Primarily depression manifestation of Wilson's disease-Case report.

Wilson's disease is an inherited autosomal-recessive disorder of biliary copper excretion. It is characterized by hepatic, neurological and ophthalmic manifestations related to the accumulation of copper in the liver, the lenticular nuclei of brain and cornea. The authors present the case of a 29-year-old female with primarily depression manifestation of Wilson's disease. The patient also reported agitation, difficulties with concentration, slowdown of speech, and stuttering. In magnetic resonance imaging, in putamen, the globus pallidus, claustrum, the heads of caudate nucleus and thalamus areas demonstrated the increased signal in T2. A high copper content was obtained in daily urine collection and reduced level in serum. Similarly, ceruloplasmin level was decreased. Despite the antidepressant treatment with venlafaxine, no improvement was observed. Within a week of psychomotor slowdown, symptoms such as Parkinson's syndrome appeared. Due to the rapid progression of the disease symptoms, the patient was referred for further treatment at a specialistic center. After six month, despite the treatment, the progress of disease was so advanced that patient was transferred to the hospice. Two weeks later patient died. Wilson's disease might be consider in differential diagnosis of depression in young patients, especially if they present additional extrapyramidal symptoms and unspecific changes in magnetic resonance imaging.

Application of the ETD/PTR reactions in top-down proteomics as a faster alternative to bottom-up nanoLC-MS/MS protein identification.

Our goal was to compare two popular analytical techniques used nowadays in proteomic investigations for proteins/peptides sequencing and identification, a widely used nanoLC-MS/MS approach applied in the bottom-up proteomics and electron transfer dissociation/proton transfer reaction fragmentation preferably used when top-down strategy is applied. Comparison was carried out with the aid of the ESI-quadrupole ion-trap instrument using the following criteria: total time of analysis including sample preparation, sequence coverage, Mascot scoring, capability to detect modifications, quality of the results as a function of protein molecular weight and sample consumption.

Gelsolin concentration in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Gelsolin is a highly conserved intracellular actin-binding protein with an extracellular isoform, plasma gelsolin, for which there is not yet a clearly defined function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined gelsolin concentrations in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from 25 subjects using immunoblotting and a functional assay that quantifies gelsolin's ability to accelerate actin polymerization. RESULTS: The gelsolin concentration in CSF, determined by quantitative immunoblotting was 1.2-15.9 microg/ml (average 5.9 +/- 3.8 mug/ml). In samples obtained from patients diagnosed with conditions that do not alter standard CSF clinical tests [(idiopathic cephalgia, ischialgia due to discopathy, and idiopathic (Bell's) facial nerve palsy or entrapment radial neuropathy)], the average gelsolin concentration was 7.2 +/- 4.3 microg/ml. In contrast, the gelsolin concentration in samples obtained from patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis was 2.1 +/- 0.7 microg/ml, and a similar low concentration was found in a patient recovering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The range of CSF gelsolin concentrations determined by the actin polymerization assay was 0.61-9.97 microg/ml (average 3.6 +/- 2.2 microg/ml). These lower values compared with those obtained from immunoblotting analysis suggest that CSF gelsolin may bind other CSF molecules leading to a reduction of its actin-binding activity. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here show that CSF gelsolin concentration is significantly altered in certain neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, indicating the possible utility of CSF gelsolin levels for diagnostic purposes.

Start-to-end processing of two-dimensional gel electrophoretic images.

Gel electrophoresis serves as a basic analytical tool in the proteomic studies. However, processing of gel electrophoretic images is still the main bottleneck of data analysis, and there is an increasing need for the fully automated approaches. The proposed start-to-end strategy of analyzing the gel images consists of chemometric tools, which allow their effective preprocessing, automatic warping, and data modeling. The image preprocessing techniques: denoising in the wavelet domain and the penalized asymmetric least squares approach for the background estimation are proposed. Matching of images is based on fuzzy warping of features, extracted from the gel images. For the classification or calibration purpose, multivariate approaches such, as partial least squares (PLS) or kernel-PLS methods are used. Performance of the proposed strategy is demonstrated on the real set of the two-dimensional gel images.

Morphinome--proteome of the nervous system after morphine treatment.

Proteome is a natural consequence of the post-genome era when the HUGO project (Human Genome Organization) has almost been completed. Here, a specifically aimed proteome in drug dependence--morphinome, is described, including tasks, strategies and pitfalls of the methodology.

Effects of angiotensin II and its receptor antagonists on motor activity and anxiety in rats.

The neuropeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) has been recently found to be involved in cognitive processes. Both AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors seem to mediate this action. However, unspecific behavioural effects of the peptide, particularly motor and emotional, appear to influence the interpretation of cognition-oriented tests and contribute to considerable differences in opinions of various authors on the subject. In this study, aimed specifically at the assessment of these effects, we found small and insignificant changes in motor performance measured in open field after intracebroventricular injections of Ang II and its receptor subtype-specific antagonists; losartan (AT1) and PD 123319 (AT2). However, Ang II was found to increase substantially anxiety measured in elevated 'plus' maze and impair motor coordination measured in 'chimney test'. Interestingly, both antagonists abolished Ang II generated anxiety and only losartan counteracted impaired motor coordination caused by the peptide. The AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 impairing motor coordination on its own, nonetheless partly diminished that caused by Ang II. Therefore it appears safe to conclude that mood but not motor effects of AT1 and AT2 receptor affecting drugs may significantly bias interpretation of the cognition-oriented tests on these drugs.

[Emotional disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Zaburzenia emocjonalne u chorych na stwardnienie rozsiane.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, especially young adults. Although MS is usually looked on as a disorder of the sensory and motor systems it can also be associated with emotional dysfunctions and changes in personality. The depression, bipolar disorders, euphoria, and pathological laughing and crying are most frequently associated with the disease. Authors present a review of current opinions on pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and treatment of emotional problems in MS patients.

[Neurologic and psychiatric sequelae of carbon monoxide poisoning]. / Neurologiczne i psychiatryczne nastepstwa zatrucia tlenkiem wegla.

Carbon monoxide intoxication may result in neuropsychiatric abnormalities that can be overlooked or not fully appreciated. The authors describe two female patients who developed troublesome cognitive and emotional problems following carbon monoxide poisoning and stress the value of the precise neuropsychological testing and prolonged clinical observation in such cases.

[Empty sella syndrome]. / Zespól pustego siodla.

The authors present two middle-aged female patients with empty sella revealed at imaging studies (CT, MRI). Their main complaint was severe fronto-parietal and fronto-temporal headache. Physical examination showed obesity, hypertension, and local hypersensitivity on deep palpation and percussion in the above-mentioned regions, in both cases. Endocrine function of pituitary gland, visual fields and fundi were normal as was EEG. The CSF composition and pressure also showed no abnormalities. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of empty sella syndrome are discussed.

[Empty sella syndrome--diagnostic difficulties]. / Zespól pustego siodla--trudnosci diagnostyczne.

The authors present three middle-aged patients (1 male, 2 females) presenting with empty sella on magnetic resonance or computed tomography imaging. Their main complaints were severe headache and dizziness. Neurological examination showed no abnormalities, except for local tenderness on palpation and percussion in the fronto-parietal or fronto-temporal regions. Endocrine evaluation showed no functional deficit of the pituitary gland. Visual fields, fundi and EEG records were normal as were the CSF composition and pressure, a skull X-ray radiograms showed an enlarged sella with thinned floor and blurred posterior oblique processes. MRI revealed a liquid space below the plane of the sellar diaphragm which pressed on the pituitary gland. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of empty sella syndrome are briefly discussed.

[Seasonal variations in stroke incidence in North-Eastern Poland]. / Sezonowosc wystepowania udarów niedokrwiennych mózgu w Polsce pólnocno-wschodniej.

The authors analysed seasonal and monthly incidence of and mortality from ischaemic stroke (IS) in the region of Bialystok (North-Eastern Poland). 839 cases of IS (437 men and 402 women), aged 22 to 94 years, were hospitalised in the Department of Neurology, Medical Academy in Bialystok during the analysed period (1990-1997). Significant seasonality in IS incidence was observed in both sex groups, with a nadir in summer. The lowest occurrence of infarcts was observed in August in women, and in June in men. The peak month for IS, independently of sex, was January. 240 patients (28.6%) died of stroke or its complications during the analysed period. The occurrence of fatal IS followed also a clear seasonal pattern with peak in autumn. The authors attempt to explain this seasonal incidence and mortality pattern of IS in relation to variation in temperature, diet, way of life (holidays in summer), and biochemical blood changes, which occur in different seasons of the year.

CGP 42112A antagonism of the angiotensin II and angiotensin II(3-7) facilitation of recall in rats.

