Insights on Natural Products Against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons and consequent muscle paralysis. Despite many efforts to address it, current therapy targeting ALS remains limited, increasing the interest in complementary therapies. Over the years, several herbal preparations and medicinal plants have been studied to prevent and treat this disease, which has received remarkable attention due to their blood-brain barrier penetration properties and low toxicity. Thus, this review presents the therapeutic potential of a variety of medicinal herbs and their relationship with ALS and their physiopathological pathways.

Testosterone Reduces Myelin Abnormalities in the Wobbler Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motoneuron degenerative disease that is associated with demyelination. The Wobbler (WR) mouse exhibits motoneuron degeneration, gliosis and myelin deterioration in the cervical spinal cord. Since male WRs display low testosterone (T) levels in the nervous system, we investigated if T modified myelin-relative parameters in WRs in the absence or presence of the aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole (A). We studied myelin by using luxol-fast-blue (LFB) staining, semithin sections, electron microscopy and myelin protein expression, density of IBA1+ microglia and mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, and the glutamatergic parameters glutamine synthetase (GS) and the transporter GLT1. Controls and WR + T showed higher LFB, MBP and PLP staining, lower g-ratios and compact myelin than WRs and WR + T + A, and groups showing the rupture of myelin lamellae. WRs showed increased IBA1+ cells and mRNA for CD11b and inflammatory factors (IL-18, TLR4, TNFαR1 and P2Y12R) vs. controls or WR + T. IBA1+ cells, and CD11b were not reduced in WR + T + A, but inflammatory factors' mRNA remained low. A reduction of GS+ cells and GLT-1 immunoreactivity was observed in WRs and WR + T + A vs. controls and WR + T. Clinically, WR + T but not WR + T + A showed enhanced muscle mass, grip strength and reduced paw abnormalities. Therefore, T effects involve myelin protection, a finding of potential clinical translation.

Ensemble-imbalance-based classification for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis prognostic prediction: identifying short-survival patients at diagnosis.

Prognosticating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) presents a formidable challenge due to patients exhibiting different onset sites, progression rates, and survival times. In this study, we have developed and evaluated Machine Learning (ML) algorithms that integrate Ensemble and Imbalance Learning techniques to classify patients into Short and Non-Short survival groups based on data collected during diagnosis. We aimed to identify individuals at high risk of mortality within 24 months of symptom onset through analysis of patient data commonly encountered in daily clinical practice. Our Ensemble-Imbalance approach underwent evaluation employing six ML algorithms as base classifiers. Remarkably, our results outperformed those of individual algorithms, achieving a Balanced Accuracy of 88% and a Sensitivity of 96%. Additionally, we used the Shapley Additive Explanations framework to elucidate the decision-making process of the top-performing model, pinpointing the most important features and their correlations with the target prediction. Furthermore, we presented helpful tools to visualize and compare patient similarities, offering valuable insights. Confirming the obtained results, our approach could aid physicians in devising personalized treatment plans at the time of diagnosis or serve as an inclusion/exclusion criterion in clinical trials.

Inorganic polyphosphate: from basic research to diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities in ALS/FTD.

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a simple, negatively charged biopolymer with chain lengths ranging from just a few to over a thousand ortho-phosphate (Pi) residues. polyP is detected in every cell type across all organisms in nature thus far analyzed. Despite its structural simplicity, polyP has been shown to play important roles in a remarkably broad spectrum of biological processes, including blood coagulation, bone mineralization and inflammation. Furthermore, polyP has been implicated in brain function and the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this review, we first address the challenges associated with identifying mammalian polyP metabolizing enzymes, such as Nudt3, and quantifying polyP levels in brain tissue, cultured neural cells and cerebrospinal fluid. Subsequently, we focus on recent studies that unveil how the excessive release of polyP by human and mouse ALS/FTD astrocytes contributes to these devastating diseases by inducing hyperexcitability, leading to motoneuron death. Potential implications of elevated polyP levels in ALS/FTD patients for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are explored. It is emphasized, however, that caution is required in targeting polyP in the brain due to its diverse physiological functions, serving as an energy source, a chelator for divalent cations and a scaffold for amyloidogenic proteins. Reducing polyP levels, especially in neurons, might thus have adverse effects in brain functioning. Finally, we discuss how activated mast cells and platelets also can significantly contribute to ALS progression, as they can massively release polyP.

