Seasonal distribution and evolving forms of multiple sclerosis patients diagnosed from April 2004 to November 2007.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) was first reported in Cuba in 1965. The most frequent appearance is observed in the first six months of the year.

Objective: To determine the seasonal distribution and evolving forms of MS patients diagnosed with the disease between April 2004 and November 2007.

sICAM-1 intrathecal synthesis and release during the acute phase in children suffering from Coxsackie A9 and S. pneumoniae meningoencephalitis.

The intercellular adhesion molecule is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) from normal control children as well as from children with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), with Coxsackie A9 virus meningoencephalitis and with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningoencephalitis were studied. sICAM-1 was quantified using an immunoenzimatic assay and albumin using the immunodiffusion technique in both biological fluids.

C3c intrathecal synthesis evaluation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory and progressive disease of the central nervous system in which local inflammatory injuries of the brain white matter appears, being the most outstanding feature the myeline loss (demyelination).

Objective: To determine if the complement system might be involved in the MS immunopathogeny favouring the mechanism intervening in the myelin destruction.

Method: Samples of sera and CSF from twelve patients with a diagnosis of MS obtained at the moment of the admission to the hospital at the beginning of the break out, were collected.