PurposeTo study the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) concentration in the aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).MethodsCNTF concentrations were studied in 61 patients with age-related cataract, 55 patients with POAG combined with cataract, and 29 healthy controls (one eye in each person). Preliminary experiments permitted us to extend the minimum quantifiable value of the CNTF Quantikine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to 2.5 pg/ml.ResultsThe levels of CNTF in LF and BS did not differ in patients with cataract and controls. The CNTF concentration (pg/ml) in patients with POAG and cataract was lower than in patients with cataract (p<0.001) in AH (39.9±26.2 versus 57.2±25.6) and in LF (25.7±14.9 versus 39.9±18.0). The differences were not statistically significant for the CNTF level in BS (5.45±4.72 versus 5.96±4.92) and the AH/LF ratio (1.69±1.05 versus 1.58±0.70). In the patients with POAG, the AH level of CNTF correlated with the visual field index (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = 0.35, p = 0.01). A statistically significant decrease in the AH and LF concentrations of CNTF was observed in patients in all stages of POAG compared with the cataract group. This decrease was particularly prominent in patients with severe glaucoma. Compared to patients with combined early and moderate stages of disease patients with advanced glaucoma showed an insignificant reduction in the median CNTF concentration in AH and LF. The serum CNTF concentration did not show any dependence on the glaucoma stage. The CNTF concentration in the AH strongly correlated with the CNTF concentration in the LF (r=0.71, p<0.000). A formula was suggested to calculate the concentration of CNTF in AH based on the CNTF concentration in LF.ConclusionsThe CNTF concentration is reduced in the AH and LF of patients with POAG, especially in those with severe visual field loss. The CNTF concentration in AH and LF showed a strong correlation, and this phenomenon opens up new options for a noninvasive estimation of the CNTF concentration in AH. The CNTF concentration established in the AH, LF, and BS of patients with age-related cataract can serve as normative data for persons older than 50 years old.

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01994720.

The role of natural idiotypic (Id-Abs) and anti-idiotypic (AId-Abs) autoantibodies against neuroantigens observed in different neurological disorders is not fully understood. In particular, limited experimental evidence has been provided concerning the qualitative and quantitative serological response after acute injuries of the central nervous system or during chronic mental diseases. In this study, we analyzed the specific Id-Abs and AId-Abs serological reactivities against 4 neuro-antigens in a large population of patients with ischemic stroke, schizophrenia, as well as healthy individuals.Patients with ischemic stroke were tested at different time points following the acute stroke episode and a correlation was attempted between autoantibodies response and different patterns of functional recovery. Results showed variable and detectable Id-Abs and AId-Abs in different proportions of all three populations of subjects. Among patients with different functional recovery after ischemic stroke, a difference in time-related trends of Id-Abs and AId-Abs was encountered. Our observations suggest that changes in the production of natural neurotropic Abs may engender a positive homeostatic, beside a possible pathogenic effect, in specific neurological disorders.

These recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of migraine were elaborated by Russian headache experts in accordance with the evidence-based practice. Together with the latest classification, diagnostic principles and criteria of different clinical sub-forms the consensus contains basic data on migraine epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, differential diagnosis and most effective and evidence based approaches to pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of migraine patients.