Elevated levels of ß2-microglobulin in cerebrospinal fluid in adult patients with viral encephalitis/meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG) values are attributed to immune activation, lymphoid cell turnover and release of tissue destruction in the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated plasma and CSF ß2-MG levels in adult patients with viral encephalitis/meningitis and their correlations with clinical parameters. METHOD: CSF samples from 26 patients with viral encephalitis/meningitis were collected. Moreover, 24 CSF samples from patients with non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) as controls were collected. Plasma samples from 22 enrolled patients and 20 healthy individuals were collected. The ß2-MG levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry on an automatic biochemical analyzer. Clinical data were extracted from an electronic patient documentation system. RESULT: CSF levels of ß2-MG, adenosine deaminase (ADA), white blood cell (WBC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), protein and lactate were significantly increased in patients with viral encephalitis/meningitis respectively (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.013). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was found in plasma levels of ß2-MG. Furthermore, CSF levels of ß2-MG were weakly correlated with WBC (r = 0.426, p = 0.030), lymphocyte percentage (r = 0.599, p = 0.018), ADA (r = 0.545, p = 0.004) and LDH (r = 0.414, p = 0.036), but not with lactate (r = 0.381, p = 0.055), protein (r = 0.179, p = 0.381) and plasma levels of ß2-MG (r = -0.156, p = 0.537) in viral encephalitis/meningitis patients. CONCLUSION: CSF ß2-MG may be a potential inflammatory marker for viral encephalitis/meningitis in adult patients diagnosed with viral encephalitis/meningitis.

Effects of fish oil on ovarian development in spotted scat (Scatophagus argus).

The effects of different concentrations of dietary fish oil (0, 2%, or 6%) on ovarian development in 2-year-old female Scatophagus argus were investigated. The levels of serum sex steroid hormones (estradiol-17ß, E2; testosterone, T), protein phosphorus (SPP), and protein calcium (SPC), as well as vitellogenin (vtg) mRNA expression in livers and ovaries were measured. Over the eight week experimental period, oocytes did not develop further and remained at phase III in fish fed with the control diet with no supplement of fish oil. Fish fed with 2% fish oil supplement had oocytes at transition phase from III to IV. Fish fed with 6% fish oil supplement had oocytes at late phase IV. Higher gonadosmatic index, serum E2, SPP, SPC, and liver vtg expression were found in 6% fish oil group compared to that in the 2% fish oil group (except E2) and the control group (P<0.05). In addition, vtg expression in livers was 600-1000 times higher than that in the ovaries. Gonadosmatic index, E2, and SPP, as well as liver vtg expression increased during the experiment and peaked at the end of experiment. However, hepatosomatic index, serum T, and ovarian vtg expression peaked at 4 weeks, and then decreased at 8 weeks, with no significant difference among the 3 groups. In summary, we showed that 6% fish oil supplementation in S. argus could effectively promote ovarian development, with associated increases in E2 secretion and increased liver vtg mRNA expression.