Penicillin (PC) neurotoxicity (convulsions and encephalopathy) is considered to be due to GABAergic inhibition. The effects of penicillin G(PCG) on [3H]flunitrazepam (FNZ) binding in rat neuron-enriched primary cultures was examined to assess the role of the benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor in the neurotoxicity. PCG application for 24 h induced a significant decrease in [3H]FNZ binding activity at 10(-3) M, and a decrease in available receptor number (Bmax) at 10(-2) M, without obvious cell damage. Pre-application of the BDZ receptor antagonist, Ro-15-1788, prevented the PC-induced decrease in [3H]FNZ binding activity. Therefore, PC seems to reduce the number of BDZ receptors through a direct effect on this receptor, which is a part of the major inhibitory system in mammalian brain; the GABAergic macromolecular receptor complex. This decrease in BDZ receptors may play a role in PC-induced neurotoxicity, especially encephalopathy.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

123I-IMP SPECT findings in mitochondrial encephalomyopathies.

We performed N-isopropyl-[123I]p-iodoamphetamine (IMP) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in three patients with Leigh syndrome, two patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and two siblings with progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). The SPECT images were compared with the findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). All Leigh syndrome patients showed low accumulation areas (LAA) bilaterally in the frontal lobes and the basal ganglia. The frontal lobe LAA was seen even in an area without abnormalities on CT/MRI. Each MELAS patient showed a focal LAA. SPECT could also detect an old stroke-like lesion that was no longer shown by CT/MRI. However, SPECT did not show LAA in the basal ganglia, which showed calcification on CT or abnormal signal intensity on MRI. MRI in the 2 PEO patients showed lesions bilaterally in the basal ganglia in one, and in the internal capsules in the other. SPECT showed LAA not only in corresponding areas, but also in the occipital lobes, where no lesions were revealed by MRI. Thus, 123I-IMP SPECT was more sensitive than CT/MRI for detecting stroke-like lesions in MELAS patients, although it did not detect small lesions in the basal ganglia. LAA in the frontal lobes and occipital lobes may be SPECT findings characteristic of Leigh syndrome and PEO, respectively.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic mumps virus encephalitis.

A previously well 4-year-old girl developed frequent seizures and mental deterioration after mumps parotitis. Direct IgG antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed a high titer of anti-mumps viral antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. Chronic mumps encephalitis was diagnosed. Her mental state and seizures improved markedly with inosine pranobex therapy.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Carbamazepine therapy and long-term prognosis in epilepsy of childhood.

Sixty-seven of 90 patients (74% who had been treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) alone were seizure-free for greater than 3 years. The EEG of the patients given CBZ monotherapy was more often normal in those without neurologic abnormalities other than mental retardation or a genetic predisposition. The prognosis of patients with partial seizures secondarily generalized was poorer than that of the other patients. Patients without mental retardation more often had monotherapy CBZ. The lowest blood level of CBZ for maintenance was considered to be 4 micrograms/ml, although the therapeutic blood level was between 6 and 12 micrograms/ml. Most of the side effects were mild.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma VEGF concentration can predict the tumor angiogenic capacity in non-small cell lung cancer.

We assessed the clinical utility of circulating angiogenic factors as a predictor for tumor angiogenesis in primary lung cancer. Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and intratumoral VEGF were assessed by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). There was a significant increase in the mean value of both plasma and serum VEGF concentration in primary lung cancer patients (n=97) compared to those of healthy controls (n=59). There was a significant correlation between plasma VEGF levels and microvessel density (MVD), and also between plasma VEGF and intratumoral VEGF levels. Plasma VEGF in patients with lung cancer appears to be a useful indicator of tumor angiogenesis.

Adult↗