Restless legs syndrome and multiple sclerosis: a population based case-control study in Catania, Sicily.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A population-based case-control study in the city of Catania, Sicily, was carried out to determine restless legs syndrome (RLS) prevalence and its association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Patients were randomly selected from a cohort of MS patients resident in the study area and a group of age and sex matched controls was enrolled from the general population. RLS was diagnosed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria. RESULTS: In total, 152 MS patients and 431 controls were included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence of RLS amongst MS patients (14.5%) compared with controls (6.0%) was detected, corresponding to an almost threefold increased risk (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4-5.0) of developing RLS. Spinal cord lesions in MS patients were associated with a higher risk of RLS (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-13.5). CONCLUSION: RLS was strongly associated with MS, with a significantly higher risk in patients presenting spinal cord lesions.

[Gastric emptying of solids in patients with nonorganic dyspepsia]. / Vuotamento gastrico dei solidi in pazienti con dispepsia anorganica.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate gastric emptying of a solid meal in 20 patients with functional dyspepsia and in 20 healthy controls. Gastric emptying time (T 1/2 = 188.45 +/- 93.79; p less than 0.001 - E.I. = 0.43 +/- 0.16; p less than 0.001) was significantly delayed in patients with functional dyspepsia compared with controls. The conclusion is drawn that either antral motor activity or antral-pyloric-duodenal motor activity is impaired in such patients.

Pathway for uncoupler-induced calcium efflux in rat liver mitochondria: inhibition by ruthenium red.

The rate of uncoupler-induced Ca2+ efflux from rat liver mitochondria is increased by acetate and decreased by phosphate. This effect depends on a shift of the apparent Km, which is increased by phosphate and decreased by acetate, while the Vmax is not modified. The modification of the apparent Km by permeant anions presumably reflects changes in the concentration of matrix free Ca2+. A major part of uncoupler-induced Ca2+ efflux is sensitive to Ruthenium Red, the specific inhibitor of the Ca2+ uniporter , but an apparent insensitivity is observed when the H+ permeability is rate limiting in the process of Ca2+ efflux. The titer of uncoupler required for maximal stimulation of Ca2+ efflux increases with the Ca2+ load and may be 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than that required for maximal stimulation of respiration. On the other hand, when the uncoupler concentration is raised above 10(-6) M, the process of Ca2+ efflux becomes again Ruthenium Red insensitive. The Ruthenium Red inhibition of uncoupler-induced Ca2+ efflux is time dependent, in that the degree of inhibition exerted by low amounts of Ruthenium Red increases with the incubation time. Since the inhibition of the rate of Ca2+ influx undergoes a parallel relief, it is possible that Ruthenium Red moves from the cytosolic to the matrix side of the inner membrane. It is concluded that, in native mitochondria, uncoupler-induced Ca2+ efflux occurs via reversal of the uniport Ca2+ carrier, and not through activation of an independent pathway.

Cisapride and gastric emptying of a solid meal in dyspeptic diabetics without autonomic neuropathy and in healthy volunteers.

Gastric emptying was studied in 10 insulin-treated, long-standing, diabetic out-patients with upper gastrointestinal, dyspeptic symptoms. Autonomic neuropathy, mucosal lesions and chloropeptic hyposecretion were excluded. Gastric emptying of a labelled solid meal (99mTc-sulphur colloid-infiltrated chicken liver) was clearly delayed by comparison with normal subjects: the mean gastric emptying half-time was almost 5-times longer (245.6 vs 52.5 min), and the gastric emptying rate at 120 min was 75% slower. Cisapride 10 mg i.v. significantly accelerated both parameters, and placebo had no effect upon them. In conclusion, gastroparesis may be present in diabetics without autonomic neuropathy, and cisapride may improve gastric emptying in such patients.