Search

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is still subject to error, and a completely reliable diagnosis may be obtained only at autopsy. Although much is known about the changes that occur within the brain during Alzheimer's disease, these changes are not detectable from outside the living patient, and the physician making a clinical diagnosis must rely upon more variable signs in order to arrive at a satisfactory diagnosis. The two pathologic signs characteristic of Alzheimer's disease are the neurofibrillary tangles and the senile plaques. Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of abnormal nerve filaments, within which several different components may be detected using specific antibodies. One of the structures that bind specific antibodies, called an epitope, has been given the name tau. Antibodies to the tau epitope react with neurofibrillary tangles, as well as with the so-called 'neuropil threads' found in many dystrophic nerve processes within an Alzheimer's brain. (Dystrophic nerves have disordered function.) Previous research has shown that structures resembling these neuropil threads may be seen in olfactory mucosa biopsy specimens obtained from patients with Alzheimer's disease. (Olfactory mucosa is mucosal tissue in the nose, which is involved in olfaction, or the sense of smell.) Researchers have now demonstrated that in addition to a similar appearance, these neuropil threads in the olfactory mucosa are also recognized by antibodies to tau. The tests were performed on olfactory biopsies from eight patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and six normal age-matched control subjects. Nerve cell processes positive for the tau epitope could be identified in the olfactory mucosa of all eight patients with Alzheimer's disease and in none of the control subjects. The authors suggest that this test may prove to be a useful method for improving the reliability of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Investigates the photolabeling of peptide amino acids 281-304 of alpha-tubulin. Occurrence of the labeling of purified tubulin with [3H]TaxAPU on the tryptic fragment of amino acids 281-304 of alpha-tubulin; Identification of the first peptide on alpha-tubulin which binds to the taxoids; Elements involved in the taxoid binding site.

Two patients with Huntington's chorea are reported whose psychiatric and neurological symptoms greatly improved after treatment with L-dopa. In both cases the basal values of CSF HVA were markedly decreased, being increased by the treatment with L-dopa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]