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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which is related with unpredictable course and increasing disability. Social support as an available interpersonal resource may help patients with MS. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate perceived social support in patients with MS as well as the associated factors. Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study included 200 patients with MS. Data collection was performed by the completion of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and a questionnaire which included patients' characteristics. Results: Patients reported to perceive high support from significant others and their family (median: 24.0 and 23.5, respectively) and less from their friends (median: 20). Moreover, a statistically significant association was found between social support from significant others and marital status (P = 0.010), modification of daily activities (P = 0.018), difficulties with social and family environment (P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively), frequent urination (P = 0.015), and whether they easily forgot (P = 0.049), characterized themselves as anxious (P = 0.049), and believed in God (P = 0.002). Also, a statistically significant association was fond between social support from family and relation with health professionals (P = 0.041), difficulties with social and family environment (P = 0.003 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively), and whether they considered themselves as anxious (P = 0.050), and they believed in God (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant association was found between support from friends and modification of daily activities (P = 0.010), help in daily activities (P = 0.016), need for movement assistance (P = 0.001), difficulties with social and family environment (P ≤ 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively), and whether they considered themselves anxious (P = 0.046). Conclusion: Factors associated with perceived social support should be evaluated when planning holistic care to patients with MS.

Dance for Parkinson's Disease® (DfPD®) is a structured dance program that has never been evaluated in Greek PD population. This study assesses for the first time the efficacy, safety and feasibility of DfPD® program in Greek PD patients.A total of 16 early-to-mid-stage PD patients (50% men, aged 56 ± 12) underwent a total of 16 60-min classes of adjusted to Greek music and dance culture DfPD®, twice weekly, over 8 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline and at the end of the study period and included quality of life (PDQ-8), depressive symptoms (BDI-II), fatigue (PFS-16), cognitive functions (MoCA), balance (BBS) and body mass index (BMI). Safety (possible falls, injuries, muscle soreness or excessive fatigue) and feasibility (technical and financial parameters, willingness for participation and continuation, recruitment rates) were also assessed.Statistically significant improvements were found in quality of life (29 ± 47%, p = 0,020), depressive symptoms (26 ± 52%, p = 0,046), fatigue (13 ± 20%, p = 0,021), cognitive functions (17 ± 23%, p = 0,010), balance (5 ± 4%, p = 0,003) and BMI (2 ± 2%, p = 0,010). No adverse events, high adherence (93,75%) and low attrition (12,5%) rates were reported.A twice weekly 60-min DfPD® class for 8 weeks is a safe and feasible non-pharmacological complementary therapeutic intervention for Greek PD patients and may improve their quality of life, depressive symptoms, fatigue, cognitive functions, balance, and BMI. Further research on this intervention is warranted.

Background Alemtuzumab has been demonstrated to reduce the risks of relapse and accumulation of sustained disability in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients compared to β-interferon. It acts against CD52, leading primarily to lymphopenia. Recent data have shown that mild neutropenia is observed in 16% of treated MS-patients whereas severe neutropenia occurred in 0.6%. Case presentation Herein, we present the case of a 34-year-old woman with relapsing-remitting MS, with a history of treatment with glatiramer acetate and natalizumab, who subsequently received Alemtuzumab (12 mg / 24 h × 5 days). 70-days after the last Alemtuzumab administration, the patient displayed neutropenia (500 neutrophils/μL) with virtual absence of B-cells (0.6% of total lymphocytes), low values of CD4-T-cells (6.6%) and predominance of CD8-T-cells (48%) and NK-cells (47%); while large granular lymphocytes (LGL) predominated in the blood-smear examination. Due to prolonged neutropenia (5-days) the patient was placed on low-dose corticosteroids leading to sustained remission. Conclusion This is the first case of a patient with relapsing-remitting MS with neutropenia two months post-Alemtuzumab, with simultaneous presence of LGL cells in the blood and a robust therapeutic response to prednisolone. We recommend testing with a complete blood count every 15 days in the first 3 months after the 1st Alemtuzumab administration and searching for large granular lymphocytes cell expansion on microscopic examination of the peripheral blood if neutropenia develops. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12883-018-1183-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objectives 1) to evaluate the efficacy of medical cannabinoids (MC) by appraising the quality of evidence from clinical studies 2) to explore the factors hampering the MC use in clinical practice of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods We performed a systematic review through various databases. The quality of 14 studies was assessed by Cochrane risk bias (5 randomized controlled trials- RCT) and Newcastle-Ottawa scale (9 uncontrolled studies). Results The positive effects on motor (5 studies) and non-motor symptoms (4 studies) described in uncontrolled studies have not been confirmed by the few and small RCTs. Only one RCT found a reduction of levodopa-induced dyskinesias, another a reduction in anxiety and tremor amplitude in an anxiogenic situation, while the remaining three without effect on motor/non-motor symptoms. Physical and psychological symptoms are among the most common side effects. Conclusions There is insufficient evidence to reform international legislation regarding cannabis use in PD practice.

