Positive effects of fampridine on cognition,fatigue and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis over 2 years

Objective

To assess the effects of PR-fampridine on cognitive functioning, fatigue and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Methods

Thirty-two PwMS were included in this trial. Cognitive performance was assessed in an open-label and randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study design using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery as well as questionnaires examining depression and fatigue.

Results

We found significant improvements in cognitive measures assessing alertness (tonic alertness, p = 0.0244 and phasic alertness, p = 0.0428), psychomotor speed (p = 0.0140) as well as verbal fluency (p = 0.0002) during open-label treatment with PR-fampridine. These effects of performance were paralleled by patients’ perception of reduced fatigue (physical, p = 0.0131; cognitive, p = 0.0225; total, p = 0.0126). Fampridine-induced improvements in phasic alertness (p = 0.0010) and measures of fatigue (physical, p = 0.0014; cognitive, p = 0.0003; total, p = 0.0005) were confirmed during randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled assessment in the second year. In addition, we found positive effects of PR-fampridine on depressive symptoms (p = 0.0049). We demonstrated persisting beneficial effects of PR-fampridine on fatigue in PwMS over a period of more than 2 years. Drug responsiveness regarding cognitive performance and fatigue was not limited to walking responders.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate significant positive effects of treatment with PR-fampridine over 2 years on different cognitive domains as well as fatigue and depression in a cohort of PwMS. These findings imply that PR-fampridine should be considered as symptomatic treatment improving aspects of cognition, fatigue and depression in PwMS.

     

Editorial

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Conventional industrial foam rubber as an alternative dressing for large skin grafts in plastic surgery

Industrially manufactured foam rubber (polyurethane) is clinically used as variable, hygienic mattresses and also serves as a positioning aid during surgery. It can be sterilized and used to cover large skin grafts; it conforms well to the anatomical topography. It is stapled together with the skin graft, this allows mobilization of patients with large skin grafts i.e. >10% body surface area.     

The epaulette flap: replantation of osteomyocutaneous forearm segments in interscapulo-thoracic amputation]

Despite sophisticated artificial limb devices available today, forequarter amputation following trauma or tumor resection will lead to severe impairment of function. To close the posttraumatic or oncologically required extended defects and to improve prosthetic supplementation coverage of the thoracic wall should be performed by sparing the whole forearm as an osteomyocutaneous flap. In cases of concomitant serial rib resection radius and ulna will serve as stabilizators of the thoracic wall, thus avoiding a flail chest. Indications, technical details and clinical outcome of three salvage replantations after interscapulo-thoracic ablation will be discussed.     

Plastische Chirurgie heute . Haupt- und Nebenwege

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Tgf-beta antisense therapy increases angiogenic potential in human keratinocytes in vitro

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been identified as an important component of wound healing. Recent developments in molecular therapy offer exciting prospects for the modulation of wound healing, specifically those targeting TGF-beta. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of TGF-beta targeting on the expression of angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key regulator of angiogenesis, and in vitro angiogenic activity. METHODS: Expression of angiogenic VEGF in tissue samples from chronic dermal wounds was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The effect of TGF-beta targeting using antisense oligonucleotides on the expression of VEGF was analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR in cultured human keratinocytes. Human endothelial cells (EC) were grown in conditioned medium produced from the treated keratinocytes. EC migration was measured using a modified Boyden chamber, EC tube formation was analyzed under the light microscope. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical investigation demonstrated a decreased expression of VEGF protein in tissue samples from chronic dermal wounds compared to normal human skin. Antisense TGF-beta oligonucleotide treatment upregulated VEGF secretion in vitro. Addition of conditioned medium from TGF-beta antisense-treated keratinocytes resulted in an increase of endothelial cell migration and tube formation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that TGF-beta antisense oligonucleotide technology may be a potential therapeutic option for stimulation of angiogenesis in chronic wounds.