Facial Diplegia in Plasmodium vivax Malaria

BACKGROUND: Facial diplegia has diverse etiologies, including viral and bacterial infections such as diphtheria, syphilis and Lyme disease, and also protozoal infection in very rarely cases. CASE REPORT: A 20-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital due to bilateral weakness of the upper and lower facial muscles. Examination revealed that the patient had a facial diplegia of the peripheral type. A peripheral blood smear demonstrated the presence of the asexual trophozoite stage of Plasmodium vivax with ring-form trophozoites, which led to a diagnosis of malaria. A serum work-up revealed increased IgG titers of antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein and ganglioside GD1b. The patient was administered antimalarial treatment, 1 week after which he showed signs of recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first case of facial diplegia after malaria infection, providing evidence that the mechanism underlying the condition is related to immune-mediated disease. CONCLUSIONS: Facial diplegia can manifest after P. vivax infection.

[Induction of specific T-cell response following in vivo treatment of dendritic cells by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol]

Dendritic cells [DCs], as the managers of the immune response, have a crucial role in forming the direction and nature of the immune response. Some compounds such as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol affect the function of DCs and can be used to shift the immune functions toward favorite directions. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effects of 1, 25- dihydroxycholecalciferol on DCs surface markers, their potential to induce specific T-cell responses and the cytokines profile. 1, 25-dihidroxycholecolciferol was regularly injected intraperitoneal into C57BL/6 mice. DCs were separated from the spleens of calciferol treated and non-treated mice using magnetic beads. The expression of DCs surface markers was investigated by flow cytometric analysis. The separated cells were pulsed by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein [MOG] and injected subcutaneously into front footpads of syngeneic mice. After five days, the lymphocytes from regional lymph nodes were separated and used for the lymphocyte transformation test [LTT] and determination of the interferon gamma/interleukin 4 [IFN gamma/IL-4] ratio by ELISA technique. Statistical analysis of the obtained results showed reduced expression of maturation markers and co-stimulatory molecules by cholecalciferol treated DCs. The specific T-cell stimulation potential of treated DCs as well as the induced IFN gamma/IL-4 ratio was also down-regulated compared to non-treated cells [p value<0.05]. It seems that 1,25-dihydroxycholecolciferol can regulate the DCs function and maturation state in vivo. The T-cell stimulation rate and Th1/Th2 cytokines ratio also changes following interaction with cholecalciferol treated DCs

Mechanical hypernociception in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / Hipernocicepção mecânica em encefalomielite autoimune experimental

BACKGROUND: Pain is an important clinical manifestation in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, though it has been neglected in clinical and experimental researches. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nociceptive response in MOG35-55 experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced mice. METHOD: EAE was induced in 8 to 10 week old C57BL/6 female mice with an emulsion of MOG35-55, Complete Freund Adjuvant, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 RA and pertussis toxin. Nociception was evaluated by the von Frey filaments method. A clinical scale ranging from 0 to 15 was used to assess motor impairment. RESULTS: Clinical evidence of disease started at day 10 and peaked at day 14 after immunization. Thereafter, there was no worsening of symptoms until day 26. The EAE-induced mice presented reduced pressure threshold at days 7th and 10th after immunization and before the onset of clinical motor signs. CONCLUSION : The hypernociception found validates MOG35-55 EAE as a model for the study of pain in multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUÇÃO: Dor é uma manifestação importante em pacientes com esclerose múltipla (EM), mas que tem sido negligenciada na pesquisas clínica e experimental. OBJETIVO: Investigar a resposta nociceptiva de camundongos com encefalomielite autoimune experimental (EAE) induzida por MOG35-55. MÉTODO: A EAE foi induzida em camundongos C57BL/6 fêmeas de 8-10 semanas com emulsão contendo MOG35-55, Adjuvante Completo de Freund, Mycobacterium tuberculosis cepa H37 RA e toxina pertussis. A nocicepção foi medida pelo método de filamentos de von Frey. Uma escala clínica variando de 0 a 15 foi utilizada para avaliar a debilidade motora dos animais. RESULTADOS: Os sinais clínicos da doença iniciaram-se no dia 10 e a gravidade máxima foi alcançada no dia 14 após a imunização. Não houve piora dos sintomas até o dia 26. Os camundongos induzidos com EAE apresentaram diminuição do limiar de pressão nos dias 7 e 10 após a imunização e antes do início dos sinais motores. CONCLUSÃO: A hipernocicepção verificada valida a EAE induzida por MOG35-55 como um modelo para estudos de dor em esclerose múltipla.

Neuropatías autoinmunes: parte I: neuropatías y anticuerpos antineuronales / Autoimmune neurophaties: part I: neuropathy and antineural antibodies

Se trata de la primera parte de 2 artículos tendientes a aclarar el valor de exámenes serológicos en el diagnóstico de las neuropatías autoinmunes. Específicamente de los anticuerpos antineurales y de las gamapatías monoclonales. En esta primera revisión se presentan las posibilidades y limitaciones de los anticuerpos antineurales en manejo clínico de estas neuropatías. En primer lugar se describen las características generales de los distintos tipos de anticuerpos. Los síndromes polineuropáticos han sido divididos en motores, sensitivos, sensitivo/motores y Guillain-Barré, discutiéndose para cada caso la utilidad diagnóstica de los distintos anticuerpos antineurales

Immunocytochemical localization of myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein in human oligodendrocyte in culture / 대한해부학회지

No abstract available.