Alterations in nasal microbiota of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Links between alterations in gut microbiota composition and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have previously been reported. This study aimed to examine the microbiota in the nasal cavity of ALS.@*METHODS@#Sixty-six ALS patients and 40 healthy caregivers who live in close proximity with patients were enrolled. High throughput metagenomic sequencing of the 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) gene V3-V4 region of nasal microbiota was used to characterize the alpha and beta diversity and relative abundance of bacterial taxa, predict function, and conduct correlation analysis between specific taxa and clinical features.@*RESULTS@#The nasal microbiome of ALS patients showed lower alpha diversity than that of corresponding healthy family members. Genera Gaiella , Sphingomonas , Polaribacter _1, Lachnospiraceae _NK4A136_group, Klebsiella , and Alistipes were differentially enriched in ALS patients compared to controls. Nasal microbiota composition in ALS patients significantly differed from that in healthy subjects (unweighted UniFrac P = 0.001), while Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominated healthy nasal communities at the phylum level, whereas Actinobacteria was the predominant phylum and Thermoleophilia was the predominant class in ALS patients. Genus Faecalibacterium and Alistipes were positively correlated with ALS functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS-R; rs = 0.349, P = 0.020 and rs = 0.393, P = 0.008), while Prevotella -9 and Bacteroides operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were positively associated with lung function (FVC) in ALS patients ( rs = 0.304, P = 0.045, and rs = 0.300, P = 0.048, respectively). Prevotella -1 was positively correlated with white blood cell counts (WBC, rs = 0.347, P = 0.021), neutrophil percentage (Neu%, rs = 0.428, P = 0.004), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, rs = 0.411, P = 0.006), but negatively correlated with lymphocyte percentage (Lym%, rs = -0.408, P = 0.006). In contrast, Streptococcus was negatively associated with Neu% ( rs = -0.445, P = 0.003) and NLR ( rs = -0.436, P = 0.003), while positively associated with Lym% ( rs = 0.437, P = 0.003). No significant differences in nasal microbiota richness and evenness were detected among the severe and mild ALS patients.@*CONCLUSIONS@#ALS is accompanied by altered nasal microbial community composition and diversity. The findings presented here highlight the need to understand how dysbiosis of nasal microbiota may contribute to the development of ALS.

Esclerose lateral amiotrófica: implicações para familiares cuidadores / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: implications for family caregivers / Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica: implicaciones para los cuidadores familiares

Objetivo: descrever as dificuldades de adaptação dos familiares cuidadores de pacientes portadores de Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA), cadastrados na central de Medicamentos de Alto Custo da Regional de Saúde Pirineus, na cidade de Anápolis -GO. Método: Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa com o método descritivo. Os participantes foram previamente selecionados mediante adequação aos critérios de inclusão e concordância em fazer parte da pesquisa. A coleta de dados deu-se em local escolhido pelos mesmos, por meio de entrevista gravada em smartphone. A análise dos dados deu-se concomitante e após o termino da coleta. Resultados:Para a obtenção dos resultados e discussão foram entrevistados 4 (quatro) estão apresentados em 6 categorias, sendo elas: dificuldades para o cuidado; sobrecarga do cuidador; aceitação familiar; arendizado e dúvidas dos cuidadores; sobre atendimento; adaptação para os cuidados no núcleo familiar. Diante disto evidenciou-se as implicações ligadas a equipe de saúde, que são: a necessidade da equipe de saúde se manter informada não só sobre as mudanças relacionadas a doença, como também as dificuldades enfrentadas pela família, para que seja auxiliada em relação às suas dúvidas e durante a adaptação e a progressão da doença. Conclusão:estudo procura trazer um novo olhar que vai além do paciente, evidenciando as necessidades da família, tratando não somente o paciente, mas também cada família dentro de suas particularidades

