Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Marcusson.
Fifty patients with longstanding and severe psoriasis vulgaris have been tissue-typed. HL-A 17 and 27 from second sublocus and UPS from third sublocus have been found to occur in increased frequency. HL-A 27 was found to be more prevalent among those with arthritic lesions. The lack of significantly increased frequency of HL-A 13 is discussed.
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The binding of [3H]paroxetine to serotonin uptake sites in human platelets from 47 individuals between 15 and 95 years of age was investigated. There were no significant age-related changes in maximal binding capacity (Bmax) or apparent binding affinity (Kd). There were no significant differences in binding between males (n = 19) and females (n = 28).
Platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) uptake sites were studied in a control group (n = 30) and an Alzheimer group (n = 40) using [3H]paroxetine as radioligand. The maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) for control (1250 +/- 60 fmol/mg protein) was not different from the Alzheimer group (1280 +/- 40 fmol/mg protein). There were no differences in apparent binding affinity (Kd): 0.046 (0.024-0.062) nM for control and 0.040 (0.027-0.061) nM for Alzheimer. Thus even though several previous studies have demonstrated marked atrophy of 5-HT containing neurites and 5-HT uptake sites in Alzheimer's disease, these findings are not found in the periphery on platelets. The platelet 5-HT uptake site cannot be used as a peripheral marker of Alzheimer's disease.
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The dopamine (DA) uptake sites in the caudate nucleus were studied in patients with vascular dementia (VAD) and in a control group using the presynaptic DA uptake site marker [3H][2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl) tropane] as radioligand. There was a significant decrease in the number of DA uptake sites in the VAD group, while the binding affinity was unchanged. The present results indicate that in the patients investigated, the cerebrovascular disease process involves dopaminergic neuron terminals in the caudate nucleus. Our findings are discussed in relation to the reductions in number of DA uptake sites that have previously been revealed in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
We examined to what extent dementia and cognitive impairment are detected in a primary health care centre. A systematic sample of patients aged 70 years and above, who attended a primary health care centre for a doctor's consultation (n = 350) were examined with a neuropsychiatric examination and an interview with a close informant. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. Medical records from the health centre were examined for entries on cognitive decline or dementia, other diagnoses and prescribed drugs. The prevalence of dementia was 16.3% and a further 3.1% had questionable dementia. Cognitive disturbances or dementia were noted in case records in 15 out of 57 (26%) demented cases, and in 1 out of 11 (9%) questionable dementias. Compared to non-demented patients, the demented had more diagnoses and a higher number of prescribed drugs. Severity and duration of dementia were associated with an increased detection.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) share several features such as overactivation of microglial cells, damage induced by free radicals, glutamate and calcium overload. Propentofylline (HWA 285) has shown beneficial effects on all of these common elements, thus favouring its use in both subtypes of dementia. In a multinational, randomized, 12-month, double-blind, parallel-group study 260 out-patients with mild to moderate AD or VaD received 300 mg propentofylline (n = 129) or placebo (n = 131) three times daily 1 h before meals. The efficacy was tested at four independent rater levels (physician, psychologist, relative and patient) with assessments covering three major domains of dementia (global function, cognitive function and activities of daily living). After 12 months, the total patient population showed statistically significant treatment differences in favour of propentofylline for the global measures of dementia (Gottfries-Bråne-Steen scale, GBS, p = 0.001; Clinical Global Impressions, CGI, item I: p = 0.004, item II: p = 0.072) as well as for the cognitive measures (Syndrome Short Test, SKT, p = 0.002) and Mini-Mental State Examination (p = 0.001). The activities of daily living also showed a significant treatment difference in favour of propentofylline (p = 0.002). No significant treatment differences were found for rating scales performed by the patients. At month 12, VaD patients showed treatment differences in favour of propentofylline for the GBS total score (p = 0.006), CGI item I (p = 0.004), GGI item II (p = 0.044) and SKT (p = 0.028). Treatment differences for AD patients were all in favour of propentofylline and reached statistical significance for the SKT (p = 0.018). Propentofylline showed a good safety profile with respect to adverse events, vital signs, ECG and laboratory changes.
Pre- and postsynaptic elements of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) system were studied in a control group and in patients with vascular dementia (VAD). The 5-HT uptake site was used as a presynaptic marker for 5-HT terminals and 5-HT1A and 5HT2 receptors were used as postsynaptic markers. The binding sites were quantified with radioligand binding techniques, where the radioligands used were [3H]paroxetine, [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [3H]ketanserin, respectively. The presynaptic uptake site was studied in frontal and temporal cortices and caudate nucleus. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors were studied only in frontal and temporal cortices. There were no differences between control and VAD groups in any of the regions investigated with respect to the number of binding sites (Bmax) and binding affinity (Kd). This indicates that both pre- and postsynaptic parts of the 5-HT system are intact in these brain areas in VAD.