An involvement of the angiotensin AT2 receptors in some behavioural effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) and its 3-7 fragment [Ang II(3-7)] in rats was studied. To inhibit AT2 receptors we used their selective antagonist CGP 42112A (nicotinic acid-Tyr-N-benzoxyl-carbonyl-Arg-Lys-His-Pro-Ile-OH). Ang II and Ang II(3-7), given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at the dose of 1 nmol each, significantly enhanced recall of the passive avoidance behaviour and learning of the conditioned avoidance responses (CARs). CGP 42112A (2 micrograms i.c.v.), inactive on its own in all tests, significantly attenuated facilitation of recall of passive avoidance caused by Ang II and Ang II(3-7). Also, CGP 42112A diminished Ang II improvement of CARs acquisition but not that caused by Ang II(3-7). None of the treatments produced significant anxiolysis in an elevated 'plus' maze. Likewise, in an open field no statistically significant differences were recorded except for the abolishment of the Ang II(3-7)-induced increase of rearings and bar approaches by CGP 42112A. It appears that the cognition improving activity of Ang II and Ang II(3-7) is mediated by similar mechanisms and angiotensin AT2 receptors are engaged in these processes.

CGP 42112A abolishes facilitation of recognition caused by angiotensin II and angiotensin II(3-7) in rats.

The role of the angiotensin AT2 receptors in some behavioural effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) and its 3-7 fragment [Ang II(3-7)], using their selective antagonist CGP 42112A, was assessed. Ang II and Ang II(3-7), given intracerebroventricularly (icv) at the dose of 1 nmole each, substantially improved object recognition memory and enhanced apomorphine (1 mg/kg) stereotypy. Pre-treatment of rats with CGP 42112A (2 micrograms), per se ineffective in all tests, abolished activity of both peptides. None of the treatments significantly changed behaviour of rats in open field. The results point to the considerable involvement of the AT2 angiotensin receptors in the improvement of recognition memory caused by Ang II and Ang II(3-7).

Losartan influences behavioural effects of angiotensin II(3-7) in rats.

We have previously shown that angiotensin II(3-7) [Ang II(3-7)] stimulates behavioural activity of rats similar to angiotensin II (Ang II). The involvement of AT1 angiotensin receptors in stimulating the behavioural activity of rats, using their selective ligand losartan (DUP 753), was examined. Ang II(3-7), given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at a dose of 1 nmol, significantly enhanced recall of a passive avoidance behaviour, object recognition, learning of conditioned avoidance responses (CARs) and apomorphine (1 mg kg-1, i.p.) stereotypy. Losartan (1 microgram, i.c.v.) did not alter any of the behaviours except for that measuring anxiety which was diminished both, in peptide treated and in control rats. On the other hand, losartan abolished Ang II(3-7) facilitation of recall of the passive avoidance, object recognition and the increase in apomorphine stereotypy. Losartan did not influence the increased rate of CARs acquisition after the peptide. None of the treatments significantly changed locomotor activity estimated in an open field. These data point to some involvement of AT1 angiotensin receptors in the behavioural activity of Ang II(3-7).

Losartan influences behavioural effects of angiotensin II in rats.

The role of the angiotensin AT1 receptors in certain behavioural effects of angiotensin II (Ang II), using their selective antagonist losartan (DuP 753), was assessed. Ang II, given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) at the dose of 1 nmole, significantly improved object recognition, learning of conditioned avoidance responses (CARs), and recall of a passive avoidance behaviour. Losartan alone (1 microgram) was ineffective in any test except for the elevated 'plus' maze measuring anxiety which was diminished by the drug, both in peptide treated and in control rats. Losartan, given 5 min before Ang II, abolished improved after the peptide recall of the passive avoidance and object recognition. Losartan did not influence increased after Ang II rate of CARs acquisition. None of the treatments significantly changed behaviour of rats in the open field. The results point to the considerable involvement of the AT1 angiotensin receptors in the cognition improving effects of Ang II. However, unspecific psychoactivity of losartan should also be taken into account.

Angiotensin II and its 3-7 fragment improve recognition but not spatial memory in rats.

The effects of angiotensin II (AII), its 3-7 fragment [AII(3-7)] and the substituted 3-7 fragment [Leu-5,AII(3-7)] given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) at the dose of 1 nmole each, on spatial memory and recognition were tested. AII(3-7) increased while Leu-5,AII(3-7) slightly decreased session to session foot shock reinforced runtime to the goal in a complex 6 chamber maze. The animals treated with AII performed in the maze similarly to saline injected controls. Overall number of errors was unchanged in all peptide treated groups in comparison with the control group. Object recognition was significantly improved in all the peptide treated groups except for the Leu-5,AII(3-7) group. The results point to the facilitation of recognition and lack of influence on, or even attenuation of, spatial memory by AII and its 3-7 fragment. Leu-5,AII(3-7) caused similar though less pronounced effects.