Pain and MS.

Pain is frequently evident in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is estimated to occur in approximately 50% of patients. The incidence of pain has no apparent correlation to disease severity. Moreover, a comprehensive definition of pain has not been established, thus making the evaluation of this chronic, evolving symptom difficult. On the basis of its pathophysiology, pain can occur as a consequence of neurological impairment and disability, somatic pain or because of neurological damage. Although there are few randomized trials for pain in MS, new therapeutic strategies are now available and interest in the symptomatic treatment of MS is growing.

A simple, inexpensive, and precise spectrophotometric method for evaluating the concentration of ascorbic acid in CSF samples: data from different neurological pathologies.

A method is presented for evaluating the concentration of ascorbic acid in 10 microliters samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with just ultraviolet (UV) scanning in the 220-300 nm range. The method assumes that the two main UV absorbing CSF components are proteins (with a peak at 280 nm) and ascorbic acid (with a peak at 264 nm). On this basis, the absorbances at those wavelengths are the starting points for a calculation that evaluates the sheer contribution of ascorbic acid to the absorbance at 264 nm. The rapidity of the UV analysis (just a few min), together with the precaution of keeping the samples under argon, along the short preparatory procedure, is especially suitable in the analysis of an air labile substance, such as ascorbic acid. The results of the UV procedure have been checked with parallel HPLC determinations for 19 test CSF samples and the results have shown an excellent correspondence. Finally, data are presented about the evaluation of ascorbic acid concentrations in CSF samples from various neurological pathologies in comparison with normal cases. These data show the interesting result of a significant reduction in the average ascorbic acid CSF level in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. However, a decrease in that parameter is found also for a few other pathologies.

An open-label trial of gabapentin treatment of paroxysmal symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.

We conducted an open-label trial of gabapentin (GBP) as therapy for paroxysmal symptoms (PS) in 21 MS patients, including trigeminal neuralgia (6 patients), painful tonic spasms (11), dysesthetic or paresthetic symptoms (3) and ocular ataxia (1). Complete resolution of symptoms or partial improvement was obtained, respectively, in 14 and 4 of 18 patients who ended the study. Sustained improvement with minor side effects was obtained at dosages ranging from 600 to 1200 mg/d. Our findings suggest that GBP may be effective for PS in MS and warrant a further study in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

[Computerized nursing prescriptions as an instrument of communication between multidisciplinary and nursing teams: report of an experience]. / A prescrição de enfermagem computadorizada como instrumento de comunicação nas relações multiprofissionais e intra equipe de enfermagem: relato de experiência.

This paper presents the computerized nursing prescription as a communication instrument able to promote changes in nursing multiprofessional and intra-team relationships and professional nursing "savoir-faire" socialization. It can become a strategy of reapproximation of nurses and patients/clients, through problems assessment and priorization, elaboration and selection of protocols that will be part of nursing prescription, assuring to patients a planned and adequated care, conducting to modifications in the practice, with repercussions in the forms of managing care and also in the care provided to patients/clients.