Acoustic impairment is a distinguishable clinical feature of Asidan/SCA36

ObjectiveTo investigate acoustic function of Asidan/spinocerebellar ataxia type 36 (SCA36) in which sensorineural hearing loss may be found as one of extracerebellar symptom that can be a distinguishable feature from other degenerative ataxias.MethodsAcoustic function in the groups of normal control (n = 31), Asidan/SCA36 (n = 13), cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA, n = 28), multiple system atrophy of cerebellar predominance (MSA-C, n = 48), SCA31 (n = 4), and other forms of SCAs (n = 14) was evaluated by pure tone average (PTA) calculated by the results of audiogram and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs).ResultsPTA was significantly decreased in Asidan/SCA36 in comparison to normal control and other ataxic groups, but not significant within other ataxic groups and normal control. In comparison to other groups, Asidan/SCA36 showed a constant depression at 7 different frequencies in audiogram, especially at 4000 and 8000 Hz. BAEPs in 2 Asidan/SCA36 cases suggested possible involvement in the inner ear or the peripheral part of the auditory system. PTA in Asidan/SCA36 cases significantly correlated with their severity of ataxia.ConclusionsIn addition to signs for motor neuron involvement, acoustic impairment in Asidan/SCA36 is another characteristic clinical feature that is distinguishable from other forms of SCAs.     

Assessment of disease progression in motor neuron disease

Motor neuron disease (MND) is characterised by progressive deterioration of the corticospinal tract, brainstem, and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. There is no pathognomonic test for the diagnosis of MND, and physicians rely on clinical criteria-upper and lower motor neuron signs-for diagnosis. The presentations, clinical phenotypes, and outcomes of MND are diverse and have not been combined into a marker of disease progression. No single algorithm combines the findings of functional assessments and rating scales, such as those that assess quality of life, with biological markers of disease activity and findings from imaging and neurophysiological assessments. Here, we critically appraise developments in each of these areas and discuss the potential of such measures to be included in the future assessment of disease progression in patients with MND.     

Masseter strength in patients with motor neuron disease]

Although masseter muscles play an essential role in digestion, masseter strength in patients with motor neuron diseases has not been well studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the masseter strength in healthy volunteers (n = 13, mean age +/- S.D.: 58 +/- 10 years) and in patients with motor neuron diseases (n = 16, mean age +/- S.D.: 61 +/- 10 years) using a device for the measurement of occlusal forces (Nihon Koden, Co. Ltd., Japan). Masseter strength values in the healthy volunteers and the patients with motor neuron diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were 24.6 +/- 13.4 kg (mean +/- S.D.) and 21.9 +/- 16.4 kg (ALS: 26.2 +/- 14.6 kg), respectively, and this difference is not statistically significant. Further, there was no relation between masseter strength and the severity of clinical signs including bulbar palsy. These results suggest that masseter strength is not particularly vulnerable in patients with motor neuron diseases.     

运动神经元病162例的节段性运动神经传导测定分析

目的探讨运动神经元病(motor neuron d isease,MND)常规节段运动神经传导和位移技术检测的特点。方法对162例MND患者和60名健康对照进行常规节段运动神经传导测定,同时对部分神经采用位移技术测定,并进行分析比较。结果(1)健康人常规节段运动神经传导测定显示:近端与远端比较,波幅和面积下降程度均小于20%,时限增宽小于15%;(2)在MND患者,常规节段测定共有76个节段(5.57%)波幅下降超过20%,45个节段(3.30%)面积下降超过20%,76个节段(5.57%)时限延长超过15%。仅有4例(2.5%)患者4条神经的4个常规节段(0.29%)达到运动神经部分性传导阻滞标准,但采用位移技术测定时均未达到短节段传导阻滞的诊断标准。结论在大部分MND患者常规节段运动神经传导测定正常,在部分患者也可以出现“传导阻滞样”的电生理表现,但其发生率极低,进一步采用位移技术测定有助于鉴别。     

