Journal of the neurological sciences
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Increased concentrations of the nervous-system-specific proteins neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein (S-100) have been measured with lesions in the CNS. Elevated levels of serum NSE (s-NSE) have been found in status epilepticus, but also after single epileptic seizures. Because larger studies addressing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NSE or S-100 have not been performed, we measured CSF NSE and S-100 after tonic-clonic seizures to search for evidence of neuronal and glial damage. ⋯ There were no significant differences between the mean concentrations of NSE or S-100 in CSF and serum between the epileptic group and controls. These results do not confirm the previous observation of elevated NSE-levels after tonic-clonic seizures, which argues against neuronal or glial damage after uncomplicated tonic-clonic seizures in unmedicated patients.
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Diabetes mellitus can lead to functional and structural deficits in both the peripheral and central nervous system. The pathogenesis of these deficits is multifactorial, probably involving, among others, microvascular dysfunction and oxidative stress. The present study examined the effects of 12 weeks of treatment with a conjugate of the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid and the anti-oxidant alpha-lipoic acid (GLA-LA) on functional deficits in the peripheral and central nervous system in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. ⋯ However, GLA-LA treatment did improve long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. It is concluded that GLA-LA, which is known to improve early deficits in peripheral nerve conduction in diabetic rats, is unable to reverse late deficits. However, the compound does reverse established deficits in long-term potentiation, suggesting that at least part of its activity is specifically directed at synaptic plasticity.
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The purpose of this study was to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) patterns of multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques in order to define the metabolic substrate in different lesion subtypes. Combined MRI and single-voxel 1H-MRS investigation was performed in 54 MS patients (47 relapsing remitting (RR) and seven secondary progressive (SP)). Sixty-seven MS lesions were selected. ⋯ The increased Cho/Cr ratio found in Gd-enhancing plaques, in particular in the T(1) hypointense lesions, may reflect increased membrane cell turnover. The T(1) hypointense Gd unenhancing plaques better reflect axonal damage, as suggested by the decrease of NAA/Cr. Nevertheless, the lack of statistical differences in NAA/Cr between plaque subgroups suggests that axonal impairment might occur even in the early stages.