Long-Term Neuromodulatory Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Plasmatic Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) Levels and Visuospatial Abilities in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that is used against cognitive impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the rTMS therapeutic effects are still only partially investigated. Maladaptive plasticity, glial activation, and neuroinflammation, including metalloproteases (MMPs) activation, might represent new potential targets of the neurodegenerative process and progression from MCI to AD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of bilateral rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on plasmatic levels of MMP1, -2, -9, and -10; MMPs-related tissue inhibitors TIMP1 and TIMP2; and cognitive performances in MCI patients. Patients received high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS (MCI-TMS, n = 9) or sham stimulation (MCI-C, n = 9) daily for four weeks, and they were monitored for six months after TMS. The plasmatic levels of MMPs and TIMPs and the cognitive and behavioral scores, based on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Apathy Evaluation Scale, were assessed at baseline (T0) and after 1 month (T1) and 6 months (T2) since rTMS. In the MCI-TMS group, at T2, plasmatic levels of MMP1, -9, and -10 were reduced and paralleled by increased plasmatic levels of TIMP1 and TIMP2 and improvement of visuospatial performances. In conclusion, our findings suggest that targeting DLPFC by rTMS might result in the long-term modulation of the MMPs/TIMPs system in MCI patients and the neurobiological mechanisms associated with MCI progression to dementia.

Pain, quality of life, and religiosity in people with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the relationship between pain and religiosity and to determine whether distinct dimensions of religiosity were associated with quality of life. METHODS: MS patients during clinical follow-up filled out the visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), the Mc Gill questionnaire (McGQ), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the religious attitude scale (RAS), and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-two MS patients were enrolled, only two declined. There was a negative correlation between religious practice and faith and some domains of the SF-36 and a positive correlation between sensory, affective, and evaluative aspects of pain (at McGQ) and religious practices, and between evaluative aspects of pain (at McGQ) and faith. EDSS was significantly higher in practitioner believers compared to not practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: More disabled MS patients, with worse quality of life, also due to physical pain, find a source of comfort in faith and religious practices. Pain is not relieved by prayer; therefore, we may guess that in MS the poor beneficial effect of religiosity and practice on pain perception may be linked to a structural/functional damage of neural circuits involved in reducing pain during prayer.

Disability assessment using Google Maps.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the concordance between Google Maps® application (GM®) and clinical practice measurements of ambulatory function (e.g., Ambulation Score (AS) and respective Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study. AS and EDSS were calculated using GM® and routine clinical methods; the correspondence between the two methods was assessed. A multinomial logistic model is investigated which demographic (age, sex) and clinical features (e.g., disease subtype, fatigue, depression) might have influenced discrepancies between the two methods. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three pwMS were included; discrepancies in AS and in EDDS assessments between GM® and routine clinical methods were found in 81/243 (33.3%) and 74/243 (30.4%) pwMS, respectively. Progressive phenotype (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-7.11, p = 0.03), worse fatigue (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p = 0.01), and more severe depression (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.04-1.17, p = 0.002) were associated with discrepancies between GM® and routine clinical scoring. CONCLUSION: GM® could easily be used in a real-life clinical setting to calculate the AS and the related EDSS scores. GM® should be considered for validation in further clinical studies.

Effects of THC/CBD oromucosal spray on spasticity-related symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis: results from a retrospective multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: The approval of 9-δ-tetrahydocannabinol (THC)+cannabidiol (CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex®) in Italy as an add-on medication for the management of moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) has provided a new opportunity for MS patients with drug-resistant spasticity. We aimed to investigate the improvement of MS spasticity-related symptoms in a large cohort of patients with moderate to severe spasticity in daily clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MS patients with drug-resistant spasticity were recruited from 30 Italian MS centers. All patients were eligible for THC:CBD treatment according to the approved label: ≥ 18 years of age, at least moderate spasticity (MS spasticity numerical rating scale [NRS] score ≥ 4) and not responding to the common antispastic drugs. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks of treatment (T1) with the spasticity NRS scale and were also asked about meaningful improvements in 6 key spasticity-related symptoms. RESULTS: Out of 1615 enrolled patients, 1432 reached the end of the first month trial period (T1). Of these, 1010 patients (70.5%) reached a ≥ 20% NRS score reduction compared with baseline (initial responders; IR). We found that 627 (43.8% of 1432) patients showed an improvement in at least one spasticity-related symptom (SRSr group), 543 (86.6%) of them belonging to the IR group and 84 (13.4%) to the spasticity NRS non-responders group. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that the therapeutic benefit of cannabinoids may extend beyond spasticity, improving spasticity-related symptoms even in non-NRS responder patients.

