Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Papageorgiou.
To determine whether anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) or myasthenia gravis (MG), sera from 42 patients suffering from MS and from 21 patients with myasthenia were studied, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No significant difference in IgG or IgM immunoglobulin isotypes between the MS myasthenic patients and controls was found.
In a total of 62 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and an equal number of serum samples obtained from 16 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 22 patients suffering from miscellaneous neurological diseases, and 24 controls, lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No statistical difference in lead concentration was found between the above three groups.
Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 74 patients suffering from various neurological diseases, and in 28 healthy controls. Increased CSF zinc levels were found in the group of peripheral nervous system diseases (P less than 0.01) and in the cases of different neurological syndromes with increased CSF protein concentration (P less than 0.001). Increased CSF and serum copper levels were found in the cases with increased CSF protein levels (P less than 0.05). It is probable that the damaged blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permits the passage of the trace elements Zn, Cu and of Mg into the subarachnoid space. Decreased serum Cu levels (P less than 0.01) were found in the group of multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings are correlated to those of previous communications.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), an immunological reaction of the skin resulting from contact with reactive compounds occurring in plants was shown to the enantiospecific (animals sensitized to a compound do not react to its nonsuperimposable mirror image). Thus, when guinea pigs were experimentally sensitized to (+)-tulipalin B (a compound present in tulip bulbs) they did not react to its enantiomer, (-)-tulipalin B. This was also true for (+)- and (-)-beta-hydroxy-gamma-methyl-alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones.
To investigate whether abnormalities of cellular immune responses are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), we tested peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or T cells, and monocytes from MS patients as responder and stimulatory cells respectively, in the allogeneic (allo-MLR) and autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (auto-MLR). We found that PBMC or T cells from all MS patients were able to develop strong proliferation against allogeneic monocytes derived from normal individuals. Moreover, the capacity of monocytes from MS patients to act as accessory cells for autologous T cells in the allo-MLR was indistinguishable from that of normal donors. In contrast, monocytes from patients with active MS were not able to stimulate responder cell proliferation either in allo-MLR or in auto-MLR. This monocyte defect was partially restored in the inactive stage of the disease. In conclusion our results show that the stimulatory capacity of monocytes from MS patients in the MLR is closely associated with the clinical stage of MS. The observed monocyte defect may be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of MS and can be used in evaluating the outcome of the disease activity.
We have recently demonstrated that peripheral blood monocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a defect in stimulating autologous and allogeneic T lymphocytes. This defect was found to correlate with disease activity. In this report we demonstrate that prothymosin alpha (ProT alpha), a rat thymus fraction 5 polypeptide, restores the MS monocyte stimulatory defect. The concentrations of ProT alpha which induced optimal enhancement of the mixed lymphocyte responses (MLR) were significantly higher when monocytes from patients with active disease were used as stimulators than when monocytes from patients with inactive disease were used. T4+ cells tested with autologous stimulatory monocytes harvested from an inactive stage of MS exhibited considerably higher proliferative responses than when stimulated with autologous monocytes obtained from an acute relapse. The decreased autologous proliferation of T4+ cells in MS patients was restored to normal levels after preincubation with ProT alpha in the environment of autologous monocytes. Our results demonstrate that ProT alpha is capable of fully restoring the deficient stimulatory function of MS monocytes and monocyte-associated functional defects of MS-derived T4+ cells.
In a total of 55 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and an equal number of serum samples obtained from 45 patients with neurological disorders and 10 controls, folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured. A radioisotopic assay method was used. A significant decrease of CSF folic acid was noted in the group with cerebral tumors.
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) water- and ethanol-soluble extracts were prepared and purified by column chromatography. They were tested on garlic-sensitive patients and showed that the allergenic fraction was well located in a few column chromatography fractions. Guinea-pigs were sensitized with garlic water-soluble extracts and tested (open epicutaneous tests) with several fractions. The presence of diallyldisulfide was detected in the sensitizing chromatographic fractions. Guinea-pigs were successfully sensitized to this product and cross-reacted to garlic; animals sensitized to garlic extracts cross-reacted to diallyldisulfide. Both groups reacted to allicin, an oxidized derivative of diallyldisulfide present in garlic. Garlic-sensitive patients showed positive tests to diallyldisulfide, allylpropyldisulfide, allylmercaptan and allicin.
The concentration of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in cerebrospinal fluid was measured in 45 samples from 45 subjects, one sample per subject. 12 of the studied persons were (control group) neurologically normal, 11 were suffering from acute cerebral ischemia with deep coma, and 22 from meningitis of different types. The mean value obtained in the control group was 21.4 +/- (SEM) 3.3 nmol/l, in the group of acute cerebral ischemic attack with deep coma it was 7.00 +/- 0.81 nmol/l and in the group of meningitis 5.5 +/- 0.4 nmol/l. These values are significantly lower than the control group (p less than 0.001). These low levels, observed in the two groups of patients, may be attributed to the altered cAMP metabolism in the central nervous system because of deep coma and bacterial infections.
Unilateral optic neuritis and Jaccoud's Syndrome in a 34-year-old woman suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus is presented. We discuss the probable pathophysiological mechanisms of these two uncommon conditions. The most acceptable incriminating factor for optic neuritis is vasculitis.
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The concentrations of free fatty acids in plasma were estimated in thirty-three subjects, before and after (24 hours and 72 hours) the start of bromazepam oral administration in a daily dose of 6 mg (1.5 mg at 7 a.m., 1.5 mg at 3 p.m. and 3 mg at 11 p.m.). A fourth estimation was performed 72 hours after drug discontinuation. A control group of twelve subjects received a placebo according to the same dosage pattern. In comparison with the first estimation, the subsequent free fatty acid values showed a significant decrease (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.001, respectively), whereas the control group showed no significant decrease (p greater than 0.05). The aim of the present article is to present the results of the three day-standard oral administration of bromazepam on free fatty acid concentration of plasma. All the samples, including the control group, were taken from a population free from any disease affecting adipose tissue metabolism.
Thirty nine patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, were submitted to brain computerized tomography in order to investigate the probable existence of brain atrophy. Evaluation was done by measuring the size of brain ventricles by means of a planimeter. An enlargement of the ventricles ranging from 1.43 to 3.13 times the normal was found in all patients. No relation was observed between the degree of the ventricular enlargement and the EEG findings, the clinical neurological picture and the duration of hemodialysis.
Within the framework of a multifacet and long term research on coronary heart disease, the possible influence of psychological factors on the disease was investigated. All coronary patients admitted to the Department are examined in special sessions. The examination is concerned with the personality structure, psychiatric or psychological abnormalities regarding living conditions, emotional factors, habits, etc. The whole study is conducted in a more or less typified way. It is the purpose of this paper to describe mainly this methodology and report preliminary results from the analysis of the first 180 patients. The reported data are compared with those from a central group of 20 'normal' controls and are compared statistically.
The C4 complement component was measured in CSF from 10 patients without CNS involvement (controls) and 71 with various meningeal and neurological diseases. Serum C4 was also measured in the control group and in 46 of the 71 neurological patients. A significant increase of CSF C4 was observed in all neurological diseases with meningeal involvement independent of the causative agent. Inversely, serum C4 values were within normal limits. Increased CSF C4 with normal serum levels might indicate increased diffusion across the blood-brain barrier, decreased ability for immunocomplex production or increased local production.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.