Modified Rankin Scale Disability Status at Day 4 Poststroke is an Informative Predictor of Long-Term Day 90 Outcome.

Background: Long-term disability after stroke is standardly assessed 3 months post-onset, using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The value of an early, day 4 mRS assessment for projecting the 3-month disability outcome has not been formally investigated. Methods: In this cohort of patients with acute cerebral ischemia and intracranial hemorrhage, we analyzed day 4 and day 90 mRS assessments in the NIH Field Administration of Stroke Therapy- Magnesium (FAST-MAG) Phase 3 trial. The performance of day 4 mRS, alone and as part of multivariate models, in predicting day 90 mRS was assessed using correlation coefficients, percent agreement, and the kappa statistics. Results: Among the 1573 acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD) patients, 1206 (76.7%) had acute cerebral ischemia (ACI), while 367 (23.3%) had intracranial hemorrhage. Among all 1573 ACVD patients, day 4 mRS and day 90 mRS correlated strongly, Spearman's rho=0.79, in unadjusted analysis with weighted kappa of 0.59. For dichotomized outcomes, simple carry-forward of the day 4 mRS performed fairly well in agreeing with day 90 mRS: mRS 0-1 (k=0.67), 85.4%; mRS 0-2 (k=0.59), 79.5%; fatal outcome, 88.3% (k=0.33). Correlations of 4d and 90d mRS were stronger for ACI than ICH patients, 0.76 vs 0.71. Conclusions: In this acute cerebrovascular disease patient cohort, assessment of global disability performed on day 4 is highly informative regarding long-term, 3-month mRS disability outcome, alone, and even more strongly in combination with baseline prognostic variables. The day 4 mRS is a useful measure for imputing the final patient disability outcome in clinical trials and quality improvement programs.

Essential information for neurorecovery clinical trial design: trajectory of global disability in first 90 days post-stroke in patients discharged to acute rehabilitation facilities.

BACKGROUND: Many stroke recovery interventions are most beneficial when started 2-14d post-stroke, a time when patients become eligible for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) and neuroplasticity is often at its peak. Clinical trials focused on recovery need to expand the time from this plasticity to later outcome timepoints. METHODS: The disability course of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) enrolled in Field Administration of Stroke Therapy Magnesium (FAST-MAG) Trial with moderate-severe disability (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 3-5) on post-stroke day4 who were discharged to IRF 2-14d post-stroke were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1422 patients, 446 (31.4%) were discharged to IRFs, including 23.6% within 2-14d and 7.8% beyond 14d. Patients with mRS 3-5 on day4 discharged to IRFs between 2-14d accounted for 21.7% (226/1041) of AIS patients and 28.9% (110/381) of ICH patients, (p < 0.001). Among these AIS patients, age was 69.8 (± 12.7), initial NIHSS median 8 (IQR 4-12), and day4 mRS = 3 in 16.4%, mRS = 4 in 50.0%, and mRS = 5 in 33.6%. Among these ICH patients, age was 62.4 (± 11.7), initial NIHSS median 9 (IQR 5-13), day 4 mRS = 3 in 9.4%, mRS = 4 in 45.3%, and mRS = 5 in 45.3% (p < 0.01 for AIS vs ICH). Between day4 to day90, mRS improved ≥ 1 levels in 72.6% of AIS patients vs 77.3% of ICH patients, p = 0.3. For AIS, mRS improved from mean 4.17 (± 0.7) to 2.84 (± 1.5); for ICH, mRS improved from mean 4.35 (± 0.7) to 2.75 (± 1.3). Patients discharged to IRF beyond day14 had less improvement on day90 mRS compared with patients discharged between 2-14d. CONCLUSIONS: In this acute stroke cohort, nearly 1 in 4 patients with moderate-severe disability on post-stroke day4 were transferred to IRF within 2-14d post-stroke. ICH patients had nominally greater mean improvement on mRS day90 than AIS patients. This course delineation provides a roadmap for future rehabilitation intervention studies.

Circadian variation in stroke onset: Differences between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and weekdays versus weekends.

