To what extent can clinical characteristics be used to distinguish encephalitis from encephalopathy of other causes? Results from a prospective observational study.

Background: Recognizing patients with encephalitis may be challenging. The cardinal symptom, encephalopathy, has a wide array of differential diagnoses. In this prospective study we aimed to explore the etiology of encephalitis and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of symptoms and clinical findings in patients with encephalitis in an encephalopathic population.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide during sweating in young healthy women.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) concentrations are increased in postmenopausal women and castrated men with symptomatic flushing. We wanted to determine if a CGRP increase exists in the plasma of healthy fertile-age women during sweating. Plasma concentrations of CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay at maximal sweating during a sauna session and during bicycle exercise both at maximal and 70% of maximal work capacity in 8 healthy women of fertile age.