Determinants of therapy switch in multiple sclerosis treatment-naïve patients: A real-life study.

BACKGROUND: With many options now available, first therapy choice is challenging in multiple sclerosis (MS) and depends mainly on neurologist and patient preferences. OBJECTIVES: To identify prognostic factors for early switch after first therapy choice. METHODS: Newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS patients from 24 Italian centers were included. We evaluated the association of baseline demographics, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to the switch probability for lack of efficacy or intolerance/safety with a multivariate Cox analysis and estimated switch rates by competing risks models. RESULTS: We enrolled 3025 patients. The overall switch frequency was 48% after 3 years. Switch risk for lack of efficacy was lower with fingolimod (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.50; p = 0.009), natalizumab (HR = 0.13; p < 0.001), dimethyl-fumarate (HR = 0.60; p = 0.037), teriflunomide (HR = 0.21; p = 0.031) as compared to interferons. Younger age (HR = 0.96; p < 0.001), diagnosis delay (HR = 1.23; p = 0.021), higher baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (HR = 1.17; p = 0.001), and spinal cord lesions (HR = 1.46; p = 0.001) were independently associated with higher inefficacy switch rates. We found lower switch for intolerance/safety with glatiramer acetate (HR = 0.61; p = 0.001), fingolimod (HR = 0.35; p = 0.002), and dimethyl-fumarate (HR = 0.57; p = 0.022) as compared to interferons, while it increased with natalizumab (HR = 1.43; p = 0.022). Comorbidities were associated with intolerance switch (HR = 1.28; p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Several factors are associated with higher switch risk in patients starting a first-line therapy and could be integrated in the decision-making process of first treatment choice.

Chest Dynamic MRI as Early Biomarker of Respiratory Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular progressive disorder characterized by limb and bulbar muscle wasting and weakness. A total of 30% of patients present a bulbar onset, while 70% have a spinal outbreak. Respiratory involvement represents one of the worst prognostic factors, and its early identification is fundamental for the early starting of non-invasive ventilation and for the stratification of patients. Due to the lack of biomarkers of early respiratory impairment, we aimed to evaluate the role of chest dynamic MRI in ALS patients. Methods: We enrolled 15 ALS patients and 11 healthy controls. We assessed the revised ALS functional rating scale, spirometry, and chest dynamic MRI. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test and Cox regression analysis. Results: We observed a statistically significant difference in both respiratory parameters and pulmonary measurements at MRI between ALS patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we found a close relationship between pulmonary measurements at MRI and respiratory parameters, which was statistically significant after multivariate analysis. A sub-group analysis including ALS patients without respiratory symptoms and with normal spirometry values revealed the superiority of chest dynamic MRI measurements in detecting signs of early respiratory impairment. Conclusions: Our data suggest the usefulness of chest dynamic MRI, a fast and economically affordable examination, in the evaluation of early respiratory impairment in ALS patients.

Impact of biomarker type on periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing elective PCI.

