Molecular mimicry in the Guillain-Barré syndrome

Damage to the axon or myelin sheath of peripheral nerves leads to dysfunction called neuropathy. The type of dysfunction depends on the localization of the injured nerve and the type of nerve (motor. sensory. autonomic) involved. In addition to damage such as caused by metabolic disturbances. toxic substances or degenerative processes. it is well recognized that components of the immune system such as antibodies. complement T cells and macrophages can be found in affected nerves and are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathies. This particular group of neurological disorders is called immune-mediated neuropathies. Patients with an immune-mediated neuropathy often have antibodies that react with components of peripheral nerves and respond favorably to immune-modulating therapies such as plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment. The immunemediated neuropathies can be further subdivided according to their course, although the distinction between acute and chronic disease is made arbitrarily

Influence of precursor concentration and temperature on the formation of nanosilver in chemical reduction method

Nanosilver particles (NSPs) were produced by the reduction of silver nitrate using glucose as reducer, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) as stabilizer and sodium hydroxide as reaction enhancer. Two parameters were investigated which are silver nitrate concentration (0.1 M, 0.5 M and 1.0 M) and reaction temperature (60°C and 80°C). Through spectral analysis using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis), all the samples recorded the maximum peak in the range of 384-411 nm which verified the formation of NSPs. TEM images showed the nanoparticles have spherical shape with the size range of 25-39 nm. Particle size and zeta potential analysis recorded the hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles in the range of 85-105 nm and the zeta potential ranging from -25 to -30 mV, under the pH value of 8. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the NSPs have face center cubic (FCC) structure. All the produced NSPs surprisingly showed ferromagnetic-like behaviour based on the magnetization curves. FTIR result confirmed the presence of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) on the NSPs surface. Furthermore, at the reaction temperature 60°C, the crystallite size, physical size as well as hydrodynamic size increased as the precursor concentration increased from 0.1 M to 0.5 M. However, as the precursor concentration further increases to 1.0 M, the size become smaller due to incomplete reduction process. In contrast, at 80°C, the sizes was gradually increased as the precursor concentration increases up to 1.0 M. In terms of controlled precursor concentration, the crystallite size and physical size become smaller as the temperature increases

Risk factors associated with Campylobacter jejuni infections in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

A steady increase in the incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with a seasonal preponderance, almost exclusively related to Campylobacter jejuni, and a rise in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter enteritis have been reported from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. We therefore investigated possible risk factors associated with diarrhea due to epidemic C. jejuni. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified four epidemic clones which accounted for almost 60% of the infections. One hundred six cases were included in a case-control study. Infections with epidemic clones were more frequently observed in specific districts in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao. One of these clones caused infections during the rainy season only and was associated with the presence of a deep well around the house. Two out of three GBS-related C. jejuni isolates belonged to an epidemic clone. The observations presented point toward water as a possible source of Campylobacter infections

Rational design of selective organoruthenium inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

10.1021/ic301884jInorganic Chemistry512212483-12492INOC