In vitro studies to elucidate the fibrinolytic activity in cerebrospinal fluid altered by inflammation and hemorrhage and having pathologic protein values]

Using selectively immunological methods, it was possible, through FSP determination, for plasmin activities and plasminogen concentrations to be occasionally and exclusively detected in inflammatorily altered liquores and in bloody liquores, respectively. Thus, bloody cerebrospinal fluid, in contrast with inflammatorily altered liquor, usually shows free fibrinolytic activity, so that antifibrinolytic therapy of intracranial aneurysmal hemorrhage is pathophysiologically justifiable.     

Determination of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activities in the cerebrospinal fluid

The investigation of enzyme activity in cerebrospinal fluid has been without relevant results for laboratories analysing spinal fluid. For neurochemical purposes, it is interesting that the Substance P is convered by Depeptidyl-aminopeptidase IV (DP IV), liberating dipeptides. The hydrolysis of nitroanilids of the form Xaa-Pro-NHNp in cerebrospinal fluid was analysed using them as peptidases substrates. Finally a method for measuring the activity was proposed.     

Encephalomyelitis syndrome in the cerebrospinal fluid in correlation to disease course criteria in multiple sclerosis

Basing on a classification of the dynamic forms of multiple sclerosis according to prognostic-social aspects and in view to different degrees of defect the incidence of the five possible syndromes of cerebrospinal fluid were subjected to a correlation in 345 cases. In moderate till severe grades of neurologic disturbances and courses of illness an immunoreactive syndrome of cerebrospinal fluid - typically complete to incomplete - was doing found (in ca 40%). The slighter forms of the disease predominantly presented the whole spectrum of possible findings of cerebrospinal fluid; in it the syndromes with unimportant deviations were prevailing. In the course of multiple sclerosis alterations in the constellation of cerebrospinal fluid in manner of a retrograde tendency were scarcely noted. An increase of pathologic parameters in cerebrospinal fluid did rather show the slighter forms, in the severe progredient courses the syndromes turned out to be comparatively constant.     

Quantitative amino acid determination in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid in endogenous depressions

The levels of 20 amino acids were measured in the plasma and cerbrospinal fluid of 41 patients with endogenic depressions. The plasma levels of 12 amino acids were found to be significantly lower in the patients than in the control group, but cerebrospinal fluid levels were significantly lower only in the case of taurine, glutamine, phenylalanine and aginine. Comparison of the same amino acid levels in treated and non-treated patients showed that serine and alpha-aminobutyric acid serum concentrations were higher in the nontreated patients. The tyrosine and phenylalanine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients who had received medicamentous treatment were higher than in the other group.     

Cerebrospinal fluid diagnosis of multiple sclerosis]

Starting from the knowledge accumulated with respect to the etiopathogenesis and the components of immunoreaction a minimal to maximal program by steps has been developed for the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is based on fundamental methods (I), special supplementary methods (II), and relatively specific immunological methods (III). For MS five possible conditions of the CSF could be determined from alterations of cells and variations in protein: a (1) typically complete and (2.) typically incomplete immunoreactive encephalomyelitic (encephalitic) syndrome, a (3.) nonspecific CSF-syndrome of low degree and less typical character (in the sense of an acute or subacute irritation syndrome) an (4.) atypical syndrome of a considerable degree, and a (5.) normal condition of the cerebrospinal fluid. The significance of immunoreactive cerebrospinal fluid syndromes to the diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis as well as further relatively disease-specific methods (such as the MEM test and MSF assay) of determining cellular immunity, are discussed.     

Diagnostic value of aspartate aminotransferase in the cerebrospinal fluid

As datum, the range of aspartate aminotransferase in the cerebrospinal fluid of adults was determined on the basis of 153 fluid samples and compared with the values obtained from 356 neurological patients. A significant increase in enzyme activity was established in respect of CVI, polyneuropathy, acute encephalitis, and SAB. It was possible to eliminate any dependence of the aspartate aminotransferase activity on serum activity, total protein, and cell count. The increase in activity of aspartate aminotransferase in the cerebrospinal fluid is thus identified as an independent pathological fact, and thus it can be incorporated in diagnostic routine more particularly in the diagnosis of CVI disorders.     

