Tau protein, A beta 42 and S-100B protein in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies

The intra vitam diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is still based on clinical grounds. So far no technical investigations have been available to support this diagnosis. As for tau protein and beta-amyloid((1-42)) (Abeta42), promising results for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease ( AD) have been reported; we evaluated these markers and S-100B protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), using a set of commercially available assays, of 71 patients with DLB, 67 patients with AD and 41 nondemented controls (NDC) for their differential diagnostic relevance. Patients with DLB showed significantly lower tau protein values compared to AD but with a high overlap of values. More prominent differences were observed in the comparison of DLB patients with all three clinical core features and AD patients. Abeta42 levels were decreased in the DLB and AD groups versus NDC, without significant subgroup differences. S-100B levels were not significantly different between the groups. Tau protein levels in CSF may contribute to the clinical distinction between DLB and AD, but the value of the markers is still limited especially due to mixed pathology. We conclude that more specific markers have to be established for the differentiation of these diseases. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Brain-derived proteins in the CSF, do they correlate with brain pathology in CJD?

BACKGROUND: Brain derived proteins such as 14-3-3, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S 100b, tau, phosphorylated tau and Aβ(1–42 )were found to be altered in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) patients. The pathogenic mechanisms leading to these abnormalities are not known, but a relation to rapid neuronal damage is assumed. No systematic analysis on brain-derived proteins in the CSF and neuropathological lesion profiles has been performed. METHODS: CSF protein levels of brain-derived proteins and the degree of spongiform changes, neuronal loss and gliosis in various brain areas were analyzed in 57 CJD patients. RESULTS: We observed three different patterns of CSF alteration associated with the degree of cortical and subcortical changes. NSE levels increased with lesion severity of subcortical areas. Tau and 14-3-3 levels increased with minor pathological changes, a negative correlation was observed with severity of cortical lesions. Levels of the physiological form of the prion protein (PrP(c)) and Aβ(1–42 )levels correlated negatively with cortical pathology, most clearly with temporal and occipital lesions. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the alteration of levels of brain-derived proteins in the CSF does not only reflect the degree of neuronal damage, but it is also modified by the localization on the brain pathology. Brain specific lesion patterns have to be considered when analyzing CSF neuronal proteins

Shear Lag Effect In The Numerical Experiment

The standard PN-EN 1993-1-5: 2008 (Eurocode 3) compared with the standard (PN-B-03200: 1990) used previously in Poland, introduces extended rules referring to the computations of the bearing capacity of the plated structural elements including the shear lag effect. The stress distribution in the width flanges is variable. Therefore in the case of the beam with the shear lag effect cannot be calculated by the classic beam theory

Preparation and characterization of SiO2/silane/POSS functional hybrids

Novel SiO2/silane/POSS functional hybrids have been synthesized via an immobilization method. Hybrid materials were obtained through a connection of emulsion silica with defined dispersive and morphological properties with (3-isocyanatepropyl)triethoxysilane and selected mono- or octasubstituted POSS compounds in organic solvent. Modification effectiveness of the obtained SiO2/silane/POSS hybrid systems was confirmed with the use of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In order to determine the influence of bifunctionalization on coverage degree of the selected POSS compounds, elemental analysis (C, H, N contents) was performed. Moreover, parameters of porous structure of the obtained products were determined: BET surface area, total volume and mean size of pores. During analysis the thermal stability of silsesquioxanes cage, unmodified silica support, and hybrid systems have been investigated. For this purpose dispersive and morphological characterization (particle size distribution and TEM images) was performed

Magnesium silicate conjugated with calcium lignosulfonate: In situ synthesis and comprehensive physicochemical evaluations

The aim of this study was to effectively combine synthetic magnesium silicate with the lignin-derived biopolymer calcium lignosulfonate, using the in situ sol-gel route. Magnesium ethoxide and tetraethoxysilane were used as precursors of MgO and SiO2. The synthesis was carried out in alcoholic solution with the addition of ammonia solution as a promoter of hydrolysis. Calcium lignosulfonate was introduced to the reaction medium prior to the synthesis of magnesium silicate. The resulting hybrid powder material was thoroughly characterized, including morphology and particle sizes (SEM microscopy and the DLS technique), porous structure parameters (the BET method and BJH model), thermal stability (TG analysis) and electrokinetic stability (LDV measurements). FTIR spectral analysis was carried out to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed synthesis methodology. Based on the results, a mechanism is proposed for the MgSiO3/lignosulfonate interactions. The resulting novel type of hybrid material combines the multifunctional nature of the biopolymer (diversity of functional groups) with the well-developed porous structure of synthetic magnesium silicate. Its physicochemical parameters were found to depend significantly on the quantity of lignosulfonate used in the synthesis