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A W Varnes

Publications and source records attributed to A W Varnes.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Evidence of subclinical extrapyramidal hemosiderosis in cystic fibrosis.

We are presenting evidence of subclinical extrapyramidal hemosiderosis in chronic cystic fibrosis (CF) by histological staining and quantitative analysis. Comparison was made between age-matched control (eight cases) and CF brains (14 cases). None of the CF patients had extrapyramidal or other focal CNS symptoms but showed an increased iron pigment, and four cases had a few dystrophic axons (DA) in pallidonigral areas. Histological stain revealed significantly increased iron pigment in pallidonigral and subthalamic nuclei (P less than 0.05, 0.01, 0.01, respectively). The pigment was located in astrocytes, macrophages, neuronal perikarya, and neuropils. The increase was directly proportional to age and numbers of DA in nucleus gracilis/cuneatus. As in previous reports [5, 22], the numbers of DA in nucleus gracilis/cuneatus were higher in CF (P less than 0.01) and varied directly with age (correlation coefficient 0.72). Quantitative analysis disclosed an upward trend of mean iron content in pallidonigral areas. Aluminum was detected in four cases of CF but not in the controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

CSF silicon in dementia: a prospective study.

We designed a prospective study to determine whether CSF silicon elevation is specific for Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) and whether it is related to the severity of cognitive or functional impairment. We found elevated CSF silicon in 30% of 23 ATD patients but in only 1 of the 23 age-matched nondemented controls. In all ATD patients with elevated CSF silicon, symptoms began after age 65. Thirty-four percent of 29 patients with other types of dementia also had elevated CSF silicon. Therefore, elevated CSF silicon concentrations are not specific for ATD, but they correlate with age and severity of functional impairment in late-onset ATD.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Silicon as a potential uremic neurotoxin: trace element analysis in patients with renal failure.

We analyzed multiple trace elements in tap water, dialysis fluids, and CSF of patients on dialysis and with chronic renal insufficiency. Before placement of a deionizer in the dialysis unit, we found elevated levels of aluminum, barium, copper, silicon, and zinc in tap water and dialysis fluids. These were corrected by the deionizer. CSF silicon content was increased in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and on dialysis; CSF aluminum, barium, copper, and zinc were normal.

Adult↗