Differential Diagnosis or Etiology: A Case Report on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-like Neuropathy Associated with HIV Infection.

BACKGROUND: Retroviruses are described as a risk factor for chronic neuropathy. However, it is still unknown if they can work as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis triggers. Over the years, some cases of this association have been described with heterogenous disclosures. CASE REPRESENTATION: This study aimed to report a case of HIV and ALS-like neuropathy and briefly discuss peculiarities of clinical aspects, such as physiopathology and treatment options. The patient underwent neurological examination associated with blood tests, electromyography, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, and imaging studies. DISCUSSION: A non-systematic review was performed in major databases regarding the topic. The case presented mixed upper and lower motor neuron signs and was framed as a probable case of ALS following the present criteria. CONCLUSION: After a short follow-up and viral load cleansing, neurological stabilization was achieved.

Monitoramento do horizonte tecnológico: Medicamentos para o tratamento de Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica / Monitoring the technological horizon: Drugs for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

CONDIÇÃO CLÍNICA: A Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA) é uma doença que acomete os neurônios motores do sistema nervoso central, incluindo o tronco cerebral e a medula espinhal, causando, progressivamente, fraqueza e atrofia da musculatura esquelética. Os mecanismos patogenéticos da doença envolvem múltiplas alterações no microambiente do neurônio motor, incluindo o acúmulo de agregados de proteína, disfunção no processamento de RNA, estresse oxidativo, inflamação neural, apoptose, disfunções mitocondriais e fragmentação do complexo de Golg. Essas alterações podem ser causadas por diferentes fatores, que são divididos em: Genéticos: envolvidos principalmente nos casos hereditários de ELA, com mutações nos genes SOD1, TARDBP e FUS, C9orf72; Ambientais: exposição a chumbo, alumínio, fertilizantes, inseticidas, herbicidas e tabaco; Epigenéticos: metilação de DNA, edição de RNA e silenciamento pós-transcricional de RNA. TRATAMENTO: A ELA é uma doença para a qual não existe cura. O objetivo do tratamento é diminuir a velocidade de progressão da doença, melhorar da qualidade de vida (preservação de funcionalidade, diminuição da dor e manutenção da independência) e potencialmente aumentar a sobrevida livre de doença. Até o início da década de 1990, o riluzol era o único medicamento aprovado pelo United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para o tratamento de pacientes com ELA. No Brasil, o riluzol é o único medicamento aprovado pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) para o tratamento específico da ELA. ESTRATÉGIA DE BUSCA: Foi realizada uma busca na base de registros de ensaios clínicos ClinicalTrials.gov no dia 28 de outubro de 2022. O termo empregado para a busca foi "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis". Foram considerados como critérios de inclusão medicamentos em fase 2/3 ou 3 de pesquisa clínica para avaliação da eficácia e segurança no tratamento da ELA. Foi levado em conta que, apesar de ser uma doença rara, o volume de tecnologias em desenvolvimento para o tratamento da ELA é grande e, portanto, considerou-se mais pertinente abordar apenas aquelas em fase mais avançada da pesquisa. MEDICAMENTOS: Tecnologias aprovadas em agências regulatórias Taurursodiol + fenilbutirato de sódio. A associação de dose fixa composta por taurursodiol e fenilbutirato de sódio (Relyvrio) é um medicamento desenvolvido para reduzir a morte neuronal em pacientes com ELA, a partir de mitigação do estresse do retículo