Impairment of social cognition in neurological diseases.

Social cognition is impaired in a large number of neurological afflictions, including neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental syndromes, and has become a significant element in differential diagnoses. This report describes the different processes involved in social cognition and the way in which they work together to allow adapted behaviors. This is then followed by the numerous clinical symptoms of social behavioral disturbances and social cognition performance in different neurological afflictions such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. In addition, the available tasks allowing social cognition assessment in routine clinical practice are also presented.

LF 16.0335, a novel potent and selective nonpeptide antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor.

1. In the present paper, we describe the in vitro pharmacological properties of LF 16.0335 (1-[[3-[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl)oxymethyl]-2,4-dichloro-p henyl]sulphonyl] -2(S) - [[4 -[4-(aminoiminomethyl)phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]ca rbonyl]pyrrolidine), a novel and potent nonpeptide antagonist of the human bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor. 2. LF 16.0335 displaced [3H]-BK binding to membrane preparations from CHO cells expressing the cloned human B2 receptor, INT 407 cells and human umbilical vein with Ki values of 0.84+/-0.39 nM, 1.26+/-0.68 nM and 2.34+/-0.36 nM, respectively. 3. In saturation binding studies performed in INT 407 cell membranes in the presence or absence of LF 16.0335, max values of [3H]-BK were not significantly changed suggesting that LF 16.0335 behaves as a competitive antagonist. 4. LF 16.0335 had no affinity for the cloned human kinin B1 receptor stably expressed in 293 cells. In addition, this compound at 1 microM did not significantly bind to a range of 40 different membrane receptors and eight ion channels except muscarinic M2 and M1 receptors for which an IC50 value of 0.9 and 1 microM was obtained. 5. BK stimulates in a concentration-dependent manner phosphoinositosides (IPs) production in cultured INT 407 cells. Concentration-response-curves to BK were shifted to the right in the presence of LF 16.0335 (0.1 microM) without reduction of the maximum. LF 16.0335 inhibited the concentration-contraction curve to BK in the human umbilical vein giving a pA2 value of 8.30+/-0.30 with a Schild plot slope that was not different from unity. 6. These results demonstrate that LF 16.0335 is a potent, selective and competitive antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor.

Pharmacological and molecular evidence for kinin B1 receptor expression in urinary bladder of cyclophosphamide-treated rats.

1. In the present study, we developed an experimental model of cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP). In order to characterize des-Arg9-BK-induced contraction on the urinary bladder (UB) during the development of inflammation and to quantify kinin B1 receptor gene expression using a quantitative RT - PCR technique. 2. In the presence of peptidase inhibitors captopril (10 microM), DL-thiorphan (1 microM) and DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidino-ethylthiopropanoic acid (MERGEPTA 5 microM), bradykinin (BK) (0.3 - 3,000 nM) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of rat UB which was not different between the CYP- and vehicle-treated groups. Unlike BK, des-Arg9-BK (0.3 - 100,000 nM) did not contract UB from vehicle-treated rats but contracted vigorously bladder strips from CYP-treated rats 14, 24 and 168 h after treatment. In UB of 24 h treated rat, the pD2 value of des-Arg9-BK was 7.3+/-0.1. 3. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (3 microM) reduced by 30% the maximal response of des-Arg9-BK. Both the kinin B1 receptor antagonists des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK (10 microM) and des-Arg10-Hoe 140 (10 microM) produced a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to des-Arg9-BK yielding pKB values of 6.8+/-0.2 and 7.2+/-0.1, respectively, whilst the kinin B2 receptor antagonist Hoe 140 (1 microM) had no effect. 4. After CYP treatment, mRNA coding for the kinin B1 receptor appeared predominantly in UB. In this organ, the induction was progressive, reaching a maximum 48 h after CYP treatment. 5. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence for an induction of kinin B1 receptors in UB of CYP-treated rats. This was associated at a molecular level with an increase in mRNA expression of the gene coding for the kinin B1 receptor. This kinin receptor displayed the whole features of a classical rat kinin B1 receptor.

