ABSTRACT
Interorganic and neurospecific liquor proteins were measured in brain injury patients using enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay (maximum sensitivity 2.0 and 0.05-1 ng/ml, respectively). The protein concentrations were found to vary with the time which elapsed since the injury.
Subject(s)
Brain Injuries/cerebrospinal fluid , Brain/metabolism , Acute Disease , Brain Concussion/cerebrospinal fluid , Convalescence , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Nerve Tissue Proteins/cerebrospinal fluid , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Disorders seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease are also related to the pathology of immunity. In order to study it in a more detailed manner, some immunity parameters were examined in 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 15 patients with Huntington's chorea which may have similar mechanisms of immunologic defects, and 15 healthy donors. A study was also made of the capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to respond to polyclonal mitogens in blast transformation test and according to the production of immunoglobulins in vitro. The subpopulation composition of these cells was investigated as well. A significant rise of the count of C 8+ lymphocytes, depression of proliferative response, low spontaneous and high Phytolacca mitogen-stimulated immunoglobulin production have been revealed. The changes recorded in Huntington's chorea had the same nature of development. The disorders revealed allow a conclusion about an important role that may be played by the immune system in these degenerative diseases of the brain.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/immunology , Antibody Formation , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/immunology , Humans , Huntington Disease/immunology , Immunity, Cellular , Immunoglobulins/blood , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Myelin Proteins/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunologySubject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/physiology , Brain/metabolism , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism , Huntington Disease/metabolism , Age Factors , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/blood , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/blood , Humans , Huntington Disease/blood , Huntington Disease/genetics , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A study was made of the hypothesis of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and of the role it plays in the disease pathogenesis. Use was made of the enzyme immunoassay test systems to detect neurospecific proteins in the blood serum within the following sensitivity range: gliofibrillar acid protein 10 ng/ml, alpha 2-glycoprotein of the brain 0.9 ng/ml, alpha 1- and alpha 2-specific brain globulins 50 pg/ml. Gliofibrillar acid protein and alpha 2-glycoprotein of the brain appeared the most sensitive markers of the process. Demonstration of these antigens in the blood serum in a concentration exceeding donor's ones suggests the impairment of the blood-brain integrity in active passage of brain proteins to the blood. A direct relationship is shown between the level of gliofibrillar acid protein in the blood serum and the severity of the clinical picture of AD.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/immunology , Autoantigens/immunology , Blood-Brain Barrier/physiology , Brain/immunology , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/immunology , alpha-Macroglobulins/immunology , Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology , Antibody Specificity/immunology , Autoantibodies/analysis , Autoantibodies/immunology , Brain/blood supply , Epitopes/analysis , Epitopes/immunology , Humans , PermeabilityABSTRACT
The authors have developed an enzyme immunoassay test system for measurements of the specific cerebral alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-GP), whose sensitivity limit is 0.8 ng/ml. Blood serum alpha 2-GP level is 7 ng/ml, cerebrospinal fluid level is 12.8 ng/ml in health; detection of alpha 2-GP in these biological fluids in concentrations surpassing such values indicates impairment of the hematoencephalic barrier permeability and active release of the cerebral proteins into the blood. The hematoencephalic barrier is most frequently disrupted in the brain-blood direction in purulent meningitis, encephalitis, open craniocerebral injuries; such impairments may be detected with the use of alpha 2-GP measurements. A direct correlation between the blood serum alpha 2-GP level and the severity of the disease clinical course has been revealed.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases/blood , Glycoproteins/blood , Brain Injuries/blood , Brain Neoplasms/blood , Humans , Immunoenzyme TechniquesABSTRACT
Familial pleomorphism of Huntington's chorea (HC) was studied on the basis of examining the members of a large family (over 200 representatives) living in the Shamkhor District [correction of focus] of Azerbaijan, where the disease was diagnosed in 41 probands. The phenotype testing was performed with the aid of a standard map for assessing the neurological and neuropsychological status. The multidimensional statistical treatment made it possible to distinguish the four phenotypic groups: hyperkinetic, psychic, combined hyperkinetic and psychic, and akinetic-rigid. The clinical pleomorphism of the phenotypes distinguished was analyzed. Based on the logical search, a quantitative test map for estimating the disease gravity is provided. Use is made of the most informative signs.
Subject(s)
Huntington Disease/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Adult , Azerbaijan , Female , Humans , Huntington Disease/classification , Huntington Disease/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Pedigree , PhenotypeABSTRACT
Vitamin B12 deficiency is often attended by neuropsychic disorders. In the geriatric population, the level of vitamin B12 is mostly reduced. However, the clinical manifestations and pathogenesis are not completely specified. The authors describe a female patients in whom vitamin B12 deficiency was coupled with manifest neuropsychic disorders. Provide a detailed depiction of the clinical status, the disease course and laboratory findings. Relate the most typical neuropsychic manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Subject(s)
Ataxia/etiology , Cognition Disorders/etiology , Neurocognitive Disorders/etiology , Paresthesia/etiology , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/complications , Ataxia/diagnosis , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neurocognitive Disorders/diagnosis , Paresthesia/diagnosis , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/psychologyABSTRACT
Presymptomatic DNA diagnosis of Huntington's chorea (HC) was made for two sons of a patient affected with the disease using amplification of the DNA fragment in the area of locus G 8 linked with HC gene. That fragment contains a polymorphous site in the area of restrictase recognition Hind III, being of information value as regards the family under examination. The familial analysis with the use of the DNA diagnosis data makes it possible to exclude the inheritance of HC gene for both the sons of the patient with a probability of 96%.
Subject(s)
DNA/genetics , Huntington Disease/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Child , DNA Probes , Female , Humans , Huntington Disease/genetics , Male , Pedigree , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methodsSubject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Brain/drug effects , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology , Brain/blood supply , Brain/physiopathology , Cerebrovascular Circulation/drug effects , Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Drug Evaluation , Humans , Middle Aged , Neurotransmitter Agents/physiology , Parasympathomimetics/therapeutic use , Piracetam/therapeutic use , Stimulation, Chemical , Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Acetylcholinesterase/deficiency , Alzheimer Disease/etiology , Brain/pathology , Choline O-Acetyltransferase/deficiency , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis , Alzheimer Disease/enzymology , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/enzymology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Middle Aged , Nerve Degeneration , Neurons/pathology , Tomography, Emission-Computed , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
The selectivity of action of anticholinesterase drugs (ACE drugs) in hereditary ataxias was studied using methods of registration of short latent stem-induced potentials to acoustic stimulation and assessment of the parameters of visual motor coordination. The findings obtained show the involvement in the pathological process of the brain stem in hereditary ataxias and the heterogeneity of action of ACE drugs. Thus, amiridine acted predominantly on efferent while galanthamine on afferent conduction of impulses.