endoplasmático e da disfunção mitocondrial. O taurursodiol atua sobre receptores de membrana (TGR5, S1PR2 e α5ß1-integrina) envolvidos na atividade mitocondrial e responsáveis pela apoptose de células neurais. Já o fenilbutirato de sódio age como um inibidor da histona desacetilase, envolvida em mecanismos epigenéticos de remodelamento na estrutura da cromatina e no controle da expressão gênica. Portanto, taurursodiol e fenilbutirato de sódio atuam contornando, simultaneamente, disfunções do retículo endoplasmático e mitocondrial, o que reduz a morte neuronal. Edaravone: O edaravone é uma tecnologia sequestradora de radicais livres de peroxil e peroxinitrito, com potencial capacidade de reduzir a morte neuronal por meio de diminuição do estresse oxidativo. Esse medicamento está formulado tanto em apresentação para administração intravenosa quanto oral. Tecnologias em avaliação para registro: Tofersen Tofersen é um oligonucleotideo sintético antissentido de RNA, inibidor do gene da superóxido dismutase 1 (SOD1), que está em desenvolvimento para o tratamento da ELA com mutações SOD1. No FDA, a tecnologia está em processo de avaliação e sua fabricante, Biogen Inc., foi solicitada a fornecer mais informações sobre o medicamento - a decisão está prevista para abril de 2023. No EMA, o Tofersen recebeu designação de droga órfã em agosto de 2016. Foram encontrados dois estudos: VALOR (NCT03070119) e ATLAS (NCT04856982). Tecnologias emergentes. Foram identificadas 16 tecnologias emergentes para ELA. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: A ELA é uma doença rara, progressiva e com alto impacto na vida das pessoas acometidas, sendo associada à paralisia motora progressiva e à ventilação mecânica permanente. Atualmente, há poucas opções terapêuticas com potencial de modificar o curso da doença, que pode ser fatal. Duas tecnologias identificadas neste documento para o tratamento da ELA estão aprovadas no FDA: formulação de dose fixa de taurursodiol/fenilbutirato de sódio e edaravone. Apesar das limitações dos estudos, a agência justificou a aprovação das tecnologias devido ao pequeno número de opções terapêuticas disponíveis para pacientes com ELA. Além dessas duas tecnologias, o FDA avalia atualmente o medicamento torfersen, cuja decisão está prevista para a primeira metade do ano 2023. Nenhuma das três tecnologias está aprovada pela EMA e pela Anvisa. Apesar dos estudos recentes relacionados ao edaravone e taurursodiol/ fenilbutirato de sódio apresentarem alguns resultados positivos em desfechospesquisados, esses estudos também apresentam limitações, como pequeno tamanho amostral, curta duração e potenciais eventos adversos graves relacionados à via de administração do medicamento (como é o caso do tofersen). Cita-se, também, a baixa correlação entre o ALSFRS-R, principal ferramenta utilizada para mensuração de desfecho clínico, com o prognóstico. Foram encontradas outras 16 tecnologias emergentes. Dessas, apenas três possuem ensaios clínicos de fase 3 com resultados publicados: levosimendan, metilcobalamina e debamestrocel. As conclusões acerca da efetividade e segurança dessas tecnologias devem ser interpretadas com cautela, pois há poucas publicações de artigos científicos e de resultados no ClinicalTrials.gov. A despeito das evidências aqui apresentadas, para que ocorra a oferta desses medicamentos no SUS, é necessária a análise pela Comissão Nacional de Incorporação de Tecnologias no SUS (Conitec), conforme disposto na Lei nº 12.401/2011, que alterou a Lei nº 8.080/1990. Os relatórios de recomendação da Conitec levam em consideração as evidências científicas sobre eficácia, acurácia, efetividade e segurança do medicamento, assim como a avaliação econômica comparativa dos benefícios e dos custos em relação às tecnologias já incorporadas e o impacto da incorporação da tecnologia no SUS.