运动神经元病患者的记忆功能研究

目的观察运动神经元病(motor neuron disease,MND)患者是否存在记忆功能障碍;并研究患者的病程对其记忆功能的影响。方法对比分析了32例MND患者与60例正常对照的临床记忆量表评分,并比较不同病程的MND患者的记忆功能评分。结果MND患者记忆商、临床记忆量表总等值量表分、指向记忆等值量表分、无意义图形再认等值量表分评分均明显低于对照组(P<0.05),且不同病程的MND患者临床记忆量表各项评分比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论MND患者大多存在记忆障碍,提示MND存在运动区域以外的脑组织受累。MND患者的记忆障碍与病程长短无明显关系。     

Dementia with motor neuron disease

Dementia with motor neuron disease has been described as a new clinicopathologic entity and more than 100 cases have been reported in Japan since 1964. The clinicopathologic criteria in the diagnosis of dementia with motor neuron disease are: (i) frontotemporal lobe‐type dementia with insidious onset, mostly in the presenile period; (ii) neurogenic muscular wasting during the course of the illness (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis‐ or SPMA‐like symptoms); (iii) duration from the onset of illness to death of 2–5 years (average, 30.6 months); (iv) both extrapyramidal symptoms and definite sensory deficits are present less commonly; (v) no characteristic abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid or electroencephalogram on screening; (vi) no known parental consanguinity or familial occurrence; and (vii) non‐specific, mild to slight degenerative changes in the frontotemporal cortex, hypoglossal nuclei and spinal cord, and frequently in the substantia nigra. Dementia with motor neuron disease is characterized by ubiquitin‐immunoreactive intraneuronal inclusions in cortical layer II and hypocampal dentate granule cells.     

运动神经元病血清特异抗原成分的检测

目的检测运动神经元病（ＭＮＤ）病人血清中是否存在运动神经元特异抗原成分，并探索ＭＮＤ潜在的诊断标志物。方法制备５株抗运动神经元单克隆抗体，并证明其对大鼠脊髓前角运动神经元具有高度特异的免疫组织化学反应。应用抗运动神经元单克隆抗体２４Ｂ０－ＭｃＡｂ，用ＥＬＩＳＡ法对２５例运动神经元病病人血清中的特异抗原成分进行检测。根据临床表现将２５例病人分为肌萎缩侧索硬化（ＡＬＳ）、脊肌萎缩症（ＳＭＡ）及进行性球麻痹（ＰＢＰ）３组，再按年龄段分３个亚组（＜２０岁组、２０～３９岁组、＞４０岁组）。结果发现８５％（２２／２５）临床确诊的ＭＮＤ病人存在较高浓度的特异抗原成分，ＭＮＤ病人与正常对照组对２４Ｂ０－ＭｃＡｂ的反应性差异有显著性意义（Ｐ＜０．０５），ＡＬＳ、ＳＭＡ及ＰＢＰ亚型之间差异也有显著性意义（Ｐ＜０．０５），而年龄组之间差异虽有显著性意义，其临床意义尚需进一步研究。性别组之间的差异无显著性意义。结论ＭＮＤ病人血清中存在运动神经元特异抗原成分。用抗运动神经元单克隆抗体以ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测运动神经元特异抗原可以作为诊断ＭＮＤ的辅助检查。     

运动神经元病患者的呼吸支持管理进展

运动神经元病(motor neuron disease,MND)是一组选择性侵犯脊髓前角细胞、脑干后组运动神经元、皮质锥体细胞及锥体束的慢性进行性变性疾病[1].临床上兼有上和(或)下运动神经元受损的体征,表现为肌无力、肌萎缩和锥体束征的不同组合,感觉和括约肌功能一般不受影响.病情呈持续性进行性发展,患者最终因呼吸肌麻痹或并发呼吸道感染死亡[2].     

