1,721,094 research outputs found
Cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins and neurologic diseases [Immunoglobuline liquorali e malattie neurologiche]
No full textThen is reported a new inexpensive and easy method to analyse the CSF concentration of immunoglobulins in some neurologic disease (in particular in the multiple sclerosis). The obtained data were in according with similar results of other Author, which used more sophisticated techniques. The increase of IgG in multiple sclerosis (72,7%) suggested us to consider this analysis now very useful for a correct diagnosis. The reason of CSF IgG increase in multiple sclerosis is discussed
Blood-brain barrier changes during invasion of the central nervous system by HIV-1.Old and new insights into the mechanism
No full textThe mechanism underlying the early invasion of the central nervous system by HIV-1 is unclear. Here, we summarize old and new findings supporting blood-brain barrier changes during HIV and experimental simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. The effect of inflammatory and toxic molecules secreted by monocytes and microglia on the functional integrity of tight junctions of brain endothelium is highlighted. Furthermore, recent findings on a possible direct role of the envelope and regulatory HIV-1 proteins (gp120, Tat, Nef) in causing the blood-brain barrier changes are reviewed. The possibility that these proteins, as circulating molecules, may bind to microvessel endothelial cells and cause blood-brain changes with no direct participation of the virus is raised. Several issues deserve further investigation and answers to these questions may provide keys for new therapeutic strategies in HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system
Cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins and neurological diseases
No full textThe technique used was that of simple radial immunodiffusion, as described by Mancini et al. (1965). Of 22 cases with disseminated sclerosis, 16 had a distinctly increased concentration of cerebrospinal fluid IgG (72.7% of the cases). In polyneuritis, besides an increase of total proteins in 11 of 18 cases, there was an increase of IgG in 13 cases. The IgG values in 12 cases of cerebral and cerebellar atrophy were (except for 2, who showed a slight increase) within normal limits. Above normal values of IgG concentration were found in the 5 cases of neurosyphilis. In the 8 cases of different types of epilepsy all the values, both for total proteins and for IgG, were within normal limits. As for the other sporadic cases of different neurological diseases and 2 cases of tumors, they showed an increase of the concentration of IgG and of total proteins. An acute meningoencephalitis had a distinctly increased IgG; a moderate increase was present in the case of Creutzfeld Jakob's disease and in 2 cases of amiotrophic lateral sclerosis. Of 3 cases of Huntington's chorea, the IgG concentration was normal in 2 and slightly raised in one. Normal values were found in different dysmetabolic diseases (leukodystrophy, mucopolysaccharidosis, Refsum's disease)
Circulating gp120 alters the blood-brain barrier permeability in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice
No full textThe mechanism underlying invasion of the central nervous system by HIV-1 is unclear. We recently demonstrated blood-brain barrier changes in a model of HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice. To test whether this alteration was intrinsic to the brain endothelium of transgenic mice or depended on circulating gp120, we used brain endothelial cultures from gp120 transgenic and non-transgenic mice and exposed them to serum from gp120 transgenic or non-transgenic mice. We measured permeability to albumin as a marker of functional endothelial integrity. A significant increase in permeability (up to 47%) was observed in transgenic and non-transgenic cultures exposed to serum samples from transgenic but not to those from non-transgenic mice. This permeability was neutralized after immunoabsorption of sera with anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody. These findings demonstrate that the blood-brain barrier alteration in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice is due to circulating gp12
Brain glycosidases in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
No full textSeveral glycosidase activities were measured in frontal gray matter of 4 brains from subjects affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The changes of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, N-acetyl-beta-galactosaminidase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-fucosidase and alpha-mannosidase were not statistically significant but significant increases of beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase activities were found. These results are in accordance with several reports on brain glycosidases in scrapie and Semliki Forest virus-infected brain and could explain some changes in brain glycoconjugate content previously observed in human and experimental Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
High levels of C3c in the cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
No full textA study of several parameters of the humoral immunity in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of thirteen Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients was carried out. A significant increase in CSF C3c was shown. This feature was found to be significantly correlated to the CSF albumin/serum albumin ration (r = 0.70; p less than 0.05) and to the total CSF proteins (r = 0.86; p less than 0.01). The possible effect of the blood-brain barrier breakdown on the CSF complement levels was evaluated. On the basis of the recently found biochemical changes in ALS cell membranes it is proposed that the high levels of the CSF C3c may also be due to a defective binding to the lymphocytes C3 receptors
Symptomatic cranial neuralgias in multiple sclerosis: Clinical features and treatment
No full textIn multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain is a frequent condition, negatively influencing the overall quality of life. Cranial neuralgias, including trigeminal, glossopharyngeal neuralgias, as well as occipital neuralgia, are typical expression of neuropathic pain. Neuralgias are characterised by paroxysmal painful attacks of electric shock-like sensation, occurring spontaneously or evoked by innocuous stimuli in specific trigger areas. In multiple sclerosis, demyelination in the centrally myelinated part of the cranial nerve roots plays an important role in the origin of neuralgic pain. These painful syndromes arising in multiple sclerosis are therefore considered "symptomatic", in contrast to classic cranial neuralgias, in which no cause other than a neurovascular contact is identified. At this time, the evidence on the management of symptomatic cranial neuralgias in multiple sclerosis is fragmentary and a comprehensive review addressing this topic is still lacking. For that reason, treatment is often based on personal clinical experience as well as on anecdotal reports. The aim of this review is to critically summarise the latest findings regarding the pathogenesis, the diagnosis, the instrumental evaluation and the medical as well as neurosurgical treatment of symptomatic trigeminal, glossopharyngeal and occipital neuralgia in multiple sclerosis, providing useful insights for neurologists and neurosurgeons and a broad range of specialists potentially involved in the treatment of these painful syndromes. © 2011 Elsevier B.V
Study of influence of sex and age on human normal serum lysosomal enzymes by using 4-methylumbelliferyl substrates
No full textThe sex and age dependence of activity of eight glycosidases and acid phosphatase was assayed in serum samples using the 4-methylumbelliferyl substrates. The activity of these enzymes does not change in relation to sex and to age except for acid phosphatase and beta-galactosidase which show significantly higher values in children as compared to adults. The usefulness of the 4-MU substrates for the detection of homozygotes for those lysosomal diseases involving one of the glycosidases studied is discussed
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