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1.
Clin Rehabil ; 28(11): 1115-24, 2014 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24849794

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To improve gait and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease by combining anodal transcranial direct current stimulation with physical training. DESIGN: In a double-blind design, one group (physical training; n = 8) underwent gait and balance training during transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS; real/sham). Real stimulation consisted of 15 minutes of 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation over primary motor and premotor cortex. For sham, the current was switched off after 30 seconds. Patients received the opposite stimulation (sham/real) with physical training one week later; the second group (No physical training; n = 8) received stimulation (real/sham) but no training, and also repeated a sequential transcranial direct current stimulation session one week later (sham/real). SETTING: Hospital Srio Libanes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. SUBJECTS: Sixteen community-dwelling patients with Parkinson's disease. INTERVENTIONS: Transcranial direct current stimulation with and without concomitant physical training. MAIN MEASURES: Gait velocity (primary gait outcome), stride length, timed 6-minute walk test, Timed Up and Go Test (secondary outcomes), and performance on the pull test (primary balance outcome). RESULTS: Transcranial direct current stimulation with physical training increased gait velocity (mean = 29.5%, SD = 13; p < 0.01) and improved balance (pull test: mean = 50.9%, SD = 37; p = 0.01) compared with transcranial direct current stimulation alone. There was no isolated benefit of transcranial direct current stimulation alone. Although physical training improved gait velocity (mean = 15.5%, SD = 12.3; p = 0.03), these effects were comparatively less than with combined tDCS + physical therapy (p < 0.025). Greater stimulation-related improvements were seen in patients with more advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation during physical training improves gait and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease. Power calculations revealed that 14 patients per treatment arm (α = 0.05; power = 0.8) are required for a definitive trial.


Assuntos
Terapia por Exercício/métodos , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/reabilitação , Doença de Parkinson/reabilitação , Equilíbrio Postural/fisiologia , Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua/métodos , Idoso , Terapia Combinada , Método Duplo-Cego , Feminino , Seguimentos , Marcha/fisiologia , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/etiologia , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doença de Parkinson/complicações , Doença de Parkinson/diagnóstico , Projetos Piloto , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Resultado do Tratamento
2.
Neurologia ; 24(7): 454-6, 2009 Sep.
Artigo em Espanhol | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19921554

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Encephalic calcifications (EC) are a frequent finding in neuroimaging of CT scans, which have many causes,both symptomatic and asymptomatic. This paper has aimed to report a series of patients who had had a previous thyroidectomy years earlier in whom the presence of hypoparathyroidism (HP) EC and their clinical manifestations had been analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 38 women who had undergone a thyroidectomy from 14 to 45 years ago were evaluated. The EC was mild in 2 cases, located exclusively in the pale globe and putamen. It was moderate in two other patients, the calcinosis spreading towards the caudate nucleus, and one patient was considered severe or very extended, affecting the basal ganglia, cerebellum and white matter of semioval centers. RESULTS: Six patients (15%) had HP; five of them (13%) with EC. The neurological examination and the UPDRS scale were normal, including negative Chvostek and Trousseau signs. Cognition was evaluated with: Mini-Mental State Examination, Clock Drawing test, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive, Trail Making Test Part A and B and the Clinical Dementia Rating, of which were normal. In these six patients, serum calcium (Ca) and parathormone (PTH) levels were reduced and phosphorus values increased. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that the EC are sub-diagnosed in postsurgical HP due to the absence of symptoms. There is still an ongoing debate on the appearance of symptoms and extension of EC, possibly when the Ca and PTH variables only have a moderate reduction, corresponding to a variable that avoids manifestations.


