Biomedical subjects

E Seres

Publications and source records attributed to E Seres.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The norepinephrine level is decreased in the lymphocytes of long-term interferon-beta-treated multiple sclerosis patients.

The mutual involvement of dopamine and its metabolites in the nervous and immune systems has the potential to provide information on the interaction of these two systems. During a 24-hour period, we used capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection to repeatedly measure the intracellular catecholamine concentrations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients receiving interferon (IFN)-beta-1b (n = 13), and those of IFN-naïve RRMS patients receiving their first IFN-beta-1a injection (n = 19) during this study, and compared them with the levels in healthy controls (n = 12). At baseline, the norepinephrine level was significantly decreased (P =0.003) in the long-term IFN MS patients compared with the controls. The Time x Group interactions for dopamine (P=0.5854) and norepinephrine (P=0.6192) were not significant. The group effects for the individual drugs were P=0.3529 and 0.1282, respectively. The lower norepinephrine level at baseline in the long-term IFN MS group suggests an immunologically stable phase, in line with our previous findings. This is the first report of the effects of IFN-beta administration on intracellular catecholamines in MS patients. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the immune reactions affected by the catecholamines in MS and to evaluate the roles of these potential immunotransmitters.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2005

Laser technology: source of coherent kiloelectronvolt X-rays.

Generating X-rays that have the properties of laser light has been a long-standing goal for experimental science. Here we describe the emission of highly collimated, spatially coherent X-rays, at a wavelength of about 1 nanometre and at photon energies extending to 1.3 kiloelectronvolts, from atoms that have been ionized by a 5-femtosecond laser pulse. This means that a laboratory source of laser-like, kiloelectronvolt X-rays, which will operate on timescales relevant to many chemical, biological and materials problems, is now within reach.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Interferon-beta affects the tryptophan metabolism in multiple sclerosis patients.

Tryptophan and its metabolites are of great interest in understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The total levels of tryptophan and its metabolites, kynurenine and kynurenic acid were determined in plasma by capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. This is the first report of the plasma levels of these analytes in healthy controls and relapsing-remitting MS patients receiving long-term and acute interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment. Twenty-four hours post-administration increased kynurenine levels (first IFN MS versus healthy, P = 0.042) and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (K/T; first IFN MS versus healthy, P =0.027; first IFN MS versus long-term IFN MS, P = 0.036) were found. The long-term IFN MS group had higher K/T ratios at 4 and 12 h post-administration (P = 0.015 and 0.009, respectively). The increase of K/T ratio in the first IFN MS group indicate an induction of the enzyme indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), as reported earlier in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. As IDO is participating in both inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, further knowledge of its involvement in the pathogenesis of MS is of great importance.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2002

Familial multiple sclerosis: case study of three affected siblings.

We report on three sisters with new-onset multiple sclerosis (MS). The symptoms of the eldest sister began in 1993 with lower-limb weakness and paraesthesia. In 1998, she had limb weakness, nystagmus and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations, and evoked potentials verified MS. The middle sister exhibited left-side optic neuritis in 1998. All findings pointed to MS. The third sister had subjective complaints such as paraesthesias and vertigo. MRI and CSF results supported the diagnosis. Both parents and all four grandparents are without neurological signs; the brain MRI examinations on the parents were negative. The prevalence of familial MS in first-degree relatives is 5-10%, while that in twins is 20-30%. In this case, environmental factors seem to play the crucial role. Although the anamnesis as concerns MS proved negative in the other family members examined here, further genetic examination of the sisters is needed.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Injury risks among chimpanzees in three housing conditions.