Impact of Plant-Derived Compounds on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal illness characterized by progressive motor neuron degeneration. Conventional therapies for ALS are based on treatment of symptoms, and the disease remains incurable. Molecular mechanisms are unclear, but studies have been pointing to involvement of glia, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and glutamate excitotoxicity as a key factor. Nowadays, we have few treatments for this disease that only delays death, but also does not stop the neurodegenerative process. These treatments are based on glutamate blockage (riluzole), tyrosine kinase inhibition (masitinib), and antioxidant activity (edaravone). In the past few years, plant-derived compounds have been studied for neurodegenerative disorder therapies based on neuroprotection and glial cell response. In this review, we describe mechanisms of action of natural compounds associated with neuroprotective effects, and the possibilities for new therapeutic strategies in ALS.

Add-on treatment with Cerebrolysin improves clinical symptoms in patients with ALS: results from a prospective, single-center, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, phase II study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and progressive neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options available. Cerebrolysin is a drug candidate for the treatment of ALS because of its neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects. We initiated a pilot clinical study of a combination of Cerebrolysin and riluzole to assess the therapeutic benefit of Cerebrolysin as an add-on treatment on clinical signs and symptoms in outpatients with ALS. Twenty patients with a clinically definitive diagnosis of ALS were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive Cerebrolysin or placebo. All patients received 50 mg of riluzole PO twice daily as a standard treatment. Patients in the Cerebrolysin group received intravenous injections of 10 mL of Cerebrolysin once daily, five days a week for the first month and three days a week for the next two months. Analysis of the ALS Functional Rating Scale - revised at Month 1 (primary outcome measure), showed a significant treatment effect in favor of Cerebrolysin with a 2.3-point improvement from baseline to Month 1 compared to a 0.9-point decrease in patients on placebo (P=0.005). The effect was maintained over the three-month study period, and the beneficial effect of Cerebrolysin over placebo was also evident in the secondary outcome measures. The safety analysis showed that the combination of riluzole and Cerebrolyisn was well tolerated. Our results demonstrate for the first time a significant clinical effect of Cerebrolysin in improving functional outcomes in patients with ALS and suggest that Cerebrolysin has potential as a novel therapeutic option for ALS.

Remote versus face-to-face home-based exercise programme in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with variable and complex clinical manifestations that requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, face-to-face treatment in this population may experience barriers, such as difficulty accessing physical therapists or other professionals. As a result, strategies (eg, telerehabilitation) emerged to facilitate treatment and physical therapy monitoring. This study aims to evaluate the effects of remote versus face-to-face home-based exercise programmes on clinical outcomes and treatment adherence of people with ALS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a single-blind randomised clinical trial protocol that will include 44 people with clinical diagnosis of ALS at any clinical stage and aged between 18 and 80 years. Participants will be randomised into two groups after face-to-face evaluation and perform a home-based exercise programme three times a week for 6 months. A physical therapist will monitor the exercise programme once a week remotely (phone calls-experimental group) or face-to-face (home visits-control group). The primary outcome measure will be functional capacity (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised). Secondary outcomes will include disease severity (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), pain (Visual Analogue Scale and body pain diagram), adverse events and adherence rate. Outcomes will be initially evaluated face-to-face and revaluated remotely every 2 months and 1 month after interventions. Linear mixed models will compare outcome measures between groups and evaluations (α=5%). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the research ethics committee of Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (no. 3735479). We expect to identify the effects of an exercise programme developed according to ALS stages and associated with remote or face-to-face monitoring on clinical outcomes using revaluations and follow-up after interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Brazilian Registry Clinical Trials (RBR-10z9pgfv).

Neuroprotective effects of violacein in a model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive death of motor neurons and muscle atrophy, with defective neuron-glia interplay and emergence of aberrant glial phenotypes having a role in disease pathology. Here, we have studied if the pigment violacein with several reported protective/antiproliferative properties may control highly neurotoxic astrocytes (AbAs) obtained from spinal cord cultures of symptomatic hSOD1G93A rats, and if it could be neuroprotective in this ALS experimental model. At concentrations lower than those reported as protective, violacein selectively killed aberrant astrocytes. Treatment of hSOD1G93A rats with doses equivalent to the concentrations that killed AbAs caused a marginally significant delay in survival, partially preserved the body weight and soleus muscle mass and improved the integrity of the neuromuscular junction. Reduced motor neuron death and glial reactivity was also found and likely related to decreased inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9. Thus, in spite that new experimental designs aimed at extending the lifespan of hSOD1G93A rats are needed, improvements observed upon violacein treatment suggest a significant therapeutic potential that deserves further studies.

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.

Edaravone en pacientes con Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica: [noviembre de 2021] / Edaravone in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: [November 2021]

