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Biomedical subjects

S Flechter

Publications and source records attributed to S Flechter.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Malignant cystic meningioma with spike and wave EEG pattern.

A 23 year old woman suffering from grand mal epilepsy showed generalized spike and wave activity on her EEG. The CT showed a cystic tumor in the cortex and the white tissue of the right parietal region. On operation the tumor was diagnosed as malignant infiltrating cystic meningioma. After removal of the tumor the spike and wave pattern disappeared. Cortical localized tumors are rarely associated with a generalized spike and wave pattern.

Adult

In vitro presynaptic modulation of cholinergic hippocampal activity by pituitary-adrenocortical hormones.

In vivo studies have shown that high blood concentrations of pituitary-adrenocortical hormones can activate the hippocampal cholinergic terminals. Incubation of hippocampal synaptosomal preparations with methylprednisolone, or with ACTH at concentrations comparable to stress-induced high concentrations in plasma, did not have any significant effects on the cholinergic parameters measured under unactivated conditions. In the presence of either high K+ or of ACh, choline uptake was decreased. This decrease was not affected by methylprednisolone. However, methylprednisolone did enhance ACh release both after a previous increase (induced by K+) or a decrease (induced by ACh) of ACh release. In contrast, ACTH had no direct effects on either unactivated or K+-stimulated synaptosomes. Thus, a differential effect was exerted by methylprednisolone on the two presynaptic regulatory mechanisms: choline uptake (no change) and ACh release (increase). We suggest that the activation, observed in vivo, resulted mainly from indirect action of the hormones on the hippocampal cholinergic terminals, in view of the fact that the direct effect in vitro was partial.

Acetylcholine

Plasma dopamine beta hydroxylase (D.B.H.) activity in Parkinsonian patients under L-dopa, and 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine loading.

Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase (D.B.H.)-activity was measured in the plasma of untreated Parkinsonian patients, after tretment with L-dopa and 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine. The findings were compared to the D.B.H.-activity of a matched healthy control group. After L-dopa loading D.B.H.-activity decreased in the Parkinsonian patients by 27.6 +/- 3.1% compared to 16.2 +/- 3.3% (p less than 0.02) in the control group. After 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine laoding the decrease in D.B.H.-activity was 32.6 +/- 4.4% in the parkinsonian patients, and 158 +/- 4.9% (p less than 0.02) in the control group. This reduced D.H.B.-activity after L-dopa loading may reflect an impairment, in the Parkinsonian patients' ability to metaoblize L-dopa. The reduced D.B.H.-activity after treatment with 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine may be explained by a pronounced antagonistic influence of 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine on the presynaptic dopamine receptors, suggesting that presynaptic dopaminergic receptors are involved in Parkinson's disease.

Bromocriptine

Kleine-Levin syndrome with periodic apnea during hypersomnic stages--E.E.G. study.

A 33 year old male, suffering from Kleine-Levine syndrome associated with periods of apnea during the hypersomnic attacks, is reported. Ventilatory studies negate the Pickwickian syndrome. The E.E.G.'s recorded during the hypersomnic attacks and the apneic periods showed a direct correlation between high-voltage delta waves paroxysmal E.E.G. activity, and apneic period. Medications known to improve Kleine-Levin syndrome, in our case, had no effect upon the clinical hypersomnic and apnea periods, nor on the correlatives E.E.G.'s pattern and spirometric studies. Theoretical considerations let us assume that these paroxysmal E.E.G. patterns associated with apnea are NRem-sleep serotonin dependent, and have an inhibitory influence on the respiratory centers, by alternating the equilibrium between the catecholamines and acetylcholine activities.

Adult

Blood-C.S.F. barriers dysfunction in the chronic organic brain syndrome; a R.I.A. study.

C.S.F. samples of 35 patients, who suffered from verified chronic, non-tumorous organic brain syndrome, were radioimmunoassayed for T4 and T.S.H., and were compared to C.S.F.-R.I.A. samples from a control group of patients who underwent myelography because of lumbar disc. In addition T4 and T.S.H. plasma levels were evaluated in the O.B.S. patients. C.S.F. T4 and T.S.H. levels were significantly higher in 65% of the O.B.S. group of patients than those of the control group. The average determinations for T4 were: 0.77 muh/100 ml in O.B.S. group as against 0--0.4 micrograms/100 ml in the C.S.F.'s of the control group. P greater than 0,001 T.S.H. C.S.F. levels were 1.33 microU/ml in the O.B.S. group, and 0--0.6 microU/ml in the control group (P greater than 0.005). It is suggested that the elevated R.I.A. values of these hormones in the C.S.F. of the O.B.S. patients reflect a disruption of blood-C.S.F. barriers. Therefore in the organic brain syndrome there seems to exist a pathophysiological dysfunction of brain barriers in addition of the neural damage.

Adult

R.H.I.S.A. -- cysternography study in sporadic choreo-athetotic syndrome accompanied with dementia (sporadic Huntington disease).

Seven patients who suffered from choreo-athetotic movements, accompanied by slowly progressive mental and affective decline over several years, without hereditary background, were admitted for clinical and psychodiagnostic tests. Laboratory examinations and anamnestic data were negative, and therefore a presumed diagnosis of sporadic Huntington disease was made. In order to verify the diagnosis, we had done P.E.G. -- Contrast study, and R.H.I.S.A. -- Cysternography. The P.E.G. -- Contrast demonstrated an enlargement of the sub-arachnoidal space and a symmetrical enlargement of the ventricular System, that may represent cortical and sub-cortical atrophy. The R.H.I.S.A. -- Cysternography Study showed in our patients the characteristics of the Mixed type Pattern: combined ventricular penetration with delayed para-sagittal absorption. Considering the results of the R.H.I.S.A. Studies, that correspond to the P.E.G. -- Contrast Studies, and its invulnerability towards patients, we presume that R.H.I.S.A. may be preferred as a diagnostic tool in Sporadic Huntington Disease.

Aged

[Effect of bromocriptine on secretion of the enzyme dopamine-B-hydroxylase (DBH) in patients with Parkinson's disease].

The activity of DBH enzyme was measured in plasma of 7 non treated patients suffering from Parkinson's disease; a 10 mg dose of Bromocryptine was administered per os to these patients. Attained results were compared to the enzyme activity in a group of control of 7 healthy individuals. It was pointed out that in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease the decrease of DBH level in plasma after the administration of Bromocryptine was of 32.6% +/- SE 4.4% while in the group of control the decrease was only of 15% +/- SE 4.9%. This decrease in the plasmatic level of the enzyme after the administration of Bromocryptine should be due to the marked antagonistic activity of Bromocryptine on pre-synaptic dopaminergic receptors. This should mean that peripheric pre-synaptic dopaminergic receptors are involved in the physiopathology of Parkinson's disease.

Bromocriptine