Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was measured during headache-free intervals in 17 patients with migraine and during the headache interval in 16 patients with muscle contraction headache, as well as in 40 normal subjects. The DBH activity was significantly higher in the migraine patients (46.5+/4.5 units) than in the controls (24.9+/2.4 units), whereas no significant difference was observed between the patients with muscle contraction headache (29.4+/4.5 units) and the controls.

The blood-CSF barrier (BCB) function in active multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied by means of CSF proteins analysis using disc electrophoresis and immunofixation. Forty-five CSF samples were obtained by repeat lumbar punctures at various intervals, from four autopsy-proven cases and three male and nine female patients with clinically definite MS. When total protein content was increased, the percentages of prealbumin and tau fraction were decreased significantly in association with the presence of haptoglobin (Hp) polymers in nearly all the samples, as a result of increased permeability of the BCB. Even when the total protein content was normal, Hp polymers were detected in 56% of the samples, and the tau fraction tended to be decreased. Monoclonal immunoglobulin and Hp polymers were both recognized in some cases. The results suggested a more frequent occurrence of BCB impairment in MS than had formerly been revealed by CSF albumin analysis, and accorded with the recent reports of contrast-enhancing lesions of MS brain in computerized tomography.

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Nipradilol is a new type of (3-blocker which possesses nitroglycerin-like vasodilating action in addition to (3-blocking action. Weinvestigated the efficacy and safety of nipradilol for treating tremor in 20 patients with essential tremor (ET group) and 20 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD group). All patients received nipradilol (6 mg per day) for more than 8 weeks. Improvement of tremor appeared within 2 or 4 weeks after the start of nipradilol therapy, and the efficacy rate, defined as "moderately effective" or over, was 42.5% in all 40 patients, while that defined as "slightly effective" or over was 87.5%. The efficacy rate tended to be higher in the ET group compared with the PD group. Mean blood pressure was significantly decreased from the 4th week after the start of treatment and heart rate was significantly reduced from the 2nd week of treatment. Laboratory examination showedno significant changes. (Internal Medicine 35: 861-865, 1996)

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