ABSTRACT
Chronic meningococcemia is an uncommon disorder, representing a diagnostic challenge. Classically, this pathology would be considered in young adults with a history of episodes of fever, disseminated cutaneous vasculitis and arthralgia. Exact and rapid diagnosis is often further challenged by the fact that routine microbiological investigations frequently failed to identify incriminated micro-organism, Neisseria meningitidis. Here we present the case of a young man not presenting with the classical triad.
ABSTRACT
We studied both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 11 patients suffering from Huntington's disease (HD) and 12 control subjects by combining high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy and HPLC. NMR spectroscopy analysis of the CSF shows a significant increase (60%) in pyruvate concentration in HD patients. No unexpected molecules were detected. Glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, proline and GABA levels were found unchanged in the CSF of HD patients, using HPLC analysis. Conversely, a significant increase (30%) in the CSF level of glycine was detected. These observations are in agreement with the metabolic hypothesis of HD physiopathogenesis. In addition, the protocol combining NMR spectroscopy and HPLC provides a straightforward evaluation of brain metabolic status and blood-brain-barrier function.
Subject(s)
Huntington Disease/metabolism , Amino Acids/blood , Amino Acids/cerebrospinal fluid , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Humans , Huntington Disease/blood , Huntington Disease/cerebrospinal fluid , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Pyruvates/blood , Pyruvates/cerebrospinal fluid , Pyruvic Acid , UltrafiltrationABSTRACT
The neurophysiological mechanisms explaining parkinsonian rigidity are still poorly understood. Its reflex nature is well established but the peripheral afferents causing it are likely multiple and not restricted to IA afferents. Few modifications appear in spinal cord reflex mechanisms and are limited to some interneurones (reciprocal inhibition and flexor reflex). At present, the most plausible explanation of rigidity relies on hyperactivity in long loop reflex pathways relaying in the brain.
