Galactosylceramide: a reliable serum index of demyelination in multiple sclerosis.

Eight patients with multiple sclerosis were followed for several months to determine if serum levels of galactosylceramide, a major lipid component of myelin, correlate with the clinical evolution of the disease. In the patients with the chronic progressive form of multiple sclerosis, galactosylceramide remained undetectable. In the patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, there was a good correlation between the elevation of serum galactosylceramide levels and clinical relapses.

Immunological determination of galactosylceramide level in blood as a serum index of active demyelination.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the level of galactosylceramide (GalC) in biological fluids is described. The assay uses GalC-coated plastic microtiter plates, with binding of an antibody to GalC detected by a peroxidase-labeled second antibody. The GalC level was directly estimated in the biological samples, without prior extraction, by competition with the coated hapten.

[Lack of efficacy of yohimbine in the treatment of obesity].

There is some evidence that blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on adipocytes may lead to an increase in lipolysis, We have therefore carried out a double blind comparative study of the effects of the selective alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine in human obesity. Nineteen obese volunteers participated in the study. Subjects were randomly allocated to the yohimbine group (n = 10, 18 mg yohimbine/day), or to the placebo group (n = 9).