Quantitative NMR analysis of L-Dopa in seeds from two varieties of Mucuna pruriens.

Introduction: L-Dopa, a key neurotransmitter used to treat neural disorders such as Parkinson's disease, is found in the seeds of the genus Mucuna at a sufficient concentration for possible commercial use.

Objective: To develop a simple and reliable method to extract L-Dopa from M. pruriens seeds in an aqueous medium and then quantitate this compound using a H qNMR method (internal standard); and also to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of this method with an NMR calibration curve.

Hereditary early-onset Parkinson's disease caused by mutations in PINK1.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We previously mapped a locus for a rare familial form of PD to chromosome 1p36 (PARK6). Here we show that mutations in PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) are associated with PARK6.

Alanyl-aminopeptidase activity decrease in cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer patients.

We analyzed the amino acid concentrations and aminopeptidase activities in plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer patients. Correlations were calculated between these parameters and the degree of cognitive impairment, duration of the disease and age. In comparison with a control group, no changes were found in the levels of amino acids in CSF or plasma of Alzheimer patients.

Acute meningoencephalitis as the sole manifestation of Q fever.

The case of a 25-year old man who presented with meningoencephalitis as the sole clinical manifestation of Q fever is described. Serological studies revealed the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii. The patient responded favourably to a ten-day course of i.