Clinical and patient determinants of changing therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (SWITCH study).

Background: clinical factors and frequency of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) changes/interruptions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to describe reasons of MS treatment modifications in a large cohort of Italian MS patients.

Methods: this multicenter, cross-sectional non interventional study (SWITCH) conducted at 28 Italian MS centers, screened, by visit/telephone contact between June 2016 and June 2017, all RRMS patients receiving stable DMT treatment and enrolled patients with change in DMT treatment.

A method to compare prospective and historical cohorts to evaluate drug effects. Application to the analysis of early treatment effectiveness of intramuscular interferon-β1a in multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Disease modifying therapy have changed the natural evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS), with efficacy demonstrated in randomized clinical trials. Standard-of-care effectiveness is needed to complement clinical trial data and highlight outcomes in real-world practice, but comparing prospective patients with historical cohorts likely introduces biases. To address these potential biases, assigning a patient with a score that expresses his/her disease prognosis before starting a therapy may make it possible to evaluate the unbiased ability of the therapy to modify disease natural history.

Retrospectively acquired cohort study to evaluate the long-term impact of two different treatment strategies on disability outcomes in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RE.LO.DI.MS): data from the Italian MS Register.

Background: The increase in disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) allows individualization of treatment in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS); however, the long-term impact of different treatment sequences is not well established. This is particularly relevant for MS patients who may need to postpone more aggressive DMD strategies.

Objective: To evaluate different therapeutic strategies and their long-term outcomes, measured as relapses and confirmed disability progression (CDP), in MS 'real-world' settings.

Dopaminergic Stimulation of Myeloid Antigen-Presenting Cells Attenuates Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3-Activation Favouring the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

The dual potential to promote tolerance or inflammation to self-antigens makes dendritic cells (DCs) fundamental players in autoimmunity. Previous results have shown that stimulation of dopamine receptor D5 (DRD5) in DCs potentiates their inflammatory behaviour, favouring the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we aimed to decipher the underlying mechanism and to test its relevance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

History of multiple sclerosis in 2 successive pregnancies: A French and Italian cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of relapses during pregnancy and in the first 3 months after delivery in 2 successive pregnancies in a cohort of French and Italian women with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: A total of 93 women were included if they had had 2 pregnancies followed prospectively after MS onset between January 1993 and 2013. The association of a relapse during pregnancy or the first postpartum trimester in pregnancy 1 and pregnancy 2 was evaluated by univariate logistic regression.

The cognitive reserve theory in the setting of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Background: The study of cognitive reserve (CR) in relationship with cognitive impairment (CI) in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) may provide cues to identifying subjects at higher risk of impairment and scope for therapeutic strategies.

Objectives: To assess the potential impact of CR on cognition in a cohort of POMS patients.

Methods: In all, 48 POMS patients were followed up for 4.

Natalizumab in the pediatric MS population: results of the Italian registry.

Background: Natalizumab is a promising option for pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with active evolution and a poor response to Interferon-beta or Glatiramer Acetate. However, no data are available in large cohorts of patients and after a long-term follow up. Our study was planned to shed lights on this topic.

Neuropsychological features in childhood and juvenile multiple sclerosis: five-year follow-up.

Objective: The aim of the study was to perform a third cognitive assessment in our pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patient cohort and determine predictors of the individual cognitive outcome.

Methods: After 4.7 ± 0.

Postpartum relapses increase the risk of disability progression in multiple sclerosis: the role of disease modifying drugs.

Objective: To assess relapses, disability progression and the role of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in the year after delivery in women with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: We prospectively followed-up pregnancies occurring between 2002 and 2008 in women with MS, recruited from 21 Italian MS centres. The risk of relapses and disability progression in the year after delivery was assessed using time-dependent Cox regression analysis.

Natalizumab in pediatric multiple sclerosis: results of a cohort of 55 cases.

Background: Limited information is available on the use of natalizumab (NA) in pediatric multiple sclerosis (ped-MS) patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the long-term effects of NA in a large cohort of active ped-MS patients.

Methods: Patients with definite ped-MS were treated with NA if in the previous year they had experienced at least two relapses or a severe relapse with incomplete recovery while on immunomodulating treatment, or at least two relapses and new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions regardless of any prior treatment.

Adhesion of mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients to cerebral vessels in cryostat sections of normal human brain.

Leukocyte extravasation across the blood-brain barrier is a critical event in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This complex multistep process includes the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelial cells of the central nervous system microvasculature. To investigate this phenomenon in MS, we developed a modified version of the frozen-section assay.

In vitro cytokine, sCD23 and IgG secretion in multiple sclerosis.

Synthesis of IgG by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and with other neurological diseases and from healthy controls was induced by Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in short-term cultures. As expected, MS patients produced more immunoglobulin (Ig) G and had a higher percentage of 'high responders' to PWM stimulation as compared to controls. Interleukin (IL)-4 was undetectable in all samples.