CONTEXTO: La esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) es la enfermedad que afecta las moto neuronas más común en los adultos y se caracteriza por la degeneración progresiva de las neuronas motoras superiores e inferiores en el cerebro y la médula espinal. La prevalencia se estima entre 0,8 y 8,5 casos cada 100.000 habitantes, mientras que la incidência entre 0,31 y 3,2 casos cada 100.000 habitantes, aumentando luego de los 40 años, con su pico máximo a los 75 años. La forma esporádica es la más frecuente, constituyendo el 90-95% de los casos. Las características clínicas de la ELA son la afección combinada de la motoneurona superior (debilidad, hiperreflexia y espasticidad) y de la motoneurona inferior (debilidad, atrofia y fasciculaciones), que suele iniciarse en forma asimétrica en los miembros siendo ésta la forma de presentación en un 70% de los casos.4 Un 25% de los pacientes inician con síntomas de afección bulbar (disartria o disfagia).3,4 La enfermedad puede presentar síntomas autonómicos y cognitivos hasta en un 50% de los pacientes durante su progresión. La sobrevida se estima entre los dos y los cinco años desde el inicio de los síntomas. Las afecciones mortales son la parálisis respiratoria y la disfagia, que requieren ventilación asistida y gastrostomía, respectivamente. Los principalesfactores pronósticos son la edad, la duración de la enfermedad y la discapacidad medida por escalas específicas. Se requiere de un equipo multidisciplinario para el manejo sintomático de la ELA. Además de éste, existen tratamientos modificadores de la enfermedad. A la fecha, el riluzol es el único fármaco que ha demostrado eficacia para prolongar la vida en la ELA. Es por ello que es el tratamiento de primera elección para dicha enfermedad. Edaravone es un fármaco destinado al tratamiento específico de la ELA. Se evaluará en este documento el uso de edaravone para esta patología. TECNOLOGÍA: El edaravone es un antioxidante y eliminador de radicales libres que ha demostrado reducir el exceso de estrés oxidativo y la muerte celular. Sin embargo, su mecanismo de acción exacto en la ELA sigue siendo desconocido. OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente informe es evaluar la evidencia disponible acerca de la eficacia, seguridad y aspectos relacionados a las políticas de cobertura del uso de edaravone para pacientes con diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda en las principales bases de datos bibliográficas, en buscadores genéricos de internet, y financiadores de salud. Se priorizó la inclusión de revisiones sistemáticas (RS), ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados (ECAs), evaluaciones de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS), evaluaciones económicas, guías de práctica clínica (GPC) y políticas de cobertura de diferentes sistemas de salud. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron una RS, un estudio observacional, cuatro GPC, una evaluación económica, y 14 informes de políticas de cobertura de edaravone para esclerosis lateral amiotrófica. CONCLUSIONES: Evidencia de alta calidad muestra que el edaravone disminuye la progresión de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA), evaluada por una escala de valoración funcional. No se encontraron estudios que hayan evaluado resultados más duros como mortalidad, sobrevida o calidad de vida. En general no es cubierto por las agencias de cobertura nacionales de países de Europa, Latinoamérica, Canadá y Argentina; y en cambio otorgan cobertura algunos financiadores privados relevados de los Estados Unidos. El único estudio de costo efectividad encontrado fue realizado em Canadá y concluye que edaravone no es costo efectivo en ninguna etapa de la ELA debido a su alto precio.

Neuroprotective Effects of Testosterone in Male Wobbler Mouse, a Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Patients suffering of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) present motoneuron degeneration leading to muscle atrophy, dysphagia, and dysarthria. The Wobbler mouse, an animal model of ALS, shows a selective loss of motoneurons, astrocytosis, and microgliosis in the spinal cord. The incidence of ALS is greater in men; however, it increases in women after menopause, suggesting a role of sex steroids in ALS. Testosterone is a complex steroid that exerts its effects directly via androgen (AR) or Sigma-1 receptors and indirectly via estrogen receptors (ER) after aromatization into estradiol. Its reduced-metabolite 5α-dihydrotestosterone acts via AR. This study analyzed the effects of testosterone in male symptomatic Wobblers. Controls or Wobblers received empty or testosterone-filled silastic tubes for 2 months. The cervical spinal cord from testosterone-treated Wobblers showed (1) similar androgen levels to untreated control and (2) increased levels of testosterone, and its 5α-reduced metabolites, 5α- dihydrotestosterone, and 3ß-androstanediol, but (3) undetectable levels of estradiol compared to untreated Wobblers. Testosterone-treated controls showed comparable steroid concentrations to its untreated counterpart. In testosterone- treated Wobblers a reduction of AR, ERα, and aromatase and high levels of Sigma-1 receptor mRNAs was demonstrated. Testosterone treatment increased ChAT immunoreactivity and the antiinflammatory mediator TGFß, while it lessened vacuolated motoneurons, GFAP+ astrogliosis, the density of IBA1+ microgliosis, proinflammatory mediators, and oxidative/nitrosative stress. Clinically, testosterone treatment in Wobblers slowed the progression of paw atrophy and improved rotarod performance. Collectively, our findings indicate an antiinflammatory and protective effect of testosterone in the degenerating spinal cord. These results coincided with a high concentration of androgen-reduced derivatives after testosterone treatment suggesting that the steroid profile may have a beneficial role on disease progression.

Logistics and safety of edaravone treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: experience in Argentina.

