Autoantibodies to GM1 ganglioside: different reactivity to GM1-liposomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lower motor neuron disorders

We studied the ability of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies to bind to GM1 in a lipid, "membrane-like" environment. Liposomes containing GM1 were synthesized to simulate this environment. We then compared the binding of anti-GM1 a autoantibodies to GM-1-liposomes and to purified GM1. Antibody binding was quantitated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methodology. Our results showed a 250-fold variation in the ability of anti-GM1 antibodies to bind to GM1-liposomes. There was no correlation between GM-1-liposome binding and the carbohydrate specificities of the anti-GM1 antibodies. However, anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) showed a 4 fold greater binding to GM1-liposomes than antibodies from patients with lower motor neuron (LMN) syndromes. We conclude that a lipid, presumably "membrane-like", environment may greatly influence the degree of anti-GM1 antibody binding to GM1. The low levels of anti-GM1 antibody binding to GM1-liposomes in patients with LMN syndromes may provide a diagnostic means for distinguishing these patients from those with ALS. Anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with ALS may bind especially well to neuronal membranes containing GM1 in vivo.     

Caspase inhibitors reduce neuronal injury after focal but not global cerebral ischemia in rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies show that blocking the activation of caspases by the caspase inhibitors z-VAD.FMK and z-DEVD.FMK can reduce ischemic neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia. Because the severity of ischemia was mild in some studies, we tested the efficacy of these caspase inhibitors on moderately severe but transient forebrain and focal ischemic insults in the rat. METHODS: Various regimens of z-VAD, z-DEVD, and control DMSO were given to rats subjected to either 4-vessel occlusion ischemia (4-VO, 10-minute occlusion, 7-day survival) or distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo, 90-minute occlusion, 22.5-hour survival). In global ischemia, treatments were given immediately after ischemia (experiment 1) or as preischemic and postischemic treatments (experiment 2). Three focal ischemia experiments were done. Injection times were 60 minutes into ischemia (experiment 1) and 60 minutes into ischemia plus 30 and 120 minutes after ischemia (experiment 2). Experiment 3 was identical to experiment 2 except that a 30-minute preischemia treatment was instituted. Core normothermia was maintained in all experiments during ischemia. However, in the last focal and global experiments, core and brain temperatures, respectively, were also measured after ischemia with telemetry probes. Because hyperthermia accompanied z-DEVD treatment, an extra z-DEVD-treated group (MCAo) was included with temperature clamped at normothermia. RESULTS: Neither z-VAD nor z-DEVD significantly reduced CA1 injury after global ischemia. In focal ischemia, both drugs significantly reduced infarction, but only in the third experiment, and the prevention of hyperthermia that accompanied z-DEVD treatment did not alter this. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a detrimental role of caspases in moderately severe focal but not global cerebral ischemia.     

Accumulation of insoluble alpha-synuclein in dementia with Lewy bodies

The alpha-synuclein (alpha SN) protein is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases where it aggregates to form intracellular inclusions. We have used Western blotting to examine the expression levels and solubility of alpha SN in brain homogenates from dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and normal controls using samples from the parahippocampus/transentorhinal cortex. Compared to controls, DLB brains accumulate significantly greater amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-soluble and SDS-insoluble alpha SN but levels of TBS-soluble alpha SN did not change. Levels of synaptophysin, a marker of synaptic integrity, were significantly lower in DLB cases than in normal aged controls regardless of whether concurrent changes of AD were present. This limbic synaptic dysfunction may contribute to cognitive impairment in DLB. Whether aggregated alpha SN is a cause or effect of the disease process in DLB and PD remains to be determined, but the presence of aggregated alpha SN is consistent with a pathogenesis similar to that associated with aggregates of Abeta amyloid in AD.     

高效液相色谱法同时测定复方对乙酰氨基酚维生素C泡腾片中2组分含量

目的 :建立同时测定复方对乙酰氨基酚维生素C泡腾片中对乙酰氨基酚和维生素C含量的高效液相色谱法。方法 :色谱柱 :YWG -C18柱 (10 μm,2 5 0mm× 4 .6mm) ;流动相 :甲醇 乙腈 0 .0 5mol·L-1磷酸二氢铵 磷酸缓冲液 (5 0∶11∶2 5 0 ) ;流速 :1.0mL·min-1;检测波长 :2 5 4nm。结果 :对乙酰氨基酚线性范围为 8～ 16 0mg·L-1;维生素C线性范围为 5～ 10 0mg·L-1。对乙酰氨基酚回收率为 10 0 .4 % (RSD =2 .4 0 % ) ,维生素C回收率为 10 1.2 % (RSD =1.90 % )。结论 :应用本法同时测定对乙酰氨基酚和维生素C含量 ,具有简便、快速、准确、可靠的特点     

用群体药代动力学预测癫痫儿童丙戊酸钠血药浓度

目的 用群体药代动力(PPK)模型和贝叶斯法预测血药浓度。方法 用癫痫儿童丙戊酸钠PPK模型和USC~*PACK软件中的贝叶斯程序,对100例新癫痫患儿丙戊酸钠的血药浓度进行预测。将预测值与实测值做配对t检验,相关和回归分析,计算平均预测误差、预测误差的百分比、不同预测误差百分比的符合率及其95％可信区间、构成比和评价预测的准确程度。结果 预测值与实测值的相关系数为0.99,P<0.001,线性回归Y_(OBS)=0.99)Y_(PRED),决定系数为0.98,P<0.001;平均预测误差为-0.43μg·mL~(-1),预测误差百分比分别为5％,10％,15％,20％,25％,30％的符合率为62％,74％,82％,85％,89％,93％。结论 PPK模型和贝叶斯法可准确预测丙戊酸钠稳态血药浓度。     

中西医结合对重症脑外伤昏迷病人促苏醒疗效观察

目的 :探讨醒脑开窍疗法对治疗重症颅脑损伤患者促苏醒作用以及对预后的影响。方法 :将 80例颅脑损伤患者 (GCS≤ 8)随机分成 2组 ,治疗组 4 0例 (在常规治疗基础上加用中药针刺疗法 ) ;对照组 4 0例。两组于伤后 1月按GCS预后评分评定预后 ,两组在促醒后 1月内意识好转率作一比较。结果 :治疗组预后恢复良好为 87 5 % ,显著高于对照组 6 2 5 % ,P <0 0 1;两组病死率差异无显著性意义 (P >0 0 5 )。治疗组 1月内清醒 32例 ,对照组 2 0例 ,P <0 0 1。结论 :中西医结合疗法在治疗重症脑外伤昏迷患者时 ,能加速促醒和提高生存质量。     

头针结合现代康复治疗小儿脑瘫临床研究

目的观察头针与现代康复疗法在治疗小儿脑瘫中的协同作用.方法90例脑瘫患儿随机分为3组,Ⅰ组采用头针疗法、Ⅱ组采用现代康复疗法和Ⅲ组采用头针结合现代康复疗法,治疗前后进行日常生活能力(ADL)、运动功能评定.结果经60天治疗后,3个组ADL评分明显高于治疗前(P<0.01),Ⅲ组的ADL评分、运动功能评分明显优于Ⅰ、Ⅱ组(P<0.01),Ⅰ、Ⅱ组相比则差异无显著性意义.结论头针与现代康复疗法在治疗小儿脑瘫中有协同作用.