Objective:describe the adaptation difficulties of family caregivers of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), registered at the High-Cost Medication center of the Pirineus Regional Health in the city of Anápolis -GO. Method:This is a qualitative approach study using a descriptive method. Participants were previously selected based on inclusion criteria and agreement to participate in the research. Data collection took place at a location chosen by them, through interviews recorded on a smartphone. Dataanalysis was conducted concurrently with and after data collection. Results:For the results and discussion, 4 (four) were interviewed and are presented in 6 categories: difficulties in care; caregiver burden; family acceptance; learning and doubts of caregivers; about care; adaptation to care in the family nucleus. This evidenced the implications linked to the health team, which are: the need for the health team to stay informed not only about changes related to the disease but also about the difficultiesfaced by the family, so that they can be assisted regarding their doubts and during the adaptation and progression of the disease. Conclusion:the study seeks to bring a new perspective that goes beyond the patient, highlighting the needs of the family, treating not only the patient but also each family within its particularities.

Objetivo: Describir las dificultades de adaptación de los cuidadores familiares de pacientes con Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA), registrados en el Centro de Medicamentos de Alto Costo de la Región Sanitaria Pirineus, en la ciudad de Anápolis -GO. Método:Estudio cualitativo con método descriptivo. Los participantes fueron previamente seleccionados de acuerdo con el cumplimiento de los criterios de inclusión y el acuerdo para participar en la investigación. La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo en un lugar elegido por ellos, a través de entrevistas grabadas en un teléfono inteligente. El análisis de los datos se realizó de forma concomitante y una vez finalizada la recolección de datos. Resultados:Para obtener los resultados y la discusión, 4 (cuatro) encuestados son presentados en 6 categorías, a saber: dificultades para el cuidado; carga del cuidador; aceptación familiar; y dudas de los cuidadores; sobre el servicio al cliente; Adaptación al cuidado en el núcleo familiar. Frente a esto, se evidenciaron las implicaciones relacionadas con el equipo de salud, las cuales son: la necesidad de que el equipo de salud esté informado no solo sobre los cambios relacionados a la enfermedad, sino también sobre las dificultades enfrentadas por la familia, para que puedan ser ayudados en relación a sus dudas y durante la adaptación y progresión de la enfermedad. Conclusión:este estudio busca aportar una nueva mirada que vaya más allá del paciente, resaltando las necesidades de la familia, tratando no solo al paciente, sinotambién a cada familia dentro de sus particularidades.

Esclerosis lateral amiotrífica asociada a sarcoma de kaposi, vih y serológica positiva para sífilis y el virus de epstein barr. A propósito de un caso / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with kaposi sarcoma, hiv and positive serological for syphilis and epstein barr virus. About a case

Las enfermedades de la neurona motora no se asocian frecuentemente al Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana. Según algunos autores, existe evidencia de que los retrovirus podrían participar de alguna manera en la fisiopatología de la Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA). Según teorías no probadas, la activación de antiguos genes virales incrustados en el genoma humano conduciría a la degeneración de las neuronas motoras. Básicamente, esta enfermedad comienza con una desmielinización, seguida de una degeneración axonal, y termina en una esclerosis glial (estado terminal) de la vía motora central. Sin embargo, es difícil entender cómo se produce la desintegración de la mielina, ¿podría deberse a una alteración en el metabolismo lipídico? Es lamentable que no se haya realizado una evaluación anatomopatológica completa en los casos estudiados y en los que nos ocupan, ya que no podemos considerar al sistema nervioso como completamente independiente de otros sistemas. Se presenta un hombre con enfermedad de la neurona motora VIH positiva (ELA) asociada con sarcoma de Kaposi. Se describe una infección por un parásito

Motor neuron diseases are not frequently associated to Human Immunodeficiency Virus According to some authors, there is evidence that retroviruses could participate in some way in the pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). According to unproven theories, activation of ancient viral genes embedded in the human genome would lead to degeneration of motor neurons. Basically, this disease starts as demyelination, followed by axonal degeneration, and ends up in glial sclerosis (terminal state) of the motor central pathway. However, it is difficult to understand how the disintegration of myelin occurs, could it be due to an alteration in lipid metabolism? It is unfortunate that a complete anatomopathological evaluation has not been carried out in the cases studied and in those that concern us, since we cannot consider the nervous system as completely independent of other systems. A man individual with HIV-positive motor neuron disease ALS) associated with Kaposi's sarcoma is presented. An infection with a parasite is described