Meeting the psychological needs of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) can be a challenge given their aggressiveness on the one hand and the complexity of their social lives on the other. It is unclear how to balance the need to provide opportunities for species-appropriate behavior against potential risks of injury chimpanzees may inflict on each other. This study evaluates the suggestion that simpler social environments protect chimpanzees from wounding. Over a two-year period all visible injuries to 46 adult males, 64 adult females, and 25 immature chimpanzees were recorded at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center. Approximately half of the subjects were mother-reared, and the rest were nursery-reared. Housing included compounds containing about 20 chimpanzees, interconnected indoor-outdoor runs for groups of up to 12 individuals, and smaller indoor-outdoor runs for pairs and trios. Annual wounding rates were calculated for serious wounds (extensive injuries and all those requiring veterinary intervention) as well as for minor wounds. Compound-housed chimpanzees incurred the highest level of minor wounding, but serious wounding levels were not affected by housing condition. Even with a period of dominance instability and elevated levels of wounding in one compound, compound chimpanzees were not injured more than those in smaller social groups over the long term. Nursery-reared females in moderate-sized groups were wounded more than mother-reared females. Also, nursery-reared males and females were wounded less often when paired with mother-reared companions. Overall, this study indicates that maintaining chimpanzees in pairs and trios would not be an effective means for reducing injuries. The management of wounding in chimpanzee colonies is influenced more by the sex and rearing composition of a colony.

Aggression↗

PubMed1999

Amino acids in the saliva of patients with migraine.

There are a number of hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of migraine, but they are frequently conflicting. In addition to the vascular hypothesis, clinical data are available that excitatory amino acids may play an important role in the development of the disease. In this study, free amino acid concentrations were measured by RP-HPLC in the saliva of 23 migraineurs without aura, 14 migraineurs with aura, and 20 healthy subjects. Significantly higher concentrations of glutamic acid, serine, glycine, arginine, and tyrosine were found in the saliva samples of both groups of migraineurs relative to the control group. It is suggested that amino acids causing hyperexcitability in the central nervous system may be linked to the pathogenesis of migraine.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Diagnostic studies of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with multiple sclerosis].

The diagnostic criteria postulated by Poser necessitate clinical and laboratory CSF analysis for establishment of the diagnosis of definitive multiple sclerosis. The present paper reports methods for CSF examinations relating to multiple sclerosis with regard to the examinations suggested by the Charcot Foundation. In the course of CSF analysis, it is important to discriminate between the immunoglobulins present in normal amounts, those synthesized locally in pathological quantities and those penetrating across the damaged blood-CSF barrier. Normally, a parallel assay of CSF and serum specimens is carried out in the course of quantitative and qualitative protein analysis. In 37 patients with clinical multiple sclerosis, we determined the albumin and the immunoglobulin classes IgG, IgA and IgM, using laser nephelometry. An elevated IgG index was found in 76% of the cases, which points to local IgG snythesis and might be proof of the humoral immune response. The albumin quotient, which is suitable for examination of the integrity of the blood-CSF barrier, was within the reference range. Qualitative protein analysis was performed by means of electrophoresis on agarose-gel and isoelectric focusing. Agarose-gel electrophoresis revealed oligoclonal gammopathy in 68%, in contrast with the 91% demonstrated by isoelectric focusing. Comparison of the two kids of qualitative protein analyses indicated that isoelectric focusing was more sensitive for the detection of oligoclonal bands, in support of the literature finding.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Supernumerary nipples and renal anomalies.

The authors found a total of 504 supernumerary nipples in healthy newborn infants, schoolchildren and patients in the paediatric ward and outpatient clinic. The prevalence of supernumerary nipples was 4.29% among newborn infants and 5.86% among schoolchildren; 496 children with supernumerary nipples were examined with ultrasound for renal malformations and 410 acutely ill patients served as controls. The other control group consisted of 1957 newborn infants routinely screened by ultrasound. The prevalence of renal anomalies was 3.74% in children with supernumerary nipples, 3.17% in the control group, 2.86% in newborn infants with supernumerary nipples and 1.89% in control newborn infants. The differences are not significant.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1992

[Polythelia and renal malformation].

The authors found 241 polythelia (5.86) among 4113 schoolchildren (aged 6-14 years). They investigated 236 of the 241 with ultrasound and found 10 renal malformations (4.24%). Among 280 controls with respiratory infection, accident or tonsillectomy they found 9 renal malformations (3.21%). With screening of 1635 neonates they found 66 with accessory nipples (4.05%). Two of the 66 had renal malformations (3.03%), while among the 1957 control neonates 37 had renal malformations (1.89%). In the hospital and ambulancy the authors found 106 polythelia, five of them had renal abnormalities (4.72%). The authors did not found association of polythelia and renal malformation with ultrasound investigation of 408 children with polythelia.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