OBJECTIVES: To delineate diurnal variation onset distinguishing ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke, wake from sleep onset, and weekdays from weekends/holidays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed patients enrolled in the FAST-MAG trial of field-initiated neuroprotective agent in patients with hyperacute stroke within 2h of symptoms onset. Stroke onset times were analyzed in 1h, 4h, and 12h time blocks throughout the 24h day-night cycle. Patient demographic, clinical features, stroke severity, and prehospital workflow were evaluated for association with onset times. RESULTS: Among 1615 acute cerebrovascular disease patients, final diagnoses were acute cerebral ischemia in 76.5% and Intracerebral hemorrhage in 23.5%. Considering all acute cerebrovascular disease patients, frequency of wake onset times showed a bimodal pattern, with peaks on onsets at 09:00-13:59 and 17:00-18:59 and early morning (00:00-05:59) onset in only 3.8%. Circadian rhythmicity differed among stroke subtypes: in acute cerebral ischemia, a single broad plateau of elevated incidences was seen from 10:00-21:59; in Intracerebral hemorrhage, bimodal peaks occurred at 09:00 and 19:00. The ratio of Intracerebral hemorrhage to acute cerebral ischemia occurrence was highest in early morning, 02:00-06:59. Marked weekday vs weekends pattern variation was noted for acute cerebral ischemia, with a broad plateau between 09:00 and 21:59 on weekdays but a unimodal peak at 14:00-15:59 on weekends. CONCLUSIONS: Wake onset of acute cerebrovascular disease showed a marked circadian variation, with distinctive patterns of a broad elevated plateau among acute cerebral ischemia patients; a bimodal peak among intracerebral hemorrhage patients; and a weekend change in acute cerebral ischemia pattern to a unimodal peak.

Effect of Deferoxamine on Trajectory of Recovery After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Post Hoc Analysis of the i-DEF Trial.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the trajectory of recovery and long-term functional outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Most ICH trials have conventionally assessed outcomes at 3 months following the footsteps of ischemic stroke. The i-DEF trial (Intracerebral Hemorrhage Deferoxamine Trial) assessed modified Rankin Scale (mRS) longitudinally at prespecified time points from day 7 through the end of the 6-month follow-up period. We evaluated the trajectory of mRS among trial participants and examined the effect of deferoxamine on this trajectory. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of the i-DEF trial, a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, futility-design, phase 2 clinical trial, based on the actual treatment received. Favorable outcome was defined as mRS score of 0-2. A generalized linear mixed model was used to evaluate the outcome trajectory over time, as well as whether the trajectory was altered by deferoxamine, after adjustments for randomization variables, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, and ICH location. RESULTS: A total of 291 subjects were included in analysis (145 placebo and 146 deferoxamine). The proportion of patients with mRS score of 0-2 continually increased from day 7 to 180 in both groups (interaction P<0.0001 for time in main effects model), but treatment with deferoxamine favorably altered the trajectory (interaction P=0.0010). Between day 90 and 180, the deferoxamine group improved (P=0.0001), whereas there was not significant improvement in the placebo arm (P=0.3005). CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of patients continue to improve up to 6 months after ICH. Future ICH trials should assess outcomes past 90 days for a minimum of 6 months. In i-DEF, treatment with deferoxamine seemed to accelerate and alter the trajectory of recovery as assessed by mRS. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02175225.

Prospective biomarker study in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: Cyto-C clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a 5-year survival rate of 3%-5%. GBM treatment includes maximal resection followed by radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). Cytochrome C oxidase (CcO) is a mitochondrial enzyme involved in the mechanism of resistance to TMZ. In a prior retrospective trial, CcO activity in GBMs inversely correlated with clinical outcome. The current Cyto-C study was designed to prospectively evaluate and validate the prognostic value of tumor CcO activity in patients with newly diagnosed primary GBM, and compared to the known prognostic value of MGMT promoter methylation status. METHODS: This multi-institutional, blinded, prospective biomarker study enrolled 152 patients with newly diagnosed GBM who were to undergo surgical resection and would be candidates for standard of care. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) time, and the secondary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) time. Tumor CcO activity and MGMT promoter methylation status were assayed in a centralized laboratory. RESULTS: OS and PFS did not differ by high or low tumor CcO activity, and the prognostic validity of MGMT promoter methylation was confirmed. Notably, a planned exploratory analysis suggested that the combination of low CcO activity and MGMT promoter methylation in tumors may be predictive of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor CcO activity alone was not confirmed as a prognostic marker in GBM patients. However, the combination of low CcO activity and methylated MGMT promoter may reveal a subgroup of GBM patients with improved long-term survival that warrants further evaluation. Our work also demonstrates the importance of performing large, multi-institutional, prospective studies to validate biomarkers. We also discuss lessons learned in assembling such studies.