Clinical feature difference between juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with SPTLC1 and FUS mutations / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (JALS) is an uncommon form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis whose age at onset (AAO) is defined as prior to 25 years. FUS mutations are the most common cause of JALS. SPTLC1 was recently identified as a disease-causative gene for JALS, which has rarely been reported in Asian populations. Little is known regarding the difference in clinical features between JALS patients carrying FUS and SPTLC1 mutations. This study aimed to screen mutations in JALS patients and to compare the clinical features between JALS patients with FUS and SPTLC1 mutations.@*METHODS@#Sixteen JALS patients were enrolled, including three newly recruited patients between July 2015 and August 2018 from the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Mutations were screened by whole-exome sequencing. In addition, clinical features such as AAO, onset site and disease duration were extracted and compared between JALS patients carrying FUS and SPTLC1 mutations through a literature review.@*RESULTS@#A novel and de novo SPTLC1 mutation (c.58G>A, p.A20T) was identified in a sporadic patient. Among 16 JALS patients, 7/16 carried FUS mutations and 5/16 carried respective SPTLC1 , SETX , NEFH , DCTN1 , and TARDBP mutations. Compared with FUS mutation patients, those with SPTLC1 mutations had an earlier AAO (7.9 ± 4.6 years vs. 18.1 ± 3.9 years, P  < 0.01), much longer disease duration (512.0 [416.7-607.3] months vs. 33.4 [21.6-45.1] months, P  < 0.01), and no onset of bulbar.@*CONCLUSION@#Our findings expand the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of JALS and help to better understand the genotype-phenotype correlation of JALS.

Efficacy and safety of ultra-high dose Methylcobalamin vs Placebo among patients with early-stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A systematic review

Background@#Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one of the neurodegenerative disorders with very limited treatment options owing to its progressive course and diverse pathophysiology. Majority of patients succumb to death within three to five years after the onset of symptoms, mostly due to respiratory failure. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of ultra-high dose methylcobalamin versus placebo among patients with early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in terms of slowing down functional decline.@*Methods@#MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to September 23, 2023. The impact of treatments was measured by risk ratios with 95% confidence interval. The overall certainty of the evidence was evaluated using GRADE. @*Results@#No significant difference was detected for the outcome median change in the ALSFRS-R score for the whole cohort. Post-hoc analyses showed that ultra-high-dose methylcobalamin decreased ALSFRS-R scores (p=0.003 for 50 mg and p=0.01 for all methylcobalamin groups) in a dose-responsive manner. Mean difference was 1.97 in favor of methylcobalamin (95% CI, 0.44- 3.50; P = .01).@*Conclusion@#Ultra-high dose methylcobalamin can reduce ALSFRS-R scores of patients in its early stage but the scarcity of clinical trials makes it difficult to support a robust conclusion. Ultra-high dose methylcobalamin therapy remains to be investigational.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 combined with a conditioned medium from induced neuron-like hUCMSCs alleviated the apoptosis in a cell model of ALS through regulating the NF-κB/Bcl-2 pathway / 中国天然药物

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. One important aspect of ALS pathogenesis is superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutant-mediated mitochondrial toxicity, leading to apoptosis in neurons. This study aimed to evaluate the neural protective synergistic effects of ginsenosides Rg1 (G-Rg1) and conditioned medium (CM) on a mutational SOD1 cell model, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that the contents of nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor significantly increased in CM after human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) were exposed to neuron differentiation reagents for seven days. CM or G-Rg1 decreased the apoptotic rate of SOD1G93A-NSC34 cells to a certain extent, but their combination brought about the least apoptosis, compared with CM or G-Rg1 alone. Further research showed that the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was upregulated in all the treatment groups. Proteins associated with mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, such as Bax, caspase 9 (Cas-9), and cytochrome c (Cyt c), were downregulated. Furthermore, CM or G-Rg1 also inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway by reducing the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα. CM/G-Rg1 or their combination also reduced the apoptotic rate induced by betulinic acid (BetA), an agonist of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In summary, the combination of CM and G-Rg1 effectively reduced the apoptosis of SOD1G93A-NSC34 cells through suppressing the NF-κB/Bcl-2 signaling pathway (Fig. 1 is a graphical representation of the abstract).