Assuntos
Encéfalo/patologia , Calcinose/patologia , Hipoparatireoidismo/patologia , Tireoidectomia/efeitos adversos , Idoso , Calcinose/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Hipoparatireoidismo/complicações , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X
3.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther ; 46(2): 64-71, 2008 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18218286

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: Recombinant human interferon-beta (IFN-b) is a well-established treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The regulatory process for marketing authorization of biosimilars is currently under debate in certain countries. In the EU, EMEA has clearly defined the process including overarching and product-specific guidelines, which includes clinical testing. Biosimilarity needs to be based on comparability criteria, including at least molecular characterization, biological activity relevant for the therapeutic effect and relative bioavailability ("bioequivalence"). In the case of such complex diseases as MS, where the effect of treatment is not so directly measurable, in vitro tools can provide additional data to support comparability. Genomic microarrays assays might be useful to compare multisource biopharmaceuticals. The aim of the present study was to compare the pharmacodynamic genomic effects (in terms of transcriptional regulation) of two recombinant human IFN-I(2)1a preparations on lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis patients using a whole genome microarray assay. METHODS: We performed an ex vivo whole genome expression profiling of the effect of two preparations of IFN-I(2)1a on non-adherent mononuclears from five relapsing-remitting MS patients analyzing microarrays (CodeLink Human Whole Genome). Patients blood was drawn, PBMCs isolated and cultured in three different conditions: culture medium (control), 1,000 U/ml of IFN-I(2)1a (BLA- (STOFERON, Bio Sidus) and 1,000 U/ml of IFN-I(2)1a (REBIF, Serono) RNA was purified from non-adherent cells (mostly lymphocytes), amplified and hybridized. Raw data were generated by CodeLink proprietary software. Data normalization, quality control and analysis of differential gene expression between treatments were done using linear model for microarray data. Functional annotation analysis of IFN-I(2)1a MS treatment transcription was done using DAVID. RESULTS: Out of the approximately 45,000 human sequences examined, no evidence of differential regulation was found when both treatments were compared (minimum adjusted p-value > 0.999). The IFN-I(2)1a effect differentially regulated the expression of 868 genes. The expression of standard markers such as GTP cyclohidrolase, MxA, and OAS isoenzymes A and B changed as a consequence of the action of IFN-I(2)1a. CONCLUSIONS: This exhaustive and highly sensitive assay did not show differences in the genomic expression profile of these two products under the assayed experimental conditions. These results suggest that this technology might be useful for the initial comparison of biosimilars, being part of a comprehensive comparability program that includes clinical testing.


Assuntos
Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Interferon beta/farmacologia , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos/métodos , Transcrição Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Análise por Conglomerados , Biologia Computacional/métodos , Composição de Medicamentos/métodos , Feminino , Genoma Humano , Humanos , Interferon beta-1a , Interferon beta/genética , Leucócitos Mononucleares/efeitos dos fármacos , Leucócitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Masculino , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa
4.
J Neural Transm (Vienna) ; 115(1): 77-84, 2008.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17726571

RESUMO

Increased concentrations of insulin, glucose and glycohemoglobin are associated with Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) and recognized as characteristic markers of the disease; in Alzheimer's (AD), Vascular dementia (VaD), and both dementia's with superimposed diabetes (AD + DM, VaD + DM) the knowledge is scarce. The sample (n = 122; males = 60; mean age = 73 +/- 7) comprised DM, AD, VaD, AD + DM, and VaD + DM patients, and healthy controls (C). The ANOVA's yielded significant differences between groups: Insulin p = 3.7 x 10(-3); Glucose p < 10(-12); Glycohemoglobin p = 9.2x10(-4). Comparisons between groups (DM vs. C, AD + DM vs. AD, VaD + DM vs. VaD, and demented DM vs. non-demented DM) resulted significant for all variables (Bonferroni's statistic, alpha = 0.05). Diabetic and diabetic demented patients presented significant increases largely different from controls (0.01 < p < 0.001), unlike the non-significant changes in their non-diabetic counterparts; linear relationships were found across all groups. The correlation's insulin/glucose and insulin/glycohemoglobin change to positive within demented groups, indicating a different performance of insulin in demented and non-demented subjects.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Glicemia/análise , Demência Vascular/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/análise , Insulina/sangue , Idoso , Doença de Alzheimer/complicações , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Demência Vascular/complicações , Demência Vascular/patologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino
5.
Rev Neurol ; 45(8): 474-8, 2007.
Artigo em Espanhol | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17948213