Since 2015, edaravone is the second drug available for the treatment of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study we analyzed the characteristics and experience of ALS patients treated with this new medication in our country. Sixteen ALS patients were treated with edaravone infusions in three ALS clinics. Most of them were male, had a spinal onset of the disease and a definite diagnosis of ALS. Mean age at first infusion was 53.5 years. Since the diagnosis of ALS, delay in starting treatment with edaravone was five times greater than that of riluzole. Edaravone therapy was usually initiated at a health care facility and was followed by domiciliary cycles. Adverse effects and the need of a special catheter for infusion were rare. Access to edaravone through health insurance was possible in only 43.8% of patients. Altogether, treatment access was limited but feasible and edaravone was well tolerated.

A Nitroalkene Benzoic Acid Derivative Targets Reactive Microglia and Prolongs Survival in an Inherited Model of ALS via NF-κB Inhibition.

Motor neuron degeneration and neuroinflammation are the most striking pathological features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS currently has no cure and approved drugs have only a modest clinically therapeutic effect in patients. Drugs targeting different deleterious inflammatory pathways in ALS appear as promising therapeutic alternatives. Here, we have assessed the potential therapeutic effect of an electrophilic nitroalkene benzoic acid derivative, (E)-4-(2-nitrovinyl) benzoic acid (BANA), to slow down paralysis progression when administered after overt disease onset in SOD1G93A rats. BANA exerted a significant inhibition of NF-κB activation in NF-κB reporter transgenic mice and microglial cell cultures. Systemic daily oral administration of BANA to SOD1G93A rats after paralysis onset significantly decreased microgliosis and astrocytosis, and significantly reduced the number of NF-κB-p65-positive microglial nuclei surrounding spinal motor neurons. Numerous microglia bearing nuclear NF-κB-p65 were observed in the surrounding of motor neurons in autopsy spinal cords from ALS patients but not in controls, suggesting ALS-associated microglia could be targeted by BANA. In addition, BANA-treated SOD1G93A rats after paralysis onset showed significantly ameliorated spinal motor neuron pathology as well as conserved neuromuscular junction innervation in the skeletal muscle, as compared to controls. Notably, BANA prolonged post-paralysis survival by ~30%, compared to vehicle-treated littermates. These data provide a rationale to therapeutically slow paralysis progression in ALS using small electrophilic compounds such as BANA, through a mechanism involving microglial NF-κB inhibition.

Action of hormonal therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by muscle weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, and decreased reflexes due to upper and lower motor neurons death. It can be present in both sexes (55-65 years), but with predominance in males. However, in female patients, ALS presents its first symptoms when they are already postmenopausal, when then the incidence ratio of the disease is practically equal between the sexes, which leads to a probable involvement of sex hormones in the development and protection against ALS. The aim of this systematic review, which used the PRISMA consensus and NOS (New Castle-Ottawa Scale) score, was to evaluate the evidence of the action of hormone therapy in women with ALS. The Medline and Cochrane databases were accessed from March 2019 to June 2019, and only full-text articles in Spanish, English, and Portuguese were included. Only four articles matched our inclusion criteria. Postmenopausal women who used exogenous estrogen did not have the same protective factor as women still under the action of endogenous estrogen in the same age group. There was also no increase in the survival of these women.

Secondary Metabolites with Antioxidant Activities for the Putative Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): "Experimental Evidences".

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that is characterized by progressive loss of the upper and lower motor neurons at the spinal or bulbar level. Oxidative stress (OS) associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and the deterioration of the electron transport chain are factors that contribute to neurodegeneration and perform a potential role in the pathogenesis of ALS. Natural antioxidant molecules have been proposed as an alternative form of treatment for the prevention of age-related neurological diseases, in which ALS is included. Researches support that regulations in cellular reduction/oxidation (redox) processes are being increasingly implicated in this disease, and antioxidant drugs are aimed at a promising pathway to treatment. Among the strategies used for obtaining new drugs, we can highlight the isolation of secondary metabolite compounds from natural sources that, along with semisynthetic derivatives, correspond to approximately 40% of the drugs found on the market. Among these compounds, we emphasize oxygenated and nitrogenous compounds, such as flavonoids, coumarins, and alkaloids, in addition to the fatty acids, that already stand out in the literature for their antioxidant properties, consisting in a part of the diets of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, this review is aimed at presenting and summarizing the main articles published within the last years, which represent the therapeutic potential of antioxidant compounds of natural origin for the treatment of ALS.