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) according to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) criteria has prognostic relevance among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, it is unclear whether the type of cardiac biomarker used for the diagnosis of periprocedural MI plays a role in terms of event frequency and outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To compare the characteristics of SCAI periprocedural MI based on creatine kinase-myocardial band fraction (CK-MB) vs. high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) in patients undergoing elective PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2017 and 2021, periprocedural MI was assessed in a prospective study. The primary clinical outcome of interest was all-cause death at 1-year follow-up. A total of 1010 patients undergoing elective PCI were included. SCAI periprocedural MI based on CK-MB vs. hs-cTnI occurred in 1.8 and 13.5% of patients, respectively. hs-cTnI periprocedural MI in the absence of concomitant CK-MB criteria was associated with lower rates of ancillary criteria, including angiographic, ECG, and cardiac imaging criteria. At 1-year follow-up, periprocedural MI defined by CK-MB (adjusted hazard ratio, HR, 4.27, 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.23-14.8; P = 0.022) but not hs-cTnI (adjusted HR 2.04, 95% CI 0.94-4.45; P = 0.072) was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death. Hs-cTnI periprocedural MI was not predictive of death unless accompanied by CK-MB criteria (adjusted HR 4.64, 95% CI 1.32-16.31; P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: In the setting of elective PCI, using hs-cTn instead of CK-MB resulted in a substantial increase in SCAI periprocedural MI events, which were not prognostically relevant in the absence of concurrent CK-MB elevations.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex May Influence Semantic Fluency and Functional Connectivity in Fronto-Parietal Network in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that is increasingly used as a nonpharmacological intervention against cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. Although rTMS has been shown to modify cognitive performances and brain functional connectivity (FC) in many neurological and psychiatric diseases, there is still no evidence about the possible relationship between executive performances and resting-state brain FC following rTMS in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this preliminary study, we aimed to evaluate the possible effects of rTMS of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in 27 MCI patients randomly assigned to two groups: one group received high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS (HF-rTMS) for four weeks (n = 11), and the other received sham stimulation (n = 16). Cognitive and psycho-behavior scores, based on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Apathy Evaluation Scale, and brain FC, evaluated by independent component analysis of resting state functional MRI (RS-fMRI) networks, together with the assessment of regional atrophy measures, evaluated by whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM), were measured at baseline, after five weeks, and six months after rTMS stimulation. Our results showed significantly increased semantic fluency (p = 0.026) and visuo-spatial (p = 0.014) performances and increased FC within the salience network (p ≤ 0.05, cluster-level corrected) at the short-term timepoint, and increased FC within the left fronto-parietal network (p ≤ 0.05, cluster-level corrected) at the long-term timepoint, in the treated group but not in the sham group. Conversely, regional atrophy measures did not show significant longitudinal changes between the two groups across six months. Our preliminary findings suggest that targeting DLPFC by rTMS application may lead to a significant long-term increase in FC in MCI patients in a RS network associated with executive functions, and this process might counteract the progressive cortical dysfunction affecting this domain.

Cladribine vs other drugs in MS: Merging randomized trial with real-life data.

OBJECTIVE: Cladribine tablets were tested against placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this study, the effectiveness of cladribine vs other approved drugs in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was compared by matching RCT to observational data. METHODS: Data from the pivotal trial assessing cladribine tablets vs placebo (CLARITY) were propensity score matched to data from the Italian multicenter database i-MuST. This database included 3,150 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 at 24 Italian MS centers who started a disease-modifying drug. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) over 2 years from treatment start and the 24-week confirmed disability progression were compared between patients treated with cladribine and other approved drugs (interferon, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, natalizumab, and dimethyl fumarate), with comparisons with placebo as a reference. Treatment effects were estimated by the inverse probability weighting negative binomial regression model for ARR and Cox model for disability progression. The treatment effect has also been evaluated according to baseline disease activity. RESULTS: All weighted baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. All drugs tested had an effect vs placebo close to that detected in the RCT. Patients treated with cladribine had a significantly lower ARR compared with interferon (relapse ratio [RR] = 0.48; p < 0.001), glatiramer acetate (RR = 0.49; p < 0.001), and dimethyl fumarate (RR = 0.6; p = 0.001); a similar ARR to that with fingolimod (RR = 0.74; p = 0.24); and a significantly higher ARR than natalizumab (RR = 2.13; p = 0.014), confirming results obtained by indirect treatment comparisons from RCTs (network meta-analyses). The relative effect of cladribine tablets 10 mg (cumulative dose 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years) was higher in patients with high disease activity vs all treatments except fingolimod and natalizumab. Effects on disability progression were largely nonsignificant, probably due to lack of power for such analysis. CONCLUSION: In patients with RRMS, cladribine tablets showed lower ARR compared with matched patients who started interferon, glatiramer acetate, or dimethyl fumarate; was similar to fingolimod; and was higher than natalizumab. The beneficial effect of cladribine tablets was generally amplified in the subgroup of patients with high disease activity. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that for patients with RRMS, cladribine-treated patients had lower ARR compared with interferon, glatiramer acetate, or dimethyl fumarate; similar ARR compared with fingolimod; and higher ARR compared with natalizumab.

First therapy choice in newly diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis patients: A multicenter Italian study.

