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- Kern, M A, et al.
(author)
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis : Evidence for intact hepatocyte growth factor/MET signalling axis
- 2001
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In: Cytokine. - : W B SAUNDERS CO. - 1043-4666 .- 1096-0023. ; 15:6, s. 315-319
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a secreted cytokine which is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) together with its specific receptor MET. Since HGF exerts strong neurotrophic activity including motoneurons, we have further analysed whether the HGF/MET axis is defective in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Intrathecal HGF-secretion was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in controls without neurological diseases using a specific sandwich immunoassay (ELISA). MET-expression was analysed by immunohistology in spinal cord cross-sections of ALS patients and unaffected controls. The HGF concentrations in CSF were moderately but significantly increased in ALS patients compared to healthy controls (580 pg/ml vs 348 pg/ml). MET-protein was detectable in spinal cord motoneurons of patients with ALS as well as unaffected controls. The data demonstrate that ALS does not show a lack of the trophic signalling axis, HGF/MET, suggesting that the signalling system itself is not affected. The moderate increase in HGF-secretion may represent a compensatory effect.
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- Sikk, K., et al.
(author)
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Manganese-induced parkinsonism in methcathinone abusers : bio-markers of exposure and follow-up
- 2013
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In: European Journal of Neurology. - : Wiley. - 1351-5101 .- 1468-1331. ; 20:6, s. 915-920
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose Methcathinone abuse is a new cause of manganism. The psychostimulant is prepared from pseudoephedrine using potassium permanganate as an oxidant. We describe the clinical, biological, neuroimaging characteristics and follow-up results in a large Estonian cohort of intravenous methcathinone users. Methods During 20062012 we studied 38 methcathinone abusers with a mean age of 33years. Subjects were rated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn and Yahr (HY), and Schwab and England (SE) rating scales. Twenty-four cases were reassessed 970 (20 +/- 15)months after the initial evaluation. Manganese (Mn) in plasma and hair was analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atom emission spectrometry. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 11, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with iodobenzamide (IBZM) in eight subjects. Results The average total UPDRS score was 43 +/- 21. The most severely affected domains in UPDRS Part III were speech and postural stability, the least affected domain was resting tremor. At follow-up there was worsening of HY and SE rating scales. Subjects had a higher mean level of Mn in hair (2.9 +/- 3.8ppm) than controls (0.82 +/- 1.02ppm), P=0.02. Plasma Mn concentrations were higher (11.5 +/- 6.2ppb) in active than in former users (5.6 +/- 1.8ppb), P=0.006. Active methcathinone users had increased MRI T1-signal intensity in the globus pallidus, substantia nigra and periaquaductal gray matter. IBZM-SPECT showed normal symmetric tracer uptake in striatum. Conclusion Methcathinone abusers develop a distinctive hypokinetic syndrome. Though the biomarkers of Mn exposure are characteristic only of recent abuse, the syndrome is not reversible.
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- Aquilonius, S-M
(author)
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Rörelsestörningar
- 2000
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In: Neurologi. - : Liber AB. ; , s. 257-
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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- Fagius, Jan, et al.
(author)
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Neurologisk symtomlära
- 2000
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In: Neurologi. - : Liber AB. ; , s. 13-
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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