Fibrinolytic inhibitory proteins of the hemostaseologic system in normal, inflammatory and bloody cerebrospinal fluid

A quantitative immunochemical determination of the plasmin inhibitors alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and antithrombin-III of the fibronolytic system was carried out from normal, inflammatorily changed, and essentially sanguineous fluids. The low total inhibitor concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is due to the 'restricted diffusion' caused by the blood/brain barrier function and the lacking synthesis for these proteins in the central nervous system. The inhibitor concentrations which in functional disorders of the blood/sbrain barrier and/or direct entering of blood are still--low as compared to the plasma produce a dissociation of the plasmin-inhibitor complex. The lacking interaction between the active enzyme and the inhibitor enables the occurrence of a free fibrinolytic activity in the cerebrospinal fluid.     

Concentrating cerebrospinal fluid cells with the sedimentation chamber--comparative methodologic studies

The loss of cerebrospinal fluid cells is considerable when the sedimentation chamber was used. Methodical variations resulted in an increasing cell count on the slide. The absolute number of lymphocytes increased more than that of monocytes. Caused by the higher cell count, especially lymphocytes, the relative values in cell differentiation between lymphocytes and monocytes are changed. For differential counting of lymphocytes, monocytes and other cerebrospinal fluid cell types the elevated cell count is an important factor. Differentiation between subpopulations of lymphocytes by means of this procedure however is problematically because the loss of lymphocytes can be of a selective nature.     

Glimmers of the infinite: The tragedy of moral injury

Moral injury is a complex wound of the soul affecting many veterans returning from combat. One dimension of moral injury is the shattering of faith, in which service members invest their all into a cause in hope for ultimate fulfillment, only to be morally disappointed by the gruesome reality of warfare. This article will explore the transcendent values that attract service members to military service, and the shattering of faith that can happen during combat, and then suggest an approach for church members to support veterans as they journey on the path to regaining their faith and healing their soul.     

颅脑肿瘤切除术后硬膜外血肿的原因及预防

浅析颅脑肿瘤切除术后硬膜外血肿形成的原因及预防措施。回顾性分析本科室自2005年7月～2009年7月共计13例脑肿瘤术后硬膜外血肿发生的特点,所有病例血肿均发生于小脑幕上,其中7例位于额部,3例位于颞部,2例位于顶部,1例位于枕部;平均血肿量为(37.3±3.2)ml。脑肿瘤切除术后硬膜外血肿形成机制为多种原因所导致的颅内压及脑脊液动力学改变致硬脑膜与颅骨剥离有关。各环节采取相应预防措施及术后常规复查头颅CT是防治脑肿瘤术后非手术区域硬膜外血肿的关键。     

辩证认识处理烧伤创面

人体是对立统一的有机整体,烧伤后皮肤局部形态结构和功能发生改变,进而引发局部与全身病理生理变化,烧伤创面处理贯穿于烧伤治疗的全过程。辩证认识和正确处理烧伤创面,提高烧伤治愈率;并将皮肤组织工程、整形外科等先进的技术手段和方法应用于烧伤创面的修复治疗,降低烧伤患者晚期畸形发生率,最大程度地让患者重返社会,恢复正常的生活和工作,这是现代烧伤治疗的目标。     

Transthyretin influences spatial reference memory

Transthyretin (TTR) is a plasma and cerebrospinal fluid carrier for thyroxine and retinol, described also to sequester the amyloid beta peptide. TTR levels have been described as decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease. In order to investigate the role of TTR in learning and memory, we studied young adult and old TTR-null 129/Sv mice for cognitive performance. In the absence of TTR, 5-month-old mice display spatial reference memory impairment when compared to age-matched wild-type mice. Interestingly, while aging in wild-type mice is associated with a worsening reference memory performance, TTR-null mice show no further impairment with increasing age. As a result, no significant differences were found in this spatial reference task in old mice. Our data show that the absence of TTR seems to accelerate the poorer cognitive performance normally associated with aging.     