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a main feature of Fabry disease (FD) as consequence of small fiber neuropathy. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) in FD was not described, but it is an important feature in other small fiber neuropathies, i.e., diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of RLS in patients with FD, and its association with neuropathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the occurrence of RLS in four families of classical FD, diagnosed in accordance with the criteria of the International RLS Study Group. Eleven patients, 6 hemicigote and 5 heterocigote, ages among 19 to 32 years old for males and 45 to 56 years old for females, were studied. The 6 hemizigote and 2 heterozigote patients were on enzyme therapy with agalsidase beta. RESULTS: One heterocigote patient had not clinical NP and the other 10 patients had small fiber sensory neuropathy with symptoms: burning and painful feet. RLS was present in 3/6 hemicigote and 1/5 heterocigote patients (36%). In these four patients, RLS was associated with dysesthesias or pain crisis and it was characterized to be a desire to move the low extremities as crisis of motor restlessness. RLS was characterized for worsening of symptoms with rest without diurnal changes. Patients have to uncover the feet for improving burning or sometimes they have to get out of bed in the night looking for relief. Both NP and RLS improved after 3 years of enzyme replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that RLS is associated to NP as a treatable manifestation of small fiber involvement in the course of FD.


Assuntos
Doença de Fabry , Neuralgia/fisiopatologia , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas , Adulto , Doença de Fabry/complicações , Doença de Fabry/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas/etiologia , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas/fisiopatologia
6.
Rev Neurol ; 43(4): 201-6, 2006.
Artigo em Espanhol | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16883508

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Fabry's disease is associated with acute neuropathic pain (NP). When six males with classic Fabry's disease ended three years of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), studies were conducted to analyse the progression of the NP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All of them received 1 mg/kg of agalsidase beta every 14 days. NP in hands and feet was evaluated at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, two modalities being considered: a) very intense pain or Fabry crises (FC), which forced the patient to rest, take analgesics and apply cold locally; b) acroparesthesias (AP), lower intensity itching, tingling and burning sensations that did not prevent them from continuing with their activities of daily living. The intensity of the FC (IFC) and the AP (IAP) were recorded using the Visual Analogue Scale, and the frequency with which both (FrFC and FrAP, respectively) appeared was measured in days. The one-tailed Wilcoxon test, binomial distribution and bootstrap method were used to carry out the analysis. RESULTS: After six months of ERT the IFC, IAP and FrCF remained the same, although the FrAP had become worse. As shown by the NP indexes that relate IFC/FrFC and IAP/FrAP, progress was therefore favourable. At one year, IFC continued, but FrFC and IAP were lower. At two years, the four NP measurements improved in five patients, although the FC and AP indexes did not vary in one patient. At three years, all the NP variables improved in the six patients. The slope representing NP as a function of time in all the bootstrap analyses was found to be p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: NP responded in a favourable, significant and heterogeneous manner and therefore justifies the early indication of ERT.


Assuntos
Doença de Fabry , Isoenzimas/uso terapêutico , Dor , alfa-Galactosidase/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Progressão da Doença , Doença de Fabry/fisiopatologia , Doença de Fabry/terapia , Humanos , Masculino , Dor/fisiopatologia , Manejo da Dor , Medição da Dor , Indução de Remissão
8.
Undersea Hyperb Med ; 32(5): 341-9, 2005.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16457083

