effect of simvastatin through its influence on patients' serum 8-isoprostane levels.

Validation analysis of the Polish version of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL).

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to perform a validation analysis of the Polish adaptation of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire, MusiQoL.

Material And Methods: Validation analysis included the translation of the original English version into Polish according to translation principles and the analysis of convergent validity, internal reliability and reproducibility of the Polish version of MusiQoL. The study included 150 randomly chosen patients (109 women and 41 men) with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed according to McDonald criteria.

[Processes of free radical lipid peroxidation with a particular regard to the role of paraoxonase-1 in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis].

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals production and antioxidant defences. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can attact and demage a variety of critical biological molecules, including lipids, essential cellular proteins and DNA and may be exert in pathogenesis of many disorders. Products of lipid peroxidation can be easily reliably detected in biological fluids and tissues, yielding sensitive and specific signals of lipid peroxidation occurred in vivo.

Selected aspects of the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Poland - a multicentre pilot study.

Background And Purpose: The aim was to conduct a pilot study of selected epidemiological aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in 21 centres providing MS treatment. The demographic profile of the patients, medical history of MS, disability status, comorbidity, and diagnostic and treatment modalities were analysed.