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Biomedical subjects

A Lowenthal

Publications and source records attributed to A Lowenthal.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Parkinsonian syndrome after cardiac arrest: radiological and neurochemical changes.

Following a cardiac arrest, a 21-year-old man developed a Parkinson syndrome. This was due to, as shown by brain computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), symmetrical infarctions of the basal ganglia, especially the globi pallidi. The levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) in the CSF were lower than normal, pointing to a possible alteration of the central dopaminergic activity. An alteration of the opioid system may also be supposed because of the extremely high levels of methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk).

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Guanidino compounds in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of non-dialyzed patients with renal insufficiency.

Twelve guanidino compounds were determined in simultaneously sampled serum and cerebrospinal fluid of eight non-dialyzed patients with renal insufficiency. Liquid cation exchange chromatography with a highly sensitive fluorescence detection method was used. In patients with serum urea levels about 10 times higher than in controls, the levels of guanidinosuccinic acid, creatinine, guanidine and methylguanidine, in serum as well as in cerebrospinal fluid, are at least 10 times higher than in control subjects. The levels of argininic acid and N-alpha-acetylarginine (in serum) and gamma-guanidinobutyric acid (in cerebrospinal fluid) are slightly increased (less than 10 X). The levels of the other guanidino compounds are close to normal values. A significant positive correlation exists between the guanidinosuccinic acid, creatinine and guanidine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The accumulation of several experimentally proven toxic guanidino compounds could contribute to the complex nervous system symptomatology and the hematological complications seen in renal insufficiency.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Value of glial fibrillary acidic protein determination in amniotic fluid for prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp), an intracellular protein specific to astrocytes of the central nervous system, was determined by 2-site immunoradiometric assay in amniotic fluid from 78 pregnancies with a normal, and 100 with an abnormal outcome. GFAp was not detectable in any of the normal pregnancies, but there were measurable, and so raised, levels in 23 out of 25 cases of anencephaly and 4 out of 7 cases of spina bifida, which therefore allowed prenatal diagnosis. GFAp was also increased in 4 of 6 cases of fetal intrauterine death, but not in other congenital malformations associated with elevated alphafetoprotein levels or abnormal acetylcholinesterase banding pattern, such as exomphalos, other gastrointestinal malformations or renal abnormalities. GFAp is therefore specific for diagnosing open neural tube defects. The determination of GFAp in amniotic fluid was slightly less efficient overall than AFP for the prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects, but can be a useful ancillary test and has the advantage of specificity.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1987

Human gamma gamma-enolase: two-site immunoradiometric assay with a single monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), termed BBS/NC/VI-H14 (H14), that reacts with the human enzyme gamma gamma-enolase was prepared. It was directed against the gamma-subunit and did not cross-react with the alpha- or beta-subunit. The mAb H14 can be used for quantitative determination of gamma gamma-enolase in a two-site immunoradiometric assay (two-site IRMA). It is also suitable for immunostaining formalin-fixed tissues. The specific identification of gamma gamma-enolase provided by the two-site IRMA with H14 is discussed in relation to the cellular distribution of this protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Long-term intramuscular recombinant DNA interferon alpha 2 therapy in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: reduction of serum measles antibodies without clinical improvement.