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that a localized decrease in oxygen brain tissue availability contributes to the neurological deficit in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) who also present with frontal leukoaraiosis (LA) (periventricular hypodensity on CT scan) and lacunar infarcts. In a prospective controlled trial blinded to patients but not to investigators, we tested the effect of HBO2 on this group of patients. METHODS: Selected patients with symptomatic CVD, LA and lacunar infarcts received daily exposures of 45 minutes for 10 days to hyperbaric oxygen (n=18, HBO2 group) or hyperbaric air (n=8, control group). The control group subsequently received HBO2. Scores of conventional scales for motor and cognitive functions were obtained and videotaped before and after exposure. After the exposures, participants were followed on a monthly basis with systematic clinical neurological examination for up to 6 months. Results. There was a statistically significant improvement in all scales for the HBO2 group compared with the placebo group and in the placebo group after receiving HBO2 (p<0.05). Neurological improvement persisted in the majority of patients for up to 6 months. Repetition of the HBO2 protocol in 9 patients in whom symptoms recurred after 6 months resulted in improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence consistent with the notion that HBO2 improves neurological function in patients with CVD, lacunar infarcts and frontal LA. Because of the lack of investigator blinding and a relatively small sample size in this study, larger, randomized controlled studies are needed to further test this hypothesis and to further define the role of oxygen therapy for brain repair in chronic brain disease.


Assuntos
Doenças dos Gânglios da Base/terapia , Transtornos Cerebrovasculares/complicações , Transtornos Cognitivos/terapia , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/terapia , Oxigenoterapia Hiperbárica , Transtornos Urinários/terapia , Idoso , Doenças dos Gânglios da Base/etiologia , Infarto Cerebral/complicações , Transtornos Cognitivos/etiologia , Feminino , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/etiologia , Humanos , Leucoaraiose , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Estudos Prospectivos , Método Simples-Cego , Transtornos Urinários/etiologia
9.
J Neural Transm (Vienna) ; 108(10): 1135-48, 2001.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11725816

RESUMO

Antioxidant profiles in Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 15), dementias of Alzheimer's type (DAT; 18) and Vascular (VD; 15), and control subjects (C; 14) were studied. Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione system (GLU) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in erythrocytes; antioxidant capacity (TRAP) in plasma. Biochemical variables were analyzed simultaneously using multi-variate and non-parametric methods. Clinical diagnostic resulted associated with the main source of variability in antioxidant variables (Kruskal-Wallis: H = 32.58, p = 0.000001). Comparison of PD and C resulted highly significant (z = 4.47, p = 0.000047), demonstrating an association between oxidative stress and PD. SOD and TBARS were significantly higher in pathological groups against C (p = 0.0000001, p = 0.051); TRAP resulted lower (p = 0.00015). Discriminant functions constructed using biochemical variables separated pathological groups (93% success) from C, and DAT (88.9%) from VD (73.3%); but not PD from DAT or VD. Antioxidant profiles of PD patients showed characteristics overlapping with DAT (60%) and with VD (40%), suggesting biochemical similarities between them.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Demência Vascular/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Doença de Parkinson/metabolismo , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Análise de Variância , Análise Discriminante , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estatísticas não Paramétricas
10.
Clin Chim Acta ; 301(1-2): 87-102, 2000 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11020465

RESUMO

As oxidative stress in relation with neurological diseases has become an important point in recent research, simple methods to be used in epidemiological studies and clinical practice are required. The hypothesis that the analytical methods used in research laboratories (RLM) can be used interchangeably with commercial kits (CKM) for SOD and TRAP is tested. Both methods were compared using linear transformations of the RLM measurements into the CKM scales. Data were obtained from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and vascular dementia patients and controls. The lack of fit and the run's test of residuals were not significant, but the same sign method detected significant nonlinearities (P<0.000001 for SOD, P<0.01 for TRAP). The intragroup CVs of both methods were comparable for TRAP, while in the RLM determinations of SOD resulted in <50% of those obtained with the CKM. The ANCOVA comparison of the regression parameters across the clinical groups resulted significant for SOD (P<0.0001) and not significant for TRAP. Both methods agree in describing the features of the clinical groups, but the degree of agreement at the individual concentration was poor and they could not be readily intercalibrated. Normal and pathological values should be obtained independently for the CKM to insure their applicability to large populations.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Demência Vascular/sangue , Doença de Parkinson/sangue , Superóxido Dismutase/sangue , Doença de Alzheimer/enzimologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Demência Vascular/enzimologia , Humanos , Doença de Parkinson/enzimologia
11.
Rev Neurol ; 31(1): 1-8, 2000.
Artigo em Espanhol | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10948573

