Levels of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with hydrocephalus.

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Levels of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with hydrocephalus.

Folia Neuropathol. 2017;55(4):301-307

Authors: Czubowicz K, Głowacki M, Fersten E, Kozłowska E, Strosznajder RP, Czernicki Z

Abstract
<i>Cytokines are widely known mediators of inflammation accompanying many neurodegenerative disorders including normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH is caused by impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption and treated by surgical shunt insertion. The early diagnosis of NPH is difficult because of various manifestations of the disease. One of the most promising research directions is biochemical CSF analysis. The aim of this study was to determine the CSF levels of cytokines. The levels of various cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-10 and TNF-α) were measured in patients with idiopathic active normal pressure hydrocephalus, arrested hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus with brain atrophy compared to controls. Our study showed that the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly elevated in the group with idiopathic active hydrocephalus compared to control patients. Moreover, we observed that the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the group with idiopathic active hydrocephalus were significantly higher compared to patients with arrested hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus with brain atrophy.</i>.

PMID: 29363904 [PubMed - in process]

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What factors determine phenotype of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)? Considerations in the context of a novel pathogenic R110C mutation in the NOTCH3 gene.

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What factors determine phenotype of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)? Considerations in the context of a novel pathogenic R110C mutation in the NOTCH3 gene.

Folia Neuropathol. 2017;55(4):295-300

Authors: Dziewulska D, Sulejczak D, Wężyk M

Abstract
<i>We report patients from a Polish family with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) who possess a novel heterozygous R110C mutation in exon 3 of the NOTCH3 gene leading to stereotypical cysteine loss. The proband had only seizure attacks and her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed very numerous hyperintense foci in the cerebral white matter in a location characteristic of CADASIL. Distinctive ultrastructural assessment of vessels from skin-muscle biopsy revealed only mild degenerative changes but relatively numerous homogeneous deposits of granular osmiophilic material (GOM). In the other symptomatic family members with the same mutation ischaemic strokes were present but not epilepsy. In the proband's affected brother at a similar age, the brain MRI was normal but vessels showed pronounced degenerative changes and irregular GOM deposits. The present report not only extends the list of known pathogenic mutations responsible for CADASIL but also emphasizes clinical and morphologic variability among family members with the same NOTCH3 mutation, suggesting that probably additional factors, not only mutations, may influence the disease phenotype.</i>.

PMID: 29363903 [PubMed - in process]

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Robust autophagy in optic nerves of experimental Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease.

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Robust autophagy in optic nerves of experimental Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease.

Folia Neuropathol. 2017;55(4):289-294

Authors: Liberski PP, Gajos A, Bogucki A

Abstract
<i>We report here autophagy in the optic nerve in experimental Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) (Fujisaki-1) in mice and experimental Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) (Echigo-1) in hamsters. Lesions of both experimental GSS in mice and experimental CJD in hamsters were practically indistinguishable. Briefly, they consisted of widespread Wallerian degeneration, spongiform change and a glial reaction. Numerous axonal swellings were seen. The latter were filled with numerous mitochondria and lysosomal electron-dense bodies. Autophagic vacuoles defined as structures bound in double membranes were readily found in many neuronal processes. The following description is organized as a sequence; however, the changes were all observed in the same specimens. First several empty double membrane-bound autophagic vacuoles were seen. In several of those vacuoles, the inner membrane was separated from the outer membrane and enclosed cargo. At the final stage, a mixture of empty autophagic vacuoles and electron-dense lysosomal vesicles was seen. Dystrophic neurites filled with a mixture of mitochondria, empty autophagic vacuoles and electron-dense lysosomal vesicles were interpreted as the final stage of autophagy. Of note, several areas were replaced with dense astrocytic gliosis.</i>.

PMID: 29363902 [PubMed - in process]

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Dysregulation of Alzheimer's disease-related genes and proteins following cardiac arrest.

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Dysregulation of Alzheimer's disease-related genes and proteins following cardiac arrest.

Folia Neuropathol. 2017;55(4):283-288

Authors: Pluta R, Ułamek-Kozioł M, Januszewski S, Czuczwar SJ

Abstract
<i>Cardiac arrest, usually occurring in the aged population, is the most important cause of high morbidity and death in developed countries. Commonly, attention, depression, cognitive impairment, spatial memory, short- and long-term memory, executive functions, decreased quality of life and social participation are disturbed following circulation arrest. Deficits in cognitive function, similar to prodromal Alzheimer's disease dementia, following cardiac arrest remain an area of concern. Recent research has focused on the post-resuscitation period to identify mechanisms of long-term brain damage and cognitive impairment. As more patients survive longer periods after cardiac arrest, attention is focused on interventions that may enhance cognitive and psychosocial perceptions. Here, we review the new data influencing the cognitive and functional outcome in the post-resuscitation period.</i>.

PMID: 29363901 [PubMed - in process]

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Cutaneous non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Western Sydney, Australia. Population study 1996–2013

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Cutaneous non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Western Sydney, Australia. Population study 1996–2013

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Adding sufentanil to ropivacaine in continuous thoracic paravertebral block fails to improve analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND The benefit of adding opioid to a local anaesthetic for continuous thoracic paravertebral analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is unclear. OBJECTIVES To analyse the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine and sufentanil in combination compared with ropivacaine alone after VATS. DESIGN A randomised, double-blinded, single-centre clinical trial. SETTING A tertiary university hospital between March 2010 and April 2014. PATIENTS Ninety patients were recruited, two were not included leaving 88 randomised into two groups. Eighteen patients were excluded from analysis and 70 completed the study. INTERVENTION To receive thoracic paravertebral analgesia with either 2 mg ml−1 ropivacaine and 0.25 μg ml−1 sufentanil (ropivacaine + sufentanil group) or 2 mg ml−1 ropivacaine alone (ropivacaine group) for 48 h postoperatively. Infusion rate was set at 0.15 ml kg−1 h−1 in both groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary endpoint was the mean total amount of self-administered morphine by the patients in each group at 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS The mean ± SD total amount of self-administered morphine was not significantly different between groups (53.1 ± 27.2 mg in the ropivacaine + sufentanil group vs. 58.8 ± 34.3 mg in the ropivacaine group; P = 0.72). No significant differences were found between the two groups in either in pain scores at rest or during movement, in opioid-related adverse reactions, in patient satisfaction or length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION Adding 0.25 μg ml−1 sufentanil to 2 mg ml−1 ropivacaine in continuous thoracic paravertebral analgesia for VATS did not reduce morphine consumption or pain scores when compared with ropivacaine alone. We cannot recommend its use for routine clinical practice. Further studies analysing different concentrations and infusion rates of sufentanil are needed before a lack of efficacy can be confirmed. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical trial registrations: EudraCT: 2009-014832-38. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 01082744. Correspondence to Christian Bauer, MD, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, 103 grande rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69004 Lyon, France Tel: +33 426732660; e-mail: christian.bauer@chu-lyon.fr Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (http://ift.tt/2ylyqmW). © 2018 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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