Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0085437 (bacterial meningitis)
 4,038 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To evaluate the diagnostic value of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) isoenzymes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 93 consecutive CSF specimens were analyzed. These specimens were from patients of four categories: tumors, infections, hemorrhages, and others. It was found that the isoenzyme patterns overlapped among different categories, but they differed within each category and were thus helpful in differential diagnosis. For instance, metastatic tumors showed prominent LD-5, whereas a primary brain tumor demonstrated an increase in all fractions. Viral encephalitis revealed an increase in the first three isoenzymes and bacterial meningitis, the last two. In acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases, however, LD isoenzyme changes were demonstrated in CSF when only cryptococcal meningitis and not when encephalitis was present. Both subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages showed elevation of all fractions in our study. Elevation of the first three fractions was usually due to brain tissue damage or hemorrhage, as proven by our isoenzyme study of hemolysate mixed with CSF. The prominence of the last two fractions was related to anaerobic metabolism in the central nervous system or to granulocytic infiltration. In conclusion, LD isoenzyme analysis in CSF is helpful in differential diagnosis of various CNS disorders, although its sensitivity awaits further improvement.
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PMID:Diagnostic value of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in cerebrospinal fluid. 206 39

The concentration of alpha 1-microglobulin (alpha 1-m) in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) was measured in 121 patients with various neurological disorders. Using single radial immunodiffusion, its serum level was determined. No significant difference was found between the patients (29.1 +/- 4.3 mg/l; mean +/- 1 SD) and normal control group (23.7 +/- 4.6 mg/l). The level of CSF alpha 1-m was determined by the radioimmunoassay of solid antibody system. Its CSF level in the control group was 34.8 +/- 16.0 micrograms/l, while it was significantly increased in the patients with viral meningitis (p less than 0.01) and cerebral infarct (p less than 0.05). The level was also elevated in some cases of brain tumor, bacterial meningitis, cerebral hemorrhage, cervical spondylosis, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. There was a positive correlation between alpha 1-m and albumin levels in CSF. The analysis by CSF/serum albumin ratio and alpha 1-m ratio suggested that the increase of alpha 1-m in CSF could be explained mainly by an increase in permeability of the serum alpha 1-m through damaged blood brain barrier under these pathological conditions. Its local production within the central nervous system, however, could not be ruled out in these disorders.
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PMID:Human alpha 1-microglobulin levels in neurological disorders. 618 15

The authors report a case of pneumococcal meningitis which recurred 3 times in a Taiwanese boy due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas. The first time occurred at the age of 2 years, and the second episode presented as meningoencephalomyelitis at the age of 6 years 10 months. Studies including serum levels of immunoglobulin and complements, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and coronal cranial computed tomography (CT) were negative for a specific etiology. The third episode of meningitis developed 2 months after the second episode. Repeated immunological studies and high-resolution CT of paranasal sinuses and temporal bones were negative. Technetium-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Tc-99m-DTPA) radionuclide cisternography revealed abnormal retention of radioactivity over the right mastoid area. Neurosurgery was undertaken to seal the dural tear and pack the petrosal fissure. Two years after surgery, he has had no further CSF leak age or meningitis. Tracing back the history, there was no head injury, cranial surgery, brain tumor, or hydrocephalus, which might have created CSF fistulas. Primary spontaneous CSF fistulas constitute the most reasonable diagnosis. In cases of recurrent bacterial meningitis, underlying anatomic defects should be carefully evaluated if there is no immune defect.
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PMID:Recurrence of pneumococcal meningitis due to primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistulas. 1182 Jun 53

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is expressed in astrocytes throughout the central nervous system, particularly at the blood-brain and brain-cerebrospinal fluid barriers. Phenotype analysis of transgenic mice lacking AQP4 has provided compelling evidence for involvement of AQP4 in cerebral water balance, astrocyte migration, and neural signal transduction. AQP4-null mice have reduced brain swelling and improved neurological outcome in models of (cellular) cytotoxic cerebral edema including water intoxication, focal cerebral ischemia, and bacterial meningitis. However, brain swelling and clinical outcome are worse in AQP4-null mice in models of vasogenic (fluid leak) edema including cortical freeze-injury, brain tumor, brain abscess and hydrocephalus, probably due to impaired AQP4-dependent brain water clearance. AQP4 deficiency or knock-down slows astrocyte migration in response to a chemotactic stimulus in vitro, and AQP4 deletion impairs glial scar progression following injury in vivo. AQP4-null mice also manifest reduced sound- and light-evoked potentials, and increased threshold and prolonged duration of induced seizures. Impaired K+ reuptake by astrocytes in AQP4 deficiency may account for the neural signal transduction phenotype. Based on these findings, we propose modulation of AQP4 expression or function as a novel therapeutic strategy for a variety of cerebral disorders including stroke, tumor, infection, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
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PMID:Three distinct roles of aquaporin-4 in brain function revealed by knockout mice. 1656 96