Naturally occurring autoantibodies interfere with ß-amyloid metabolism and improve cognition in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease 24 h after single treatment.

There is evidence that naturally occurring antibodies directed against Aß (nAbs-Aß) have a role in Aß-metabolism and Aß-clearance. The presence of nAbs-Aß leads to a reduction in amyloid fibrillation and thus a reduction in their toxicity. We investigated the effects of nAbs-Aß in respect to oligomerization and used the Tg2576 transgenic mouse model in order to investigate the rapid effect with a single-dose (24 h) on oligomer breakdown and cytokine secretion along with immunohistochemical characterization of synaptic plasticity. nAbs-Aß were able to reduce toxic oligomer concentration with an increase in Aß-monomers. Cytokine secretion was significantly reduced. Synaptic plasticity was also improved after administration of nAbs. Finally, single treatment lead to a significant improvement in cognition. This study demonstrates the efficacy of nAbs-Aß and presents evidence that several hallmarks of the disease are targeted by nAbs-Aß.

Effect of patient personality profile and verbal presentation on successful rigid contact lens adaptation, satisfaction and compliance.

BACKGROUND: Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses have numerous benefits, including quality of vision, ocular health, and reduction of myopic progression in young people. Nevertheless, RGP lens use is not increasing in the United States. It is possible that certain patient personality characteristics and/or how a practitioner presents RGP lenses to a new patient may affect satisfaction and success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of individual patient's personality and the practitioner's method of presenting RGP lenses to new patients on their ability to adapt to these lenses. METHODS: Forty-nine subjects, all noncontact lens wearers, were entered into this 1-month study, which was conducted at both the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry and the Pacific University College of Optometry. All subjects initially completed standardized questionnaires pertaining to locus of control, openness to new experiences, and motivation/expectations. After diagnostic fitting with a RGP lens material, the subjects were placed into one of the following three groups: (1) Fear-Arousing Non-Enthused; (2) Neutral Content Non-Enthused; or (3) Neutral Content Enthused. They observed one of three video presentations on RGP lens wear. Subjects submitted daily questionnaires providing their evaluation of such factors as comfort, wearing time, and handling. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference (chi(2) = 6.99; p < 0.05) among the different groups in the number of dropouts: 6/19 with the Fear-Arousing Non-Enthused group, 2/17 with the Neutral Content Non-Enthused group, and 0/13 with the Neutral Content Enthused group. There was also a significant difference (ANOVA F = 4.1, p < 0.05) among the groups on compliance, with the Neutral Content Enthused group demonstrating greater compliance. In terms of satisfaction, there was no significant difference among presentation groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the method of presentation is important for successful RGP contact lens wear. If presented with genuine interest and a positive and realistic attitude, patients are more likely to succeed in RGP lens wear during the initial critical period.

Hypoglycemic hemiplegia.

The usual signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include tachycardia and profound diaphoresis. These will progress to include an altered mental status that can advance in severe cases to coma, seizures, and death. Occasionally, hypoglycemia may present with focal neurologic signs that can include hemiparesis or hemiplegia with preservation of mental status. In patients with the latter signs, the possibility of a cerebrovascular accident or other intracranial abnormality must be considered. The authors describe an elderly patient with hypoglycemic hemiplegia secondary to insulin administration. Their report includes observations on clinical presentation, the various mechanisms involved, and guidelines for the management of this syndrome.

Temporal properties of the rewarding and aversive effects of amphetamine in rats.

To associate amphetamine with a location and a flavor, rats were given amphetamine injections and then confined for 20 min in one side of a shuttlebox with access to a flavored solution; on control trials with saline injections, they were confined for 20 min on the opposite side with a different flavor. Three groups of rats were placed in the shuttlebox either 5 min, 120 min, or 240 min after the injections. In subsequent choice tests, the 5 min and 120 min groups preferred the side and avoided the flavor associated with amphetamine; the 240 min group was indifferent between the sides and the flavors.