Brain morphology in first-episode schizophrenic-like psychotic patients: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study

Brain morphology was examined using magnetic resonance imaging in 30 first-episode patients with a schizophreniclike psychosis, 15 chronic schizophrenics, and 20 neurological controls. Statistical analyses of computer-generated measurements of regions of interest were controlled for gender, age, social class, and total brain volume. Lateral ventricular size was increased in both first-episode and chronic schizophrenic patients, with greater significance on the left than on the right side. Only the chronic patients, however, had reduced temporal lobe size, which also was greater on the left side. No major correlations of regional brain morphological measurements with cognitive functioning were found, although some measurements of verbal memory were correlated with parahippocampal size. This is a report of a preliminary study that suggests that some morphological brain changes may be present at the time of first treatment for a psychotic illness, whereas others may occur later in the course of illness. Future prospective studies may determine the clinical significance of these changes and whether they progress with the development of illness chronicity.     

Chronic actinic dermatitis responding to danazol

We report an unusual case of chronic actinic dermatitis associated with α1-antitrypsin deficiency and who responded well to treatment with danazol.     

Influence of ethanol on fetal brain cholinergic enzyme activities

Cultured brain cells from rat fetuses of ethanol-treated mothers demonstrated more than 2-fold elevations in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity relative to those of control (saline-exposed) fetal brain cells. When cells from control animals were incubated in vitro for 5 days with 0.1% ethanol, ChAT activity was found to increase more than 4-fold. Brain cells from in utero ethanol-treated animals further exposed to ethanol in vitro for 5 days demonstrated significantly higher ChAT activity compared to cells exposed to ethanol only in vivo. These levels were more than 6 times greater than those of central nervous system cells never exposed to ethanol. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was significantly elevated (greater than 4-fold) in fetal brain cells when ethanol was present both in vivo and in vitro, but neither treatment alone resulted in any significant changes in AChE. These effects of ethanol on enzymes involved in acetylcholine metabolism may contribute to the different developmental neurologic abnormalities associated with fetal alcohol exposure.     

Trace element status in multiple sclerosis

We compared trace element status in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 27) with and without treatment with corticosteroids and groups of healthy subjects. Concentrations of plasma ceruloplasmin, selenium, and zinc and erythrocyte (RBC) glutathione peroxidase, Se, and Zn were similar in all groups. RBC copper concentrations were significantly lower in MS patients than in control subjects (mean +/- SEM: 0.048 +/- 0.005 vs 0.060 +/- 0.002 mumol/g Hb) because of decreased RBC Cu with steroid therapy. RBC Zn-Cu ratios were significantly higher (14.9 +/- 1.0 vs 10.1 +/- 0.3) in MS patients than in control subjects, differing in both groups of MS patients. In MS and control subjects, RBC Cu correlated significantly with RBC Zn (r = 0.56, 0.49). Disease acuity and disability had no effect on trace-mineral status. These data suggest that in MS there is altered Cu and Zn homeostasis that may cause or result from the disease and is influenced by corticosteroid therapy. Systemic trace element alterations might provide clinically useful markers of MS.