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Pyramidal gait impairment (GI) is a classical trait of cerebrovascular disease (CVD). To developed a method to quantify prospectively and transversely GI and disequilibrium, to be applied in the screening of pyramidal and non-pyramidal syndromes associated to different ethiological subtypes of CVD; using an Index of Gait and Equilibrium (IGE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In constructing IGE, we used 14 equally weighted semiological variables: 6 measure balance, 6 gait, 1 sensitive abnormalities and 1 falls. Two neurologists separately examined each subject in the same day and repeating the evaluation after a week. Data analyses included Kruskal Wallis, chi 2, Spearman correlations and Principal Components. RESULTS: IGE was used in 90 subjects, 43 males, with a mean age of 70.6 years. 3 groups of people were formed: 1. CVD (A, 21 with silent vascular lesions diagnosed by imaging; B, 17 with vascular dementia; C, 21 with stroke); 2. 13 subjects with cautious gait, not associated to any disease; and 3. 18 normal control subjects (age 60-80 years). GI in the non-pyramidal syndrome were significantly related with small vessels disease (chi 2 = 16.37, dof = 1, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GI in CVD, pyramidal and non-pyramidal syndromes were equally frequent. Increased values of IGE caused by cautious gait in youngest non-stroke patients suggested high probability of silent CVD and significant association with small vessels disease. This preliminary assessment of IGE showed a reproducible and reliable tool for objectification and quantification of gait disorders.


Assuntos
Infarto Cerebral/complicações , Marcha , Transtornos dos Movimentos/etiologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Encéfalo/irrigação sanguínea , Encéfalo/patologia , Infarto Cerebral/diagnóstico , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transtornos dos Movimentos/diagnóstico , Exame Neurológico , Equilíbrio Postural , Estudos Prospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença
12.
Otolaryngol Clin North Am ; 33(3): 637-57, 2000 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10815041

RESUMO

When a patient with a balance disorder reports rotational vertigo, the clinician rightly focuses his or her attention on the vestibular system. This article reviews the possible diagnoses in the many patients who primarily report falls or gait disorder. Falls can be caused by predisposing neurologic conditions impairing gait, cardiovascular conditions, or epileptic episodes. The proportion of idiopathic falls, however, remains high. In the elderly, environmental circumstances, visual defects, psychotropic medication, and poor general health are additional risk factors. Clinical assessment of gait is more revealing and less expensive than computerized posture/ gait systems. The diagnosis of orthostatic tremor, however, requires either Fourier analysis of sway platform signals or electromyography.


Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas , Marcha , Transtornos dos Movimentos/diagnóstico , Envelhecimento , Humanos , Transtornos dos Movimentos/etiologia
13.
Rev Neurol ; 28(7): 655-60, 1999.
Artigo em Espanhol | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10363288

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Frontal leukoaraiosis (LA) is a common finding in patients with subcortical small-vessel disease and currently its pathogenesis is attributed to ischemic-hypoxic mechanisms. It associates to a vascular subcortical frontal syndrome (VSFS) for which an effective treatment does not exist. CLINICAL CASES: We present four subjects from a prospective patient-blind controlled pilot trial to study efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) vs hyperbaric air in VSFS with LA. All of them had frontal or extended LA on computed tomography scan and lacunes in basal ganglia and centrum ovale, with moderate to severe gait disorders, urinary dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and dependence in the daily living activities. Deficits had begun two to ten years before and had remained stable three months previous to the treatment. Patients were assessed with validated scales and tests one week before and after being administrated ten daily sessions of HBO at 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 45 minutes with a multiplace chamber. Serious adverse effects did not occur. After treatment a noticeable gait, urinary and cognitive improvement was observed in all subjects, increasing their independence. They remained clinically improved during four to five months, after which the previous deficits reappeared. Then, three patients received ten daily sessions of air at 1.1 atmospheres absolute for 45 minutes (controls) and the other a new HBO regimen, which improved as the first time. From the controls, there were no changes in two, while the other did only improve cognitively. CONCLUSION: These patients show that HBO is effective and safety in reversing, at least partially, although at great length, chronic neurological deficits associated to vascular frontal LA, highlighting that a functional reserve therapeutically useful exists.