Patterns of benzodiazepine underdosing in the Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to describe patterns of benzodiazepine use as first-line treatment of status epilepticus (SE) and test the association of benzodiazepine doses with response to second-line agents in patients enrolled in the Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial (ESETT). METHODS: Patients refractory to an adequate dose of benzodiazepines for the treatment of SE were enrolled in ESETT. Choice of benzodiazepine, doses given prior to administration of second-line agent, route of administration, setting, and patient weight were characterized. These were compared with guideline-recommended dosing. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of the first dose of benzodiazepine and the cumulative benzodiazepine dose with the response to second-line agent. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty patients were administered 1170 doses of benzodiazepines (669 lorazepam, 398 midazolam, 103 diazepam). Lorazepam was most frequently administered intravenously in the emergency department, midazolam intramuscularly or intravenously by the emergency medical services personnel, and diazepam rectally prior to ambulance arrival. The first dose of the first benzodiazepine (N = 460) was lower than guideline recommendations in 76% of midazolam administrations and 81% of lorazepam administrations. Among all administrations, >85% of midazolam and >76% of lorazepam administrations were lower than recommended. Higher first or cumulative benzodiazepine doses were not associated with better outcomes or clinical seizure cessation in response to second-line medications in these benzodiazepine-refractory seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: Benzodiazepines as first-line treatment of SE, particularly midazolam and lorazepam, are frequently underdosed throughout the United States. This broad and generalizable cohort confirms prior single site reports that underdosing is both pervasive and difficult to remediate. (ESETT ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01960075.).

Safety and Tolerability of SRX246, a Vasopressin 1a Antagonist, in Irritable Huntington's Disease Patients-A Randomized Phase 2 Clinical Trial.

SRX246 is a vasopressin (AVP) 1a receptor antagonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier. It reduced impulsive aggression, fear, depression and anxiety in animal models, blocked the actions of intranasal AVP on aggression/fear circuits in an experimental medicine fMRI study and demonstrated excellent safety in Phase 1 multiple-ascending dose clinical trials. The present study was a 3-arm, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 12-week, dose escalation study of SRX246 in early symptomatic Huntington's disease (HD) patients with irritability. Our goal was to determine whether SRX246 was safe and well tolerated in these HD patients given its potential use for the treatment of problematic neuropsychiatric symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive placebo or to escalate to 120 mg twice daily or 160 mg twice daily doses of SRX246. Assessments included standard safety tests, the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), and exploratory measures of problem behaviors. The groups had comparable demographics, features of HD and baseline irritability. Eighty-two out of 106 subjects randomized completed the trial on their assigned dose of drug. One-sided exact-method confidence interval tests were used to reject the null hypothesis of inferior tolerability or safety for each dose group vs. placebo. Apathy and suicidality were not affected by SRX246. Most adverse events in the active arms were considered unlikely to be related to SRX246. The compound was safe and well tolerated in HD patients and can be moved forward as a candidate to treat irritability and aggression.

The association of patient weight and dose of fosphenytoin, levetiracetam, and valproic acid with treatment success in status epilepticus.

The Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial was a blinded, comparative-effectiveness study of fosphenytoin, levetiracetam, and valproic acid in benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus. The primary outcome was clinical seizure cessation and increased responsiveness without additional anticonvulsant medications. Weight-based dosing was capped at 75 kg. Hence, patients weighing >75 kg received a lower mg/kg dose. Logistic regression models were developed in 235 adults to determine the association of weight (≤ or >75 kg, ≤ or >90 kg), sex, treatment, and weight-normalized dose with the primary outcome and solely seizure cessation. The primary outcome was achieved in 45.1% and 42.5% of those ≤75 kg and >75 kg, respectively. Using univariate analyses, the likelihood of success for those >75 kg (odds ratio [OR] = 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54-1.51) or >90 kg (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.42-1.66) was not statistically different compared with those ≤75 kg or ≤90 kg, respectively. Similarly, other predictors were not significantly associated with primary outcome or clinical seizure cessation. Our findings suggest that doses, capped at 75 kg, likely resulted in concentrations greater than those needed for outcome. Studies that include drug concentrations and heavier individuals are needed to confirm these findings.

