Psoriasis comorbidity affects multiple sclerosis neurological progression: a retrospective case - control analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and psoriasis are inflammatory disorders, with epidemiological and biological associations. The impact of one disease on the course of the other has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To characterize patients with psoriasis and MS, and to assess whether psoriasis comorbidity affected the progression of MS. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study. Patients with psoriasis comorbidity were identified from 3456 patients included in the Sheba Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Center database. Clinical and demographical characteristics and MS progression-related outcomes in patients whose follow-up exceeded 5 years were analysed and compared to those of a matched control cohort of MS-only (MSO) patients. RESULTS: Forty-five (1.3%) MS patients had psoriasis comorbidity. Psoriasis preceded MS in 35 (78%) cases. The psoriasis was defined as mild, moderate and severe in 24 (53%), twelve (27%) and nine (20%) cases respectively. MS progression-related outcomes were evaluated in 35 patients that had follow-up over 5 years. Patients with psoriasis onset preceding relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) had slower progression of disease compared to MSO patients, as manifested by a longer time to second relapse (P < 0.01) and a longer time to significant neurological disability scores (P < 0.03). CONCLUSION: Psoriasis comorbidity preceding the onset of MS is associated with slower progression of disability.

Comparison between traditional strategies and classification technique (SIMCA) in the identification of old proteinaceous binders.

In this paper, we performed a comparison between commonly used strategies amino acid ratios (Aa ratios), two-dimensional ratio plots (2D-Plot) and statistical correlation factor (SCF) and a classification technique, soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA), to identify protein binders present in old artwork samples. To do this, we used a natural standard collection of proteinaceous binders prepared in our laboratory using old recipes and eleven samples coming from Cultural Heritage, such as mural and easel paintings, manuscripts and polychrome sculptures from the 15-18th centuries. Protein binder samples were hydrolyzed and their constitutive amino acids were determined as PITC-derivatives using HPLC-DAD. Amino acid profile data were used to perform the comparison between the four different strategies mentioned above. Traditional strategies can lead to ambiguous or non-conclusive results. With SIMCA, it is possible to provide a more robust and less subjective identification knowing the confidence level of identification. As a standard, we used proteinaceous albumin (whole egg, yolk and glair); casein (goat, cow and sheep) and collagen (mammalian and fish). The process results in a more robust understanding of proteinaceous binding media in old artworks that makes it possible to distinguish them according to their origin.

Split course radiation with concurrent vinorelbine and cisplatin in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A phase II study.

PURPOSE: Recent results coming from large randomized trials suggest that for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), integration of chemotherapy (CT) with irradiation (RT) should be concurrent rather than sequential. This study aimed at evaluating the actually delivered RT and CT dose intensities (DI), along with the toxicity and efficacy of a split course RT program with concurrent CT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 2000 to September 2002, 24 patients with histologically or cytologically documented NSCLC were included. Patients' characteristics were as follows: males/females=22/2, median age=59 years, stage IIIB/IIIA=22/2 patients, ECOG PS 0-1=15 (62%) and PS 2=9 (38%). HISTOLOGY: adenocarcinoma/ squamous cell/large cell/unclassified 10/6/1/7, respectively. Four cycles of vinorelbine (VNB) 25 mg/m(2) and cisplatin (CDDP) 40 mg/m(2) on days 1+8 were administered (days 1,8,22,29,57,64,78,85). Concurrent with the second CT cycle, RT (2 courses of 30 Gy separated by a 2-week break) was delivered, with a plan to achieve a total dose of 60 Gy, with a fractionation schedule of 2 Gy/day/5 days weekly. RESULTS: The intended RT dose was delivered to 21 (88%) patients with a relative DI of 0.93. Nineteen (79%) patients received more than 3 CT cycles. The relative DI for VNB and CDDP were 0.88 and 0.83, respectively. During treatment 3 (13%) patients experienced WHO grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity while ECOG grade 3 esophagitis was recorded also in 3 patients. At the end of treatment 14 (58%) patients achieved an objective response (2 complete - CR and 12 partial response - PR), while 8 (33%) patients had stable disease (SD) and 2 (8%) progressive disease (PD). After a median follow up of 15 months (range 3-26), 15 (62%) patients relapsed. There were 8 (33%) patients with local relapse and 7 (29%) with distant metastases. The median progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10 (range 2-24) and 15 (range 5-24) months, respectively, with an estimated 1 and 2-year survival rates of 55% and 10%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our concurrent schedule allows for good CT and RT DI, with low associated toxicities. The efficacy data are considered promising, taking into account the high proportion of stage IIIB patients evaluated.