REEP1 Preserves Motor Function in SOD1G93A Mice by Improving Mitochondrial Function via Interaction with NDUFA4 / 神经科学通报·英文版

A decline in the activities of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes has been consistently reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and animal models of ALS, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we report that receptor expression enhancing protein 1 (REEP1) acts as an important regulator of complex IV assembly, which is pivotal to preserving motor neurons in SOD1G93A mice. We found the expression of REEP1 was greatly reduced in transgenic SOD1G93A mice with ALS. Moreover, forced expression of REEP1 in the spinal cord extended the lifespan, decelerated symptom progression, and improved the motor performance of SOD1G93A mice. The neuromuscular synaptic loss, gliosis, and even motor neuron loss in SOD1G93A mice were alleviated by increased REEP1 through augmentation of mitochondrial function. Mechanistically, REEP1 associates with NDUFA4, and plays an important role in preserving the integrity of mitochondrial complex IV. Our findings offer insights into the pathogenic mechanism of REEP1 deficiency in neurodegenerative diseases and suggest a new therapeutic target for ALS.

Parâmetros e tipos de avaliação da disartria na esclerose lateral amiotrófica / Parameters and types of dysarthria assessment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

RESUMO Objetivo identificar estudos a respeito dos parâmetros e dos tipos de avaliação utilizados para avaliar a disartria na esclerose lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Estratégia de pesquisa estudo de revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados LILACS, SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus e Cochrane, por meios dos descritores, em português e em inglês, "Avaliação AND Disartria AND Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica". Critérios de seleção os critérios de inclusão foram: artigos que abordavam estudos sobre avaliação da disartria na ELA, nas línguas inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa, disponíveis na íntegra, no período de 2015 a 2022. Resultados do total de 38 estudos, apenas 3 usaram um único tipo de avaliação da disartria. A maior parte dos estudos utilizou mais de um tipo de avaliação variando de 2 a 4. Foram 3 os tipos de avaliação mais utilizados, com o intuito de avaliar o grau de inteligibilidade de fala: avaliação perceptivo-auditiva (31 estudos), avaliação acústica (18 estudos) e avaliação do movimento (27 estudos). Conclusão a avaliação da disartria na ELA é realizada por diferentes procedimentos e com vários parâmetros de análise, em especial pela avaliação perceptivo-auditiva e do movimento.

ABSTRACT Purpose to identify studies regarding the parameters and types of assessment used to evaluate dysarthria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research strategy an integrative literature review study was conducted on the LILACS, SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane databases using the descriptors "Assessment AND Dysarthria AND Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" in both Portuguese and English. Selection criteria the inclusion criteria consisted of articles that addressed studies on dysarthria assessment in ALS, written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which should be available in full, and published from 2015 to 2022. Results: out of the total of 38 studies, only 3 used a single type of dysarthria assessment. Most studies employed more than one type of assessment, ranging from 2 to 4 types. Three assessment types were predominantly used to assess the degree of speech intelligibility: auditoryperceptual assessment (31 studies), acoustic assessment (18 studies), and movement assessment (27 studies). Conclusion dysarthria assessment in ALS is conducted through various procedures and with multiple analysis parameters, notably through auditory-perceptual and movement assessments.

