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Biomedical subjects

Norman Putzki

Publications and source records attributed to Norman Putzki.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T lymphocytes fail to suppress myelin basic protein-induced proliferation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder directed against self antigens of the central nervous system. CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cell (T(reg)) mediated suppression is an essential mechanism of self-tolerance. We studied whether changes in the suppressive function of a mixture of CD25(high) and CD25(intemediate) expressing T(reg) cells in myelin basic protein (MBP)-induced proliferation occurred in untreated MS patients. Suppression of MBP-induced proliferation was observed in 13 out of 29 (45%) MS patients; this was significantly (p<0.05) less compared with 17 out of 19 (89%) healthy individuals. Relative T(reg) counts was significantly increased in MS patients (mean+/-S.D.; 20+/-8%) compared with healthy individuals (15+/-5%). These findings suggest that impaired T(reg) function may be involved in pathogenesis of MS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Kinesthesia is impaired in focal dystonia.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and focal dystonia (FD) are both predominantly characterized by motor symptoms. Also, recent research has shown that sensory processing is impaired in both movement disorders. FD is characterized by involuntary movements and abnormal limb postures; thus, abnormal kinesthesia could be involved in the pathogenesis. We examined passive index finger movements in patients with FD (n = 12) and PD (n = 11) and in age-matched healthy controls (n = 13). Compared to healthy controls, patients with PD and FD were significantly impaired in the correct detection of the movement direction. The perceptual thresholds for 75% correct responses of movement direction were 0.21 degrees for FD and 0.28 degrees for PD patients compared to 0.13 degrees in control subjects. Subjects with PD and FD were also significantly impaired when they had to judge consecutive amplitudes. Results of the present study point to impaired kinesthesia in FD. Defective sensory processing could be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease and may influence dystonic contractions.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome following long-term treatment with azathioprine in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Azathioprine (Aza) is a widely used immunosuppressive drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Recently, the incidence of secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (sMDS) associated with a poor prognosis was found to be elevated in patients treated with Aza for non-malign disorders. Three hundred and seventeen MS patients were retrospectively analysed and complete blood counts were examined for those exposed to Aza. We identified one case of sMDS (cumulative dose 627 g) in a young patient and two further malignancies (cumulative doses 27 g and 54 g) in the Aza group (n = 81; 3.7%). In the non-Aza (n = 236) group, five malignancies (2.1%, P = 0.419) were identified. Including our patient, four cases of sMDS after long-term Aza therapy in MS have been reported so far. Cases suggest a time- and dose-dependent risk of sMDS in long-term therapy of MS with Aza. Long-term Aza therapy needs careful monitoring.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effect of functional NMDA-antagonist flupirtine on automatic postural responses in Parkinson's disease.

Animal studies have demonstrated potent antiparkinsonian and other motor effects of the functional NMDA-antagonist flupirtine and suggest a therapeutic use in Parkinson's disease (PD). In healthy subjects flupirtine decreases the functionally destabilizing medium latency (ML) response following toe-up rotations of a moving platform. Because ML responses are known to be increased in PD, this study examined s the effects of flupirtine on postural responses in patients with PD. During 22 days 21 patients with PD took 50 mg, 100 mg flupirtine or placebo following a randomized, double-blind design. Clinical impairment was assessed by means of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). No significant difference between the effect of flupirtine and placebo on ML responses was observed. There was an unspecific improvement of overall UPDRS scores in placebo and flupirtine conditions compared with baseline measures which was more marked in the placebo condition. No improvement in the UPDRS motor subscale was observed. As no beneficial effect on the clinical presentation and no effect on postural responses could be demonstrated, flupirtine does not seem to be a therapeutic option in PD.

Administration, Oral↗