Statistical analysis and data representation
BRAIN ATROPHY
The EDSS course over time was compared within patients by estimating the yearly rate of EDSS change before and after transplantation. The patients’ specific slopes were compared by a non-parametric exact Wilcoxon test and running a random effect model adjusting for the within-patient correlation. Changes of all the MRI and clinical parameters were estimated over 2 years and summarized as mean or median changes (with standard deviations and ranges), according to the distributions of the data. The within-patient changes between year 2 and baseline visits were compared for all the neurophysiological, MRI and laboratory parameters by a non-parametric exact Wilcoxon test. All the correlations were assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The relationship of brain atrophy data with the number of cells infused was evaluated by a multivariable ANOVA model, after checking for normality assumptions. Owing to the exploratory nature of the analyses research endpoints, no corrections for multiple testing were performed, and For proteomic and metabolomic analysis, the entire dataset of identified and quantified analytes was subjected to two-sided paired Student’s 