Galactosylceramide: a reliable serum index of demyelination in multiple sclerosis.

Eight patients with multiple sclerosis were followed for several months to determine if serum levels of galactosylceramide, a major lipid component of myelin, correlate with the clinical evolution of the disease. In the patients with the chronic progressive form of multiple sclerosis, galactosylceramide remained undetectable. In the patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, there was a good correlation between the elevation of serum galactosylceramide levels and clinical relapses. This serum assay should prove of value in the follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Immunological determination of galactosylceramide level in blood as a serum index of active demyelination.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the level of galactosylceramide (GalC) in biological fluids is described. The assay uses GalC-coated plastic microtiter plates, with binding of an antibody to GalC detected by a peroxidase-labeled second antibody. The GalC level was directly estimated in the biological samples, without prior extraction, by competition with the coated hapten. This method allows the detection of 62 pmol of GalC (1.2 nmol/ml). Results using this procedure revealed positive sera only among patients suffering a myelin-destructive process: either primary, as in multiple sclerosis, or secondary to brain damage, as during ischemic strokes.

[Lack of efficacy of yohimbine in the treatment of obesity]. / Absence d'efficacité de la yohimbine dans le traitement de l'obésité.

There is some evidence that blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on adipocytes may lead to an increase in lipolysis, We have therefore carried out a double blind comparative study of the effects of the selective alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine in human obesity. Nineteen obese volunteers participated in the study. Subjects were randomly allocated to the yohimbine group (n = 10, 18 mg yohimbine/day), or to the placebo group (n = 9). All subject were maintained on a hypocaloric diet (1000 kcal/day) during the 8 weeks of the study. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to either body weight, blood pressure supine and erect or heart rate during the different phases of the study. We found no difference in the lipid parameters (triglycerides, cholesterol, glycerol, beta-OH-butyrate, acetoacetate and free fatty acids) between the two groups. These results suggest that at the dose used the yohimbine does not influence the function of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the adipocytes; does not increase the lipolysis and does not represent an effective treatment of obesity.