[Therapeutic potential of interferon beta-1b and related drugs in multiple sclerosis: comparative meta-analysis].

The objective of this current meta-analysis is to determine whether IFN beta-1b is substantially better than other immunomodulating, immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory drugs in modifying the clinical course of relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (RR MS, SP MS). A comparison shows that in 2-year treatment IFN beta-1b, beta-1a s.c.

[Multiple sclerosis in the year 2000: advances in the treatment with interferon beta-1b].

The decline of millennium brings forward new challenges in therapeutic immunomodulation of relapsing-remittent multiple sclerosis (RR MS). Interferon beta-1b (Betaferon) belongs to expanding family of soluble cytokines which are capable to modify beneficially cellular immunity in RR MS. IFN beta-1b is indicated for young or middle-aged, ambulant patients with RR MS who have frequent relapses, "aggressive" brain lesions in magnetic resonance imaging and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

[Leukotrienes B4 and C4 in cerebrospinal of patients with multiple sclerosis].

Leukotrienes B4 and C4 have been assayed in CSF of 24 patients with the attacks or slowing-progressing course of multiple sclerosis, and in 23 patients with other noninflammatory diseases. Leukotrienes concentrations have been assayed with RIA technique with the use of commercially available kits manufactured by Amersham. Leukotrienes B4 and C4 levels in CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis have been 91.

[Serum lipid peroxides in alcoholic patients].

The study presents the estimations of serum lipid peroxide (LPx) concentrations in alcoholic patients during acute ethanol intoxication and in abstinence period. The increase of lipid metabolism in alcoholic drunkenness suggests that LPx plays marked role in this turnover.

[Leukotrienes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis].

In the cerebrospinal fluid of two groups of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), the determinations of LTB4 and LTC4 leukotriene concentrations were performed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In the first group of 10 patients with chronic SSPE (from 2 to 11 years), the LTB4 and LTC4 levels were 94.8 +/- 17.

[Micropsia in multiple sclerosis].

Micropsia is described in a case of remitting multiple sclerosis with left optic neuritis and spastic paraparesis. The damage to small axons in the optic nerve conducting spatial impulses from temporal and lower segments of retina might be responsible for the occurrence of transient micropsia.

[Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)].

CSF proteins of 62 patients with SSPE aged 6 to 26 years were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The total IgG concentration in the CSF was increased to 16.8 +/- 10 mg/dl and the IgG index was raised to from 2.

[Nuchal-paretic sign in multiple sclerosis].

A 43-year-old patient with clinically established diagnosis of multiple sclerosis had the nuchal-paretic sign. Neck flexion caused reversible deterioration of gait and increased the weakness of the right lower extremity. Although the sign is not pathognomonic for multiple sclerosis it is a peculiar pyramidal sign suggesting demyelination especially in the cervical part of the spine.

[Diagnosis and etiopathogenesis of retinitis in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Presented are: the incidence, symptomatology and diagnostics together with electroretinography of retinal periphlebitis as well as retinitis and maculopathy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Particular attention is called to the histopathology of the retina in this disease. The etiopathology of retinitis and maculopathy in multiple sclerosis is still unknown.

[Lipid peroxides in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis].

Serum lipid peroxides (LPX) were determined in 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and in 30 healthy controls. Patients with relapses or chronic progression had significantly higher serum LPX level than healthy controls: mean 3.09 +/- 0.

[The risk of multiple sclerosis development in patients with idiopathic optic neuritis: prognosis and other problems].

The percentage of patients with idiopathic optic neuritis (ION) developing multiple sclerosis (MS) was higher in young females who had recurrent ION, especially during 4 years since the first inflammatory attack. Clinical features of ION had no prognostic value. Patients with ION developed also more frequently MS if paraclinical findings showed the occurrence of DR2, DR3, DQw1 and/or DPw4, increased CSF IgG index, CSF oligoclonal IgG, asymptomatic lesions in NMR brain images, and subclinical abnormalities in visual, brainstem auditory, somatosensory evoked potentials.