Differentiation Between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Mimics Using Quantitative Analysis of Fsciculation with Muscle Ultrasound / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the intensity of fasciculation evaluated by muscle ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods We prospectively recruited patients who had ALS and neuropathy-radiculopathy attending Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2017 to 2020. Healthy adults from a community were recruited as healthy controls. Muscle strength was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. At the first visit to the hospital, patients were assessed for maximal grade of fasciculations, total fasciculation score, and fasciculation grade in 16 muscle groups of bilateral upper and lower limbs using ultrasonography. The sensitivity and specificity of maximal grade of fasciculations, total fasciculation score, and fasciculation grade for the diagnosis of ALS were assessed by receiver operating characteristic analyses. Results The percentage of limb muscles with a maximal fasciculation grade higher than grade 2 in ALS patients and neuropathy-radiculopathy patients was 84.9% and 9.8%, respectively (χ2 = 172.436, P < 0.01). Of the 16 limb muscles detected, the total fasciculation score [median (interquartile range)] was 29 (15, 41) in ALS patients and 3 (0, 8) in neuropathy-radiculopathy patients (Z = 9.642, P < 0.001). Remarkable fasciculations were seen in ALS patients whose muscles with a MRC score ranging from 2 to 4, followed by patients with MRC score 5, and then in those with MRC score 0 and 1. The sensitivity and specificity of total fasciculation score for diagnosis of ALS were 80.6% and 93.4%, respectively (cut-off value 14). In patients with ALS, for muscles with MRC score 4 and 5, the percentage of muscles with fasciculation grades ≥ 3 was 42.3% and 24.1% respectively, while in neuropathy-radiculopathy patients, the percentage for muscles with MRC score 4 and 5 was only 1.7% and 0, respectively. Conclusion A combined analysis of fasciculation intensity and MRC score of the limb muscles may be helpful for differential diagnosis of ALS.

A design and evaluation of wearable p300 brain-computer interface system based on Hololens2 / 生物医学工程学杂志

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) often have difficulty in expressing their intentions through language and behavior, which prevents them from communicating properly with the outside world and seriously affects their quality of life. The brain-computer interface (BCI) has received much attention as an aid for ALS patients to communicate with the outside world, but the heavy device causes inconvenience to patients in the application process. To improve the portability of the BCI system, this paper proposed a wearable P300-speller brain-computer interface system based on the augmented reality (MR-BCI). This system used Hololens2 augmented reality device to present the paradigm, an OpenBCI device to capture EEG signals, and Jetson Nano embedded computer to process the data. Meanwhile, to optimize the system's performance for character recognition, this paper proposed a convolutional neural network classification method with low computational complexity applied to the embedded system for real-time classification. The results showed that compared with the P300-speller brain-computer interface system based on the computer screen (CS-BCI), MR-BCI induced an increase in the amplitude of the P300 component, an increase in accuracy of 1.7% and 1.4% in offline and online experiments, respectively, and an increase in the information transfer rate of 0.7 bit/min. The MR-BCI proposed in this paper achieves a wearable BCI system based on guaranteed system performance. It has a positive effect on the realization of the clinical application of BCI.

Manejo multidisciplinario y avances terapéuticos en la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica / Multidisciplinary care and therapeutic advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects the motor system, resulting in progressive weakness and muscle wasting. Despite the tremendous advances in physiopathological and clinical characterization, we do not have a curative treatment yet. The progressive and fatal course of ALS makes its management particularly complex and challenging given the diversity of symptoms presenting during the disease progression. The main goal in the treatment of ALS patients is to minimize morbidity and maximize the quality of life. Currently, a series of therapeutic interventions improve the quality of life and prolong survival, including multidisciplinary care, respiratory management, and disease-modifying therapy. Within the supportive interventions, weight maintenance through nutritional and metabolic support is critical. In addition, the management of neuropsychiatric manifestations and preservation of communicative capacity before speech loss are also crucial. Lastly, early palliative care intervention is essential to optimize symptomatic management. Anticipatory guidelines to face the inevitable patient deterioration should be devised. This article updates the main therapeutic strategies used in these patients, including evolving clinical trials with promising novel therapies.

Interosseous atrophy beyond rheumatoid arthritis, a manifestation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Interosseous atrophy of the hand is not an exclusive finding of rheumatoid arthritis, and in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis it has a significant diagnostic and prognostic value. The physical examination and evidence of the "split hand" sign or sign of the double anatomical snuffbox is a finding that should alert the clinician to the need for complementary studies in order to rule out neurological pathology.

