Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2017
Effects of cognitive reserve depend on executive and semantic demands of the task.
Cognitive reserve (CR) is one factor that helps to maintain cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether the effects of CR depend on the semantic/executive components of the task remains unknown. ⋯ CR may relate to executive functioning and semantic knowledge, leading to preserved cognitive performance in patients with AD pathology.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2017
CASPR2 autoantibodies are raised during pregnancy in mothers of children with mental retardation and disorders of psychological development but not autism.
Maternal autoantibodies to neuronal proteins may be one cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. This exploratory study used the Danish archived midgestational sera and their nationwide registers to search for antibodies to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) in maternal sera, and to relate them to subsequent psychiatric diagnoses in the woman or her child. ⋯ These findings complement the known roles of CASPR2 in brain development, and warrant further epidemiological and experimental studies to clarify the role of CASPR2 and possibly other antibodies in neurodevelopmental disorders.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2017
Pattern of ocular involvement in myasthenia gravis with MuSK antibodies.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) with antibodies to the muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) has a characteristic phenotype. Ocular manifestations have not been systematically evaluated. ⋯ In MG with antibodies to MuSK, ocular manifestations were as frequent as in other disease subtypes. Symmetrical ophthalmoparesis with conjugated gaze limitation was rather common and associated with low functional disability. A proportion of these patients developed chronic eye muscle paresis.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2017
Lymphocyte antigens targetable by monoclonal antibodies in non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy.
To identify the most relevant antigens for monoclonal antibodies in lymphocytic infiltrates in non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN). ⋯ This is the first study in NSVN that identifies antigens expressed by pathogenic lymphocytes, which are potential targets for future monoclonal antibody treatment. Our data suggest that NSVN is amenable to monoclonal antibodies and, moreover, that targeting CD52 may be particularly promising. Our results strongly warrant future clinical trials in NSVN with monoclonal antibodies.