Positive and negative implications of tumor necrosis factor neutralization for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, presumably autoimmune, degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The mechanisms which trigger the disease are unknown, but the pathology of MS is caused by the host's own immune system, which invades the CNS and attacks the myelin sheath that protects and insulates the axons of the nerve cells. Although this inflammatory assault selectively destroys myelin, it is believed that the neurological deficits of MS are rather the consequence of damage to axons, which occurs secondary to inflammation. The inflammatory mediators are generally secreted by myelin-specific, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages and activated glial cells and include a large number of cytokines, chemokines and other proinflammatory proteins.     

Rupture d’anévrismes des artères rénales dans la polyangéite microscopique

IntroductionRenal artery aneurysms are unusual manifestations of microscopic polyangiitis.ObservationWe report the case of a 55 years old male patient, with a microscopic polyangiitis, which was revealed by a demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, the diagnosis was made with association of alveolar hemorrhage, peripheral neuropathy and glomerulonephritis with positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (antimyeloperoxidase antibodies). The evolution was marked by a state of shock by rupture of aneurysms of intrarenal arteries.ConclusionThis case emphasizes the importance of looking for complications of unusual type of intrarenal aneurysms in patients with microscopic polyngiitis.     

Synthesis,Structure Elucidation and Antimicrobial Properties of New Bis-1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Four new 1,3,4-bis-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized, two of them bearing quaternary ammonium salts. The newly synthesized bis-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were...     

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and environmental toxic metal exposure in the United Arab Emirates

No systematic studies have been carried out on the effects of toxic metals on childhood behavior in the Gulf Region including the UAE. The relationship between blood levels of heavy metals and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were explored in school-aged children of UAE and it was found that increased blood concentrations of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were significantly associated with ADHD. The findings suggest that monitoring for exposure to heavy metal levels and education on potential child health hazards related to them are indicated.     

Cellular in vivo imaging reveals coordinated regulation of pituitary microcirculation and GH cell network function

Growth hormone (GH) exerts its actions via coordinated pulsatile secretion from a GH cell network into the bloodstream. Practically nothing is known about how the network receives its inputs in vivo and releases hormones into pituitary capillaries to shape GH pulses. Here we have developed in vivo approaches to measure local blood flow, oxygen partial pressure, and cell activity at single-cell resolution in mouse pituitary glands in situ. When secretagogue (GHRH) distribution was modeled with fluorescent markers injected into either the bloodstream or the nearby intercapillary space, a restricted distribution gradient evolved within the pituitary parenchyma. Injection of GHRH led to stimulation of both GH cell network activities and GH secretion, which was temporally associated with increases in blood flow rates and oxygen supply by capillaries, as well as oxygen consumption. Moreover, we observed a time-limiting step for hormone output at the perivascular level; macromolecules injected into the extracellular parenchyma moved rapidly to the perivascular space, but were then cleared more slowly in a size-dependent manner into capillary blood. Our findings suggest that GH pulse generation is not simply a GH cell network response, but is shaped by a tissue microenvironment context involving a functional association between the GH cell network activity and fluid microcirculation.