Cytomegalovirus infection and trans-activation of HIV-1 and HIV-2 LTRs in human astrocytoma cells.

Susceptibility of a human astrocytoma cell line to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was investigated. Infection of U-373MG astrocytoma cells with two strains of HCMV resulted in both production of extracellular, infectious virus and expression of immediate early and early antigens within 18 hours and late antigens after 72 hours of infection. The kinetics of infection in U-373MG cells were the same as in human diploid fibroblasts (MRC-5). Since HCMV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have reportedly been found in astrocytic cells in vivo, we studied the possible interaction between HCMV and HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) elements in this cellular environment. HCMV infection transactivated the LTR of HIV-1 and HIV-2 to similar levels. Interestingly, transfection of these cells with infectious HIV-1 provirus did not result in expression of gag, env, or F proteins detectable by immunofluorescence. However, provirus gene expression was not completely silent, since it transactivated HIV-1 LTR. The level of this transactivation was similar to that seen following cotransfection with a tat expression vector. These results suggest that opportunistic infection with HCMV may reactivate latent HIV genomes in glial cells.

In vitro and in vivo effects of the new nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, LF 16-0335C, on guinea-pig and rat kinin receptors.

Activation of the kinin-kallikrein system and stimulation of bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors are thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammation and pain. In the present study, we report the pharmacological properties of a novel nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, LF 16-0335C, (1-[[3-[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl) oxymethyl]-2,4-dichloro-phenyl]sulfonyl]-2(S)-[[4-[4- (aminoiminomethyl)-phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]carbo nyl]pyrrolidine, 2HCl). In binding studies, LF 16-0335C competed with [3H]bradykinin giving Ki values of 1.65 +/- 0.36 nM and 2.20 +/- 0.30 nM in membrane preparations from rat uterus (RU) and guinea-pig ileum (GPI), respectively. In functional experiments, LF 16-0335C inhibited in a competitive manner BK-induced contractions of both isolated RU and GPI, leading to calculated pA2 values of 7.70 +/- 0.70 and 8.30 +/- 0.30, respectively. The inhibitory effect of LF 16-0335C was fully reversible by washing in the guinea-pig ileum. In vivo, LF 16-0335C given intravenously inhibited in a dose-dependent manner BK-induced hypotension in both animal species, although it was more potent in the guinea-pig than in the rat (ED50, 2.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/kg versus 22.6 +/- 2.3 micrograms/kg). BK is a potent constrictor of guinea-pig airways and this effect was markedly attenuated by LF 16-0335C. In contrast, LF 16-0335C did not affect histamine- and acetylcholine-induced hypotensive response in the rat. We conclude that LF 16-0335C is a potent and selective nonpeptide B2 receptor antagonist which equally binds to the rat and guinea-pig receptor but displays a different in vivo potency in the two species. Therefore, this drug represents a useful tool to better assess the role of bradykinin in pathophysiological conditions.

[Cerebral hemosiderosis related to hereditary ceruloplasmin deficiency. Clinical familial case study]. / Hémosidérose cérébrale liée à un déficit héréditaire en céruloplasmine. Etude clinique d'un cas familial.

A 59-year-old patient progressively developed dementia, hallucinations and facial dyskinesia. Brain T and T2-weighted MRI images showed low signal intensity on basal ganglia specially striatum, posterior thalamic and dentate nuclei. He had no evidence of ceruloplasmin and a high level of ferritin in the serum. Liver biopsy confirmed accumulation of iron in the cytoplasm of many hepatocytes. Similar clinical and biological signs were also observed in two brothers. All the three siblings were homozygous for a hereditary ceruloplasmin deficiency. This new clinico-pathological entity, first described in 1987, is different from Wilson's disease, Hallervorden-Spatz's disease and idiopathic hemochromatosis and linked to a mutation of the ceruloplasmin gene located on chromosome 3.