Seven-Year Experience From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Supported Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials.

Importance: One major advantage of developing large, federally funded networks for clinical research in neurology is the ability to have a trial-ready network that can efficiently conduct scientifically rigorous projects to improve the health of people with neurologic disorders. Observations: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT) was established in 2011 and renewed in 2018 with the goal of being an efficient network to test between 5 and 7 promising new agents in phase II clinical trials. A clinical coordinating center, data coordinating center, and 25 sites were competitively chosen. Common infrastructure was developed to accelerate timelines for clinical trials, including central institutional review board (a first for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke), master clinical trial agreements, the use of common data elements, and experienced research sites and coordination centers. During the first 7 years, the network exceeded the goal of conducting 5 to 7 studies, with 9 funded. High interest was evident by receipt of 148 initial applications for potential studies in various neurologic disorders. Across the first 8 studies (the ninth study was funded at end of initial funding period), the central institutional review board approved the initial protocol in a mean (SD) of 59 (21) days, and additional sites were added a mean (SD) of 22 (18) days after submission. The median time from central institutional review board approval to first site activation was 47.5 days (mean, 102.1; range, 1-282) and from first site activation to first participant consent was 27 days (mean, 37.5; range, 0-96). The median time for database readiness was 3.5 months (mean, 4.0; range, 0-8) from funding receipt. In the 4 completed studies, enrollment met or exceeded expectations with 96% overall data accuracy across all sites. Nine peer-reviewed manuscripts were published, and 22 oral presentations or posters and 9 invited presentations were given at regional, national, and international meetings. Conclusions and Relevance: NeuroNEXT initiated 8 studies, successfully enrolled participants at or ahead of schedule, collected high-quality data, published primary results in high-impact journals, and provided mentorship, expert statistical, and trial management support to several new investigators. Partnerships were successfully created between government, academia, industry, foundations, and patient advocacy groups. Clinical trial consortia can efficiently and successfully address a range of important neurologic research and therapeutic questions.

Clopidogrel and Aspirin in Acute Ischemic Stroke and High-Risk TIA.

BACKGROUND: Combination antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin may reduce the rate of recurrent stroke during the first 3 months after a minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A trial of combination antiplatelet therapy in a Chinese population has shown a reduction in the risk of recurrent stroke. We tested this combination in an international population. METHODS: In a randomized trial, we assigned patients with minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA to receive either clopidogrel at a loading dose of 600 mg on day 1, followed by 75 mg per day, plus aspirin (at a dose of 50 to 325 mg per day) or the same range of doses of aspirin alone. The dose of aspirin in each group was selected by the site investigator. The primary efficacy outcome in a time-to-event analysis was the risk of a composite of major ischemic events, which was defined as ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or death from an ischemic vascular event, at 90 days. RESULTS: A total of 4881 patients were enrolled at 269 international sites. The trial was halted after 84% of the anticipated number of patients had been enrolled because the data and safety monitoring board had determined that the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin was associated with both a lower risk of major ischemic events and a higher risk of major hemorrhage than aspirin alone at 90 days. Major ischemic events occurred in 121 of 2432 patients (5.0%) receiving clopidogrel plus aspirin and in 160 of 2449 patients (6.5%) receiving aspirin plus placebo (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.95; P=0.02), with most events occurring during the first week after the initial event. Major hemorrhage occurred in 23 patients (0.9%) receiving clopidogrel plus aspirin and in 10 patients (0.4%) receiving aspirin plus placebo (hazard ratio, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.87; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA, those who received a combination of clopidogrel and aspirin had a lower risk of major ischemic events but a higher risk of major hemorrhage at 90 days than those who received aspirin alone. (Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; POINT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00991029 .).

Recruitment of participants to a multiple sclerosis trial: the CombiRx experience.