La atrofia de interóseos de la mano no es un hallazgo exclusivo de la artritis reumatoide, en el caso de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica tiene un valor diagnóstico y pronóstico significativo, por lo que la exploración física y la evidencia del signo de la mano partida o signo de la doble tabaquera anatómica es un hallazgo que debe alertar al clínico de la necesidad de realizar estudios complementarios para descartar una enfermedad neurológica.

Analysis of SOD1 and C9orf72 mutations in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Antioquia, Colombia / Análisis de mutaciones en los genes SOD1 y C9orf72 en pacientes con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica, Antioquia, Colombia

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease with a possible multifactorial origin characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons. There is a relatively high prevalence of this disease in Antioquia; however, there is no published genetic study to date in Colombia. Despite its unknown etiopathogenesis, more genetic risk factors possibly involved in the development of this disease are constantly found. Objetives: To evaluate G93A and D90A mutations in SOD1 gene and a short tandem repeat in C9orf72 within a cohort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from Antioquia, Colombia. Materials y methods: Thirty-four patients previously diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were included in the study. Peripheral blood samples were used for DNA extraction and genotyping. Results: No mutations were found in SOD1 (G93A and D90A) in any of the patients, while C9orf72 exhibited an allele with a statistically significant high prevalence in the study sample (8 hexanucleotide repeats of CAGCAG). Conclusions: These results suggest an association between this short tandem repeat (STR) in C9orf72 and the presence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the studied population. However, this association should be established in a larger sample size and with controls from the same population. In addition, there also seems to be a genetic anticipation effect for the disease regarding this locus, since patients with this genotype present an earlier onset.

Introducción. La esclerosis lateral amiotrófica es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa con un posible origen multifactorial, caracterizado por una degeneración progresiva de las neuronas motoras. Hay una gran prevalencia relativa de esta enfermedad en Antioquia; sin embargo, no hay publicaciones de estudios genéticos en Colombia. A pesar de su etiopatogénesis desconocida, hay varios factores de riesgo genético que se encuentran constantemente en el desarrollo de esta enfermedad. Objetivo. Evaluar las mutaciones G93A y D90A del gen SOD1 y una repetición corta en tándem (Short Tandem Repeat, STR) en el locus C9orf72, en una cohorte de pacientes con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica en Antioquia, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se incluyeron 34 pacientes previamente diagnosticados en el estudio. Una muestra de sangre periférica se usó para extraer el ADN y, posteriormente, genotipificarlo. Resultados. No se encontraron mutaciones en el gen SOD1 (G93A y D90A), mientras que el C9orf72 exhibe un alelo con una significativa prevalencia en los pacientes del estudio (8 repeticiones del hexanucleótido G4C2). Conclusiones. Se sugiere una asociación entre la repetición en tándem en C9orf72 y la presencia de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica en la población estudiada. Sin embargo, se sugiere hacer estudios adicionales e incluir un grupo control de la misma población. Además, se detecta un fenómeno de anticipación genética de la enfermedad, dado que los pacientes con el alelo de 8 repeticiones en C9orf72 presentan una edad temprana de aparición de los síntomas.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in central Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in the State of Goiás, Brazil. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess medical records of patients with ALS followed-up at the State Rehabilitation and Readaptation Medical Center Dr. Henrique Santillo, Goiânia, GO, Brazil, between 2005 and 2018. In addition, we registered and created a photographic panel with the main clinical findings of ALS cases. Results: From 224 investigated patients, 51.8% were male, and 67.4% manifested the classic form of the disease. Initial symptoms were more frequent in the lower limbs (37.9%), and complications resulted in 45.5% of tracheostomy, 60.3% of gastrostomy, and 49.1% of deaths. Most patients had a five-year survival from the onset of symptoms, and no significant association between the use of non-invasive ventilation and increased survival were found. The analysis of the clinical-epidemiological characteristics showed a more extended time between the first symptoms and the diagnosis of the disease was observed. Conclusion: In this study, the time between the first symptoms and diagnosis was longer than in the literature, resulting in late treatments. In addition, there was no satisfactory result regarding survival with the use of non-invasive ventilation. Therefore, clinical-epidemiological studies of the disease in Brazil, as well as public awareness and training of professionals in recognition of ALS clinical signs will assist in early and more efficient interventions (AU)

