A total of 60 patients aged 6-16 years with tics and Tourette's syndrome were studied. Antibodies to caudate nucleus proteins were assayed by western blot hybridization. Ten patients with Tourette's syndrome were found to have antibodies to caudate nucleus protein. Seven patients with neuroleptic-resistant types of Tourette's syndrome received single transfusions of immunoglobulin preparations, which produced regression of vocal and motor hyperkinesias and improvement in behavior (remission for more than six months). The observation of antibodies to caudate nucleus proteins and the positive effects seen on administration of immunoglobulins to patients with Tourette's syndrome support previous data on the possibility of using immunoglobulin therapy in the treatment of tic-type hyperkinesias and provide evidence of the involvement of autoimmune mechanisms inducing damage to the dopaminergic system of the striatum.
The effect of intravenous infusion of glutamic acid on cardiac contractile function during short-term ischemia and subsequent reperfusion was studied in anaesthetized dogs. Left ventricular ischemia was induced by underperfusion of the anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. Infusion of glutamic acid at 3 mg/kg/min resulted in less depression of cardiac function when given after a 2 min period of 60% coronary blood flow reduction: left ventricular systolic pressure decreased by 9% vs. 22%, dP/dt decreased by 16% vs. 29%, the double product (left ventricular systolic pressure by heart rate) was reduced by 16% vs. 31%. When reperfusion was carried out during glutamic acid infusion there was a significantly enhanced recovery in cardiac function. The augmentation of cardiac performance in ischemia and reperfusion caused by glutamic acid was not accompanied by changes in myocardial oxygen consumption. Glutamic acid uptake by the ischemic myocardium increased 2-fold during infusion. This led to cessation of ammonia release from the heart due to stimulation of glutamine synthesis, and an enhancement of alanine formation coupled with pyruvate uptake but it did not effect lactate production. However, glutamic acid infusion did not influence cardiac performance and metabolism under conditions of normal coronary flow. The results suggest that elevation of glutamate arterial concentration exerts a beneficial effect on ischemic heart. The mechanisms of the protective action are discussed.
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