The purpose of the study was the determination of correlations between the results of electronystagmographic (ENG) investigations and the blood flow velocity in the vertebrobasilar arterial system measured by Doppler ultrasonography in patients with vertigo. The studied material comprised 68 patients (39 women and 29 men) aged 34-68 years (mean 52.4 years). ENG findings included unilateral hyporeflexia in 25 cases (37.7%), bilateral hyporeflexia in 15 (22.0%) and unilateral canal failure in 8 (11.9%). Doppler USG with neck rotation test showed normal flow velocity in 15 cases (22.0%) and pathological velocity in the remaining 53 cases (78.0%). These results showed that bilateral hyporeflexia is found usually in bilateral failure of vertebral arteries and unilateral hyporeflexia and unilateral canal failure were found with unilateral vertebral artery failure on the same side.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[TNF-alpha binding ability as a sign of peripheral blood neutrophils preactivation in the course of multiple sclerosis].

Usually neglected is the role of neutrophils in causing of immunological disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, it has been indicated over the recent years that these cells possess a sufficient potential to affect both immune response and inflammation. This potential may result in MS through the process of priming of these cells by proinflammatory cytokines like TNF. We studied TNF and its soluble receptors sp55 and sp75 serum levels and binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-stained TNF by neutrophils. We studied three different groups of MS patients: 10 patients in relapse of the disease, 13 in its remission, and 11 in its chronic progressive form (CP-MS). The control was provided by 14 neurological patients (OND) with non-inflammatory diseases. The performed studies showed higher TNF sp55 and sp75 soluble TNF receptors serum levels in the patients with relapse, comparing with other MS patients and OND. TNF binding by neutrophils of MS patients during relapse was also higher, than other MS patients and OND. These result suggest the preactivation of neutrophils in the relapse of MS.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Increased expression of aminopeptidase N on lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis].

Aminopeptidase N is an ectoenzyme. Its expression on lymphocytes is the effect of cell activation. We studied APN expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and in the control group of patients with other neurological diseases (OND). We observed increased APN expression on lymphocytes of MS patients during acute exacerbation and in the course of chronic progressive MS compared to MS remission and OND groups. No such differences were found in CD11a molecule of LFA-1 integrin expression on lymphocytes. We suppose that APN expression on lymphocyte surface can be a sensitive marker of these cell activation in the course of MS.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha binding by peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is responsible for peripheral blood leukocyte priming. The aim of this study was to evaluate fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled TNF binding ability by peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) of MS patients, measured using flow cytometry (FACScan). Three groups of MS patients (total 34) were examined. Higher serum levels of TNF soluble receptors sp55 and sp75 were found in the MS patients during MS acute exacerbation (n = 10) and in chronic progressive forms (n = 11) as compared to MS remission (n = 13) and other neurological diseases (n = 14). Peripheral blood lymphocytes and PMNs of patients with acute exacerbation of MS bound TNF-FITC more effectively (p <0.01) as compared with the chronic progressive forms of MS, MS remission and other neurological diseases. The obtained results suggest a greater enhancement of TNF activity during MS acute exacerbation.

Adult↗