Showing papers by "Håkan Widner published in 1990"

Grafts of fetal dopamine neurons survive and improve motor function in Parkinson's disease

Abstract: Neural transplantation can restore striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission in animal models of Parkinson's disease. It has now been shown that mesencephalic dopamine neurons, obtained from human fetuses of 8 to 9 weeks gestational age, can survive in the human brain and produce marked and sustained symptomatic relief in a patient severely affected with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The grafts, which were implanted unilaterally into the putamen by stereotactic surgery, restored dopamine synthesis and storage in the grafted area, as assessed by positron emission tomography with 6-L-[18F]fluorodopa. This neurochemical change was accompanied by a therapeutically significant reduction in the patient's severe rigidity and bradykinesia and a marked diminuation of the fluctuations in the patient's condition during optimum medication (the "on-off" phenomenon). The clinical improvement was most marked on the side contralateral to the transplant.

Chapter 83 Neural transplantation in Parkinson's disease: the Swedish experience

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the neural transplantation in Parkinson's disease (PD). The fetal nigral implants have provided a modest improvement in motor function in PD patients. This is consistent with the presence of small surviving grafts indicated by positron emission tomography (PET). Despite the lack of a therapeutically significant improvement in these patients, results together with the solid animal experimental data obtained with DA neuron grafting both in rodents and in non-human primates provide a strong rationale to pursue this approach. However, widespread clinical trials with neural transplantation in PD are probably not warranted at this time. From the observations made on the 2 patients reported in the chapter, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) ventral mesencephalic tissue obtained from routine elective abortions can be implanted into the brains of immunosuppressed PD patients without major complications; (2) no major graft-induced improvement of therapeutic value to the patients has been observed; (3) neurophysiological methods and the clinical test battery have detected significant but small post-operative improvements that could indicate a graft effect; and (4) PET provides an evidence of a slight increase of 18 F-dopa uptake in the transplanted striatum, suggesting that small grafts have survived.

Pathophysiology of the blood-brain barrier

Abstract: Content Headings: List of Participants. Preface. The Erik K. Fernstrom Foundation. Acknowledgements. Section I. Current Concepts of the Blood-Brain Barrier (papers 1-8). Section II. Pathophysiology of Barrier Mechanisms (papers 9-16). Section III. Therapeutic Role of Barrier Modifications (papers 17-22). Section IV. Blood-Brain Barrier in Neurotoxicology (papers 23-27). Section V. The Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathophysiology of Cerebrovascular Lesions (papers 28-34). Section VI . Afferent and Efferent Pathways from the Brain to the Immune System (papers 35-41). Section VII . Antigen Presentation in the Central Nervous System (papers 42-44). Section VIII . Immunocytotherapy in the Brain (papers 45-47). Section IX . Transplantation in the Central Nervous System (papers 48-53). Full contents list available on request from the Publisher. Imprint Amsterdam