Restorative biological processes and health

Research on psychological influences on physiology primarily focuses on biological responses during stressful challenges, and how those responses can become dysregulated with prolonged or repeated exposure to stressful circumstances. At the same time, humans spend considerable time recovering from those challenges, and a host of biological processes involved in restoration and repair take place during normal, non-stressed activities. We review restorative biological processes and evidence for links between psychosocial factors and several restorative processes including sleep, wound healing, antioxidant production, DNA repair, and telomerase function. Across these biological processes, a growing body of evidence suggests that experiencing negative emotional states, including acute and chronic stress, depressive symptoms, and individual differences in negative affectivity and hostility, can influence these restorative processes. This review calls attention to restorative processes as fruitful mechanisms and outcomes for future biobehavioral research.     

Diagnostic assessment of cerebrospinal fluid protein in brain and spinal tumors

The cerebrospinal fluid of 69 patients with tumors of the brain and the spine was examined for total protein content, IgG concentration, IgG total protein quotient, and electrophoretic protein pattern. There is no specific finding in the case of the central nervous system. At best characteristic constellations may be established.     

Acute meningitis with cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia: neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis is a very rare disease in Central Europe. This is a report about an 18 year old patient with acute meningitis and eosinophilia in cerebrospinal fluid. The findings and outcome of a short treatment with Praziquantel are discussed.     

Catheterization of the lumbar subarachnoid space for long-term CSF collection in unanesthetized nonhuman primates

Chronic indwelling spinal catheters facilitate administration of drugs and serial sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most catheters used in primates enter the ventricles or rostral subarachnoid space. This paper describes a procedure for catheterizing the lumbar subarachnoid space. Although the technique is invasive, maintenance and utilization of the catheter do not disturb the subject. The preparation remains patent for up to 21 days and permits both intrathecal drug administration and collection of CSF samples from unanesthetized subjects.     

Diagnostic value of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in the cerebrospinal fluid

Samples from 1415 neurological patients were used to study the diagnostic value of acid alpha 1-glycoprotein in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid. The value of analysis for this substance is considered to lie in the detection of non-specific acute-phase reactions of various causes in the CNS with special reference to barrier problems. The large number of pathologically elevated values associated with acute inflammations of the meninges and cerebral parenchyme is particularly striking. The results of the studies are analyzed on the basis of comprehensive control investigations (n = 559).     

Cerebrospinal fluid cytologic findings in children with borrelia infections (neuroborreliosis)

The infection of the central nervous system by Borrelia burgdorferi induces usually a mononuclear (lympho-mono-plasmocellular) cytogram of the cerebrospinal fluid in humans. The initial granulocytosis of the liquor cerebrospinalis typical for bacterial infections is transistory only. Such cytologic findings may be misleading to a diagnosis as virus infection. In case of clinical signs (Bannwarth syndrome), typical anamnesis or chronic lymphocytic meningitis the estimation of specific IgG/IgM borrelia antibodies is indicated and the antibiotic therapy should be performed.     

Healing the wounds and the wounds of healing: a journey of the spirit

This article is a reflective narrative about the death of a parent told from the perspective of her daughter. It is an experience-based account. This shared journey of mother and child links the familiar realm of the conscious and known self to a realm that is not known in the same way and is not merely the self. It is as if one end is in the midst of life's struggles and crises and the other in another realm; yet the whole works together as a single force. In this way the idea is introduced that the very challenges and trauma of life can be a wound that is a healing of wounds, in so far as it prompts recognition of the realm that is out of sight, though the wound certainly is real enough.