Nociceptive R3 reflex in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

Pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has only recently been recognised as a genuine symptom of this disease. It is important to determine whether this pain is the consequence of another symptom of MS or whether it is due to a demyelinating lesion affecting pain pathways. A close relationship has been found between the R3 component of the blink reflex and the pain threshold. The aim of this work was to carry out an objective evaluation of the nociceptive system in MS patients by means of the R3 component of the blink reflex. The study was performed on 20 healthy volunteers and on 20 clinically defined relapsing-remitting MS patients with EDSS not > 3.5, normal R1 and R2 components of the blink-reflex, personal and family anamnesis negative for migraine and trigeminal neuralgia; the patients were not taking drugs at the time of the test. A significant difference was found, between healthy volunteers and patients, for R3 threshold, pain threshold and R3 latency.

[Lymphedema of the upper extremity in patients operated for carcinoma of the breast: clinical experience with coumarinic extract from Melilotus officinalis]. / Linfedema dell'arto superiore in pazienti operati per carcinoma della mammella: esperienza clinica con estratto cumarinico di Melilotus officinalis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this clinical study was to verify the therapeutic activity of cumarinic extract of Melilotus officinalis (CEMO) in patients with chronic lymphedema of the upper arm caused by lymphadenectomy for breast cancer. Cumarine, in fact, has antiedemic properties due to macrophagic action that stimulates proteolysis in the tissues affected by chronic lymphedema. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an open clinical study we enrolled 24 patients with chronic upper arm lymphedema due to post-lymphadenectomy of the axilla for breast cancer. 21 patients were eligible to receive 400 mg of CEMO containing 8 mg of cumarine in a sole daily administration for 6 months. We measure the circumference of the upper arm at 3 and 6 months from treatment. We evaluated the symptoms and tolerability through a questionnaire given to the patients at every clinical control. RESULTS: Of the 21 (87.5%) patients eligible, only 14 (66.6%) were treated with CEMO according to protocol. Of these 11 patients (52.3%) had a reduction of the circumference of the affected arm of 5% with respect to base values. Three patients (14.2%) had no change. In 12 patients (57.1%) symptoms improved. As for tolerability: 3 patients (14.2%) had transitory gastrointestinal side-effects. There was worsening of lymphedema and symptoms in 4 patients (19%) that did not receive CEMO and were followed as controls. Three patients (14.2%) were not evaluable because they were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Cumarinic extract of Melilotus officinalis (CEMO) was effective in reducing lymphedema in 79% of the pts treated for a period of six months. The median reduction of the upper arm circumference was modest (5% with respect to initial values) but statistically significant (p = 0.048). Treatment with CEMO for lymphedema could be associated to the physiotherapy given to these patients such as manual lymph drainage (MLD).

Prognostic significance of the estrogen-regulated proteins, cathepsin-D and pS2, in breast cancer.

The evaluation of prognostic factors for breast cancers is important for therapeutic decisions both at the time of surgery and during postoperative surveillance. Cathepsin-D (cath-D) is an estrogen inducible aspartyl protease. Studies have demonstrated two biological activities, at an acidic PH, of the protein: a mitogenic and a proteolytic activity; both the growth promoting activity and the extracellular proteolytic activity suggest that cathepsin D (cath-D) may have prognostic significance in breast cancer. Measurement of cath-D in breast tissue, in fact, is highly significant in predicting recurrence as well as disease free interval and overall survival. The pS2 is a small cysteine-rich protein specifically expressed under estrogen transcriptional control. Expression of the pS2 protein in breast carcinoma is a useful guide to prognosis and response to tamoxifen: appropriate adjuvant therapy can be selected on the pS2 status of the tumor; patients with pS2 expression had better overall survival and a longer survival time after the first recurrence than those without pS2 expression. For these reasons, these two new prognostic markers could be suggested as habit factors in breast cancer.

Risk of seizure recurrence following a first unprovoked seizure in childhood: a prospective study.

In a prospective study, 283 children who presented with a first unprovoked seizure were followed for a mean of 30 months from the time of first seizure. Subsequent seizures were experienced by 101 children (36%). The cumulative risk of seizure recurrence for the entire study group was 26% at 12 months, 36% at 24 months, 40% at 36 months, and 42% at 48 months. The cumulative risk of recurrence in the 47 children with a remote symptomatic first seizure was 37%, 53%, and 60% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, compared with a cumulative risk of 24%, 33%, and 36% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, in the 236 children who had had an idiopathic first seizure (P less than .01). In children with an idiopathic first seizure, the electroencephalogram was the most important predictor of recurrence. The cumulative risk of recurrence in the 81 children with abnormal electroencephalograms was 41%, 54%, and 56% at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively, but only 15%, 23%, and 26% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, in the 138 children with normal electroencephalograms (P less than .001). A history of epilepsy in a first-degree relative was a significant risk factor only in idiopathic cases with abnormal electroencephalograms. In children with a remote symptomatic first seizure, either a history of prior febrile seizures or the occurrence of a partial seizure were significant predictors of recurrence. Age at first seizure and duration of seizure did not affect recurrence risk in either the idiopathic or remote symptomatic group. A total of 84% of the children were not treated with antiepileptic drugs or were treated for less than 2 weeks. Only 9% were treated for longer than 3 months. Treatment did not affect the risk of recurrence. The results suggest that, even without treatment, the majority of children with a first unprovoked seizure will not experiment a recurrence. Children with an idiopathic first seizure and a normal electroencephalogram have a particularly favorable prognosis.