Assuntos
Arteriopatias Oclusivas/complicações , Isquemia Encefálica/etiologia , Isquemia Encefálica/terapia , Lobo Frontal/irrigação sanguínea , Lobo Frontal/metabolismo , Oxigenoterapia Hiperbárica/métodos , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Atividades Cotidianas , Idoso , Isquemia Encefálica/diagnóstico , Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Lobo Frontal/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Masculino , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão de Fóton Único , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Incontinência Urinária/diagnóstico
14.
J Neurol Sci ; 141(1-2): 69-78, 1996 Sep 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8880696

RESUMO

A study of several elements of the antioxidative system: Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione system (GLU), chemiluminescence (CHE), and antioxidant capacity (AOX), was conducted in 20 demented probable Alzheimer's (DAT), and 15 vascular demented (VD) patients, 19 control (C) subjects, and 11 relatives (F) of one DAT patient. A significant association was found between the variables of the antioxidant system, measured in blood samples, and the neurological pathologies VD and DAT: Kruskal-Wallis test; p = 0.0006 (p = 0.014 when the analysis did not include SOD). This demonstrated that VD and DAT diseases are accompanied by oxidative disorders. The VD and DAT diseases are differentially distinguishable by changes in blood profiles. A graphical method for classification, the Principal Components Analysis (PCA), distinguished between demented and non-demented subjects on the basis of their laboratory variables. A numerical method, Discriminant Functions (DF), constructed to separate the clinical groups on the basis of the same variables, obtained relatively high percentages of success: 92% of demented were detected against healthy subjects; of the latter 82% have been correctly identified as non-demented. Discrimination between VD and DAT patients was achieved for 100% of VD and 86% of DAT patients. DF were similarly successful in detecting the healthy condition of DAT relatives. Possible different mechanisms involved in H2O2 elimination in DAT and VD patients are proposed, where CAT is the responsible enzyme of this reaction in DAT patients, while in VD this function would be achieved mainly through the action of GLU. It seems that SOD levels are stable, at least, within one year. Variations appear to be linked with clinical changes.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Doença de Alzheimer/enzimologia , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Doenças Vasculares/sangue , Doenças Vasculares/enzimologia , Idoso , Doença de Alzheimer/diagnóstico , Biomarcadores , Catalase/sangue , Interpretação Estatística de Dados , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Eritrócitos/enzimologia , Saúde da Família , Radicais Livres , Glutationa/metabolismo , Humanos , Medições Luminescentes , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Superóxido Dismutase/sangue , Doenças Vasculares/diagnóstico
15.
J Neurol Sci ; 139(1): 83-8, 1996 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8836977

RESUMO

We examined the activity of the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) present in the euglobulin fraction of plasma from 17 demented patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), 12 patients with vascular dementia (VD) and 10 healthy controls. Euglobulin protein fractions were separated by electrophoresis and gels were incubated at the surface of plasminogen-rich casein-agarose underlays. The degradative activity of uPA in this system was measured by densitometric analysis. In 8/17 (47%) patients with AD we observed an excessive uPA activity (> 200 mIU/ml). In contrast, only 2/12 (16%) patients with VD and 1/10 (10%) control subjects revealed a comparable increase in circulating uPA activity. Further evaluation of dementia stage in patients with AD allow us to associate high levels of uPA activity with severity of disease. uPA levels were significantly elevated (2.8-fold increase) in AD patients with severe cognitive and memory impairments (Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale) with respect to controls, VD patients or AD patients with moderate cognitive and memory impairments (P < 0.001, ANOVA). Our data suggest that the anormalities in circulating fibrinolytic enzymes could be correlated with the severity of dementia. In light of this findings, the free uPA activity in euglobulin plasma fraction should be considered a marker of serious damage in patients with AD.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Soroglobulinas/análise , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Doença de Alzheimer/enzimologia , Análise de Variância , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valores de Referência , Ativador de Plasminogênio Tipo Uroquinase/sangue
16.
Rev Neurosci ; 5(3): 213-25, 1994.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7889214