BACKGROUND: The approval of an increasing number of disease modifying drugs for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) creates new challenges for patients and clinicians on the first treatment choice. The main aim of this study was to assess factors impacting first therapy choice in a large Italian MS cohort. METHODS: Newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients (2010-2018) followed in 24 Italian MS centres were included in the study. We evaluated the association of baseline demographics, clinical and MRI characteristics to the first treatment choice by logistic regression models applied to pre-defined binary alternatives: dimethyl fumarate vs injectables (interferon and glatiramer acetate), teriflunomide vs injectables, fingolimod vs dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod vs natalizumab. RESULTS: We enrolled 3025 patients in the period between January 2010 and June 2018. Relapses in the previous year (OR = 2.75; p = 0.001), presence of spinal cord lesions (OR = 1.80; p = 0.002) and higher number (>9) of T2 lesions on the baseline brain MRI scan (OR = 1.65; p = 0.022) were the factors associated to dimethyl fumarate choice as first therapy vs an injectable drug. Older age (OR = 1.06; p < 0.001), male sex (OR = 2.29; p = 0.001) and higher EDSS (OR = 1.36; p < 0.001) were the factors associated with the choice of teriflunomide vs injectables. In more recent years, dimethyl fumarate (OR = 3.23; p < 0.001) and teriflunomide (OR = 2.53; p < 0.001) were chosen more frequently than injectables therapies. The main determinant for the choice of fingolimod as compared with dimethyl fumarate was a higher EDSS (OR = 1.56; p = 0.001), while there was a weak association with a longer disease duration (p = 0.068) and a longer time from onset to diagnosis (p = 0.085). Compared to fingolimod, natalizumab was preferred in patients with a younger age (OR = 0.95; p = 0.003) and higher EDSS (OR = 1.45; p = 0.007) and a shorter disease duration (OR = 0.52; p = 0.076). CONCLUSION: Many factors guided therapeutic decision for our Italian cohort of MS patients; they are mainly related to MS disease activity, baseline EDSS, disease duration and age.

Assessing association of comorbidities with treatment choice and persistence in MS: A real-life multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the presence of concomitant diseases at multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis is associated with the choice and the treatment persistence in an Italian MS cohort. METHODS: We included newly diagnosed patients (2010-2016) followed in 20 MS centers and collected demographic and clinical data. We evaluated baseline factors related to the presence of comorbidities and the association between comorbidities and the clinical course of MS and the time to the first treatment switch. RESULTS: The study cohort included 2,076 patients. Data on comorbidities were available for 1,877/2,076 patients (90.4%). A total of 449/1,877 (23.9%) patients had at least 1 comorbidity at MS diagnosis. Age at diagnosis (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.06; p < 0.001) was the only baseline factor independently related to the presence of comorbidities. Comorbidities were not significantly associated with the choice of the first disease-modifying treatment, but were significantly associated with higher risk to switch from the first treatment due to intolerance (hazard ratio 1.42, CI 1.07-1.87; p = 0.014). Association of comorbidities with risk of switching for intolerance was significantly heterogeneous among treatments (interferon ß, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, or fingolimod; interaction test, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities at diagnosis should be taken into account at the first treatment choice because they are associated with lower persistence on treatment.

Lesion load may predict long-term cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques provided evidences into the understanding of cognitive impairment (CIm) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) in predicting long-term CIm in a cohort of MS patients. METHODS: 303 out of 597 patients participating in a previous multicenter clinical-MRI study were enrolled (49.4% were lost at follow-up). The following MRI parameters, expressed as fraction (f) of intracranial volume, were evaluated: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-f), WM-f, GM-f and abnormal WM (AWM-f), a measure of lesion load. Nine years later, cognitive status was assessed in 241 patients using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Semantically Related Word List Test (SRWL), the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). In particular, being SRWL a memory test, both immediate recall and delayed recall were evaluated. MCST scoring was calculated based on the number of categories, number of perseverative and non-perseverative errors. RESULTS: AWM-f was predictive of an impaired performance 9 years ahead in SDMT (OR 1.49, CI 1.12-1.97 p = 0.006), PASAT (OR 1.43, CI 1.14-1.80 p = 0.002), SRWL-immediate recall (OR 1.72 CI 1.35-2.20 p<0.001), SRWL-delayed recall (OR 1.61 CI 1.28-2.03 p<0.001), MCST-category (OR 1.52, CI 1.2-1.9 p<0.001), MCST-perseverative error(OR 1.51 CI 1.2-1.9 p = 0.001), MCST-non perseverative error (OR 1.26 CI 1.02-1.55 p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: In our large MS cohort, focal WM damage appeared to be the most relevant predictor of the long-term cognitive outcome.