Fatty Acids and Antioxidants in Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Role of GEMSP

[EN] Multiple sclerosis is a high-frequency neurological disorder in young adults. Although there are some genetic and environmental factors that have been related to the onset of the disease, these are still not completely understood and nowadays multiple sclerosis can neither be prevented, nor its symptom effectively treated due to disease heterogeneity. For this reason, the search of prognostic factors and new therapeutic compounds for MS has long aroused among clinicians and researchers. Among these therapeutic compounds, GEMSP, which consists of a mixture of functional constituents as fatty acids, antioxidants, free radical scavengers and amino acids linked individually to poly-L-Lysine (PL), is emerging as a promising drug for MS treatment. Pre-clinical studies using GEMSP have demonstrated that this drug strongly inhibits brain leukocyte infiltration and completely abolishes experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In addition, in an open clinical trial in humans treated with GEMSP, in 72% of the cases, a positive evolution of the state of the MS patients treated with GMSP was observed. In this review a biochemical characterization of main constituents of GEMSP, which include fatty acids as oleic acid, linoleic acid or azelaic acid and the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol or ascorbic acid, will be provided in order to understand their proved therapeutic effects in MS

Double or nothing: red flag symptoms of critical carotid stenosis, a case report

Abstract Background Detailed knowledge of every possible manifestation of Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) disease is important. For improving detection and a timely adoption of secondary prevention procedures or treatments. Transient oculomotor nerve palsies have been described associated with stenosis or occlusion of the ICA. Case presentation We described a patient that develop a sequential combination of transient monocular loss of vision followed by binocular diplopia secondary to an unstable atherosclerotic preocclusive stenosis of an internal carotid artery previously treated with radiotherapy. Conclusions The peculiar sequence of transient monocular vision that give rise later into a transient binocular diplopia (double or nothing) should be kept in mind as a possible manifestation of critical stenosis of ICA

Adherence to interferon ß-1b treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis in Spain

Background: Adherence to interferon b-1b (INFb-1b) therapy is essential to maximize the beneficial effects of treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). For that reason, the main objectives of this study are to assess adherence to INFb-1b in patients suffering from MS in Spain, and to identify the factors responsible for adherence in routine clinical practice. Methodology/Principal Findings: This was an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study including 120 Spanish patients with MS under INFb-1b treatment. Therapeutic adherence was assessed with Morisky-Green test and with the percentage of doses received. The proportion of adherent patients assessed by Morisky-Green test was 68.3%, being indicative of poor adherence. Nevertheless, the percentage of doses received, which was based on the number of injected medication, was 94.3%. The main reason for missing INFb-1b injections was forgetting some of the administrations (64%). Therefore, interventions that diminish forgetfulness might have a positive effect in the proportion of adherent patients and in the percentage of doses received. In addition, age and comorbidities had a significant effect in the number of doses injected per month, and should be considered in the management of adherence in MS patients. Conclusion/Significance: Among all the available methods for assessing adherence, the overall consumption of the intended dose has to be considered when addressing adherence

Adherence to Interferon β-1b Treatment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Spain

Adherence to interferon β-1b (INFβ-1b) therapy is essential to maximize the beneficial effects of treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). For that reason, the main objectives of this study are to assess adherence to INFβ-1b in patients suffering from MS in Spain, and to identify the factors responsible for adherence in routine clinical practice.This was an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study including 120 Spanish patients with MS under INFβ-1b treatment. Therapeutic adherence was assessed with Morisky-Green test and with the percentage of doses received. The proportion of adherent patients assessed by Morisky-Green test was 68.3%, being indicative of poor adherence. Nevertheless, the percentage of doses received, which was based on the number of injected medication, was 94.3%. The main reason for missing INFβ-1b injections was forgetting some of the administrations (64%). Therefore, interventions that diminish forgetfulness might have a positive effect in the proportion of adherent patients and in the percentage of doses received. In addition, age and comorbidities had a significant effect in the number of doses injected per month, and should be considered in the management of adherence in MS patients.Among all the available methods for assessing adherence, the overall consumption of the intended dose has to be considered when addressing adherence

Adherence to INFβ-1b treatment according to the existence of an MS unit.

*<p>Chi-square test.</p>†<p>ANOVA.</p

Comorbidity profile of the patients suffering from MS (N = 37).

<p>Patients might have more than one comorbidity.</p

General health status variables and adverse events according to adherence as assessed by MG test.

a<p>N = 81.</p>*<p>Chi-square test.</p>†<p>ANOVA.</p

Reasons for missing INFβ-1b injections (N = 25).

<p>Reasons for missing INFβ-1b injections (N = 25).</p