Central motor conduction time reveals upper motor neuron involvement masked by lower motor neuron impairment in a significant portion of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ObjectiveWe retrospectively investigated the utility of the central motor conduction time (CMCT) in detecting upper motor neuron (UMN) involvements in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).MethodsFifty-two ALS patients and 12 disease control patients participated in this study. Surface electromyograms were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. We stimulated the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal nerve using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in order to measure the cortical, brainstem, and spinal latencies. We divided the ALS patients into 2 subgroups (with UMN impairment vs. without UMN impairment) and calculated the rates of abnormal CMCT prolongation judged by their comparison with the normal ranges obtained by the measurement in the control patients.ResultsThe CMCTs in the FDI and TA were abnormally prolonged in over 40% of the ALS patients with UMN impairment and in nearly 30% of those without UMN impairment.ConclusionsCMCT shows UMN dysfunction in ALS patients without clinical UMN impairment.SignificanceTMS still has diagnostic utility in a significant portion of ALS patients.     

Finite Neuron Method and Convergence Analysis

We study a family of $H^m$-conforming piecewise polynomials based on the artificial neural network, referred to as the finite neuron method (FNM), for numerical solution of $2m$-th-order partial differential equations in$\mathbb{R}^d$ for any $m,d≥1$ and then provide convergence analysis for this method. Given a general domain Ω$⊂\mathbb{R}^d$ and a partition$\mathcal{T}_h$ of Ω, it is still an open problem in general how to construct a conforming finite element subspace of $H^m$(Ω) that has adequate approximation properties. By using techniques from artificial neural networks, we construct a family of $H^m$-conforming functions consisting of piecewise polynomials of degree $k$ for any $k≥m$ and we further obtain the error estimate when they are applied to solve the elliptic boundary value problem of any order in any dimension. For example, the error estimates that $‖u−u_N‖_{H^m(\rm{Ω})}=\mathcal{O}(N^{−\frac{1}{2}−\frac{1}{d}})$ is obtained for the error between the exact solution $u$ and the finite neuron approximation $u_N$. A discussion is also provided on the difference and relationship between the finite neuron method and finite element methods (FEM). For example, for the finite neuron method, the underlying finite element grids are not given a priori and the discrete solution can be obtained by only solving a non-linear and non-convex optimization problem. Despite the many desirable theoretical properties of the finite neuron method analyzed in the paper, its practical value requires further investigation as the aforementioned underlying non-linear and non-convex optimization problem can be expensive and challenging to solve. For completeness and the convenience of the reader, some basic known results and their proofs are introduced.     

New insights into Wnt signaling alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a potential therapeutic target?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, which leads to progressive paralysis of skeletal muscles and, ultimately, respiratory failure between 2–5 years after symptom onset. Unfortunately, currently accepted treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are extremely scarce and only provide modest benefit. As a consequence, a great effort is being done by the scientific community in order to achieve a better understanding of the different molecular and cellular processes that influence the progression and/or outcome of this neuropathological condition and, therefore, unravel new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Interestingly, a growing number of experimental evidences have recently shown that, besides its well-known physiological roles in the developing and adult central nervous system, the Wnt family of proteins is involved in different neuropathologica conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These proteins are able to modulate, at least, three different signaling pathways, usually known as canonical(β-catenin dependent) and non-canonical(β-catenin independent) signaling pathways. In the present review, we aim to provide a general overview of the current knowledge that supports the relationship between the Wnt family of proteins and its associated signaling pathways and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology, as well as their possible mechanisms of action. Altogether, the currently available knowledge suggests that Wnt signaling modulation might be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate the histopathological and functional deficits associated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and thus improve the progression and outcome of this neuropathology.     

癫痫持续状态后小鼠海马组织神经元中微管蛋白和内体-溶酶体系统表达的变化及其意义

目的：探讨癫痫持续状态（SE）后小鼠海马组织神经元中微管蛋白β-tubulin和内体-溶酶体系统表达的变化，阐明神经元迟发性死亡过程中微管和内体-溶酶体系统的变化规律。方法：40只雄性ICR小鼠分为对照组（n=7，给予生理盐水）和实验组（n=33，给予匹鲁卡品），实验组中达到SE标准的SE小鼠根据SE后时间分为SE1d、SE2d、SE3d和SE7d组（n=5）。Nissl和Fluoro-Jade B （F-JB）染色检测各组小鼠海马组织神经元损伤情况，免疫荧光法检测各组小鼠海马组织神经元中微管蛋白β-tubulin、内体蛋白Rab5和溶酶体结构蛋白LAMP1表达强度及β-tubulin、Rab5和LAMP1阳性面积百分比；双重荧光法检测各组小鼠海马组织CA1区β-tubulin与Rab5和LAMP1表达的关系。结果：与对照组比较，SE1d组小鼠海马CA1和CA3区神经元数减少（P<0.01），F-JB阳性细胞数增加（P<0.01）；SE2d、SE3d和SE7d组小鼠海马组织中Nissl阳性神经元数明显减少（P<0.01）。与对照组比较，SE2d、SE3d和SE7d组小鼠海马组织中F-JB阳性神经元数增加（P<0.01）。与对照组比较，SE2d、SE3d和SE7d组小鼠海马CA1和CA3区神经元树突中β-tubulin阳性面积百分比明显降低（P<0.05），其变化趋势与神经元损伤相似。与对照组比较，SE1d、SE 2d、SE 3d和SE 7d组小鼠海马组织神经元中Rab5和LAMP1表达强度随着时间延长呈下降趋势；Rab5阳性面积百分比明显降低（P<0.05或P<0.01）；LAMP1阳性面积百分比在SE后第1天出现一过性增多，之后逐渐减少（P<0.05或P<0.01）。双重荧光染色检测，SE后1 d是早期内体减少和溶酶体一过性增多的关键点，并与神经元微管损伤的出现时间极为一致。结论：SE引起神经元迟发性死亡的同时神经元微管骨架受损，内体-溶酶体系统的定位和功能也发生异常改变。     

