Alexander disease

In further support of the important role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, the causative genes implicated in three leucodystrophies were recently characterized at the genetic level. Indeed the genes responsible for Alexander disease, CACH/VWM syndrome, and megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with... 

Mignot C, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Gelot A, Dautigny A, Pham-Dinh D, Rodriguez D (2004) Alexander disease putative mechanisms of an astrocytic encephalopathy. Cell Mol Life Sci 61 369-385... 

Quinlan RA, Brenner M, Goldman JE, Messing A (2007) GFAP and its role in Alexander disease. Exp Cell Res 313 2077-2087... 

Tanaka KF, Takebayashi H, Yamazaki Y, Ono K, Naruse M, Iwasato T, Itohara S, Kato H, Ikenaka K (2007) Murine model of Alexander disease analysis of GFAP aggregate formation and its pathological significance. GUa 55 617-631... 

Tian R, Gregor M, Wiche G, Goldman JE (2006) Plectin regulates the organization of ghal fibrillary acidic protein in Alexander disease. Am J Pathol 168 888-897... 

We wish to thank the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Grant AM-13529, for financial support. We also wish to thank Drs. Alexander Hampton, Stephen Benkovic, Richard Wolfenden, and Fred Kahan for informing us about their work prior to publication. 

Aaseth, J., Alexander, J., Thomassen, Y., Blomhoff, J.P. and Skrede, S. (1983). Serum selenium levels in liver diseases. Clin. Biochem. 15, 281-283. 

Alexander, C., Robinson, P., Orme-Johnson, D. and Schneider,R., The effects of transcendental meditation compared to other methods of relaxation and meditation in reducing risk factors, morbidity and mortality. Homeostasis in Health and Disease 35(4-5), 243-263, 1994. 

Bullough, B., Hindi-Alexander, M., Fetopuh, S., Methylxanthines and fibrocystic breast disease study of correlations, Nurse Pract, 15, 43, 1990. 

Griendling KK, Alexander RW (1997) Oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 96 3264-3265... 

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House (NKUDIC) (2005). What you should know about kidney stones. In "Urinary Tract and Kidney Diseases and disorders Sourcebook" 1. L. Alexander (ed.), (2005). pp. 348-360. Omnigraphics Inc., Detroit, MI. 

E.M. Reiman, R.J. Caselli, K. Chen, G.E. Alexander, D. Bandy, J. Frost, Declining brain activity in cognitively normal apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 heterozygotes A foundation for using positron emission tomography to efficiently test treatments to prevent Alzheimer s disease, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98 (2001) 3334-3339. 

The penicillins (or penams) were discovered in 1929 by Sir Alexander Fleming, and developed by Florey, Chain, and Abraham at Oxford University. The history of penicillin became a story of legendary proportions, illustrating the case of a serendipitous discovery combined with brilliant development it also marks the beginning of the modern chemotherapy of infectious diseases. 

The Greek writers make numerous references to opium with some evidence that they used species other than P. somniferum. Hippocrates, considered by some to be the father of medicine, rejected the supernatural attributes of opium but acknowledges opium s usefulness as a narcotic, especially in the treatment of certain diseases. It has been claimed that Alexander the Great took opium to Persia and India in 330 BC. The Romans continued the use of opium in medical applications and there is little evidence that addiction was a problem in these ancient cultures. After the rise of Islam, the use of opium in medicine was further developed and documented. At some stage, the Arab spice traders took opium to the Far East and some credited them with introducing it to China. By the middle ages, the drinking of opium mbctures for recreational use is recorded in Persia and India. 

Reinwein D, Benker G, Lazarus JH, Alexander WD. A prospective randomized trial of antithyroid drug dose in Graves disease therapy. European Multicenter Study Group on Antithyroid Drug Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993 76(6) 1516-21. 

Hampel H., Teipel S. J., Alexander G. E., Pogarell O., Rapoport S. I., and Moller H. J. (2002). In vivo imaging of region and cell type specific neocortical neurodegeneration in Alzheimer s disease -Perspectives of MRI derived corpus callosum measurement for mapping disease progression and effects of therapy. Evidence from studies with MRI, EEG and PET. J. Neural Transm. 109 837-855. 

Scottish biochemist Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) discovers penicillin. He observes that the mold Penicillium notatum inhibits the growth of some bacteria. This is the first antibiotic, and it opens a new era of wonder drugs to combat infection and disease. 

Bjertness E, Alexander J, Taylor G, et al. 1992. Aluminum and the causation of Alzheimer s disease A combined clinical, neuropathological, and trace element study. J Trace Elem Exp Med 5 73. 

Alexander, FI.M., Holt, R.D. The interaction between plant competition and disease. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol System 1998 1 206-220. 

Gates, D.J., Westcott, M., Burdon, JJ., Alexander, H.M. Competition and stability in plant mixtures in the presence of disease. Oecologia 1986 68 559-566. 

Amaud de Villeneuve, (Rosari.), says that it is infinitely superior to all the remedies of Hippocrates, of Galen, of Alexander, of Avicenna, and to all ordinary medicine that it rejoices the heart, gives vigor and strength, preserves youth, and retards old age. In general, that it cures all diseases. 

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