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes com Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA) no Estado de Goiás, Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal descritivo para avaliação de prontuários de pacientes com ELA acompanhados no Centro Médico Estadual de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo, Goiânia, GO, Brasil, entre 2005 e 2018. Além disso, registramos e criamos um painel fotográfico com os principais achados clínicos dos casos de ELA. Resultados: Dos 224 pacientes investigados, 51,8% eram do sexo masculino e 67,4% manifestavam a forma clássica da doença. Os sintomas iniciais foram mais frequentes em membros inferiores (37,9%) e as complicações resultaram em 45,5% de traqueostomia, 60,3% de gastrostomia e 49,1% de óbitos. A maioria dos pacientes teve sobrevida de cinco anos desde o início dos sintomas, e nenhuma associação significativa entre o uso de ventilação não-invasiva e aumento da sobrevida foi encontrada. A análise das características clínico-epidemiológicas mostrou um tempo mais prolongado entre os primeiros sintomas e o diagnóstico da doença. Conclusão: Neste estudo, o tempo entre os primeiros sintomas e o diagnóstico foi maior quando comparado à literatura, resultando em tratamentos tardios. Além disso, não houve resultado satisfatório em termos de sobrevida com o uso da ventilação não-invasiva. Portanto, estudos clínico-epidemiológicos sobre a doença no Brasil, bem como a conscientização pública e o treinamento de profissionais para o reconhecimento dos sinais clínicos de ELA, auxiliarão em intervenções precoces e mais eficazes (AU)

Advance in research on pathogenetic genes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease which is associated with genetic and environmental factors, though the pathogenesis is still unclear and there is also a lack of effective treatment. With the rapid advance of genetic testing techniques, over 30 genes have been associated with the disease. Some ALS patients harboring genetic variants may present unique clinical characteristics and particular mode of inheritance, but the correlation between genotype and phenotype is still not very clear. Studies have shown that research on the pathogenic genes of ALS is important for the diagnosis and selection of potential drug targets. Here the pathogenic genes of ALS, in particular the newly discovered genes, and their underlying mechanisms are reviewed. The necessity of genetic testing for ALS patients is also stressed.

Impacto do tratamento medicamentoso na voz, fala e deglutição de pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica: revisão sistemática / Impact of drug treatment on voice, speech, and swallowing in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review

RESUMO Objetivos Revisar sistematicamente a literatura sobre o impacto do tratamento medicamentoso nas funções de voz, fala e deglutição de indivíduos adultos com esclerose lateral amiotrófica esporádica, mensuradas por meio de escalas e seus respectivos escores, em relação ao grupo placebo. Estratégia de pesquisa A busca foi realizada com base na estratégia PICO (problema/população/paciente; intervenção; comparação/controle; desfecho/outcome). As palavras-chave foram selecionadas a partir de consulta aos Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) e ao Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Dois pesquisadores independentes fizeram busca na American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Cochrane, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus e Web of Science, em inglês, espanhol e português. Critérios de seleção Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos randomizados, realizados em adultos, e excluídos artigos cujos desfechos estavam relacionados à autoavaliação e à qualidade de vida, teses, dissertações, apenas resumos disponíveis, estudos de caso, estudos experimentais, capítulos de livro, enciclopédias e comunicações breves. Os estudos foram avaliados por meio das ferramentas Robins II (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies II) e GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Resultados dos 9824 artigos encontrados, 5 realizaram a intervenção medicamentosa e foram selecionados para análise. Observou-se ausência de estudos voltados para reabilitação das funções bulbares. A qualidade de evidência gerada variou de alto a baixo risco e o nível de evidência, de baixo a muito baixo. Conclusão a maioria dos estudos demonstra que o tratamento medicamentoso atrasa a degeneração das funções bulbares, com relação ao placebo, embora tal achado não tenha sido observado nos escores de escalas que mensuram tais funções. Os estudos apresentam risco de viés de seleção e muito baixa/baixa qualidade metodológica, limitando a confiança nos achados.

