We screened for tau gene mutations among 24 Japanese (6 familial and 18 sporadic cases) and 4 Polish patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using PCR-SSCP analysis followed by DNA sequencing. We identified 2 missense mutations in exon 10: N279K and P301L in 2 Japanese patients with familial FTD. Additionally 3 DNA polymorphisms: 2 known (3' exon 3 + 9, A --> G and exon 7, codon 176, G --> A) and 1 new (exon 8, codon 185, T --> C) were identified in 1 Polish patient. Tau mutations were not found in subjects with a negative family history suggesting that tau mutations do not account for most sporadic cases of FTD. We also found no association of apolipoprotein E4 allele with FTD.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Controlled study of iprazochrome effectiveness (Divascan) in prophylactic treatment of migraine].

The study was designed as double blind, placebo controlled. The patients were treated with 15 mg of iprazochrome daily in three equal doses for eight weeks, or--with equal amount of placebo tablets. The effectiveness was calculated with the use of Migraine Score (MS) by Couch et. al. 44 patients completed the study. In 21 the therapy was positive: 16 out of them were treated with iprazochrome, 5--with placebo. In 23 patients the treatment was negative: 19 out of them took placebo, 4--iprazochrome. Statistical analysis showed significant influence (chi 2 test: p < 0.001; Youle coeff. = 0.88). In iprazochrome group mean decrease of MS was significant after treatment (p < 0.01), but not significantly changed in the placebo group. According to our results iprazochrome was found effective in the prophylaxis of migraine.

Adrenochrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of large dose prednisone therapy on immunological markers in multiple sclerosis].

The effect of large-dose prednisone therapy (3960 mg over 56 days) on humoral immunological markers and MRI pattern was studied in 25 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis. There was a decrease in levels of some studied markers (TNF in CSF, MBP level, IgG index, kappa chains in urine and kappa/creatinine ratio) after the treatment, but the differences reached statistical significance in some groups only. The decrease of total lesion area in MRI was not statistically significant. The obtained results proved clearly, that the above mentioned immunological markers might be helpful for monitoring of therapy in MS patients.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Platelet membrane fluidity and receptor exposition in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

The majority of reports indicate that blood platelet membrane fluidity is increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The increased membrane fluidity implies that platelet membrane receptors are less exposed to the external environment. To verify this hypothesis we tried to estimate platelet membrane fluidity at its two different depths and receptors' exposure after platelet activation in 12 AD sufferers. Platelet membrane fluidity was measured by the EPR with the use of 2 spin-labelled markers. In AD patients both "near surface" (p < 0.04) and "deeper depth" (p < 0.005) fluidity was significantly increased. The exposure of platelet granule membrane protein--P-selectin and membrane glycoprotein receptors: alpha subunit of glycoprotein Ib and beta3 subunit of GP complex IIb/IIIa were measured by flow cytometry with the use of human platelet monoclonal antibodies labelled with fluorescein and ficoerithrin. The exposure of GPIb alpha subunit was significantly decreased both in resting state (p < 0.0001) and after thrombin activation (p < 0.005). In thrombin-activated platelets the expression of P-selectin and beta3 subunit of fibrinogen receptor were also significantly decreased (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.04, respectively). The authors conclude that both platelet membrane fluidity and receptor exposure might serve as an adjunct marker of in vivo AD diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Morphology of demyelination plaques vs cognitive and emotional disorders in multiple sclerosis patients].

The interrelationship between psychological examination and MRI findings was studied in 70 patients with MS. The cognitive and emotional functions were examined by a battery of tests: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Visual Retention Test, Hamilton Depression Scale. In MRI examination the localization, area, and the morphology of the plaques were examined. According to plaque's morphology the patients were divided into two groups: with confluent plaques and those with patchy-shaped ones. The signs of dementia were found significantly more frequently in the group with confluent plaques (p. < 0.04). In this group of patients also single-function disorders like disturbances of verbal memory, attention, visual memory, cause- and effect thinking, abstract thinking, and visual-motor coordination were significantly more frequent (p. < 0.01). In the same group the signs of fatigue syndrome were more frequently encountered (p. < 0.02). The authors conclude that the disturbances found in cognitive function may reflect the symptoms of subcortical dementia in MS patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Intima-media complex thickness of common carotid artery as a risk factor for stroke].

Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) of Common Carotid Artery (CCA) could be seen as the atherosclerotic risk factors' final morphological effect. We investigated the hypothesis that IMT of CCA is significantly different in sex- and age-matched groups of persons with stroke and healthy subjects. 47 patients with first-ever atherothrombotic stroke proven by CT were investigated. Patients with atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease and left ventricular hyperthrophy were excluded. The IMT of CCA were estimated by High-Resolution B-Mode Ultrasonography. All the patients had bilateral IMT measurement within 20 mm proximal to the carotid bulb on the far wall in the anterioposterior and laterolateral plane. The results were compared with those obtained in 50 healthy sex- and age-matched subjects. We found a strong association between IMT and stroke (p < 0.0001). Mean IMT was 0.96 mm (SD 0.18) in patients and 0.70 mm (SD 0.09) in controls. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques was 0.34 and 0.08 for patients and controls respectively (p = 0.0025). IMT of CCA is strongly positively associated with the risk for stroke. The frequency of atherosclerotic plaques in CCAs is statistically significantly higher in stroke patients than in control group.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes of regional cerebral blood flow in stroke patients assessed by SPECT].

UNLABELLED: The aim of our work was to evaluate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with TIA and/or completed stroke and localisation of fotopenic foci in basal conditions and, in some cases, after stimulation pharmacological trial with acetazolamide. One hundred and fifty three patients participated in the study--105 with completed stroke and 48 with TIA. Regional CBF (rCBF) was evaluated using a single-headed rotating gamma camera (Diacam, Siemens) with high resolution collimator, after injection of 740 MBq 99mTc-HMPAO (Ceretec, Amersham). Sixteen patients with TIA underwent SPECT at baseline and after injection of acetazolamide (ACZ). Relative regional perfusion was expressed as the ratio of cerebral/cerebellar activity. In the completed stroke population, the perfusion ratios were significantly lower than those of controls and TIA at baseline (p < 0.001) and TIA after ACZ (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant difference in rCBF in patients with completed stroke and/or TIA and controls. In patients with TIA and rCBF similar to that observed in controls, perfusion deficits may be visible after ACZ injection.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The number and affinity of fibrinogen receptors in blood platelets of patients with ischemic stroke].

Parameters of fibrinogen binding with blood platelets (number of receptors and their affinity) have been studied in patients with ischemic stroke. Due to the increased platelet ability to aggregate in the ischemic diseases such studies seem helpful. The studies involved 13 patients with ischemic stroke. Blood platelets collected from younger patients (under 50 years) possessed significantly higher number of receptors binding fibrinogen than blood platelets of healthy individuals (p less than 0.02). These receptors significantly more strongly bound ligand than those in the control group (p less than 0.05), and in the group of older patients with stroke (less than 0.05). Fibrinogen binding to blood platelets in patients over 50 years of age did not differ significantly from that in the control group. These results may indicate, that the increased platelet aggregation might be a significant pathogenic factor of the stroke in younger patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of total cholesterol level on platelet aggregation in patients with migraine].

In 34 women with simple migraine the total cholesterol concentration in the serum and the platelet aggregation index according to Wu and Hoak were determined. The blood cholesterol levels differed in them. Two groups of patients were isolated: group I with cholesterol level above the upper normal range and group II with cholesterol within this range. The mean concentration of this lipid differed significantly between these groups (p less than 0.001). The platelet aggregation index in group I was significantly lower than in the group with normal cholesterol level (p less than 0.05). During migraine attack a further fall was observed in the platelet aggregation index in the group with high cholesterol level (p less than 0.01). The authors suppose that cholesterol concentration may be one of the factors determining differences in platelet behaviour in migraine patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Pathomechanisms of pain attacks in Horton's headache (cluster headache)].

In view of the still unexplained pathomechanism of Horton's cluster headaches 9 patients were given a challenge test with nitroglycerin while at the same time the attacks were blocked with indomethacin. The attacks were provoked with one dose (1 mg) of nitroglycerin. Then during 3 days the patients took 75-100 mg indomethacin which dose was quite sufficient for inhibition of the activity of arachidonic acid cyclooxygenase. On the fourth day another nitroglycerine provocation was done. No inhibitory effect of indomethacin on the attack was observed. It seems doubtful that products of arachidonic acid cyclooxygenation play any role in the pathomechanism of this headache.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Platelet aggregation in patients with migraine during the pain attack and in the pain-free period].

In 31 women with a history of migraine platelet aggregation was studied between migrainous attacks, and in 14 of them during an attack of migraine. The method of Born and Cross was used. The rates of the first and second phases of aggregation were calculated and the quantitative index of aggregation curve according to Cavallero was calculated. Adrenaline in concentrations of 2 and 4 micron M was used as the aggregating factor. No differences were found in the mean rates of the first phase of aggregation between the patients and the controls. The rate of the second phase in the time between migraine attacks was significantly higher in patients with migraine (p less than 0.001) than in healthy subjects. During migraine attack the mean rate of the second phase decreased significantly (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.001). These changes of the rate of the second phase may be explained as due to disturbances in the release of the aggregating substances from platelets and accumulation of platelet-activating substances.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of blood platelets in the pathogenesis of migraine].

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Blood Platelets↗