摘要:

Based on 32 cases with clinical onset 1943–73, we previously described the occurrence of clinical neurologic multiple sclerosis (CNMS) on the Faroe Islands as constituting three consecutive epidemics, with 20, 9, and 3 cases respectively. As of 1991 there were seven additional cases of CNMS with clinical onset 1984–1989 constituting the fourth epidemic, as well as three more members of epidemic III. We have proposed that CNMS is the rare late result of infection with PMSA (the primary multiple sclerosis affection), a state requiring some two years of exposure from age 11+ for acquisition by Faroese, and that PMSA was first transmitted during World War II by affected but asymptomatic British troops to Faroese residents; part of this (F1) cohort of affected asymptomatic Faroese transmitted PMSA to the next (F2) cohort comprising Faroese reaching age 11 in the interval when that F1 subset was present, and the F2 cohort similarly transmitted PMSA to the third (F3) cohort. Cases of CNMS defining epidemic I‐III were members of the respective F1‐F3 cohorts. The existence of epidemic IV within the F4 cohort of Faroese may be taken as validation of our transmission models and of our theses as to the nature of multiple sc

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04211.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Increased generation of superoxide radical (O2‐) in the blood stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) has been found in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. All the subjects studied were non‐smokers and received the same hospital diet. In the MS group treated with prednisone superoxide radical generation was lower than in untreated patients, but was still above the level of O2‐generation in controls. Plasma lipid peroxidation products, measured as thiobarbituric‐reactive substances, were slightly elevated in both prednisone treated and non‐treated MS patients in comparison with controls. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was at the same level in MS and control groups. These results suggest that increased generation of reactive oxygen species may occur in MS patients during acute relapse. This phenomenon may be involved in the pathomechanism of demyelinating

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04212.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG profiles of 46 Japanese patients with relapsing and remitting types of multiple sclerosis (MS). There were 12, 13 and 21 patients, with inactive, active and both clinical conditions, réspectively. The values for IgG, IgG/Alb ratio, IgG index and IgG synthesis rate were significantly higher during active than during inactive stages, but the patients with high values for these IgG profiles during active stages tend to also have high values during inactive stages. None of 33 (0%) and 2 of 34 patients (5.9%) exhibited abnormal IgG levels, 3 (9.1%) and 8 (23.5%) an abnormal IgG/Alb ratio, 9 (27.3%) and 18 (52.9%) an abnormal IgG index, and 5 (15.2%) and 14 (41.2%) an abnormal IgG synthesis rate, during inactive and active stages, respectively. Some of HLA antigen frequencies were significantly different between the patients with and without abnormal CNS IgG profiles. Increased CSF IgG was of lesser diagnostic value for MS in Japan, and seemed to be a function of immunogenetics rather than clinical activity

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04213.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We evaluated circulating anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in 38 Japanese patients who fulfilled the criteria of clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), using a newly developed EIA system with aCL‐cofactor. Two of 38 patients (5.3%) had a aCL‐cofactor‐dependent positive serology, and differences compared with findings in controls were statistically significant. The 2 aCL‐positive patients had similar clinical features with acute transverse myelopathy (ATM), optic neuropathy (OPN), normal cranial MRI and negative oligoclonal IgG bands (OCBs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Among the 38 patients, 3 had ATM, OPN, normal cranial MRI and negative OCBs, hence, in a significant number of the patients (2/3; 67%) with these distinctive features, serology for aCL was positive. Therefore, they may have another condition associated with aCL, masquerading as MS. Serological testing for aCL with aCL‐cofactor is recommended for the patients with clinical diagnosis of MS, especially for those showing OPN and ATM during the clinical course, and in Asian peoples where the incidence of ATM and OPN is relatively high among the patients with diagno

