6,205 research outputs found
Coincident onset of multiple sclerosis and herpes simplex virus 1 encephalitis. a case report
Background: Along with vitamin D, smoking, body mass index and others, Epstein Barr virus, other herpesviruses
and human endogenous retroviruses represent plausible environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis. However,
it is difficult to obtain direct proof of their involvement in the etiology of this condition.
Case presentation: In order to contribute further evidence of the importance of these viruses, and speculate about
disease-relevant interactions between these agents and a predisposed genetic background of the host, we describe
the temporal association between multiple sclerosis onset and Herpes simplex 1-encephalitis in a female patient.
Conclusions: This case illustrates a possible relationship between HSV-1 encephalitis and multiple sclerosis. Bearing
in mind that association does not imply causation, some speculations about the etiology and pathophysiology of
the two diseases can be made. The hypothesis of a genetic background predisposing to HSV-1 encephalitis and to
immune-mediated demyelination is supported by the coincidence of the two conditions in this patient, along with
data from animal models and genetic studies
A staged screening of registered drugs highlights remyelinating drug candidates for clinical trials
There is no treatment for the myelin loss in multiple sclerosis, ultimately resulting in the axonal degeneration that leads to the progressive phase of the disease. We established a multi-tiered platform for the sequential screening of drugs that could be repurposed as remyelinating agents. We screened a library of 2,000 compounds (mainly Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds and natural products) for cellular metabolic activity on mouse oligodendrocyte precursors (OPC), identifying 42 molecules with significant stimulating effects. We then characterized the effects of these compounds on OPC proliferation and differentiation in mouse glial cultures, and on myelination and remyelination in organotypic cultures. Three molecules, edaravone, 5-methyl-7-methoxyisoflavone and lovastatin, gave positive results in all screening tiers. We validated the results by retesting independent stocks of the compounds, analyzing their purity, and performing dose-response curves. To identify the chemical features that may be modified to enhance the compounds' activity, we tested chemical analogs and identified, for edaravone, the functional groups that may be essential for its activity. Among the selected remyelinating candidates, edaravone appears to be of strong interest, also considering that this drug has been approved as a neuroprotective agent for acute ischemic stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Japan
Progression of motor subtypes in Huntington’s disease. a 6-year follow-up study
The objective of this study is to investigate the progression of predominantly choreatic and hypokinetic-rigid signs in Huntington's disease (HD) and their relationship with cognitive and general functioning over time. The motor signs in HD can be divided into predominantly choreatic and hypokinetic-rigid subtypes. It has been reported in cross-sectional studies that predominantly choreatic HD patients perform better on functional and cognitive assessments compared to predominantly hypokinetic-rigid HD patients. The course of these motor subtypes and their clinical profiles has not been investigated longitudinally. A total of 4135 subjects who participated in the European HD Network REGISTRY study were included and classified at baseline as either predominantly choreatic (n = 891), hypokinetic-rigid (n = 916), or mixed-motor (n = 2328), based on a previously used method. The maximum follow-up period was 6 years. The mixed-motor group was not included in the analyses. Linear mixed models were constructed to investigate changes in motor subtypes over time and their relationship with cognitive and functional decline. Over the 6-year follow-up period, the predominantly choreatic group showed a significant decrease in chorea, while hypokinetic-rigid symptoms slightly increased in the hypokinetic-rigid group. On the Total Functional Capacity, Stroop test, and Verbal fluency task the rate of change over time was significantly faster in the predominantly choreatic group, while on all other clinical assessments the decline was comparable for both groups. Our results suggest that choreatic symptoms decrease over time, whereas hypokinetic-rigid symptoms slightly increase in a large cohort of HD patients. Moreover, different motor subtypes can be related to different clinical profiles
Autoimmune encephalitis and CSF anti-glur3 antibodies in an MS patient after alemtuzumab treatment
A 45-year-old Italian woman, affected by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) starting from 2011, started treatment with alemtuzumab in July 2016. Nine months after the second infusion, she had an immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with complete recovery after steroid treatment. Three months after the ITP, the patient presented with transient aphasia, cognitive deficits, and focal epilepsy. Serial brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a pattern compatible with encephalitis. Autoantibodies to glutamate receptor 3 peptide A and B were detected in cerebrospinal fluid and serum, in the absence of any other diagnostic cues. After three courses of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 mg/kg/day for 5 days, 1 month apart), followed by boosters (0.4 mg/kg/day) every 4-6 weeks, her neurological status improved and is currently comparable with that preceding the encephalitis. Autoimmune complications of the central nervous system during alemtuzumab therapy are relatively rare: only one previous case of autoimmune encephalitis following alemtuzumab treatment has been reported to date
Cucurbita pepo L. extracts as a versatile hydrotropic source for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles with different shapes
A new method to estimate cloud cover fraction over El Leoncito Observatory from an all-sky imager designed for upper atmosphere studies
A method for determining cloud cover fraction over El Leoncito Observatory (31.8°S, 69.3°W) is presented. Data from an all-sky imaging system, designed to measure nightglow originating from the mesosphere and thermosphere, is used to determine the fraction of the sky covered by clouds. More than 9,000 hr of observations from May 2006 to December 2010 are used to show that El Leoncito is clear approximately 75-80% of the time. No significant seasonal variations are observed. The optical ground-based data are compared with data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) instrument on board the TERRA and AQUA satellites.Fil: Martinis, C.. University Of Boston; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Wilson, J.. University of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Zablowski, P.. University Of Boston; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Baumgardner, J.. University Of Boston; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Aballay, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas. Centro CientÃfico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Complejo Astronómico "El Leoncito". Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Complejo Astronómico "El Leoncito". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Complejo Astronómico "El Leoncito". Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Complejo Astronómico "El Leoncito"; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Beatriz Elena. Universidad Tecnologica Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de TecnologÃa En Detección y AstropartÃculas. Itedam - Subsede del Instituto de Tec. En Detección y AstropartÃculas Mendoza | Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Instituto de TecnologÃa En Detección y AstropartÃculas. Itedam - Subsede del Instituto de Tec. En Detección y AstropartÃculas Mendoza | Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto de TecnologÃa En Detección y AstropartÃculas. Itedam - Subsede del Instituto de Tec. En Detección y AstropartÃculas Mendoza. ; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Ristori, Pablo Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Otero, Lidia Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentin
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