BACKGROUND: and purpose Participant recruitment is central to all clinical trials. Any delay in recruitment affects the completion and ultimate success of the trial. We report our experience with patient screening and randomization in CombiRx, which may inform the design of other trials. CombiRx was a multicenter, phase III, double-blind, randomized clinical trial comparing the combined use of interferon beta-1a and glatiramer acetate to either agent alone in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This trial was launched in January 2005 in 69 centers in the United States and Canada under a co-operative agreement with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The goal was to recruit 1000 patients over 1.5 years after a 6-month start-up period. Instead, the investigators required 4.25 years to enroll 1008 patients. METHODS: During this trial, we assessed the effectiveness of various recruitment strategies, utility of rescreening prior screen failures, and potential factors and strategies used in study conduct, research, and infrastructure, all of which affected recruitment of participants and ultimately time to completion of CombiRx. We particularly were interested in the variability in time to site initiation between academic centers and private practice sites. RESULTS: Physicians who were directly involved in the medical care of patients with RRMS were the primary source of patients recruited to CombiRx. A flexible study design that allowed for rescreening of the initial screen failures after a period of time was useful due to the relapsing/remitting course of the disease. Academic centers took longer to implement the trial than the private practice centers, but once sites were approved for enrollment, there was no important difference in the number of participants enrolled. LIMITATIONS: The CombiRx trial was conducted during a period when multiple new medications were being tested, thus affecting the pace of recruitment and limiting ability to generalize our experiences. However, the lessons we learned about process are relevant. CONCLUSION: Participants can be enrolled successfully in a clinical trial for RRMS, but factors affecting the time to achieve the requirements needed to start screening can be unpredictable and problematic. Prospective planning by the sponsors and investigators, use of central institutional review boards (IRBs), master trial agreements and secure remote desktop access to the trial database may expedite trial implementation and participant recruitment. A good scientific research question with flexible study design and active involvement of the clinicians are important factors driving recruitment. Clinical trials can be implemented successfully both in private practices and at academic centers, a consideration when selecting sites.

Predictors of stroke recurrence in patients with recent lacunar stroke and response to interventions according to risk status: secondary prevention of small subcortical strokes trial.

BACKGROUND: Among participants in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes randomized trial, we sought to identify patients with high versus low rates of recurrent ischemic stroke and to assess effects of aggressive blood pressure control and dual antiplatelet therapy according to risk status. METHODS: Multivariable analyses of 3020 participants with recent magnetic resonance imaging-defined lacunar strokes followed for a mean of 3.7 years with 243 recurrent ischemic strokes. RESULTS: Prior symptomatic lacunar stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6, 2.9), diabetes (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5, 2.5), black race (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3, 2.3), and male sex (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 1.9) were each independently predictive of recurrent ischemic stroke. Recurrent ischemic stroke occurred at a rate of 4.3% per year (95% CI 3.4, 5.5) in patients with prior symptomatic lacunar stroke or TIA (15% of the cohort), 3.1% per year (95% CI 2.6, 3.9) in those with more than 1 of the other 3 risk factors (27% of the cohort), and 1.3% per year (95% CI 1.0, 1.7) in those with 0-1 risk factors (58% of the cohort). There were no significant interactions between treatment effects and stroke risk status. CONCLUSIONS: In this large, carefully followed cohort of patients with recent lacunar stroke and aggressive blood pressure management, prior symptomatic lacunar ischemia, diabetes, black race, and male sex independently predicted ischemic stroke recurrence. The effects of blood pressure targets and dual antiplatelet therapy were similar across the spectrum of independent risk factors and recurrence risk.

Adding more muscle and nerve to clinical trials.

In this review we illustrate both the fundamentals and challenges of randomized clinical trials in neuromuscular disorders and suggest directions for prospective efforts to improve the design, conduct, rigor, and objectivity of these trials. Current research in clinical trials for neuromuscular disorders and key issues affecting these trials are reviewed. This perspective addresses the planning of clinical research, level of preclinical data needed to justify trials, patient recruitment and retention, and opportunities to access federal funding and infrastructure in support of clinical trials. The need for innovation in trial design and conduct, rigorous standards for the preclinical efficacy and safety data that support trial rationale, novel collaborative paradigms, objective interpretations of outcomes, and sharing of the lessons learned from trials in any one disorder among all neuromuscular trialists are imperative to improving the heretofore limited success in delivering novel, safe, and effective therapies to patients burdened by neuromuscular disorders.

Safety and efficacy of lithium in combination with riluzole for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, lithium treatment slowed progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We aimed to confirm or disprove these findings by assessing the safety and efficacy of lithium in combination with riluzole in patients with ALS. METHODS: We did a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a time-to-event design. Between January and June, 2009, patients with ALS who were taking a stable dose of riluzole for at least 30 days were randomly assigned (1:1) by a centralised computer to receive either lithium or placebo. Patients, caregivers, investigators, and all site study staff with the exception of site pharmacists were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was the time to an event, defined as a decrease of at least six points on the revised ALS functional rating scale score or death. Interim analyses were planned for when 84 patients had been allocated treatment, 6 months later or after 55 events, and after 100 events. Analysis was by intention to treat. The stopping boundary for futility at the first interim analysis was a p value of at least 0.68. We used a log-rank test to compare the distributions of the time to an event between the lithium and placebo groups. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00818389. FINDINGS: At the first interim analysis, 22 of 40 patients in the lithium group had an event compared with 20 of 44 patients in the placebo group (log rank p=0.51). The hazard ratio of reaching the primary endpoint was 1.13 (95% CI 0.61-2.07). The study was stopped at the first interim analysis because criterion for futility was met (p=0.78). The difference in mean decline in the ALS functional rating scale score between the lithium group and the placebo group was 0.15 (95% CI -0.43 to 0.73, p=0.61). There were no major safety concerns. Falls (p=0.04) and back pain (p=0.05) were more common in the lithium group than in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION: We found no evidence that lithium in combination with riluzole slows progression of ALS more than riluzole alone. The time-to-event endpoint and use of prespecified interim analyses enabled a clear result to be obtained rapidly. This design should be considered for future trials testing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs that are easily accessible to people with ALS. FUNDING: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, ALS Association, and ALS Society of Canada.

Age-associated changes in motor unit physiology: observations from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

OBJECTIVE: To examine motor unit characteristics (size and firing rate) associated with aging. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants (N=102), aged 22.2 to 94.1 years, were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surface-represented motor unit size and firing rate were collected from the vastus medialis during knee extension at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of each subject's maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MVC). RESULTS: MVC declined with older age (P<.0001). Adjusting for differences in MVC, both firing rate and motor unit size per newton force generated began to increase in the 6th decade of life. Motor unit size increased per newton force to a greater extent than firing rate. Those over the age of 75 years also activated significantly larger motor units per unit force (P=.04). Relative to force generated, the average firing rate began increasing at 57.8+/-3.4 years and between 50.2 and 56.4 years (+/-4y) for motor unit size. CONCLUSIONS: The size of motor units and firing rates used to achieve a given force changes with age, particularly after middle age. Whether these changes precede, follow, or occur concurrent to age-related modifications in muscle structure and contractile properties or sarcopenia is not known.

The relationship between ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) genotype and motor unit physiology: preliminary studies.

BACKGROUND: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is important for neuronal and muscle development, and genetic variation in the CNTF gene has been associated with muscle strength. The effect of CNTF on nerve development suggests that CNTF genotype may be associated with force production via its influence on motor unit size and firing patterns. The purpose of this study is to examine whether CNTF genotype differentially affects motor unit activation in the vastus medialis with increasing isometric force during knee extension. RESULTS: Sixty-nine healthy subjects were genotyped for the presence of the G and A (null) alleles in the CNTF gene (n = 57 G/G, 12 G/A). They were tested using a dynamometer during submaximal isometric knee extension contractions that were from 10-50% of their maximal strength. During the contractions, the vastus medialis was studied using surface and intramuscular electromyography with spiked triggered averaging to assess surface-detected motor unit potential (SMUP) area and mean firing rates (mFR) from identified motor units. CNTF genotyping was performed using standard PCR techniques from DNA obtained from leucocytes of whole blood samples. The CNTF G/A genotype was associated with smaller SMUP area motor units and lower mFR at higher force levels, and fewer but larger units at lower force levels than G/G homozygotes. The two groups used motor units with different size and activation characteristics with increasing force generation. While G/G subjects tended to utilize larger motor units with increasing force, G/A subjects showed relatively less increase in size by using relatively larger units at lower force levels. At higher force levels, G/A subjects were able to generate more force per motor unit size suggesting more efficient motor unit function with increasing muscle force. CONCLUSION: Differential motor unit responses were observed between CNTF genotypes at force levels utilized in daily activities.

Data and safety monitoring in clinical research: a National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke perspective.

The National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke supports a broad spectrum of research in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic disease. Emergency medicine is increasingly involved in clinical research for patients with neurologic emergencies. Independent data and safety monitoring are critical components of clinical trials to ensure the protection of patients and the scientific integrity of the research. We review National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke principles of data and safety monitoring and provide examples to illustrate key concepts.