Glycosylation of random IgG distinguishes seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

The N-glycosylation of human immunoglobulins, especially IgGs, plays a critical role in determining affinity of IgGs towards their effector (pro- and anti-inflammatory) receptors. However, it is still not clear whether altered glycosylation is involved in only antibody-dependent disorders like seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or also in pathologies with similar clinical manifestations, but no specific autoantibodies like seronegative RA. The clarification of that uncertainty was the aim of the current study. Another study aim was the detection of specific glycan forms responsible for altered exposure of native glycoepitopes. We studied sera from seropositive RA (n = 15) and seronegative RA (n = 12) patients for exposure of glycans in native IgG molecules, followed by determination of specific glycans by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescent detection (CE-LIF). Aged-matched groups of normal healthy donors (NHD) and samples of intravenous immunoglobulin IgG preparations (IVIG) served as controls. There was significantly stronger binding of Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) and Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL) lectins towards IgG from seropositive RA compared to seronegative RA or NHD. CE-LIF analysis revealed statistically significant increases in bisecting glycans FA2BG2 (p = .006) and FABG2S1 (p = .005) seropositive RA, accompanied by decrease of bisecting monogalactosylated glycan FA2(6)G1 (p = .074) and non-bisecting monosialylated glycan FA2(3)G1S1 (p = .055). The results suggest that seropositive RA is distinct from seronegative RA in terms of IgG glycan moieties, attributable to specific immunoglobulin molecules present in seropositive disease. These glycans were determined to be bisecting GlcNAc-bearing forms FA2BG2 and FABG2S1, and their appearance increased the availability of LCA and AAL lectin-binding sites in native IgG glycoepitopes.

Interactions between selected bile salts and Triton X-100 or sodium lauryl ether sulfate.

BACKGROUND: In order to develop colloidal drug carriers with desired properties, it is important to determine physico-chemical characteristics of these systems. Bile salt mixed micelles are extensively studied as novel drug delivery systems. The objective of the present investigation is to develop and characterize mixed micelles of nonionic (Triton X-100) or anionic (sodium lauryl ether sulfate) surfactant having oxyethylene groups in the polar head and following bile salts: cholate, deoxycholate and 7-oxodeoxycholate. RESULTS: The micellization behaviour of binary anionic-nonionic and anionic-anionic surfactant mixtures was investigated by conductivity and surface tension measurements. The results of the study have been analyzed using Clint's, Rubingh's, and Motomura's theories for mixed binary systems. The negative values of the interaction parameter indicate synergism between micelle building units. It was noticed that Triton X-100 and sodium lauryl ether sulfate generate the weakest synergistic interactions with sodium deoxycholate, while 7-oxodeoxycholate creates the strongest attractive interaction with investigated co-surfactants. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that increased synergistic interactions can be attributed to the larger number of hydrophilic groups at α side of the bile salts. Additionally, 7-oxo group of 7-oxodeoxycholate enhance attractive interactions with selected co-surfactants more than 7-hydroxyl group of sodium cholate.

Gait apraxia.

Gait apraxia is most commonly a part of the Hakimov triad (gait apraxia, urinary incontinence, dementia) in normotensive hydrocephalus (NPH), although it may be a symptom of some other conditions. In our case the patient was a long term Parkinson's disease sufferer who developed normotensive hydrocephalus and consequently gait apraxia. Only after a third successive evacuation of the CSF his gait apraxia improved (Fig. 1, Ref. 15). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Lamotrigine in the treatment of pain syndromes and neuropathic pain.

Anti-epileptic drugs are increasingly used in the treatment of pain syndromes and neuropathic pain. Sodium channel blockers can be effective in the treatment of pain. The object of our interest is the efficiency of lamotrigine in treating the pain. A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify pertinent studies, case reports, letters, and reviews in English published from 1986 to May 2007. The search has indicated efficiency in treating a number of painful syndromes and neuropathic pain; central pain, trigeminal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis, pain in multiple sclerosis, SUNCT syndrome, cluster headache, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, allodynia, neuralgia after nerve section, postherpetic neuralgia, HIV-associated neuropathy. Further researches are required on the role of lamotrigine in treating the spinal cord injury pain, neuralgia after nerve section, postoperative analgesic requirement, and in migraine (Tab. 1, Ref. 46). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Auditory evoked potentials (AEP)--an important help in early diagnosis of Schwannoma originating from vestibular nerve.

Early diagnosis of expansive formations enables efficient therapy and maximal reduction of remaining neurological damage. Schwannoma situated entirely within the inner auditory canal with free pontocerebellar angle is a rather rare event. Of significant diagnostical help are auditory evoked potentials (AEP), computerised tomography (CT) of the temporal bone pyramid with measuring the inner auditory canal diameter, and magnetic resonance (MRI). In this paper we present a case of a 56-year-old woman with gradually advancing noise in the right ear, weakening of hearing and occasional instability while walking. AEP register no evoked response at the right side, whereas at the left side the latencies and amplitudes of evoked acoustic responses are adequate. CT of the temporal bone pyramid shows a difference in the inner auditory canal diameters of 0.04 cm. MRI shows a Schwannoma tumorous formation in the inner auditory canal, situated entirely within the canal with free pontocerebellar angle (Fig. 3, Ref. 16). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

[Serotonin immunoreactivity in the adrenal medullar in hypoxia]. / Serotoninska imunoreaktivnost medule nadbubrezne zlezde u hipoksiji.

