Identification of novel non-myelin biomarkers in multiple sclerosis using an improved phage-display approach

Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis is not yet understood, it is accepted that its pathogenesis involves both autoimmune and neurodegenerative processes, in which the role of autoreactive T-cells has been elucidated. Instead, the contribution of humoral response is still unclear, even if the presence of intrathecal antibodies and B-cells follicle-like structures in meninges of patients has been demonstrated. Several myelin and non-myelin antigens have been identified, but none has been validated as humoral biomarker. In particular autoantibodies against myelin proteins have been found also in healthy individuals, whereas non-myelin antigens have been implicated in neurodegenerative phase of the disease. To provide further putative autoantigens of multiple sclerosis, we investigated the antigen specificity of immunoglobulins present both in sera and in cerebrospinal fluid of patients using phage display technology in a new improved format. A human brain cDNA phage display library was constructed and enriched for open-read-frame fragments. This library was selected against pooled and purified immunoglobulins from cerebrospinal fluid and sera of multiple sclerosis patients. The antigen library was also screened against an antibody scFv library obtained from RNA of B cells purified from the cerebrospinal fluid of two relapsing remitting patients. From all biopanning a complex of 14 antigens were identified; in particular, one of these antigens, corresponding to DDX24 protein, was present in all selections. The ability of more frequently isolated antigens to discriminate between sera from patients with multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases was investigated. The more promising novel candidate autoantigens were DDX24 and TCERG1. Both are implicated in RNA modification and regulation which can be altered in neurodegenerative processes. Therefore, we propose that they could be a marker of a particular disease activity state

The role of weighing-bathing sequence and postmenstrual age in eliciting adaptive/maladaptive responses in very low birth weight preterm infants

Purpose: In the neonatal intensive care unit, preterm infants are exposed to several stressful stimuli. Inappropriate stimulation led to high risk for short- and long-term neurocognitive disabilities. This study aimed to evaluate whether the sequence of execution of weighing/bathing nursing procedures and postmenstrual age (PMA) have any effect on preterm infants' stress responses. Design and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study on a sample of 21 preterm infants. Responses to the procedures were assessed using an observational sheet based on Als's Synactive Theory of Development. Autonomic and motor responses were scored according to five-point Likert scales. The order of execution of weighing/bathing nursing procedures and PMA were documented. Effects of weighing/bathing execution sequence and PMA on autonomic and motor response scores were analyzed by linear multiple regression analysis. Results: The sequence of execution had a significant effect on the autonomic score during weighing (p =.035), evidencing more stress when weighing was executed first. A higher level of stress response on the autonomic score during both weighing (p =.015) and bathing (p =.018) procedure was independently associated with a lower infant PMA. Conclusions and Practice Implications: The real-time recognition of adaptive/maladaptive responses allows nurses to personalize their approach to preterm infants, taking into account PMA and adjusting the appropriate sequence of execution of weighing/bathing nursing procedures

Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later

All data used for the study titled "Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later" are reported in an excel file

Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later

All data used for the study titled "Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later" are reported in an excel file

Data for: The psychological burden of routine prenatal ultrasound on women's state anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy

All data used for the study titled "The psychological burden of routine prenatal ultrasound on women's state anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy" are reported in an excel file.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Mother's empathy for pain hyperscanning

The file reports data to calculate cortical activation of mothers (observing a heel prick performed on their newborn), newborns (experiencing the heel-prick) and cortical synchronization between activated areas in the dyad mother-newborn, by wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis

Mother's empathy for pain hyperscanning

The file reports data to calculate cortical activation of mothers (observing a heel prick performed on their newborn), newborns (experiencing the heel-prick) and cortical synchronization between activated areas in the dyad mother-newborn, by wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later

All data used for the study titled "Preterm newborn adaptive responses to daily nursing, during NICU stay, associate with the neurodevelopment, two years later" are reported in an excel file.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

BIOMARKERS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The invention relates to biological markers for use in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the use of said markers for distinguishing between patients with multiple sclerosis and patients with other neurological diseases. The invention further relates to a method for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis using said biological markers

Cortical activation during KMC in very preterm newborns

The data were collected to assess the functional activation of preterm newborns’ cerebral cortex during kangaroo mother care. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience were also considered. Fifteen preterm newborns were recruited (gestational age: 24-32 weeks). Cortical activation was assessed in frontal, motor and primary somatosensory cortices after 15 and 30 minutes of kangaroo mother care, by multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (gestational age at assessment: 30-36 weeks). Both oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin variations were analyzed by t-test. Possible effects of gestational age and previous kangaroo mother care experience on cortical activation were studied by regression analysis. After 15 minutes, bilateral activations (oxy-haemoglobin increase) were observed in frontal, somatosensory and motor cortices. After 30 minutes, the right motor and primary somatosensory cortices were found activated. Deoxy-haemoglobin increased after 15 minutes, returning to baseline at 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, there was a positive effect of gestational age at assessment on both haemoglobin concentrations and a negative effect of previous kangaroo mother care on deoxy-haemoglobin increase. Motor and somatosensory cortices, particularly on the right side, showed significant activation during kangaroo mother care. Kangaroo mother care seems to benefit activated cortical areas by improving oxygen supply.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV