The clinical profile of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are an inflammation of the central nervous system associated with autoantibodies to aquaporin-4. We have undertaken a clinic-based survey of NMOSD in the Australia and New Zealand populations with the aim of characterising the clinical features and establishing the value of recently revised diagnostic criteria. Cases of possible NMOSD and age and sex-matched controls with multiple sclerosis (MS) were referred from centres across Australia and New Zealand. Cases were classified as NMOSD if they met the 2015 IPND criteria and remained as suspected NMOSD if they did not. Clinical and paraclinical data were compared across the three groups. NMOSD was confirmed in 75 cases and 89 had suspected NMOSD. There were 101 controls with MS. Age at onset, relapse rates and EDSS scores were significantly higher in NMOSD than in MS. Lesions and symptoms referable to the optic nerve were more common in NMOSD whereas brainstem, cerebellar and cerebral lesions were more common in MS. Longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions were seen in 48/71 (68%) of cases with NMOSD. Elevations of CSF, white cell count and protein were more common in NMOSD. We have confirmed a clinical pattern of NMOSD that has been seen in several geographical regions. We have demonstrated the clinical utility of the current diagnostic criteria. Distinct patterns of disease are evident in NMOSD and MS, but there remains a large number of patients with NMOSD-like features who do not meet the current diagnostic criteria for NMOSD and remain a diagnostic challenge

Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Process and Firm Start-Ups: Evidence from Central Greece

Over the last two decades, technological changes have reformed business environment and made entrepreneurial activity as the main channel behind knowledge spillovers and knowledge creation. Therefore, the factors affecting entrepreneurial activity will indirectly affect knowledge transmission. This paper examines those factors influencing the entrepreneurial process by analyzing the results of 164 questionnaires distributed in the region of Thessaly (central Greece). In addition, by using nonparametric techniques, this paper establishes three different factors that appear to have dominant influence on the entrepreneurial process. The first factor is related to entrepreneurial skills, education, and previous experience, whereas the second factor is related to issues regarded desire of independence and locus of control. Finally, the third factor, which influences the entrepreneurial activity, is related to the access of capital, to social aspects, and to regions' institutional environment. © 2011 Springer Science + Business Media, LLC