Laboratory rats were exposed to influence of intermittent hypoxia every other day during the period of 11 days. Conditions similar to those of 7000 meters above sea level were imitated. Using the method of indirect immunofluorescence the state of serotonin immunoreactivity of the adrenal glands medulla was analyzed. After exposure of animals to influence of hypoxia serotonin decreased in the adrenal glands medulla, which is in harmony with the realization concerning adrenomedullar regulatory mechanisms as a response to hypoxia.

[Immunoreactivity in the adrenal medulla in hypoxia]. / Imunoreaktivnost medule nadbubrezne zlezde u hipoksiji.

Laboratory rats were exposed to influence of intermittent hypoxia every other day during the period of 11 days. Conditions similar to those of 7000 meters above sea level were imitated. Using the method of indirect immunofluorescence the state of noradrenal, adrenal and serotonin immunoreactivity of adrenal glands medulla were analyzed. After exposure of animals to influence of hypoxia adrenalin and serotonin are decreased in adrenal glands medulla, while noradrenal cells get totally emptied. The decrease of adrenal and noradrenal contents in the adrenal glands is in harmony with the knowledge about involvement of sympathoadrenal regulatory mechanisms as a response to hypoxia. The finding of decreased serotonin is explained by its simultaneous release with adrenalin from of adrenal glands medulla.

[The effect of intermittent deep hypoxia on the adrenal gland cortex]. / Kora nadbubrezne zlezde u uslovima ponavljane duboke hipoksije.

Wister laboratory rats were subjected to decreased atmospheric pressure occurring at the height of 23000 feet every day during 4 days and every second day during 11 days. The effect of hypoxia on the adrenal cortex and biochemical blood factors in rats, sacrificed at different times after the completion of exposure to hypoxic conditions was investigated. The hypoxic stress elicited alkalosis when Pa O2 and Pa CO2 were decreased, while the saturation oh hemoglobin by oxygen was enhanced. The animals, which were exposed to hypoxia for 4 consecutive days, better endured the whole course of the experiment than those ones exposed every second day. The histological changes in the adrenal cortex were stronger in the animals exposed to the experimental conditions with two-day breaks. The intensity, character and reversibility of the changes depended much more on the rhythm of exposure than on the rhythm of sacrifice.

[Immunocytochemical study of the noradrenaline and adrenaline-storing cells of the adrenal medulla under hypoxic stress]. / Imunocitohemijsko proucavanje noradrenalinskih i adrenalinskih celija nadbubrezne medule u hipoksiji.

Laboratory rats were exposed to the effect of intermittent hypoxia every other day over the 11-day period. Condition characteristics of 7000 m of height above see level were imitated. The indirect immunofluorescence staining was used in order to study morphodynamic turnover of adrenalin and noradrenalin cells. The results obtained have shown that the contents of adrenalin and noradrenalin cells in the medulla of the adrenal gland were mobilized. The discussion in the paper favours the probability that bioeffect of hypoxia may be expressed via the catecholamine system.

[The vascular network of the adrenal medulla in experimentally simulated altitude sickness]. / Vaskularna mreza nadbubrezne medule u uslovima eksperimentalno simulirane visinske bolesti.

Laboratory rats were exposed to the effect of intermittent hypoxia every second day over the 11-day period. Conditions characteristic of 7000 m of height above sea level were imitated. The effect of hypoxia on the adrenal medulla vascular network in rats, sacrificed at different times after the completion of exposure to hypoxic conditions, was investigated. Stereological percentage of the medulla blood vessels was 23% in the control group, 37% in the group with sacrificed rats immediately after the last exposure, and 45% in the group 4 days after the end of experiment. The obtained results showed that increased blood supply in the adrenal medulla was achieved during the experimental treatment.

[Stereologic analysis of the density of the vascular network of the heart in hypoxia in laboratory rats]. / Stereoloska analiza gustine vaskularne mreze srca laboratorijskog pacova u hipoksiji.

The density of the myocardiac vascular network in 3-month-old female Wistar rats exposed to intermittent hypoxia was studied. The experimental rats were sacrificed immediately (1st experimental subgroup) or 4 days (2nd experimental subgroup) after the last exposition. The volume density was statistically highly significant in the animals of the 1st subgroup and significant in the rats of the 2nd subgroup. The highly significant rise in the volume density of the myocardiac vascular network could be explained by an acute stress effect, whereas the only significant increase in the second case indicates adaptability to stress.