Two patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were treated intramuscularly with recombinant DNA interferon-alpha 2 for 3 and 6 months, respectively. Side effects were minimal. No objective clinical response could be noted. In a patient with stable SSPE, a significant decrease in serum antimeasles antibody levels was observed. This decrease was less pronounced in another patient with evolutive SSPE. The results of this study were compared to findings published previously. The reasons for the lack of clinical efficacy of interferon in SSPE are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Serum guanidino compound levels and the influence of a single hemodialysis in uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Guanidino compounds are increased in uremia and are highly suspected to be uremic toxins. The serum levels of 11 guanidino compounds and the influence of a single hemodialysis were evaluated in 30 steady-state uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Guanidino compound levels were detected using liquid cation exchange chromatography with a highly sensitive fluorescence detection method. Highly standardized dialysis procedures were performed. Before hemodialysis, high levels were found for guanidinosuccinic acid, N-alpha-acetylarginine, argininic acid, creatinine, gamma-guanidinobutyric acid, guanidine and methylguanidine. Guanidinosuccinic acid reached levels associated with toxic effects in vitro. After hemodialysis, although lowered, guanidinosuccinic acid, creatinine, guanidine and methylguanidine were still markedly increased. No differences in the percent decrease, during a single hemodialysis, of the studied compounds were found using different membranes such as cellulose acetate, cuprophane and polyacrylonitrile membranes. Substantial differences, however, in the percent decrease of the different guanidino compounds were found, ranging from 25 +/- 13% for arginine to 74 +/- 7.5% for guanidinosuccinic acid. Data reported here show that guanidino compounds are raised in serum of uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, before as well as after a single hemodialysis, while substantial differences in the percent decrease of the different guanidino compounds are found.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid anomalies in brain ageing and Alzheimer's disease.

The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), myelin basic protein (MBP), S100 protein (S100), gamma gamma-enolase and neurofilament proteins were determined in the CSF of neurological patients. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the GFAP values were very often increased but this was not specific to this disease. In 2 cases of familial AD, increases in neurofilament protein were detected. The determination of autoantibodies against neurofilament proteins in blood showed rather low values in AD, although they were higher than in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and Chagas' disease. Increases were observed in diseases not related to AD such as vascular disorders and Parkinson's disease.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Changing mental health services in Madrid: international issues.

With the backing of a socialist government that came to power in 1982, mental health services in Spain are shifting away from institutional and custodial care toward community-based services. Provincial governments now control most mental health programs as a result of a law passed in 1983. In Madrid, mental health service priorities include preventing psychiatric hospitalization, developing a range of residential facilities, reducing the population of chronic patients in hospitals, and improving the quality of hospital care. A network of 20 health promotion centers is being developed to serve newly identified patients, while long-stay hospital patients who can be discharged will become the responsibility of social services. From an international perspective, the most interesting aspect of the Spanish transformation is how the country will deal with the problems other nations have encountered in implementing systems reforms.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed1986

Guanidino compounds in uraemic dialysed patients.

The concentrations of guanidino compounds in blood are raised in uraemic patients and may have toxic effects. The concentrations of 13 guanidino compounds in serum were measured in 29 patients with chronic renal failure treated by chronic intermittent haemodialysis using liquid cation exchange chromatography with a highly sensitive fluorescence detection method. For taurocyamine we used another column system. Substantial increases in guanidinosuccinic acid, creatine, N-alpha-acetylarginine, creatinine, guanidine and methylguanidine were found. The values obtained for taurocyamine and beta-guanidinoproprionic acid were much lower than those reported by others: a much smaller increase was observed for beta-guanidinoproprionic acid and taurocyamine was only doubled in 4 of 29 uraemic patients. The concentrations of other guanidino compounds such as arginine and guanidinoacetic acid were normal. No differences were found between the polycystic renal disease, the chronic glomerulonephritis and the interstitial nephritis subgroups.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Determination in human cerebrospinal fluid of glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100 and myelin basic protein as indices of non-specific or specific central nervous tissue pathology.

The nervous system specific proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp), S-100 and myelin basic protein (MBP) were determined in 535 human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The level of all three proteins was increased in CSF of patients with nonselective destructive central nervous tissue disease such as encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease or tumoural compression. The increases in GFAp were more constant, making it a better marker of CNS pathology. Increases in MBP in CSF of patients with acute demyelinating disease were confirmed. S-100 did not seem to give more information as GFAp. Isolated increases of GFAp could be demonstrated in patients with dementia (Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia) or syringomyelia. Since CNS of these patients is very rich in fibrillary astrocytes, containing large amounts of GFAp, it is suggested that GFAp is to be considered as a specific marker of fibrillary gliosis in CSF and can be used as a diagnostic tool in dementia and syringomyelia.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