RESUMO

This review analyzes recent developments in diagnostic criteria and peripheral markers used clinically in the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), comparing past and current views, together with a discussion of their shortcoming and difficulties of implementation. Consideration is given to studies on the presence of amyloid substances outside the central nervous system: in cerebrospinal fluid, in plasma, in primary cultures, and in continuous cultures of cell lines of neuronal and glial origin. We discuss alterations of cholinesterases and noradrenaline in red blood cells (RBC) in AD and, with relation to the infectious theory, the presence of spirochaetes in patients. The activities of the enzymes leading to the formation of amyloid substances and those reflecting more general alterations of metabolic processes are considered, both in respect to their role in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders of AD and of their potential use as markers. Enzymatic changes have been studied comparing AD patients with non AD controls as well as with AD relatives: proteases and their inhibitors; plasminogen activators; transketolases; increases in the activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase in AD patients' RBC, serum, fibroblasts and cortical neurons, pointing to alterations in oxidative processes; and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele, linked to late-onset AD and familial cases. This review presents reasons why the involvement of peripheral markers in AD should advance from hypothesis to accepted fact.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/diagnóstico , Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Biomarcadores , Humanos
17.
J Neurol Sci ; 122(2): 179-88, 1994 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8021702

RESUMO

The activity of the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) has been investigated in red blood cell (RBC) homogenate obtained from demented patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (DAT), from their first-degree relatives (sisters/brothers and sons/daughters), and from healthy control families of the same age. A statistically significant increase in SOD activity (P < 0.01) was found in RBC's homogenate between families of DAT patients (not including the demented individual) and control families. Variability in SOD activity due to differences between families was not significant for DAT relatives; a significant variance component (P < 0.05) was found between control families. Additionally, a statistically significant increase in SOD activity (P < 0.001) with age in DAT patients up to 70 years and a significant decrease above this age were found, confirming a previously found relation. No changes in SOD activity with age were detected in healthy controls nor in DAT relatives. The increased levels of Cu-Zn SOD, probably represent a general alteration of the oxidative processes characteristic of this dementia and support the proposal that the enzyme could be used as an early diagnostic peripheral marker of the Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to determine to which subgroup the patient belongs, as well as a risk factor in non-demented first-degree relatives.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/enzimologia , Eritrócitos/enzimologia , Superóxido Dismutase/sangue , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Biomarcadores/sangue , Suscetibilidade a Doenças/enzimologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Núcleo Familiar , Pais
18.
J Neurol Sci ; 115(1): 18-25, 1993 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8468588

RESUMO

The activity of the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) has been investigated in serum and red blood cells (RBC) homogenate obtained from demented patients with associated vascular lesions (VD), demented patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (DAT) and healthy controls (CG) of the same age. The increase in SOD activity was statistically significant (P < 0.01) in RBCs homogenate of DAT and VD patients, when compared to controls, but no differences appear between the two diseases groups. Additionally, a statistically significant increase in SOD activity (P < 0.01) in DAT patients above 70 years as compared to those 50-70 years old, and a relation between SOD and age were found. No changes in SOD activity with age in healthy controls nor in vascular dementia group were detected. A statistically significant increase in Circulating SOD activity (P < 0.01) was observed in vascular patients compared to controls. The observed increase in DAT Circulating SOD activity (against CG) was not significant. The increased levels of Cu-Zn SOD, probably represent a general alteration of the oxidative processes characteristic of these dementias and suggest that the enzyme might be used as a marker.


