Cerebrospinal fluid S-100 protein levels in neurological pathologies.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate S-100 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with different neurological disorders, and in subjects with no proven neurological pathology, in order to study possible differences in their protein concentrations. The total number of patient-samples examined was 119 (58 males and 61 females; mean age 35 yrs, 1-79 yrs). Based on the final diagnoses, nine patient groups were studied: a control group, meningitis, acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL), dementia, hydrocephalia, polyneuropathy-motor neuron disease, acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

[Level of S-100 and neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid from subjects with neurological pathologies].

Aim: To evaluate S-100 and neuro specific enolase (NSE) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with differents neurological disorders in order to study possible differences in their protein concentrations.

Material And Methods: We analysed samples of CSF taked by spinal puncture in subjects either from of the Casualty Department or from the Department of Neurology. Patients displaying neurological symptoms capable of being diagnostically tested.

[Pulmonary activity in sarcoidosis: 67Ga uptake quantification and plasma determination of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D)].

Aim: The aim of our study was to produce a quantitative determination of Ga-67 pulmonary intake and correlate it with plasma levels of calcitriol.

Material And Methods: A prospective study was conducted, and included 65 patients (29 female, 36 male) referred to our section due to suspected sarcoidosis or fibrosis of the lungs. Gammagraphic images were obtained after injecting Ga-67 citrate, and vitamin D was determined by IRMA method.

[Effect of different observers on the interpretation of pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy].

Aim: The agreement in the interpretation of the scintigraphic images of pulmonary perfusion in the diagnosis of pulmonary tromboembolism (TEP) is not always the most adequate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of agreement by eight observers in the interpretation of these studies.

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 180 studies with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism referred to our department for scintigraphic perfusion imaging from April 98 to September 99.

Catecholamine levels in practitioners of the transcendental meditation technique.

With the aim of evaluating the sympathetic-adrenal medulla system in subjects practicing transcendental meditation (TM), their plasma catecholamine levels were determined at two different times of day. The study group consisted of 19 subjects who regularly practice either TM or Sidhi-TM technique, with a control group made up of 16 healthy subjects who had not previously used any relaxation technique. Catecholamine plasma levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography, at 0900 and 2000 h.