运动神经元病患者胸锁乳突肌肌电图的特征

目的探讨运动神经元病(MND)患者胸锁乳突肌(SCM)肌电图的特征。方法回顾性分析461例MND患者及349例非MND患者的临床和肌电图资料。结果MND组SCM肌电图异常率(60.3%)显著高于非MND组(4.6%)(P<0.01);确诊级MND患者SCM肌电图的异常率(77.4%)明显高于其他诊断级(均P<0.01);MND组中,SCM肌电图的异常率(60.3%)低于上、下肢体肌肉的肌电图(93.2%、84.4%)(均P<0.001);MND患者SCM肌电图异常以自发电位(42.5%)和轻收缩时运动单位电位时限增宽(43.2%)最为常见;MND组有延髓症状者SCM肌电图的异常率(71.7%)明显高于无延髓症状者(54.3%)(P<0.05)。结论MND患者SCM肌电图异常率及其特异性高,为延髓肌受累的指征,有助于MND的诊断与鉴别诊断。     

Clinically undetected motor neuron disease in pathologically proven frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease

BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease (FTLD-MND) is a pathological entity characterized by motor neuron degeneration and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The ability to detect the clinical signs of dementia and motor neuron disease in pathologically confirmed FTLD-MND has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To determine if all cases of pathologically confirmed FTLD-MND have clinical evidence of frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease, and to determine the possible reasons for misdiagnosis. METHOD: Review of historical records and semiquantitative analysis of the motor and extramotor pathological findings of all cases of pathologically confirmed FTLD-MND. RESULTS: From a total of 17 cases of pathologically confirmed FTLD-MND, all had clinical evidence of frontotemporal dementia, while only 10 (59%) had clinical evidence of motor neuron disease. Semiquantitative analysis of motor and extramotor pathological findings revealed a spectrum of pathological changes underlying FTLD-MND. Hippocampal sclerosis, predominantly of the subiculum, was a significantly more frequent occurrence in the cases without clinical evidence of motor neuron disease (P<.01). In addition, neuronal loss, gliosis, and corticospinal tract degeneration were less severe in the other 3 cases without clinical evidence of motor neuron disease. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical diagnostic sensitivity for the elements of FTLD-MND is modest and may be affected by the fact that FTLD-MND represents a spectrum of pathological findings, rather than a single homogeneous entity. Detection of signs of clinical motor neuron disease is also difficult when motor neuron degeneration is mild and in patients with hippocampal sclerosis.     

Cerebrospinal fluid nitrite and malondialdehyde levels in patients with motor neuron disease

Nitric oxide (NO) mediated oxidative damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in motor neuron disease (MND). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of NO and oxidative stress in MND by estimating nitrite and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 22 patients of MND and 20 control subjects suffering from neurological disorders not known to affect NO metabolism. There was no significant change in the CSF nitrite and MDA levels in MND. The nitrite and MDA levels did not have any significant correlation with age, duration of illness, or severity of disease. Univariate analysis of the clinical features in patients with MND and the nitrite levels revealed that two patients with a positive family history had significantly higher CSF nitrite levels as compared to those with a negative family history. There was no correlation between the CSF nitrite and MDA levels. Results of the present study did not indicate significant alterations in the MDA and NO levels in the CSF of MND patients. However, involvement of NO in MND with positive family history is suggested by the results obtained.     

Eyelid "apraxia" in patients with motor neuron disease.

Three patients with motor neuron disease had eyelid "apraxia" with impaired voluntary but preserved involuntary eyelid movements. Attempts were made to localise the lesions responsible with neuroimaging and neuropathological examination.     

Immunologic reactivity against Borrelia burgdorferi in patients with motor neuron disease

Of 19 unselected patients with the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) living in Suffolk County, New York (an area of high Lyme disease prevalence), 9 had serologic evidence of exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi; 4 of 38 matched controls were seropositive. Eight of 9 seropositive patients were male (8 of 12 male patients vs 2 of 24 controls). Rates of seropositivity were lower among patients with ALS from nonendemic areas. All patients had typical ALS; none had typical Lyme disease. Cerebrospinal fluid was examined in 24 ALS patients--3 (all with severe bulbar involvement) appeared to have intrathecal synthesis of anti-B burgdorferi antibody. Following therapy with antibiotics, 3 patients with predominantly lower motor neuron abnormalities appeared to improve, 3 with severe bulbar dysfunction deteriorated rapidly, and all others appeared unaffected. There appears to be a statistically significant association between ALS and immunoreactivity to B burgdorferi, at least among men living in hyperendemic areas.