ABSTRACT Purpose To carry out a systematic review of the literature on the impact of drug treatment on the voice, speech, and swallowing functions of adult individuals with sporadic ALS, measured through scales and their respective scores, concerning the placebo group. Research strategy The search strategy was created based on the PICO strategy. The keywords were selected from a consultation with the health sciences descriptors - DECS and the medical subject headings - MeSH. Two independent researchers searched ASHA, Cochrane, Lilacs, Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Selection criteria Randomized clinical trials, carried out on adults, were included, and articles with outcomes related to selfassessment and quality of life, theses, dissertations, abstracts only , case studies, experimental studies, book chapters, encyclopedia and brief communication were excluded. The studies were evaluated using the Robins II and Grade tool. Results Of the 9824 articles found, 5 were selected for analysis and underwent drug intervention. It is noticed the absence of studies aimed at the rehabilitation of bulb functions. The quality of evidence generated varied from high to low risk and the level of evidence low and very low. Conclusion Most studies show a delay in the degeneration of bulbar functions in relation to placebo, although this finding has not been observed in the scores of scales that measure such functions. Studies are at risk of selection bias and very low/low methodological quality makes the findings questionable.

Fasciculaciones y calambres: bases fisiológicas y enfrentamiento clínico de un fenómeno complejo / Fasciculations and cramps: physiological bases and clinical approach of a complex phenomenon

Fasciculations and cramps originate in the motor unit, a functional unit that includes the lower motor neuron and their innervated muscle fibres. Both are common complaints in outpatient practice. These symptoms can be secondary to neurological or medical pathology, presenting a broad differential diagnosis and a complex approach. Recent neurophysiological studies have increased the knowledge of their origin mainly in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The symptomatic management of fasciculations and cramps depends on their etiology and includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. This article aims to present an updated review of the most relevant aspects of physiopathology, clinical approach, and differential diagnosis of both phenomena.

The history behind ALS type 8: from the first phenotype description to the discovery of VAPB mutation / A história por detrás da ELA tipo 8: da primeira descrição do fenótipo à descoberta da mutação VAPB

ABSTRACT Over the past 68 years, the Finkel type late-onset adult autosomal dominant spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) that is allelic with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-8 (ALS8) gained a genotype-phenotype correlation among the motor neuron diseases through the work of groups led by Zatz and Marques Jr.

RESUMO Nos últimos 68 anos, a atrofia muscular espinhal (AME), autossômica dominante, de início tardio, em adultos, conhecida como doença de Finkel, que é alélica com esclerose lateral amiotrófica tipo 8 (ELA8), ganhou uma correlação fenotípica e genotípica dentre as doenças do neurônio motor, a partir da colaboração dos grupos de Zatz e Marques Jr.

Denny-Brown and Pennybacker: 80 years after their pioneering article on electromyography, fibrillation and fasciculation / Denny-Brown e Pennybacker: 80 anos da publicação de seu artigo pioneiro sobre eletromiografia, fibrilação e fasciculação

ABSTRACT We present a historical review, highlighting the role of Professor Derek Denny-Brown and doctor Joseph Buford Pennybacker in the development of current electromyography (EMG), of the 80 years since the publication of his original report in 1938 on fasciculation and fibrillation potentials and the subsequent studies describing most of the electrical changes necessary to perform and interpret the EMG.

RESUMO Os autores apresentam uma revisão histórica destacando o papel do Professor Derek Denny-Brown e do doutor Joseph Buford Pennybacker no desenvolvimento da eletromiografia atual, ao longo dos oitenta anos de seu artigo original em 1938, sobre potenciais de fasciculação e fibrilação, e os estudos subsequentes que descreveram a maioria das mudanças elétricas necessárias para realizar e interpretar EMG.

Research Progress of CD4 / 中国医学科学院学报

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,and aging,which can lead to cognitive and motor dysfunctions.Recent studies suggest that the development of neurodegenerative diseases is related to adaptive immunity,in which CD4