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04214.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Vertebrates carry large numbers of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and related sequences in their genomes. These retroviral elements are inherited as Mendelian traits. Generally, ERVs are defective without the ability of being expressed as viral particles. However, ERV sequences often have a potential for expression of at least some proteins. So far, the possible biological significance of ERVs is not clear. Nonetheless, there are observations suggesting a connection between ERVs and various diseases. This is the case with murine lupus and a spinal cord disease of certain mouse strains. In the present review, we discuss possible mechanisms by which ERVs could contribute to the development of human degenerative and inflammatory nervous system diseases, including direct effects on nervous system cells and immune cells. Interactions between ERVs and infectious viruses are also discussed. Finally, we review a possible retroviral etiology of multiple sclerosis.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04215.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We report a Swedish patient with progressive dementia possibly associated with human T cell‐lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) infection. The clinical investigation revealed no typical sings of other neurological disorders. The patient was probably infected in East‐Asia 35 years before onset of the disease. High titers of specific HTLV‐I antibodies were detectable with solid‐phase peptide ELISA in serum (1:1.600) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (1:20), and the CSF/serum anti‐HTLV‐I antibody ratio indicated intrathecal HTLV‐I antibody synthesis. Western blot for HTLV‐I and polymerase chain reaction with primers selected for the HTLV‐I pol gene were positive in both peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid. HTLV‐I antigen was also demonstrated afterin vitroco‐cultivation of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. Thus, our findings indicate that HTLV‐I infection also may be associated with dementia. In addition, this case report calls attention upon HTLV‐I as a possible etiologic agent to neurological diseases in countries previousl

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04216.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Immunological mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of epileptic seizures in some patients and in experimental animal models of epilepsy. A beneficial effect of high dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG) has been demonstrated for some children with intractable epilepsy. In this study we treated 9 children ages 1.1–9.2 years (mean 5.0 years) with intractable epilepsy not responsive to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and steroid therapy. Eight children and Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome and 1 had complex partial seizures with secondary generalization. Each child received 3 doses of IVIG (200 mg/kg of polyvalent immunoglobulin) on Days 1, 15 and 36. Concomitant AEDs were not changed. Four children had complete remission, 3 had partial response with a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency and 2 had no response. Onset of response varied from immediate to 7 months after the last injection. No toxicity was noted. Duration of remission was 9 months in 1 case. The other 3 cases have remained in remission to date with a follow up period of 22–26 months. We conclude that IVIG is a safe therapy which appears to be effective in some children with intractable seizures. Children with shorter duration of their seizure disorder (70) appear to have a more favorable response. Larger scale controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal timing and dosage, as well as to identify specific subgroups which may benefit most from IVIG trea

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04217.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Increase in the red blood cell mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) values in patients receiving Valproate as mono or polytherapy was noted. To investigate this situation 41 epileptic patients were studied on Valproate alone (Group 1) and 20 patients on Valproate added to another antiepileptic drug (AED), (Group 4), and compared with 19 patients on carbamazepine (CBZ) (Group 2) and 12 patients on phenytoin (PHT), (Group 3). The results showed significant rise in MCV values in Groups 1 and 4. The peripheral blood smear and other tests including reticulocyte counts of the patients with abnormal values ruled out macrocytic anemias. We postulate a generalized effect which is the result of alteration in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04218.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This study was done to evaluate the effect of rising temperature on nerve conduction parameters in 22 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We wanted to find out whether diseased nerves responded to temperature rise in a different manner from normal controls. For this purpose a group of 20 healthy individuals were also tested. With rising temperature motor nerve conduction velocities increased, whereas latencies, amplitudes and duration of the compound muscle action potential decreased in both groups. These changes were not statistically significant between the two groups. Sensory nerve conduction parameters yielded basically similar findings except for a significantly smaller reduction in amplitude of the compound nerve action potential (CNAP) in the CTS group (p<0.005). We conclude that there is a different response in the sensory CNAP amplitude between normal and CTS groups, but the same nerve conduction correction formulae for temperature can be used in CTS patients as in normal individuals in the event of low skin temperature.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04219.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The conventional CSF cell preparation methods suffer from a poor cell recovery rate (mean rates of 10–50% with the sedimentation techniques, which makes it unlikely, that the cell sampling on the slide is representative) or from suboptimal cell visualization (filter techniques). An improved sedimentation technique is described with a mean recovery rate of 80% and excellent cell visualizatio

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04220.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY