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Tavazzi E, Gatta R, Vallati M, Cotti Piccinelli S, Filosto M, Padovani A, Castellano M, Di Camillo B. Leveraging process mining for modeling progression trajectories in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2023; 22:346. [PMID: 36732801 PMCID: PMC9896660 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02113-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease whose spreading and progression mechanisms are still unclear. The ability to predict ALS prognosis would improve the patients' quality of life and support clinicians in planning treatments. In this paper, we investigate ALS evolution trajectories using Process Mining (PM) techniques enriched to both easily mine processes and automatically reveal how the pathways differentiate according to patients' characteristics. METHODS We consider data collected in two distinct data sources, namely the Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials (PRO-ACT) dataset and a real-world clinical register (ALS-BS) including data of patients followed up in two tertiary clinical centers of Brescia (Italy). With a focus on the functional abilities progressively impaired as the disease progresses, we use two Process Discovery methods, namely the Directly-Follows Graph and the CareFlow Miner, to mine the population disease trajectories on the PRO-ACT dataset. We characterize the impairment trajectories in terms of patterns, timing, and probabilities, and investigate the effect of some patients' characteristics at onset on the followed paths. Finally, we perform a comparative study of the impairment trajectories mined in PRO-ACT versus ALS-BS. RESULTS We delineate the progression pathways on PRO-ACT, identifying the predominant disabilities at different stages of the disease: for instance, 85% of patients enter the trials without disabilities, and 48% of them experience the impairment of Walking/Self-care abilities first. We then test how a spinal onset increases the risk of experiencing the loss of Walking/Self-care ability as first impairment (52% vs. 27% of patients develop it as the first impairment in the spinal vs. the bulbar cohorts, respectively), as well as how an older age at onset corresponds to a more rapid progression to death. When compared, the PRO-ACT and the ALS-BS patient populations present some similarities in terms of natural progression of the disease, as well as some differences in terms of observed trajectories plausibly due to the trial scheduling and recruitment criteria. CONCLUSIONS We exploited PM to provide an overview of the evolution scenarios of an ALS trial population and to preliminary compare it to the progression observed in a clinical cohort. Future work will focus on further improving the understanding of the disease progression mechanisms, by including additional real-world subjects as well as by extending the set of events considered in the impairment trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Tavazzi
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/b, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Gatta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Vallati
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH UK
| | - Stefano Cotti Piccinelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Via Paolo Richiedei 16, 25064 Gussago, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Filosto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Via Paolo Richiedei 16, 25064 Gussago, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
- Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Castellano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Camillo
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/b, 35131 Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
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Maier A, Boentert M, Reilich P, Witzel S, Petri S, Großkreutz J, Metelmann M, Lingor P, Cordts I, Dorst J, Zeller D, Günther R, Hagenacker T, Grehl T, Spittel S, Schuster J, Ludolph A, Meyer T. ALSFRS-R-SE: an adapted, annotated, and self-explanatory version of the revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale. Neurol Res Pract 2022; 4:60. [PMID: 36522775 PMCID: PMC9753252 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-022-00224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ALS Functional Rating Scale in its revised version (ALSFRS-R) is a disease-specific severity score that reflects motor impairment and functional deterioration in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been widely applied in both clinical practice and ALS research. However, in Germany, several variants of the scale, each differing slightly from the others, have developed over time and are currently in circulation. This lack of uniformity potentially hampers data interpretation and may decrease item validity. Furthermore, shortcomings within the standard ALSFRS-R questions and answer options can limit the quality and conclusiveness of collected data. METHODS In a multistage consensus-building process, 18 clinical ALS experts from the German ALS/MND network analyzed the ALSFRS-R in its current form and created an adapted, annotated, and revised scale that closely adheres to the well-established standardized English version. RESULTS Ten German-language variants of the ALSFRS-R were collected, three of which contained instructions for self-assessment. All of these variants were compiled and a comprehensive linguistic revision was undertaken. A short introduction was added to the resulting scale, comprising general instructions for use and explanations for each of the five reply options per item. This adapted version of the scale, named ALSFRS-R-SE (with the "SE" referring to "self-explanatory"), was carefully reviewed for language and comprehensibility, in both German and English. CONCLUSION An adapted and annotated version of the ALSFRS-R scale was developed through a multistage consensus process. The decision to include brief explanations of specific scale items and reply options was intended to facilitate ALSFRS-R-SE assessments by both healthcare professionals and patients. Further studies are required to investigate the accuracy and utility of the ALSFRS-R-SE in controlled trials and clinical real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Maier
- grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- grid.16149.3b0000 0004 0551 4246Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany ,Department of Medicine, UKM-Marienhospital Steinfurt, Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Reilich
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Friedrich-Baur-Institut und Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Simon Witzel
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XKlinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Hannover Medical School, Department of Neurology, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julian Großkreutz
- grid.412468.d0000 0004 0646 2097Department of Neurology, Campus Lübeck, Universitätsmedizin Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Moritz Metelmann
- grid.411339.d0000 0000 8517 9062Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- grid.15474.330000 0004 0477 2438Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- grid.15474.330000 0004 0477 2438Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Dorst
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XKlinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Zeller
- grid.411760.50000 0001 1378 7891Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - René Günther
- grid.4488.00000 0001 2111 7257Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- grid.477805.90000 0004 7470 9004Klinik für Neurologie und Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Science, Universitätsmedizin Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- grid.476313.4Department of Neurology, Centre for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Joachim Schuster
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XKlinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert Ludolph
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XKlinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Meyer
- grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany ,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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Meyer T, Spittel S, Grehl T, Weyen U, Steinbach R, Kettemann D, Petri S, Weydt P, Günther R, Baum P, Schlapakow E, Koch JC, Boentert M, Wolf J, Grosskreutz J, Rödiger A, Ilse B, Metelmann M, Norden J, Koc RY, Körtvélyessy P, Riitano A, Walter B, Hildebrandt B, Schaudinn F, Münch C, Maier A. Remote digital assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale - a multicenter observational study. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2022; 24:175-184. [PMID: 35912984 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2104649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Remote self-assessment of the revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) using digital data capture was investigated for its feasibility as an add-on to ALSFRS-R assessments during multidisciplinary clinic visits. Methods: From August 2017 to December 2021, at 12 ALS centers in Germany, an observational study on remote assessment of the ALSFRS-R was performed. In addition to the assessment of ALSFRS-R during clinic visits, patients were offered a digital self-assessment of the ALSFRS-R - either on a computer or on a mobile application ("ALS-App"). Results: An estimated multicenter cohort of 4,670 ALS patients received care at participating ALS centers. Of these patients, 971 remotely submitted the ALSFRS-R, representing 21% of the multicenter cohort. Of those who opted for remote assessment, 53.7% (n = 521) completed a minimum of 4 ALSFRS-R per year with a mean number of 10.9 assessments per year. Different assessment frequencies were found for patients using a computer (7.9 per year, n = 857) and mobile app (14.6 per year, n = 234). Patients doing remote assessments were more likely to be male and less functionally impaired but many patients with severe disability managed to complete it themselves or with a caregiver (35% of remote ALSFRS-R cohort in King's Stage 4). Conclusions: In a dedicated ALS center setting remote digital self-assessment of ALSFRS-R can provide substantial data which is complementary and potentially an alternative to clinic assessments and could be used for research purposes and person-level patient management. Addressing barriers relating to patient uptake and adherence are key to its success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Spittel
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany
| | - Ute Weyen
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Steinbach
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Dagmar Kettemann
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department for Neurodegenerative Disorders and Gerontopsychiatry, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Baum
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elena Schlapakow
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- Department of Sleep Medicine and Neuromuscular Disorders, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Wolf
- Department of Neurology, Diako Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Annekathrin Rödiger
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ilse
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Moritz Metelmann
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jenny Norden
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruhan Yasemin Koc
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvélyessy
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessio Riitano
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bertram Walter
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Christoph Münch
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Maier
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Ragunathan S, Bell LC, Semmineh N, Stokes AM, Shefner JM, Bowser R, Ladha S, Quarles CC. Evaluation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Induced Muscle Degeneration Using Magnetic Resonance-Based Relaxivity Contrast Imaging (RCI). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 7:169-179. [PMID: 34062974 PMCID: PMC8162571 DOI: 10.3390/tomography7020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: This work characterizes the sensitivity of magnetic resonance-based Relaxivity Contrast Imaging (RCI) to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-induced changes in myofiber microstructure. Transverse Relaxivity at Tracer Equilibrium (TRATE), an RCI-based parameter, was evaluated in the lower extremities of ALS patients and healthy subjects. (2) Methods: In this IRB-approved study, 23 subjects (12 ALS patients and 11 healthy controls) were scanned at 3T (Philips, The Netherlands). RCI data were obtained during injection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. TRATE, fat fraction and T2 measures, were compared in five muscle groups of the calf muscle, between ALS and control populations. TRATE was also evaluated longitudinally (baseline and 6 months) and was compared to clinical measures, namely ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and Hand-Held Dynamometry (HHD), in a subset of the ALS population. (3) Results: TRATE was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in ALS-affected muscle than in healthy muscle in all muscle groups. Fat fraction differences between ALS and healthy muscle were statistically significant for the tibialis anterior (p = 0.01), tibialis posterior (p = 0.004), and peroneus longus (p = 0.02) muscle groups but were not statistically significant for the medial (p = 0.07) and lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.06) muscles. T2 differences between ALS and healthy muscle were statistically significant for the tibialis anterior (p = 0.004), peroneus longus (p = 0.004) and lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.03) muscle groups but were not statistically significant for the tibialis posterior (p = 0.06) and medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.07) muscles. Longitudinally, TRATE, averaged over all patients, decreased by 28 ± 16% in the tibialis anterior, 47 ± 18% in the peroneus longus, 25 ± 19% in the tibialis posterior, 29 ± 14% in the medial gastrocnemius and 35 ± 18% in the lateral gastrocnemius muscles between two timepoints. ALSFRS-R scores were stable in two of four ALS patients. HHD scores decreased in three of four ALS patients. (4) Conclusion: RCI-based TRATE was shown to consistently differentiate ALS-affected muscle from healthy muscle and also provide a quantitative measure of longitudinal muscle degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudarshan Ragunathan
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (L.C.B.); (N.S.); (A.M.S.); (C.C.Q.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(602)-406-7884
| | - Laura C. Bell
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (L.C.B.); (N.S.); (A.M.S.); (C.C.Q.)
| | - Natenael Semmineh
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (L.C.B.); (N.S.); (A.M.S.); (C.C.Q.)
| | - Ashley M. Stokes
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (L.C.B.); (N.S.); (A.M.S.); (C.C.Q.)
| | - Jeremy M. Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (J.M.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (J.M.S.); (R.B.)
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Shafeeq Ladha
- Gregory W. Fulton ALS and Neuromuscular Disease Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA;
| | - C. Chad Quarles
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (L.C.B.); (N.S.); (A.M.S.); (C.C.Q.)
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5
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Elevated acute phase proteins reflect peripheral inflammation and disease severity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15295. [PMID: 32943739 PMCID: PMC7499429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial, multisystem pro-inflammatory neuromuscular disorder compromising muscle function resulting in death. Neuroinflammation is known to accelerate disease progression and accentuate disease severity, but peripheral inflammatory processes are not well documented. Acute phase proteins (APPs), plasma proteins synthesized in the liver, are increased in response to inflammation. The objective of this study was to provide evidence for peripheral inflammation by examining levels of APPs, and their contribution to disease burden and progression rates. Levels of APPs, including soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and C-reactive protein (CRP), were elevated in sera, and correlated positively with increased disease burden and faster progression. sCD14 was also elevated in patients' CSF and urine. After a 3 year follow-up, 72% of the patients with sCD14 levels above the receiver operating characteristics cutoff were deceased whereas only 28% below the cutoff were deceased. Furthermore, disease onset sites were associated with disease progression rates and APP levels. These APPs were not elevated in sera of patients with Alzheimer's Disease, frontotemporal dementia, or Parkinson's Disease. These collective APPs accurately reflect disease burden, progression rates, and survival times, reinforcing the concept of ALS as a disorder with extensive systemic pro-inflammatory responses.
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Yunusova Y, Plowman EK, Green JR, Barnett C, Bede P. Clinical Measures of Bulbar Dysfunction in ALS. Front Neurol 2019; 10:106. [PMID: 30837936 PMCID: PMC6389633 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bulbar impairment represents a hallmark feature of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) that significantly impacts survival and quality of life. Speech and swallowing dysfunction are key contributors to the clinical heterogeneity of ALS and require well-timed and carefully coordinated interventions. The accurate clinical, radiological and electrophysiological assessment of bulbar dysfunction in ALS is one of the most multidisciplinary aspects of ALS care, requiring expert input from speech-language pathologists (SLPs), neurologists, otolaryngologists, augmentative alternative communication (AAC) specialists, dieticians, and electrophysiologists—each with their own evaluation strategies and assessment tools. The need to systematically evaluate the comparative advantages and drawbacks of various bulbar assessment instruments and to develop integrated assessment protocols is increasingly recognized. In this review, we provide a comprehensive appraisal of the most commonly utilized clinical tools for assessing and monitoring bulbar dysfunction in ALS based on the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) evaluation framework. Despite a plethora of assessment tools, considerable geographical differences exist in bulbar assessment practices and individual instruments exhibit considerable limitations. The gaps identified in the literature offer unique opportunities for the optimization of existing and development of new tools both for clinical and research applications. The multicenter validation and standardization of these instruments will be essential for guideline development and best practice recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Yunusova
- Department of Speech Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Volcal Tract Visualization Lab, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emily K Plowman
- Swallowing Systems Core, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jordan R Green
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States.,Speech and Hearing Biosciences and Technology Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Carolina Barnett
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Jackson C, De Carvalho M, Genge A, Heiman-Patterson T, Shefner JM, Wei J, Wolff AA. Relationships between slow vital capacity and measures of respiratory function on the ALSFRS-R. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:506-512. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1497658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mamede De Carvalho
- Faculty of Medicine, IMM, University of Lisbon, Department of Neurosciences-CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Angela Genge
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,
| | | | - Jeremy M. Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA, and
| | - Jenny Wei
- Cytokinetics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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Pfohl SR, Kim RB, Coan GS, Mitchell CS. Unraveling the Complexity of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Survival Prediction. Front Neuroinform 2018; 12:36. [PMID: 29962944 PMCID: PMC6010549 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2018.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The heterogeneity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) survival duration, which varies from <1 year to >10 years, challenges clinical decisions and trials. Utilizing data from 801 deceased ALS patients, we: (1) assess the underlying complex relationships among common clinical ALS metrics; (2) identify which clinical ALS metrics are the "best" survival predictors and how their predictive ability changes as a function of disease progression. Methods: Analyses included examination of relationships within the raw data as well as the construction of interactive survival regression and classification models (generalized linear model and random forests model). Dimensionality reduction and feature clustering enabled decomposition of clinical variable contributions. Thirty-eight metrics were utilized, including Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle scores; respiratory function, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and FVC % predicted, oxygen saturation, negative inspiratory force (NIF); the Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and its activities of daily living (ADL) and respiratory sub-scores; body weight; onset type, onset age, gender, and height. Prognostic random forest models confirm the dominance of patient age-related parameters decline in classifying survival at thresholds of 30, 60, 90, and 180 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Results: Collective prognostic insight derived from the overall investigation includes: multi-dimensionality of ALSFRS-R scores suggests cautious usage for survival forecasting; upper and lower extremities independently degenerate and are autonomous from respiratory decline, with the latter associating with nearer-to-death classifications; height and weight-based metrics are auxiliary predictors for farther-from-death classifications; sex and onset site (limb, bulbar) are not independent survival predictors due to age co-correlation. Conclusion: The dimensionality and fluctuating predictors of ALS survival must be considered when developing predictive models for clinical trial development or in-clinic usage. Additional independent metrics and possible revisions to current metrics, like the ALSFRS-R, are needed to capture the underlying complexity needed for population and personalized forecasting of survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Pfohl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Renaid B Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Grant S Coan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Cassie S Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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9
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Kellmeyer P, Grosse-Wentrup M, Schulze-Bonhage A, Ziemann U, Ball T. Electrophysiological correlates of neurodegeneration in motor and non-motor brain regions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-implications for brain-computer interfacing. J Neural Eng 2018; 15:041003. [PMID: 29676287 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aabfa5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE For patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who are suffering from severe communication or motor problems, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can improve the quality of life and patient autonomy. However, current BCI systems are not as widely used as their potential and patient demand would let assume. This underutilization is a result of technological as well as user-based limitations but also of the comparatively poor performance of currently existing BCIs in patients with late-stage ALS, particularly in the locked-in state. APPROACH Here we review a broad range of electrophysiological studies in ALS patients with the aim to identify electrophysiological correlates of ALS-related neurodegeneration in motor and non-motor brain regions in to better understand potential neurophysiological limitations of current BCI systems for ALS patients. To this end we analyze studies in ALS patients that investigated basic sensory evoked potentials, resting-state and task-based paradigms using electroencephalography or electrocorticography for basic research purposes as well as for brain-computer interfacing. Main results and significance. Our review underscores that, similarly to mounting evidence from neuroimaging and neuropathology, electrophysiological measures too indicate neurodegeneration in non-motor areas in ALS. Furthermore, we identify an unexpected gap of basic and advanced electrophysiological studies in late-stage ALS patients, particularly in the locked-in state. We propose a research strategy on how to fill this gap in order to improve the design and performance of future BCI systems for this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Kellmeyer
- Translational Neurotechnology Lab, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Cluster of Excellence BrainLinks-BrainTools, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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10
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Zhao W, Beers DR, Hooten KG, Sieglaff DH, Zhang A, Kalyana-Sundaram S, Traini CM, Halsey WS, Hughes AM, Sathe GM, Livi GP, Fan GH, Appel SH. Characterization of Gene Expression Phenotype in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Monocytes. JAMA Neurol 2017; 74:677-685. [PMID: 28437540 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.0357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Importance Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Patients with ALS have persistent peripheral and central inflammatory responses including abnormally functioning T cells and activated microglia. However, much less is known about the inflammatory gene profile of circulating innate immune monocytes in these patients. Objective To characterize the transcriptomics of peripheral monocytes in patients with ALS. Design, Setting, and Participants Monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of 43 patients with ALS and 22 healthy control individuals. Total RNA was extracted from the monocytes and subjected to deep RNA sequencing, and these results were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Main Outcomes and Measures The differential expressed gene signatures of these monocytes were identified using unbiased RNA sequencing strategy for gene expression profiling. Results The demographics between the patients with ALS (mean [SD] age, 58.8 [1.57] years; 55.8% were men and 44.2% were women; 90.7% were white, 4.65% were Hispanic, 2.33% were black, and 2.33% were Asian) and control individuals were similar (mean [SD] age, 57.6 [2.15] years; 50.0% were men and 50.0% were women; 90.9% were white, none were Hispanic, none were black, and 9.09% were Asian). RNA sequencing data from negative selected monocytes revealed 233 differential expressed genes in ALS monocytes compared with healthy control monocytes. Notably, ALS monocytes demonstrated a unique inflammation-related gene expression profile, the most prominent of which, including IL1B, IL8, FOSB, CXCL1, and CXCL2, were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (IL8, mean [SE], 1.00 [0.18]; P = .002; FOSB, 1.00 [0.21]; P = .009; CXCL1, 1.00 [0.14]; P = .002; and CXCL2, 1.00 [0.11]; P = .01). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis monocytes from rapidly progressing patients had more proinflammatory DEGs than monocytes from slowly progressing patients. Conclusions and Relevance Our data indicate that ALS monocytes are skewed toward a proinflammatory state in the peripheral circulation and may play a role in ALS disease progression, especially in rapidly progressing patients. This increased inflammatory response of peripheral immune cells may provide a potential target for disease-modifying therapy in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Peggy and Gary Edwards ALS Laboratory, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - David R Beers
- Department of Neurology, Peggy and Gary Edwards ALS Laboratory, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Douglas H Sieglaff
- Texas Genomic Medicine Research Program, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Aijun Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Wendy S Halsey
- Target Sciences at GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
| | - Ashley M Hughes
- Target Sciences at GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
| | - Ganesh M Sathe
- Target Sciences at GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
| | - George P Livi
- Target Sciences at GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Stanley H Appel
- Department of Neurology, Peggy and Gary Edwards ALS Laboratory, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
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11
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Andres PL, Allred MP, Stephens HE, Proffitt Bunnell M, Siener C, Macklin EA, Haines T, English RA, Fetterman KA, Kasarskis EJ, Florence J, Simmons Z, Cudkowicz ME. Fixed dynamometry is more sensitive than vital capacity or ALS rating scale. Muscle Nerve 2017; 56:710-715. [PMID: 28120413 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Improved outcome measures are essential to efficiently screen the growing number of potential amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapies. METHODS This longitudinal study of 100 (70 male) participants with ALS compared Accurate Test of Limb Isometric Strength (ATLIS), using a fixed, wireless load cell, with ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and vital capacity (VC). RESULTS Participants enrolled at 5 U.S. sites. Data were analyzed from 66 participants with complete ATLIS, ALSFRS-R, and VC data over at least 3 visits. Change in ATLIS was less variable both within- and among-person than change in ALSFRS-R or VC. Additionally, participants who had normal ALSFRS-R arm and leg function averaged 12 to 32% below expected strength values measured by ATLIS. CONCLUSIONS ATLIS was more sensitive to change than ALSFRS-R or VC and could decrease sample size requirements by approximately one-third. The ability of ATLIS to detect prefunctional change has potential value in early trials. Muscle Nerve 56: 710-715, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Eric A Macklin
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Travis Haines
- Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Shellikeri S, Green JR, Kulkarni M, Rong P, Martino R, Zinman L, Yunusova Y. Speech Movement Measures as Markers of Bulbar Disease in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2016; 59:887-899. [PMID: 27679842 PMCID: PMC5345561 DOI: 10.1044/2016_jslhr-s-15-0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The goal of this study was to identify the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on tongue and jaw control, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The data were examined in the context of their utility as a diagnostic marker of bulbar disease. Method Tongue and jaw movements were recorded cross-sectionally (n = 33 individuals with ALS, 13 controls) and longitudinally (n = 10 individuals with ALS) using a three-dimensional electromagnetic articulography system during the production of the sentence Buy Bobby a puppy. The movements were examined for evidence of changes in size, speed, and duration and with respect to disease severity and time in the study. Results Maximum speed of tongue movements and movement durations were significantly different only at an advanced stage of bulbar ALS compared with the healthy control group. The longitudinal analysis revealed a reduction in tongue movement size and speed with time at early stages of disease, which was not seen cross-sectionally. As speaking rate declined, tongue movements decreased in maximum speed, whereas jaw movements increased in maximum speed. Conclusions Longitudinal analyses of sentence-level kinematic data show their sensitivity to early bulbar impairment. A change in articulatory kinematics can serve as a useful diagnostic marker for bulbar ALS and to track bulbar disease progression in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Madhura Kulkarni
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Lorne Zinman
- ALS/MND Clinic, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Proudfoot M, Jones A, Talbot K, Al-Chalabi A, Turner MR. The ALSFRS as an outcome measure in therapeutic trials and its relationship to symptom onset. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2016; 17:414-25. [PMID: 26864085 PMCID: PMC4950444 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2016.1140786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The reduction in ALS Functional Rating Score (ALSFRS) from reported symptom onset to diagnosis is used to estimate rate of disease progression. ALSFRS decline may be non-linear or distorted by drop-outs in therapeutic trials, reducing the reliability of change in slope as an outcome measure. The PRO-ACT database uniquely allows such measures to be explored using historical data from negative therapeutic trials. The decline of functional scores was analysed in 18 pooled trials, comparing rates of decline based on symptom onset with rates calculated between interval assessments. Strategies to mitigate the effects of trial drop-out were considered. Results showed that progression rate calculated by symptom onset underestimated the subsequent rate of disability accumulation, although it predicted survival more accurately than four-month interval estimates of δALSFRS or δFVC. Individual ALSFRS and FVC progression within a typical trial duration were linear. No simple solution to correct for trial drop-out was identified, but imputation using δALSFRS appeared least disruptive. In conclusion, there is a trade-off between the drive to recruit trial participants soon after symptom onset, and reduced reliability of the ALSFRS-derived progression rate at enrolment. The need for objective markers of disease activity as an alternative to survival-based end-points is clear and pressing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Proudfoot
- a Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience , University of Oxford and
| | - Ashley Jones
