[Toe phasic posture reflex: description and distribution among patients with neurological disease and in the general population].

A clinical sign is described consisting of a brief extension of the toes after upward tapping of the plantar surface of their terminal phalanges. Electrological data support the hypothesis of a long loop reflex, which we call the "toe phasic posture reflex" (TPPR). In a preliminary study, this sign was observed in patients with central nervous system disease, especially in subcortical brain disorders regardless of etiology.

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation: value of MR phase-contrast imaging.

We report two patients with an idiopathic transdural spinal cord herniation at the thoracic level. Phase-contrast MR imaging was helpful in showing an absence of CSF flow ventral to the herniated cord and a normal CSF flow pattern dorsal to the cord, which excluded a compressive posterior arachnoid cyst.

Dominant T-cell clones of unknown significance in patients with idiopathic sensory neuropathies.

Objective: To determine whether idiopathic sensory neuropathies could be associated with circulating dominant T-cell clones, a T-cell equivalent to monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance.

Background: A number of predominantly sensory neuropathies remain of unknown etiology. Circulating dominant T-cell clones may be observed in the elderly, in autoimmune disorders, and in chronic viral infections.

Overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines imbalanced by their antagonists in POEMS syndrome.

The polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare multisystem disorder of obscure pathogenesis associated with osteosclerotic myeloma. Circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) interleukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta], IL-2, IL-6, and interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma]), anti-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF beta 1], IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13), the cytokine carrier protein alpha 2 macroglobulin, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), soluble TNF receptors (sTNFr) p55 and p75, and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6r) were determined in 15 patients with POEMS syndrome and 15 with multiple myeloma. Patients with POEMS syndrome had higher serum levels of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 and lower serum levels of TGF beta 1 than did patients with multiple myeloma.