This study investigated the level of nurses’ knowledge regarding the perioperative care of neurological patients. An author-developed questionnaire of 20 items was used in a sample of 94 hospital nurses serving in the neurology, surgery and anesthesiology departments and the intensive care unit. The average percentage of participants with correct answers was 49.2%. The mean value of participants' score was 9.8 ±3.4. Preexisting experience in the care of cases with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease was positively related to the level of knowledge (p = 0.001 and 0.014 respectively). The ascertained level of nurses' knowledge regarding the perioperative care of neurological patients was moderate, questioning their adequacy to handle such cases. Previous experience in the care of particular diseases had significantly positive impact on knowledge, suggesting potential improvement strategies through targeted education and specialization of nurses. In conclusion, nurse's knowledge regarding perioperative care of neurological patients was insufficient, requiring appropriate improvement interventions.

Predicting caregiving status (CS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is of both clinical and health policy-making value. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the clinical predictors of CS, along with factors related to caregivers' stress.A sample of 342 clinically definite MS patients (67.5% females, 67.8% relapsing MS, mean age 43.1 ± 11.4 year-old, mean disease duration 147 ± 105.4 months, median Expanded Disability Status Scale -EDSS-3.0) was screened for CS. The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 and Zarit Burden Interview were used to measure quality of patients' life and the their caregivers' burden, respectively.In total, 57.9% of patients reported at least one caregiver, 97% of which were relatives or friends. Higher EDSS was associated with higher chance of reporting a caregiver. Two EDSS cut-offs were recognized; 2.0 and 4.5, the former with increased sensitivity (78.8%) and the latter with increased specificity (82.3%) to predict CS. Patients in the mild disability group (EDSS: 0-1.5) needing a caregiver had higher subjective cognitive function, implying presumably a beneficial role of care in cognition. Age and education were showed to affect CS in the moderate disability group (EDSS: 2.0-4.5). Physical and mental disability was more pronounced in patients reporting at least one caregiver in the high disability group (EDSS above 4.5). Caregivers' stress was significantly positively correlated with age, EDSS, and duration of the disease and negatively with cognitive, physical, and mental health.In conclusion, the clinical predictors of CS are known to serve well both the researchers and the clinicians.

Background/Aims: The onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Greece has not been systematically studied. We sought to provide data on the onset of MS in Greece with detailed information regarding initial symptoms, and to confirm the prognostic significance of demographic and clinical factors at onset. Methods: We studied 1,034 consecutive patients with MS and independently assessed 265 patients ‘seen at onset’. We used the MS severity score and survival analysis (time to reach an Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 4.0) to evaluate the prognostic significance of factors at onset. Results: Female-to-male ratio was 1.9:1 and mean age at onset was 30.7 ± 9.9 years. MS was primary progressive in 9.6%. Initial symptoms were optic neuritis in 20.1%, brainstem dysfunction in 14.7%, dysfunction of long tracts in 49.3%, cerebral dysfunction in 1% and a combination of symptoms in 14.9%. In ‘seen at onset’ patients, detailed data on initial symptoms are presented. Female gender, earlier age at onset, ‘bout onset’ and onset with optic neuritis were associated with less severe disease and longer time to disability. Conclusion: The onset of MS in Greece is similar to Western populations. Initial symptoms are within the expected spectrum. Prognostic significance of factors at onset is as previously identified.

The role of the multiple sclerosis (MS) nurse is constantly evolving, owing to the introduction of new MS therapies and new patient treatment and support strategies. The second MS nurse symposium, ‘The Evolving Role of the MS Nurse: Implications of Future Management Directions’ took place in Athens between 22–24 September 2011 and was attended by approximately 300 participants from 30 countries. Presentations at the symposium outlined the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence for novel therapies for MS treatment. The importance of making clinical trial data available and understandable to people with MS was addressed, followed by a summary of the latest data on established MS therapies and an update on autoinjectors and their role in improving adherence. Novel patient support strategies were outlined followed by presentations by MS nurses from different countries who discussed their roles and their opportunities to evolve against a background of very different healthcare systems. Group discussions of typical MS case examples emphasised the need for good communications and relationships between patients and MS nurses. The final session focused on communication skills, highlighting ‘tips’ for engaging with people with MS and examining the challenges that different patient expectations and communication media can bring.