Age-Related Sexual Dimorphism in Temporal Discrimination and in Adult-Onset Dystonia Suggests GABAergic Mechanisms.

Background: Adult-onset isolated focal dystonia (AOIFD) presenting in early adult life is more frequent in men, whereas in middle age it is female predominant. Temporal discrimination, an endophenotype of adult-onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia, shows evidence of sexual dimorphism in healthy participants.

Objectives: We assessed the distinctive features of age-related sexual dimorphism of (i) sex ratios in dystonia phenotypes and (ii) sexual dimorphism in temporal discrimination in unaffected relatives of cervical dystonia patients.

DADS neuropathy associated with anti-TNF-α therapy.

A 52-year-old man with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and severe rheumatoid arthritis presented with a 1-year history of progressively worsening limb paraesthesia. Examination showed sensory loss in a glove and stocking distribution, absent reflexes and unsteady tandem gait. Nerve conduction studies suggested an acquired peripheral neuropathy with distal demyelination, which-together with the clinical phenotype-was consistent with a Distal Acquired Demyelinating Symmetric (DADS) neuropathy pattern.

An evaluation of the role of environmental factors in the disease penetrance of cervical dystonia.

Background: Adult onset primary torsion dystonia (AOPTD) is a poorly penetrant autosomal dominant disorder; most gene carriers are non-manifesting despite having reached an adequate age for penetrance. It is hypothesised that genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors may exert protective or deleterious effects on penetrance of AOPTD. By examining environmental exposure history in cervical dystonia patients and their similarly aged unaffected siblings we aimed to determine the role of previous environmental exposures in relation to disease penetrance.

Cervical dystonia: a disorder of the midbrain network for covert attentional orienting.

While the pathogenesis of cervical dystonia remains unknown, recent animal and clinical experimental studies have indicated its probable mechanisms. Abnormal temporal discrimination is a mediational endophenotype of cervical dystonia and informs new concepts of disease pathogenesis. Our hypothesis is that both abnormal temporal discrimination and cervical dystonia are due to a disorder of the midbrain network for covert attentional orienting caused by reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibition, resulting, in turn, from as yet undetermined, genetic mutations.

A logically derived diet to stop MS relapses.

This brief document outlines reasons for expecting that diets which cause gout should help prevent multiple sclerosis relapses.

Endocrine and phototransduction effects in the prevention of multiple sclerosis.

In addressing the question of what seems to prevent multiple sclerosis (MS) in the tropics this paper reviews work done by various researchers and suggests that MS incidence may be affected in the ensemble by the endocrine system's response to environment temperature, the skin's response to sunlight, and by the retina's response to brightness. It shows how the hypouricemia which is a reliable indicator in MS patients can leave the blood-brain barrier unsealed in general but allow retinoids to block their access to the central nervous system. It presents published studies as evidence and suggests a number of straightforward tests of these theories which could allow clinicians to advise their MS patients to take appropriate actions to help slow down or prevent disease progression.

Endocrine system dynamics and MS epidemiology.

In the kidney there is a co-transport relationship in the nephron between the reabsorption of positive Na(+) ions and the reabsorption of negative ions such as uric acid anions. Uric acid acts as an anti-oxidant and it has been shown to have a sealing effect on the blood-brain barrier. The theory developed here is that chronic neurological vasoconstriction in cool environmental conditions injects an offset into the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blood pressure control loop and reduces demand for angiotensin and aldosterone.