Assuntos
Envelhecimento/metabolismo , Demência/enzimologia , Eritrócitos/enzimologia , Superóxido Dismutase/sangue , Adulto , Idoso , Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Doença de Alzheimer/enzimologia , Transtornos Cognitivos/sangue , Transtornos Cognitivos/enzimologia , Demência/sangue , Demência Vascular/sangue , Demência Vascular/enzimologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Receptores de Interferon/metabolismo , Microglobulina beta-2/metabolismo
19.
Rev. neurol. argent ; 17(1): 8-12, 1992. tab
Artigo em Espanhol | BINACIS | ID: bin-26446

RESUMO

Se estudiaron prospectivamente 12 pacientes mayores de 55 años. Pertenecían a una población de 40.000 jubilados de la ciudad de Buenos Aires (incidencia anual de 0,10 por mil). Las embolias fueron causa más frecuente de AFU (67%) y provenían de las arterias cervicales y del corazón. El defecto visual duró menos de una hora con patrones de pérdida de la visión que sugieren isquemia transitorio concomitante con la AFU (síndrome opticopiramidal). En el 33%de los casos la AFU fue atribuida a mecanismos hemodinámicos, secundaria a arteritis de células gigantes en 3 casos y por aumento del volumen globular (eritrocitosis) en uno. La duración del defecto visual fue variable y el patrón de pérdida de la visión sugirió isquemia difusa de la retina, del nervio óptico o de la coroides. El 75%de estos pacientes evolucionó con secuelas visuales y uno tuvo un defecto neurológico consolidado (infarto cerebeloso). Durante el seguimiento que fue de 1 a 5 años, dos pacientes sufrieron infarto agudo de miocardio falleciendo por esta causa. Todos los pacientes recibieron antiagregantes plaquetarios desde el primer día de consulta y posteriormente sometidos a tratamiento específico. Ningún paciente repitió episodios de AFU ni síntomas neurológicos


Assuntos
Cegueira/epidemiologia , Cegueira/diagnóstico , Cegueira/etiologia , Doença Aguda , Idoso , Embolia/complicações , Arterite de Células Gigantes/complicações , Estudos Prospectivos
20.
Rev. neurol. Argent ; 17(1): 8-12, 1992. tab
Artigo em Espanhol | LILACS | ID: lil-105818

RESUMO

Se estudiaron prospectivamente 12 pacientes mayores de 55 años. Pertenecían a una población de 40.000 jubilados de la ciudad de Buenos Aires (incidencia anual de 0,10 por mil). Las embolias fueron causa más frecuente de AFU (67%) y provenían de las arterias cervicales y del corazón. El defecto visual duró menos de una hora con patrones de pérdida de la visión que sugieren isquemia transitorio concomitante con la AFU (síndrome opticopiramidal). En el 33%de los casos la AFU fue atribuida a mecanismos hemodinámicos, secundaria a arteritis de células gigantes en 3 casos y por aumento del volumen globular (eritrocitosis) en uno. La duración del defecto visual fue variable y el patrón de pérdida de la visión sugirió isquemia difusa de la retina, del nervio óptico o de la coroides. El 75%de estos pacientes evolucionó con secuelas visuales y uno tuvo un defecto neurológico consolidado (infarto cerebeloso). Durante el seguimiento que fue de 1 a 5 años, dos pacientes sufrieron infarto agudo de miocardio falleciendo por esta causa. Todos los pacientes recibieron antiagregantes plaquetarios desde el primer día de consulta y posteriormente sometidos a tratamiento específico. Ningún paciente repitió episodios de AFU ni síntomas neurológicos


Assuntos
Cegueira/epidemiologia , Arterite de Células Gigantes/complicações , Idoso , Cegueira/diagnóstico , Cegueira/etiologia , Doença Aguda , Estudos Prospectivos , Embolia/complicações
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