Clinical and [123I]FP-CIT SPET imaging follow-up in patients with drug-induced parkinsonism.

We recently found that patients with drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) may have normal (group I) or abnormal (group II) putamen [(123)I]FP-CIT DAT (dopamine transporter) binding. In this study we reassessed clinical features and DAT binding in 19 of the original 32 patients (10 of group I and 9 of group II) after a 19-39-month follow-up period and tested the effects of chronic levodopa treatment in both cohorts of patients. In group I patients, [(123)I]FP-CIT SPET (single photon emission tomography) was still normal in all patients at follow-up; DAT binding and UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) motor score values did not differ from baseline.

[123I]FP-CIT SPET imaging in drug-induced Parkinsonism.

We assessed the status of dopamine nerve terminals in patients treated with dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs) who had developed drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP). We performed [(123)I]FP-CIT SPET in 32 consecutive patients who were on DRBAs for at least 6 months and developed extrapyramidal signs. The UPDRS-III was used to assess clinical severity.

Disruption of retinoid-related orphan receptor beta changes circadian behavior, causes retinal degeneration and leads to vacillans phenotype in mice.

The orphan nuclear receptor RORbeta is expressed in areas of the central nervous system which are involved in the processing of sensory information, including spinal cord, thalamus and sensory cerebellar cortices. Additionally, RORbeta localizes to the three principal anatomical components of the mammalian timing system, the suprachiasmatic nuclei, the retina and the pineal gland. RORbeta mRNA levels oscillate in retina and pineal gland with a circadian rhythm that persists in constant darkness.

staggerer phenotype in retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha-deficient mice.

Retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORalpha) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. To study its physiological role we generated null-mutant mice by targeted insertion of a lacZ reporter gene encoding the enzyme beta-galactosidase. In heterozygous RORalpha+/- mice we found beta-galactosidase activity, indicative of RORalpha protein expression, confined to the central nervous system, skin and testis.

The metastasis suppressor candidate nucleotide diphosphate kinase NM23 specifically interacts with members of the ROR/RZR nuclear orphan receptor subfamily.

We have cloned proteins that interact with the nuclear orphan receptor RZR beta using the yeast two-hybrid system. We identified, amongst a number of other genes, the nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK)-2 also known as Nm23-2, c-myc regulatory factor PuF and differentiation inhibitory factor, RZR beta specifically interacts with Nm23-2 but not with the closely related tumor metastasis suppressor candidate gene product Nm23-1. In contrast ROR alpha interacts with both Nm23 proteins.

FIL2, an extracellular Leucine-Rich Repeat protein, is specifically expressed in Antirrhinum flowers.

The expression of the Antirrhinum gene FIL2 is affected in mutants of the homeotic transcription factor DEFICIENS. Northern and Western blot analyses showed that FIL2 in wild-type Antirrhinum flowers is expressed weakly in the petals and more abundantly in the reproductive organs; the gene is active in the filaments and anthers of stamens, and in the stigma and transmitting tissue of the carpels. The FIL2 protein is glycosylated with high mannose type glycan chains and is located in the middle lamella of the extracellular matrix.

[Psychiatric disorders in elderly patients with physical problems. Critical review of the recent literature].

The authors review some studies of the recent psychiatric literature on the elderly medically ill. The large variability in setting, screening instruments, and diagnostic criteria makes comparison of results somehow difficult and probably accounts for the differences in prevalence rates. We also outline methodological issues relating to the standardization of screening instruments and to special features ("pseudodementia", "masked" depression) of psychiatric disorders in old age.

Elevation of red cell sodium-lithium countertransport in hyperlipidemias.

Red cell Na-Li countertransport was measured in 78 normal subjects, 64 patients with essential hypertension, and 67 patients with hyperlipidemias. Both hypertensive and hyperlipidemic patients had elevated Na-Li countertransport compared to normal controls (p less than 0.001).

Lithium-sodium countertransport in erythrocytes of normal and hypertensive subjects. Relationship with age and plasma renin activity.

Lii-Nao countertransport was measured in red blood cells of 58 normotensive subjects (27 females and 31 males), 60 patients with essential hypertension (26 females and 34 males), and in 28 with secondary hypertension (19 females and 9 males). The mean values (+/- SEM) expressed as mmol Li (1 red cells X hr)-1 were 0.18 +/- 0.