Multiple sclerosis and childhood infections

Migration from an area where MS is common to an area where it is rare (and vice versa) affects the risk of MS, provided migration occurs in childhood. A childhood infection might explain this effect. Therefore, the age pattern of infectious diseases in different regions was examined. A higher proportion of children showed positive titers to many viral diseases early in life in areas where MS is rare compared with those where MS is common. Also, mortality rates from a variety of infectious diseases correlated negatively with the MS mortality. Thus, infection early in life may "protect" against MS, and conversely, later infection, when the immune system has partially matured, may increase risk. MS may be an age-dependent, host-immune response to childhood infection.     

Neurochemical and neuroendocrine dysregulation in affective disorders

Depressed patients demonstrate dysregulation in multiple neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems. The observed abnormalities are often subtle, involving "inefficiencies" in stress-responsive systems. Norepinephrine, acetylcholine, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis are among the major biochemical and hormonal sites of dysregulation in depression.     

Brain histamine metabolism in transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (Scrapie)

Summary The histamine (Hi) content and the activity of L-histidine decarboxylase (HD) in brains of scrapie infected hamsters were measured. No significant changes in Hi levels in particular brain areas were found when compared to controls. Decreased activity of HD was found in hypothalamus (p<0.02). Increased activity of the enzyme was observed in rest of brain, which consisted mainly of thalamus and striatum (p<0.05).     

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

There has been significant advance in our understanding of CJD and similar spongiform encephalopathies in recent years. The range in clinical expression of the disease is better appreciated, and the existence of "atypical" cases of CJD is increasingly recognized. New ideas about the possible modes of natural transmission have been derived from case-control studies in different parts of the world.     

Distal tubule bicarbonate accumulation in vivo. Effect of flow and transtubular bicarbonate gradients.

We have performed microperfusion studies on distal tubules of normal and alkalotic rats in an attempt to demonstrate in vivo bicarbonate secretion. All perfusion solutions were free of phosphate and other nonbicarbonate buffers. In both normal and alkalotic rats, distal perfusions elicited significant tCO2 entry only at high flow (24 nl/min). Even when perfusate tCO2 concentration closely matched plasma tCO2 concentration (30 mM tCO2), significant tCO2 entry again occurred at high flow. This was associated with a rise of the perfusate tCO2 concentration, which indicated net entry of tCO2 against a concentration gradient. In this "symmetrical" perfusion situation, acetazolamide blockade prevented tCO2 entry. Accordingly: distal tubule tCO2 entry is demonstrable in both alkalotic and normal rats at high flow rates; increasing perfusate tCO2 concentration can suppress tCO2 entry; and entry can occur in the absence of a gradient and this effect can be blocked by acetazolamide.     

Various problems of dynamics of the defense mechanisms of the body, the mechanism of development of infection and formation of metastases during infection

Based on the study of the bactericidal activity of the purulent fluid and cytograms of 55 patients with suppurative processes and 19 patients with sepsis the authors explain the character of the antimicrobial "struggle" of the macroorganism in the infected wound and formation of septicopyemic metastases during sepsis. A test for diagnosing sepsis is suggested.     

Pharmacology of laudanosine in dogs

The authors determined the pharmacokinetics (including transfer into cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]) and the cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) effects of laudanosine, a metabolite of atracurium. Eight dogs were anesthetized with halothane; blood pressure and a fronto-occipital electroencephalographic lead were monitored. Laudanosine (1 mg . kg-1 iv) was administered as a bolus, and its concentrations in plasma, CSF, urine, and bile were determined by liquid chromatography. Three-compartment modeling of plasma laudanosine concentrations yielded an elimination half-life for laudanosine of 113 +/- 24 min (mean +/- SD) and a clearance of 25 +/- 8 ml . kg-1 . min-1. CSF concentrations of laudanosine were highest 5-10 min after iv injection of laudanosine and ranged in concentration from 208 to 572 ng . ml-1 (i.e., 36-87% of the corresponding plasma concentrations). Unchanged laudanosine was found in urine (0.5-12% of injected dose) and bile (less than 0.1%); metabolites of laudanosine were found in both fluids. After a 6-h sampling period, dogs were hyperventilated with halothane (FIO2 = 0.2) to a PaCO2 of 26-28 mmHg. Laudanosine was then administered 2 mg . kg-1 iv every 5 min. With cumulative doses of 2-8 mg . kg-1, all dogs showed signs of "awakening" from anesthesia. Cumulative doses of 14-22 mg . kg-1 produced seizure activity in all animals. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly to 86% of control levels at 1 min following administration of laudanosine (1 mg . kg-1 iv) and returned to control levels 4 min later.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

ANTIGENEMIA HBs AND OTHER SEROLOGICAL MARKERS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM

Serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection were studiedin a group of recently presenting alcoholic out-patients andcompared with a group of long-stay in-patients suffering fromchronic alcoholism. All markers of infection were increasedin the chronic group and Were thought to be related to admissionto the Alcohol Unit. Although both groups had normal liver functiontests, the patients with the longer alcohol history had evidenceof two coexisting causes of liver disease and may, therefore,have a much poorer prognosis.     

VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF SINUS NODE FUNCTION TE.ST BY ATRIAL PACING IN SICK SINUS SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS

In order to evaluate the significance of the sinus node function test by transvenous atrial pacing in the diagno,sis of sick sinus syndrome (SSS), sinus node recovery time (SRT), co]rrected sinus node recovery time (CSRT) and total atrio- sinus and sino-atrial conduction time (SACT) are observed in 69 patients including non-SSS group 39 cases and SSS group 30 cases. According to our data, we suggest criteria for sinus node dysfunction as follows. SRT>1,400 ms and/or A-V junctional esca.pe before sinus recovery and;or secondary pause, CSRT>560 ms. total SACT>300 ms. With l item abnormal, the false positive rat.e in the non-SSS group is 7.7c7。 and the false negative rate in the S.SS group 3.30i" with 2 items abnormal, the false positive rate in the non-SSS group Oi and the false negative rate in the SSS grOiup 6.7'70. Atropine test results are compared with that of atrial pacing, 95.8To and 84.2% are compatible with each other in these 2 groups. In order to cut the use of invasive technic to the minimum, we propose performing the atropine test first. Only in those with unexplainable test results should the trial pacing test. be resorted to..