ABSTRACT
We report a 47-years-old male with ischemic stroke, whose arteriographic and echocardiographic investigations did not reveal any steno-occlusive arterial disease or embolic source from the left cardiac chambers. A transesophageal echocardiogram showed a patent foramen ovale (PFO), whilst laboratory screening for coagulation abnormalities showed heterozygosity for factor V Leiden mutation. The significance of the association of PFO with factor V Leiden mutation is discussed as a possible cause of ischemic stroke through paradoxical embolism from a venous source. The high prevalence of these two conditions in the general population is emphasized and the indication for anticoagulant therapy is discussed.
Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia/genetics , Factor V/genetics , Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/physiopathology , Point Mutation , Activated Protein C Resistance , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Brain Ischemia/physiopathology , Brain Ischemia/therapy , Echocardiography, Transesophageal , Embolism, Paradoxical/complications , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Heterozygote , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Radiography , Risk Factors , Thrombophilia , Tomography Scanners, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A specific and simple method for the direct simultaneous detection of extracellular nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) has been developed, using high-performance liquid chromatography separation with UV and electrochemical detection in series. These stable endproducts of nitric oxide (NO.) were determined in dialysis perfusate obtained through in vivo brain microdialysis during and after experimental photoinduced cerebral ischemia in rats. The chromatographic conditions were optimized with a reversed-phase column (250 x 46 mm) using 10 mM n-octylamine pH 6.0 as a mobile phase. Absorbance was measured at 220 nm for NO3- detection; electrochemical detection was performed at +0.7 V for NO2- evaluation. This assay system holds the advantages of in vivo consecutive measurements, high precision, good reproducibility, technical simplicity, fast response (about 7 min), and wide availability.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Ischemic Attack, Transient/metabolism , Light , Nitrates/metabolism , Nitrites/metabolism , Animals , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Ischemic Attack, Transient/etiology , Male , Microdialysis , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
We report the case of a patient with mesencephalic hematoma involving only the quadrigeminal plate. One case of superior and 3 cases of inferior colliculus hematoma have already been reported. Involvement of the quadrigeminal plate frequently follows a pontine or an anterior mesencephalic hemorrhage. The cause of these hematomas may be due to cryptic malformations of the quadrigeminal plate or primitive small size hemorrhages possibly related to the nature of the arterial system. Patients with inferior colliculus lesions present a typical symptomatology consisting of trochlear nerve palsy contralateral to the lesion or bilateral, contralateral hemiparesthesiae and acuphenes. Superior colliculus lesion causes upgaze palsy, visual blurring, dizziness and left upper lip paresthesiae. The cause of the different signs and symptoms in both types of lesion are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Hemorrhage/complications , Inferior Colliculi , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Superior ColliculiABSTRACT
We report on the case of a patient presenting a muscle atrophy of the right hand and a left parietal neoplastic lesion rapidly progressing. EMG findings showed no signs of denervation nor sensory-motor conduction impairments. Parietal lesions might interrupt sensory control mechanisms of motor activity.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/complications , Glioblastoma/complications , Hand , Muscular Atrophy/etiology , Parietal Lobe , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Muscular Atrophy/physiopathologyABSTRACT
The utilization of denaturing methods for protein purification causes the irreversible loss of quaternary and tertiary structure together with consistent changes in the secondary structure. These modifications reflect on protein antigenicity. MBP is a myelin protein which is bound to membrane-phospholipids. Its tertiary structure is specific for this kind of interaction which determines its native conformation. MBP was obtained in two forms: denatured and non denatured. The latter has been purified using the non-ionic detergent beta-octil-D-glucopyranoside which is able to preserve protein tertiary structure separating it from the bilayer phospholipids. Non denaturated MBP could be useful in antibody and/or lymphocyte activity detection studies in various human pathological processes.
Subject(s)
Myelin Basic Protein/isolation & purification , Animals , Cattle , Chemical Fractionation , Chromatography, Liquid , Detergents , Durapatite , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Glucosides , Myelin Basic Protein/chemistry , Prosencephalon/chemistry , Protein Denaturation , Protein Structure, TertiaryABSTRACT
We examined 8 cases of familial ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in three different families from our province, admitted to our hospital between 1970 and 1989. Clinical criteria for diagnosis were satisfied in all cases; EMG was performed in 6 out of 8 patients. 4 cases showed classical onset and 4 cases bulbar onset. The average age at onset was 65.7 + 10.6 years. The average survival was 19.1 + 9.2 months. In two families two generations were affected, in the other only one. The mode of transmission was found to be autosomal dominant with variable penetrance. Neither environmental nor toxic factors seemed to be involved in the development of the illness. Genetic investigations may help to elucidate the pathogenesis of familial ALS.
