Prophylactic therapy in cyclic vomiting syndrome.

The experience with prophylactic therapy for cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia was retrospectively reviewed by questionnaire. Data was collected from 31 patients, aged 2.9-21.75 years who reported a mean of nine attacks per year. Eleven patients had utilized prophylactic therapy. Parental assessment of benefit was recorded. Propranolol was the most effective agent with reported benefit in four of six cases, other antimigraine agents were deemed effective in two of seven cases. Anti-convulsants and antidepressants were not considered useful. Homeopathic and vitamin supplements were thought to be beneficial in three of six cases. Prophylaxis was less likely to be beneficial in the more severe cases of CVS, but was of benefit in those patients whose attacks were precipitated by infection or who had features consistent with migraine. Prophylactic therapy with propranolol or serotonin receptor antagonists should be considered in children with frequent or severe symptoms.

Changes in brain energy and phospholipid metabolism during development and aging in the Fischer 344 rat.

The effects of brain development and aging on high-energy phosphate and membrane phospholipid metabolism were studied from birth to senescence in the Fischer 344 rat using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Marked developmental and smaller aging-related changes were observed in brain high-energy phosphates, phospholipid precursors and phospholipid breakdown products. The biochemical changes correlate with known histological and electrophysiological changes occurring in the brain during development (neuritic sprouting and onset of brain electrical activity) and aging (loss of dendritic processes). These findings provide a framework for interpreting the effects of physiological insults during different developmental and aging periods.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of the brain in Alzheimer's disease.

The histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease have long been considered to be neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and neuritic (senile) plaques (SP). Neither of these structures, however, are unique to Alzheimer's disease, and both probably represent end-stage markers of the disorder. NFT have been demonstrated in many disorders; SP occur in small numbers with normal aging. Evidence is presented for elevation of phosphomonoesters (PME) in Alzheimer's brain compared to non-Alzheimer's diseased controls and normal controls. The PME detected by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of autopsy brain are predominantly anabolic precursors of membrane phospholipids. Elevated PME could be secondary to a metabolic block at the rate-limiting enzyme in membrane phospholipid synthesis, which is cytidine triphosphate (CTP): phosphocholine (or phosphoethanolamine) cytidyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15). Elevated PME could also be secondary to decreased breakdown of PME by phospholipase D activity. Since CTP: phosphocholine cytidyltransferase is inactivated by phosphorylation and since there is independent evidence for hyperphosphorylation of tau and MAP-2 proteins in AD brain, enhanced protein kinase activity could be a common factor. Preliminary evidence suggests that PME could interact with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and potentially act as false neurotransmitters. Further studies will be needed to investigate these possibilities.