Brain volume loss in multiple sclerosis is independent of disease activity and might be prevented by early disease-modifying therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Neurodegeneration is likely to be present from the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS responds poorly to disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and leads to irreversible brain volume loss (BVL), which is a reliable predictor of future physical and cognitive disability. Our study aimed to discover the relationship between BVL, disease activity, and DMTs in a cohort of patients with MS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 147 patients fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Relevant demographic and clinical data (age, gender, time of MS onset, time of treatment initiation, DMT characteristics, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), number of relapses in the last two years prior to MRI examination) were correlated with MRI findings. RESULTS: Patients with progressive MS had significantly lower total brain and grey matter volumes (p = 0.003; p < 0.001), and higher EDSS scores (p < 0.001), compared to relapsing-remitting patients matched by disease duration and age. There was no association between MRI atrophy and MRI activity (c2 = 0.013, p = 0.910). Total EDSS negatively correlated with the whole brain (rs = -0.368, p < 0.001) and grey matter volumes (rs = -0.308, p < 0.001), but was not associated with the number of relapses in the last two years (p = 0.278). Delay in DMT negatively correlated with whole brain (rs = -0.387, p < 0.001) and grey matter volumes (rs = -0.377, p < 0.001). Treatment delay was connected with a higher risk for lower brain volume (b = -3.973, p < 0.001), and also predicted a higher EDSS score (b = 0.067, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Brain volume loss is a major contributor to disability progression, independent of disease activity. Delay in DMT leads to higher BVL and increased disability. Brain atrophy assessment should be translated into daily clinical practice to monitor disease course and response to DMTs. The assessment of BVL itself should be considered a suitable marker for treatment escalation.

Predictors of forgiveness in cancer patients after treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of forgiveness in the context of emotional experience and existential aspects of the life of cancer patients after treatment. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: One hundred and twenty-eight cancer patients aged 22-83 years completed methods administered to measure forgiveness (Heartland Forgiveness Scale), hope (Adult Dispositional Hope Scale), positive and negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire GQ-6) and questions measuring the perceived importance of the spiritual aspect of life and the practice of religious faith. RESULTS: Levels of forgiveness were related to levels of hope, gratitude, positive and negative affect, depression, anxiety, and rating of the importance of the spiritual aspect of life. Using a regression model, the rate of forgiveness was significantly predicted by gratitude and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that gratitude and anxiety could explain 35.4% of the variance in forgiveness.

Effect of Pillbox Organizers with Alarms on Adherence to Pharmacotherapy in Parkinson Disease Patients Taking Three and More Daily Doses of Dopaminergic Medications.

Improvement of adherence to pharmacotherapy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is a challenge in routine clinical practice. Our study was aimed at the effect of pillbox organizers with alarms improving adherence to pharmacotherapy and its impact on clinical outcomes. Forty nonadherent patients with PD being treated with ≥ 3 daily doses of levodopa and/or dopamine agonists were pseudorandomized and consecutively ranked to groups A (early-start intervention) and B (delayed-start intervention). We used the following validated diagnostic instruments: MMAS-8 (adherence), PDQ-8 (quality of life, QoL), GDS (depression), NMSS (non-motor symptoms), MDS-UPDRS III (motor involvement), MDS-UPDRS IV, and WOQ-9 (motor and non-motor fluctuations and dyskinesias). We proved a significantly improved rate of adherence with the use of pillbox organizers with alarms. Moreover, after only four weeks of using the pillbox organizer, we detected an improvement in QoL scores, motor involvement, motor-, and non-motor fluctuations. Our study showed that pillbox organizers with alarms are efficient in improving adherence to pharmacotherapy in PD. It also could contribute to better motor states, less severe fluctuations, and improved QoL.

Tolcapone improves outcomes in patients with Parkinson disease treated by levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) treated with levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) have higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and peripheral nerves damage. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to test the effect of catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor tolcapone-as an add-on therapy to LCIG in patients with PD-on homocysteine (HCY) metabolism and nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters. METHODS: We evaluated NCS and serum B12, folic acid, and homocysteine in 16 patients with advanced PD on LCIG. Quality of life (QoL) was also assessed. Six subjects were treated with tolcapone add-on therapy (and LCIG dose reduction), 5 with B vitamin supplementation, and 5 without additional treatment. RESULTS: The level of HCY increased among patients without treatment (4.95 ± 12.54), and decreased in the vitamin (-17.73 ± 11.82) and tolcapone groups (-8.81 ± 8.36). Patients with tolcapone demonstrated improvement in polyneuropathic symptoms and signs compared with patients treated with vitamins or those without additional treatment (-0.83, d = 0.961). Although the most robust improvement in NCS parameters were observed with tolcapone, the findings were inconsistent to prove the effect of any intervention. Only tolcapone treatment was associated with improvement in QoL (d = 1.089). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates potential of tolcapone add-on therapy in LCIG treated patients in control of homocysteine levels, and improvement of polyneuropathic symptoms, as well as QoL.

Adherence to Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Taking Three and More Daily Doses of Medication.

Background: Once-daily treatment formulation is associated with better adherence in comparison to more complex medication regimens. The study aimed to detect the extent of adherence to pharmacotherapy in Parkinson disease (PD) patients who take a minimum of three daily doses of drugs, and to identify factors associated with lower levels of adherence. Methods: The cohort was selected from non-demented PD patients. The 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), 8-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Non-Motor Symptom Assessment Scale (NMSS), 9-Item Wearing-off Questionnaire (WOQ-9), MDS-UPDRS III (motor examination), and IV (motor complications) scales were used in this study. Results: From a total of 124 subjects, 33.9% reported a high level of adherence, 29.8% reported a medium level of adherence, and 36.3% reported a low level of adherence to their pharmacotherapy. The level of non-adherence correlated with gender, longer disease duration, higher scores of PDQ-8, NMSS, WOQ-9, and MDS-UPDRS IV. Detailed analysis of NMSS demonstrated a correlation between the level of adherence and domains sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, perceptual problems/hallucinations, attention/memory, and urinary symptoms. Independent risk factors for non-adherence were excessive daytime sleepiness, anhedonia, and forgetfulness. Conclusion: Non-adherence to more complicated medication regimens is frequent in PD patients and is associated with gender, longer PD duration, poorer quality of life, frequency and severity of non-motor symptoms, and more severe motor and non-motor fluctuations. Non-adherence was predicted by non-motor symptoms including fatigue, mood disturbances, and subjective cognitive complaints.