Denervation findings on EMG in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and correlation with prognostic milestones: Data from a retrospective study

ObjectiveTo verify whether the finding of denervation activity on EMG at the time of diagnosis has a prognostic value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).MethodsWe retrospectively studied all the patients discharged with a diagnosis of ALS between January 2009 and January 2017. 92 patients met the inclusion criteria. We mainly verified three prognostic targets:

• (1)Time to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or tracheostomy.
• (2)Time to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or parental nutrition.
• (3)Survival.

All EMG examinations were reviewed and a denervation score (DS) was calculated.The association of DS with clinical milestones was analysed, adjusting for disease duration, age , sex, and clinical phenotype.ResultsWe found a significant association between bulbar DS and time to NIV/tracheostomy (HR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.49 to 7.48, p = 0.002) and with survival (HR 3.633, 95% CI 1.681–7.848, p = 0.001), regardless of the clinical phenotype. Furthermore, we found a significant influence of a general DS on survival (HR: 2.62, 95% CI 1.335–5.160, p = 0.005).ConclusionEMG assessment could be of value not just for ALS diagnosis but also for its intrinsic prognostic value.SignificanceEMG could provide additional information about the rate of progression of ALS as early as the diagnosis is made.     

Melatonin enhances L‐DOPA therapeutic effects,helps to reduce its dose,and protects dopaminergic neurons in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐induced parkinsonism in mice

L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA) reduces symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), but suffers from serious side effects on long‐term use. Melatonin (10–30 mg/kg, 6 doses at 10 hr intervals) was investigated to potentiate L‐DOPA therapeutic effects in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced parkinsonism in mice. Striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity, TH, and phosphorylated ser 40 TH (p‐TH) protein levels were assayed on 7th day. Nigral TH‐positive neurons stereology was conducted on serial sections 2.8 mm from bregma rostrally to 3.74 mm caudally. MPTP caused 39% and 58% decrease, respectively, in striatal fibers and TH protein levels, but 2.5‐fold increase in p‐TH levels. About 35% TH neurons were lost between 360 and 600 μm from 940 μm of the entire nigra analyzed, but no neurons were lost between 250 μm rostrally and 220 μm caudally. When L‐DOPA in small doses (5–8 mg/kg) failed to affect MPTP‐induced akinesia or catalepsy, co‐administration of melatonin with L‐DOPA attenuated these behaviors. Melatonin administration significantly attenuated MPTP‐induced loss in striatal TH fibers (82%), TH (62%) and p‐TH protein (100%) levels, and nigral neurons (87–100%). Melatonin failed to attenuate MPTP‐induced striatal dopamine depletion. L‐DOPA administration (5 mg/kg, once 40 min prior to sacrifice, p.o.) in MPTP‐ and melatonin‐treated mice caused significant increase in striatal dopamine (31%), as compared to L‐DOPA and MPTP‐treated mice. This was equivalent to 8 mg/kg L‐DOPA administration in parkinsonian mouse. Therefore, prolonged, effective use of L‐DOPA in PD with lesser side effects could be achieved by treating with 60% lower doses of L‐DOPA along with melatonin.     

Interaction of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with dopamine receptors in synaptic plasticity of the mouse insular cortex

The insular cortex plays essential roles in nicotine addiction. However, much is still unknown about its cellular and synaptic mechanisms responsible for nicotine addiction. We have previously shown that in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex, activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) suppresses synaptic potentiation through enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission, although it enhances both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. In the present study, we examined whether dopamine receptors might contribute to the nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation. The nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation was decreased in the presence of a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of a D2 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride, suggesting that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in nicotine‐induced inhibition. We also investigated how dopamine receptors might contribute to the nAChR‐induced enhancement of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. The nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission was decreased in the presence of SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of sulpiride, whereas that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission was not altered in the presence of SCH23390 and sulpiride. These results suggest that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in the nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission while dopamine receptors are not involved in that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission. These observations indicate that the interaction between nAChRs and D1 dopamine receptors plays critical roles in synaptic activities in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex. These insular synaptic changes might be associated with nicotine addiction.