Objective Two pilot studies were conducted to evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy of two doses of Protiramer in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Background Both glatiramer acetate and TV-5010 are synthetic copolymers comprised the same four amino acids in a defined molar ratio. TV-5010 has higher average molecular weight than Glatiramer acetate and might be hypothesized that glatiramoids with higher molecular weight might be more immunoreactive than lower molecular weight peptides, thus increasing therapeutic potential and allowing for less frequent dosing. Methods In the two separate studies, after a 10 week pretreatment period, TV-5010 was given subcutaneously once weekly at 15 mg and 30 mg for 36 weeks. The primary end point was a reduction in the number of magnetic resonance imaging active lesions (i.e., T1-weigthed gadoliniumenhancing and new T2-weighted lesions) between the pretreatment period and the end of study. Results Both TV-5010 doses were generally well tolerated. The treatment with TV-5010 at a dose of 15 mg/wk did not show any significant effect. In contrast, in patients treated with at a dose of 30 mg/wk, a significant reduction in the mean number of gadolinium-enhancing (−58.8%; P = 0.0013) and new T2-W (−50%; P = 0.0002) lesions was observed. However, a large decrease in the mean number of both gadolinium-enhancing (−55%) and new T2-W (−40%) lesions during the pretreatment period made difficult the interpretation of the efficacy assessments. Conclusions Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data on safety and efficacy of TV-5010 at a weekly dose of 30 mg. Multiple Sclerosis 2009; 15: 238-243.
We studied whether the serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and of antibodies against the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit NR2 (NR2 RNMDA) can discriminate between intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and ischaemic stroke (IS) in stroke patients. We prospectively recruited patients with suspected stroke (72 confirmed) and 52 healthy controls. The type of brain lesion (ICH or IS) was established using brain imaging. The levels of GFAP and of antibodies against NR2 RNMDA were measured in blood samples obtained within 12 hrs after stroke onset and 24, 48 and 72 hrs and 1 and 2 weeks later using ELISA immunoassay. Improvement in diagnostic performance was assessed in logistic regression models designed to predict the diagnosis and the type of stroke. GFAP peaks early during haemorrhagic brain lesions (at significantly higher levels), and late in ischaemic events, whereas antibodies against NR2 RNMDA have significantly higher levels during IS at all time-points. Neither of the two biomarkers used on its own could sufficiently discriminate patients, but when they are used in combination they can differentiate at 12 hrs after stroke, between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 91%, respectively.
Glatiramer acetate (GA) is one of the most widely used disease-modifying drugs for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; is assumed to have inductor effects on neurotrophic factor expression. One of these neurotrophic factor systems is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) pathway. Peripheral blood is thought to contain soluble BDNF, and some blood cells express TrkB. We attempted to determine whether GA treatment leads to changes in plasma BDNF levels and TrkB activation. Such a phenomenon are relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients is significantly reduced; GA treatment is not influencing peripheral BDNF levels, after one year of sustained therapy, not from the point of view of total free BDNF nor the phosphorylated TrkB.
In the first year of activity (1990) at the Research Institute for Quality of Life (Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, INCE, Academia Română) it was starting the research of quality of life. It was prepared by the collective coordinated by Professor Cătălin Zamfir, director of RIQL. I participated at this work a starting wit field research (june 1990), I was coordinated, most of the time together with some colleagues, the activity for this program. The experience achieved during the years in this domain will be used here to reveal the aspects of the researches and results about Quality of Life of population in Romania. Over time, many indicators of Quality of Life have registered some improvements, but also stagnations, and even deterioration of several components. Keywords: quality of life; indicators; diagnosys; profiles and classes of quality of life.
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