Parkinsonism, premature menopause, and mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma mutations: clinical and molecular genetic study.

Background: Mutations in the gene encoding mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG), the enzyme that synthesises mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), have been associated with a mitochondrial disease-autosomal dominant or recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia-and multiple deletions of mtDNA. Mitochondrial dysfunction is also suspected to participate in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, no primary gene defects affecting mitochondrial proteins causing mendelian transmission of parkinsonism have been characterised.

Effect of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on male reproductive health.

Background: Men with epilepsy have reduced fertility, and antiepileptic drugs may affect semen quality. Moreover, animal studies suggest that valproate (VPA) may be associated with testicular atrophy.

Objective: To evaluate reproductive function in men with epilepsy.

Tolfenamic acid rapid release versus sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine: comparable effect in a double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-group study.

The efficacy and safety of tolfenamic acid and oral sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine was studied at five neurological centers in Finland. One hundred forty-one patients experiencing 289 migraine attacks, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for migraine with or without aura as defined by the International Headache Society, were randomized. For first attacks, 77% of patients receiving tolfenamic acid experienced a reduction of the initial severe or moderate headache to mild or no headache after 2 hours, as compared to 79% in the sumatriptan group and 29% in the placebo group.

Carbonic anhydrase II in the cerebrospinal fluid: its value as a disease marker.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) II is the predominant CA isoenzyme in the brain of mammals. We have recently developed a dual-label time-resolved immunofluorometric assay to quantify minute amounts of CA I and II in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The present study was aimed at elucidating the clinical value of such measurements in the case of neurological disorders.