Relationship between disease-modifying therapy and depression in multiple sclerosis.

Many prescribers of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) believe that interferon beta (IFNβ) is more likely than glatiramer acetate (GA) to increase depression during the course of MS treatment. Therefore, newly diagnosed patients with a history of depression are often placed on GA therapy from the onset of MS treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between DMT type and depression among patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Coexisting MS and Lhermitte-Duclos Disease.

We report the case of a patient with pre-existing multiple sclerosis, who presented with horizontal diplopia, and a prior episode of progressive ataxia and dizziness lasting one week. While initially attributed to multiple sclerosis, subsequent imaging demonstrated a concurrent left cerebellar gangliocytoma, also known as Lhermitte-Duclos disease.

Tolerability and safety profile of 12- to 28-week treatment with interferon beta-1b 250 and 500 microg QOD in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group pilot study.

Background: It is not known whether the currently available treatment regimen of interferon beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b) 250 microg provides the maximum benefit possible in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), or whether higher doses of IFNbeta-1b will prove to be more beneficial.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the tolerability and safety profile of IFNbeta-1b 500 microg compared with the currently approved 250-microg dose.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group pilot study was carried out to compare IFNbeta-1b 250 microg with IFNbeta-1b 500 microg, both self-administered SC QOD for >or=12 weeks in patients with RRMS.

Expression of the Volvox gene encoding nitrate reductase: mutation-dependent activation of cryptic splice sites and intron-enhanced gene expression from a cDNA.

Use of the nitrate reductase encoding gene (nitA) as selection marker has facilitated the successful nuclear transformation of Volvox carteri. The Volvox nitA gene contains 10 introns. A stable nitA mutation in the Volvox recipient strain 153-81 resides in a G-to-A transition of the first nucleotide in the 5' splice site of nitA intron 2.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: surgical and nonsurgical treatment.

A retrospective study was performed to evaluate treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Two hundred sixty-five patients were treated over a 4 1/2-year period. Only patients in whom studies showed abnormal nerve conduction (a median nerve sensory latency greater than 3.

Neurological evaluation of occupational hand pain.

The evaluation of the patient with pain, weakness, or numbness of the hand or upper extremity begins with knowledge of neuroanatomy and of the proper examination techniques. Neurological diseases of the peripheral nerves or central nervous system often present with vague complaints or minimal findings on clinical examination that may be diagnosed only with a combination of radiologic and neurodiagnostic studies. However, tests alone cannot determine the best treatment as each case must be individualized.

Acute regulation of lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor activity in pheochromocytoma.

The effect of an acute endogeneous catecholamine stimulation on the regulation of lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor activity was studied in a patient with pheochromocytoma. Baseline blood pressure, heart rate, adrenoceptor density, and plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate were normal. Excessive spontaneous increases of catecholamine concentrations were accompanied by a rise in blood pressure, bradycardia, and an acute up-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic hyposensitivity during long-term diuretic therapy--a possible explanation for the antihypertensive effect of diuretics?

The long-term effect of hydrochlorothiazide on beta 2-adrenoceptor density on mononuclear cells was investigated in 10 male patients with essential hypertension. There was a 40% reduction in beta 2-adrenoceptor density but no change in receptor affinity. This down-regulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors may explain the observed adrenergic hyposensitivity after long-term diuretic therapy.

Beta 2-adrenoceptor density on membranes and on intact mononuclear cells in essential hypertension.

Alterations in the status or in the regulation of adrenoceptors may contribute to essential hypertension. This could be studied using the recently introduced radio-ligand binding techniques to characterize the adrenoceptors on human peripheral blood cells. The present study shows that patients with essential hypertension have a twofold increase of beta 2-adrenoceptor density on intact mononuclear cells as compared to normotensive controls: 859 +/- 260 (n = 10) vs.

[Direct determination of phenylalanine in serum by derivative spectrophotometry (author's transl)].

A simple and precise method is described for the determination of phenylalanine in serum or plasma, using derivative spectrophotometry. After the removal of protein and uric acid, 100 microliters serum or plasma are analysed directly for phenylalanine. The magnitude of the difference between the peak minimum at 254 nm and the peak maximum at 257 nm of the derivative spectrum (2nd derivative of the absorption spectrum) is directly proportional to the phenylalanine content.