Systemic sclerosis pathology

Fibrosis is often a normal response to tissue injury where the damaged cells of an organ are unable to regenerate. An example of this is seen in the heart following myocardial infarction, where the infiircted tissue is replaced by a strong fibrous scar. However there are many pathological conditions where the development of fibrosis is detrimental. The fibrotic tissue response of chronic inflammation is often associated with increased numbers of mast cells, and has been most extensively studied in pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis. 

D Angelo WA, Fries JF, Masi AT, et al. Pathologic observations in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). A study of fifty-eight autopsy cases and fifty-eight matched controls. Am J Med 1969 46 428-440. 

Neuropathic pain is defined as spontaneous pain and hypersensitivity to pain associated with damage to or pathologic changes in the peripheral nervous system as in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), polyneuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) or pain originating in the central nervous system (CNS), that which occurs with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Functional pain, a relatively newer concept, is pain sensitivity due to an abnormal processing or function of the central nervous system in response to normal stimuli. Several conditions considered to have this abnormal sensitivity or hyperresponsiveness include fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. 

Dal Canto, M. C. and Gurney, M. E. Development of central nervous system pathology in a murine transgenic model of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Am. J. Pathol. 145 1271-1280, 1994. 

The study of the Central Nervous System (CNS) is the primary clinical indication for the use of extracellular Gd(III) agents. The majority of these pathologies are brain tumors, and three quarters of them are represented by metastases occurring in patients undergoing treatment for systemic cancer (Fig. 1). Other brain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral injuries can be also investigated by contrast-enhanced MRI. 

CBP displays important functions during central nervous system development and increasing evidence suggests that CBP loss of function is involved not only in RTS but also in further neurodegenerative diseases, such as polyglutamine-related pathologies (Fiuntington s disease), Alzheimer s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [9]. 

Similar to opioids, the cannabinoid system appears to be intricately involved in normal physiology, specifically in the control of movement, formation of memories, and appetite control. Basic research has discovered that members of this family of compounds have the capacity to protect threatened neurons, thereby slowing neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to physical disability. As the function of the physiological role of endocannabinoids becomes clearer, it appears the system may be involved in the pathology of several neurological diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis, spasticity, and pain. In 1999 the German journal, Forschende Komplementar-medizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde (Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine) commented ... 

Dal Canto, M. C., and Gurney, M. E. (1994). Development of central nervous system pathology in a murine transgenic model of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Am.J. Pathol. 145, 1271-1279. Daniels, K. K., and Vickroy, T. W. (1999). Reversible activation of glutamate transport in rat brain glia by protein kinase C and an okadaic acid-sensitive phosphoprotein phosphatase. Neurochem. Res. 24, 1017-1025. 

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