Body Attack Research Articles

The follow-up of the patients with GBS treated with plasmapheresis

Background: GBS is an acute polyneuropathy, a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. It can cause life-threatening complications, in particular if the respiratory muscles are affected or if there is autonomic nervous system involvement. The disease is usually triggered by an infection. Treatment consists of attempting to reduce the body's attack on the nervous system by plasmapheresis.

Temporal cortical damage as a prognostic marker in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

WCN 2013 No: 2441 Topic: 7 Neuromuscular disorders The follow-up of the patients with GBS treated with plasmapheresis A. Kuqo, H.V. Doci, L. Buda, M.H. Papajani, S. Grabova, F. Myslimi, A.A. Quka, J. Kruja. Neurology, QSUT, Tirana, Albania Background: GBS is an acute polyneuropathy, a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. It can cause life-threatening complications, in particular if the respiratory muscles are affected or if there is autonomic nervous system involvement. The disease is usually triggered by an infection. Treatment consists of attempting to reduce the body's attack on the nervous system by plasmapheresis. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of PEX in GBS patients. Methods: In our prospective study a group of 17 patients with GBS was evaluated before, immediately after PEX and 1 year later. The evaluation was made using the Hughes functional grading scale for GBS (from Hughes et al., Lancet 1978). Results: We have evaluated the 17 patients. We have found an improvement in 14/17(82.35%) patients immediately after and 1 year after the PEX treatment. We haven't found an improvement in 3/17 patients. In 4 patients the progression of the neurological signs was stopped immediately after the first PEX procedure and in these patients we have found better results. We have found good results even in patients who require assisted ventilation (score 5 of Hughes functional grading scale for GBS). 3/17(17.64%) patients had an improvement even they haven't made all the PEX procedure because of complications. Conclusions: The PEX treatment in GBS patients is efficient. The improvement consisted of good clinical outcome. In some cases the progression of clinical signs was stopped even after only one procedure. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2013.07.1663 Abstract WCN 2013 No: 1004 Topic: 7 Neuromuscular disorders Temporal cortical damage as a prognostic marker in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) WCN 2013 No: 1004 Topic: 7 Neuromuscular disorders Temporal cortical damage as a prognostic marker in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) M. Albuquerque, H.M.T. Andrade, F.P.G. Bergo, M.C. FrancaJunior, A. Nucci. Neurology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Neurology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Computer Engineering, Universidade Estadual de Campinas,

Good Cytokine: Bad Cytokine

The interplay between the immune system and cancer cells is a complicated one. On the one hand, inflammation associated with tumors is similar to that of protective immune responses and inhibition of responses like turnover of extracellular matrix and angiogenesis, so inhibition of these responses can suppress tumor growth. But immune responses such as the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating T cells are a potent defense mechanism against cancer cells. Can the balance of these effects be altered to enhance therapeutic strategies against cancer? Langowski et al. suggest that signaling by the cytokine interleukin 23 (IL-23) might provide an inroad to such a strategy. IL-23 has beneficial effects in promoting immune responses to bacterial infections. The authors found, however, that expression of IL-23 was increased in samples of human cancer tissues, and its role proved to be not nearly so helpful in fighting off the invading cancer cells. Instead, mice lacking the p19 subunit necessary for formation of the cytokine were resistant to chemical carcinogenesis. Loss of IL-23 was also associated with decreases in several inflammatory effects that contribute to tumor promotion. Furthermore, infiltration of cytotoxic CD8 + T cells--which form a front line of defense in the body's attack on tumor cells--was inhibited by IL-23 and enhanced in its absence. Transplanted tumors grew more poorly in mice that lacked functional IL-23 or its receptor. Thus, the authors conclude that IL-23 is not only ineffective at fighting tumors but actually promotes changes in the tumor environment that enhance or protect tumor growth. This, of course, suggests that therapies to limit IL-23 function may be appropriate new additions to the arsenal of anticancer weapons. J. L. Langowski, X. Zhang, L. Wu, J. D. Mattson, T. Chen, K. Smith, B. Basham, T. McClanahan, R. A. Kastelein, M. Oft, IL-23 promotes tumour incidence and growth. Nature 442 , 461-465 (2006). [PubMed]