摘要:

The presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in capillaries and arterioles of the cerebral and cerebellar cortex of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients may provide an opportunity to study the clinical significance of these vascular changes in AD. We reviewed the clinical and pathological features of 40 patients with AD without other CNS disease. The sections were examined by the red Congo method under a polarized light for the presence of CAA. Twenty-two (55%) had AD + CAA. CAA was seen most frequently and was of greater severity in occipital and frontal gray matter. We concluded that it is not possible to differentiate between AD patients with CAA and those without CAA in terms of demographic characteristics and neurological and psychiatric symptomatology.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107219

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The present study describes qualitative and quantitative investigations of the norepinephrine neurons in the locus ceruleus as well as in the subceruleus region of a case of the rare autosomal dominant Pick's disease as compared with a representative control and a case of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type selected from the Zürich Study on Dementia. It confirms previous findings that it is possible to differentiate between the norepinephrine neurons of locus ceruleus in normal brain and that in the SDAT for diagnostic purposes and suggests a similar possibility for Pick's disease. In Pick's disease locus ceruleus norepinephrine neurons appear morphologically altered with smaller somata and loss of dendritic and axonal processes, and when present, are foreshortened and less branched. Locus ceruleus neuron numbers are slightly reduced as compared with the control case.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107220

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The immunogold-silver-staining method (IGSS) was used for the detection of hippocampal neurons containing the cytoplasmic calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), Parkinson's disease and multi-infarct dementia (MID). Computer-based image analysis of cell numbers in the hippocampus proper and the entorhinal cortex, measurement of total dendritic length of selected neurons and quantitative microdensitometry of immunoreacted sections was performed. In severe SDAT cases a loss of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (parv-i) neurons and a reduction of dendritic fields was detected especially in CA1 and the subiculum. In the entorhinal cortex the general atrophy exceeded the decrease of parvalbumin immunoreactivity. Mild SDAT cases showed only minor alterations of parv-i neurons and in cases of parkinsonism without cognitive disorders or in those with depression parv-i neurons were not affected. However, in cases of parkinsonism with dementia and in MID a severe cell loss and a drastic reduction of dendritic arborization in the hippocampus proper was detected, which was accompanied by additional morphological alterations due to ischemic damage. We conclude that parv-i neuronal networks in the hippocampus are damaged in some patients with dementing disorders in SDAT, Parkinson's disease and MID consecutive to Alzheimer or ischemia related pathology.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107221

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The immunogold-silver-staining method (IGSS) was used for the detection of hippocampal neurons containing the cytoplasmic calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), Parkinson's disease and multi-infarct dementia (MID). Computer-based image analysis of cell numbers in the hippocampus proper and the entorhinal cortex, measurement of total dendritic length of selected neurons and quantitative microdensitometry of immunoreacted sections was performed. In severe SDAT cases a loss of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (parv-i) neurons and a reduction of dendritic fields was detected especially in CA1 and the subiculum. In the entorhinal cortex the general atrophy exceeded the decrease of parvalbumin immunoreactivity. Mild SDAT cases showed only minor alterations of parv-i neurons and in cases of parkinsonism without cognitive disorders or in those with depression parv-i neurons were not affected. However, in cases of parkinsonism with dementia and in MID a severe cell loss and a drastic reduction of dendritic arborization in the hippocampus proper was detected, which was accompanied by additional morphological alterations due to ischemic damage. We conclude that parv-i neuronal networks in the hippocampus are damaged in some patients with dementing disorders in SDAT, Parkinson's disease and MID consecutive to Alzheimer or ischemia related pathology.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000315527

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The distribution of angiotensin II (A II) immunoreactivity in the postmortem human corpus striatum was studied in control cases and in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and multi-infarct dementia (MID). Additionally A II immunoreactivity was examined in the hippocampus of control and SDAT patients. A II-immunopositive cellular structures found in the striatum were the large neurons and vesiculated fibers in the globus pallidus (GP), especially in the dorsal parts, and some aspiny neurons in the putamen. Changes in the cell morphology marked the neurons in the GP of SDAT patients. In the MID cases only a few A II-immunopositive fibers and no cell somata were present in the GP. An extracellular, perivascular A II-staining pattern, which was found only in 1 control case, was common to all SDAT and MID patients. A II-immunopositive cellular structures found in the hippocampus included distorted neuronal processes and vesiculated fibers, which were partly coexisting with neuritic plaques as shown by the double labeling with thioflavin. The perivascular A II staining was also observed in the hippocampus, which was more predominant in SDAT cases. The definition of these two A II-immunopositive cell types in human corpus striatum suggests that A II may be involved in local neuronal or projection pathways. Possibly A II participates in the development of cerebrovascular pathologies in elderly control and demented brains.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107222

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of cobalamin were studied in 35 subjects with dementia and in 7 healthy volunteers with no clinical or family history of dementia. The demented patients were classified into three groups according to DSM-III-R: dementia of Alzheimer-type (DAT), multi-infarct dementia (MID) and dementia not otherwise specified (DNOS). The CSF concentrations of cobalamin were significantly reduced in the DAT and MID cases. There were correlations between CSF and serum levels of cobalamin in the patient groups. The cobalamin levels in CSF were not related to cognitive functioning, behavior or degree of dementia, respectively. The subarachnoid spaces, ventricles and white-matter changes in the brain were observed on magnetic resonance imaging. The volumes were calculated in the DAT group, but there were no correlations to CSF or serum concentrations of cobalamin. The significance of low CSF cobalamin is discussed in relation to the metabolism of the brain.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107223

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The relationship between depression and alterations in circadian hormonal rhythms has received much attention in recent times. In particular abnormalities in cortisol rhythm can be viewed as an endocrine correlate of depression. Circadian rhythms are normalized under recovery. The objective of this study was to make an evaluation of clinical and biological effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). ALC has been investigated for treatment in cognitive deficits of elderly people. The efficacy of ALC in treating major depression has been reported in more recent ALC studies. In this double-blind study the antidepressant activity of ALC versus placebo was evaluated. We have selected 28 aged depressed subjects, meeting DSM III R criteria for Major Depression. Cortisol mean levels, cortisol rhythms and depressive symptoms have been evaluated in patients before and after ALC or placebo treatment. The results of the trial showed significantly higher clinical and biological efficacy for ALC as compared to placebo.

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107224

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107225

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107226

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:1420-8008    

DOI:10.1159/000107227

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger