[Standardized bicycle ergometry test in mitochondrial myopathies. Indications, interferences and clinical parameters].

Exercise tests are widely used as simple, non-invasive screening methods in the differential diagnosis of metabolic myopathies. Exercise protocols have not been standardized with regard to duration of the test, workload, or monitored metabolic parameters. Potentially interfering parameters such as gender or maximal isometric force of the individuals have not been investigated.

Stages and syndromes of neuroborreliosis.

To ascertain the varieties of neuroborreliosis, 330 patients were identified at the Departments of Neurology in Würzburg and Giessen from 1979 to 1994. Patients who fullfilled at least one of three strict case definitions based on clinical and laboratory criteria were included in the study. Ninety-one per cent of the patients had second-stage neuroborreliosis (duration of symptoms < or = 6 months).

Relationship between the Borrelia burgdorferi specific immune response and different stages and syndromes in neuroborreliosis.

One hundred untreated neuroborreliosis patients were investigated by IgG/IgM immunoblot to find out if different stages and syndromes are characterized by different patterns of their Borrelia burgdorferi specific immune responses in CSF and serum. Stage III (n = 10) was characterized by a broad, highly specific intrathecal immune response (the mean number of IgM bands in CSF was 3.1 and of IgG bands 6.

A pilot study investigating the effects of orally administered pentoxifylline on selected immune variables in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is probably mainly mediated by T-helper 1 (TH1)-lymphocytes. TH1-function can be down-regulated in vitro and in animal experiments by pentoxifylline. Therefore, we included 20 multiple sclerosis patients in an open label pilot trial of pentoxifylline.

Circulating adhesion molecules and tumor necrosis factor receptor in multiple sclerosis: correlation with magnetic resonance imaging.

Adhesion molecules are important in T-cell trafficking to sites of inflammation. We determined levels of circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), L-selectin, and E-selectin in the serum of 147 patients with definite multiple sclerosis of the remitting-relapsing or secondary progressive type. Soluble VCAM-1 and L-selectin concentrations were increased compared to levels in a large group of control subjects.