[Interhemispheric disconnection syndrome caused by partial infarction of the corpus callosum: neuropsychological study and MRI]. / Syndrome de déconnexion interhémisphérique par infarctus partiel du corps calleux: étude neuropsychologique et IRM.

A partial syndrome of hemisphere disconnection was observed in a 63 year-old woman, following an anterior and middle corpus callosum infarct on MRI. Notably, we found left ideomotor apraxia, diagonistic apraxia, left-year extinction on dichotic listening, but no left-hand anomia nor left visual field anomia. A left tactile extinction in dichaptic condition is interpreted as resultant of a dysregulation of the attentional balance between the two hemispheres. This detailed neuropsychological study permits a correlation between the callosal syndrome and the lesion. We suggest that an occlusion of the anterior callosal artery could explain this limited ischemia.

[2 cases of paralysis of the posterior branch of the radial nerve due to compression of the nerve by a lipoma]. / 2 cas de paralysie de la branche postérieure du nerf radial due a la compression du nerf par un lipome

The authors report two cases of paralysis of the posterior branch of the radial nerve as a result of compression of the nerve by a benign tumour, in both instances a lipoma. Analysis of the sixteen cases appearing in the literature reveals that the symptoms and signs are constant, characterised by the progressive development of paralysis of the muscles supplied by the deep branch of the radial nerve with the appearance of a tumefaction around the lateral part of the elbow. X-rays of the elbow confirm the diagnosis in the presence of a radiotranslucent polylobulated image. Surgical excision is followed by regression and the disappearance of a-l neurological signs after an average period of 8 months. In addition to a lipoma, compression may be caused by repeated contusion of the nerve by the border of the superficial part of the short supinator muscle in association with "tennis elbow". Section of this part of the muscle border results in complete recovery.

[Spinal infarction in the anterior spinal territory with possible relation with bilharziasis]. / Infarctus médullaire dans le territoire spinal antérieur en rapport possible avec une bilharziose.

We report a case of spinal cord infarction in the anterior spinal artery territory with selective involvement of the anterior horns. A 35-year-old Mauritanian woman was hospitalized because of an acute and severe flaccid paraplegia without any sphincter dysfunction or sensory disturbance. MRI abnormalities (hypersignal on T2-weighted sequences) were restricted to the anterior horns of the lower thoracic spinal cord and conus medullaris. Adamkiewicz's artery appeared abnormally thin at arteriography. The infarction was probably related to vasculitis of schistosomal origin.

[Familial orthochromatic leukodystrophy: clinicopathological study of two cases]. / Leucodystrophies orthochromatiques familiales.

This paper reports the clinico-pathological data in a French family with orthochromatic leukodystrophy. The parents were first cousins and had seven children. Among those, two sisters and one brother presented with neurological signs, with onset around the 5(th) decade, including a dementing syndrome of frontal type, a tetrapyramidal syndrome, seizures, and, in one sibling, a cerebellar syndrome. CT scan or MRI showed diffuse involvement of the white matter. The neurological signs worsened progressively leading to death within 11 and 22 months. Neuropathological examination was performed in two cases. It revealed characteristic orthochromatic leukodystrophy. In one case, the presence of pigmented macrophages and astrocytes was suggestive of Van Bogaert and Nyssen disease. However there were some atypical features including the absence of pigmented cells in the second case whose clinical course was shorter, and the cavitary appearance of the white matter changes with a relative increase in the number of oligodendrocytes raising the issue of a possible link between this condition and cavitary orthochromatic leukodystrophies.

[Intramedullary neurenteric cyst without an associated malformation. Case report]. / Kyste neuro-entérique intra-médullaire sans malformation associée. Un cas.

The authors report a case of an intramedullary neurenteric cyst without any associated dysraphic lesion. Unlike extramedullary intradural forms, this type of malformation remains rare. Our observation is one of the first to have been evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Theories concerning the embryogenesis of neurenteric cysts as well as their clinical characteristics and surgical treatment are discussed.