- b Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London , London SE5 8AF , UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- a Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience , University of Oxford and
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- b Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London , London SE5 8AF , UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- a Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience , University of Oxford and
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14
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Tramacere I, Dalla Bella E, Chiò A, Mora G, Filippini G, Lauria G. The MITOS system predicts long-term survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86:1180-5. [PMID: 25886781 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-310176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The choice of adequate proxy for long-term survival, the ultimate outcome in randomised clinical trials (RCT) assessing disease-modifying treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a key issue. The intrinsic limitations of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), including non-linearity, multidimensionality and floor-effect, have emerged and its usefulness argued. The ALS Milano-Torino staging (ALS-MITOS) system was proposed as a novel tool to measure the progression of ALS and overcome these limitations. This study was performed to validate the ALS-MITOS as a 6-month proxy of survival in 200 ALS patients followed up to 18 months. METHODS Analyses were performed on data from the recombinant human erythropoietin RCT that failed to demonstrate differences between groups for both primary and secondary outcomes. The ALS-MITOS system is composed of four key domains included in the ALSFRS-R scale (walking/self-care, swallowing, communicating and breathing), each with a threshold reflecting the loss of function in the specific ALSFRS-R subscores. Sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curves of the ALS-MITOS system stages and ALSFRS-R decline at 6 months were calculated and compared with the primary outcome (survival, tracheotomy or >23-hour non-invasive ventilation) at 12 and 18 months Predicted probabilities of the ALS-MITO system at 6 months for any event at 12 and 18 months were computed through logistic regression models. RESULTS Disease progression from baseline to 6 months as defined by the ALS-MITOS system predicted death, tracheotomy or >23-hour non-invasive ventilation at 12 months with 82% sensitivity (95% CI 71% to 93%, n=37/45) and 63% specificity (95% CI 55% to 71%, n=92/146), and at 18 months with 71% sensitivity (95% CI 61% to 82%, n=50/70) and 68% specificity (95% CI 60% to 77%, n=76/111). The analysis of ALS-MITOS and ALSFRS-R progression at 6-month follow-up showed that the best cut-off to predict survival at 12 and 18 months was 1 for the ALS-MITOS (ie, loss of at least one function) and a decline ranging from 6 to 9 points for the ALSFRS-R. CONCLUSIONS The ALS-MITOS system can reliably predict the course of ALS up to 18 months and can be considered a novel and valid outcome measure in RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Tramacere
- Neuroepidemiology Unit, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dalla Bella
- 3rd Neurology Unit, Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Department of Neurosciences, ALS Centre, "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Graziella Filippini
- Neuroepidemiology Unit, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- 3rd Neurology Unit, Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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Marin B, Bianchi E, Pupillo E, Lunetta C, Tremolizzo L, Logroscino G, Chiò A, Preux PM, Beghi E. Non-self-sufficiency as a primary outcome measure in ALS trials. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2015; 17:77-84. [PMID: 26470831 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2015.1074704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to assess non-self-sufficiency (NSS) in ALS as an outcome measure in therapeutic trials. Using data from the control arm of two randomized trials and an observational study, associations between NSS (score ≤2 in the ALSFRS-R items for swallowing, cutting food and handling utensils, or walking) and the total ALSFRS-R score, forced vital capacity (FVC), and survival at selected time-points until death or 48 weeks, were assessed. These measures were used as surrogates of relevant functional impairment. Of 82 self-sufficient (SS) patients at baseline, 32 (39.0%) became NSS at four weeks and increased to 72 (87.8%) at the end of follow-up. A significant association was found between NSS, ALSFRS-R score and FVC at 24, 36 and 48 weeks. Thirty-four subjects died (41.5%). Compared to SS patients (median survival, 27.9 months), individuals becoming NSS at four weeks were at increased risk to die (median survival, 23.6 months, p = 0.02). NSS status at four weeks predicted survival even after adjustment for ALSFRS-R total score, age, gender, site of onset, disease duration, BMI, and FVC. 'Walking' was the only predictor of survival when adjusting for all covariates. In conclusion, NSS status is a possible endpoint to investigate short-term efficacy of treatments of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Marin
- a INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology , Limoges.,b University of Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology , CNRS FR 3503 GEIST , Limoges.,c CHU Limoges, Centre d'Epidémiologie de Biostatistique et de Méthodologie de la Recherche , France.,d Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Department of Neuroscience , IRCCS Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri , Milan
| | - Elisa Bianchi
- d Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Department of Neuroscience , IRCCS Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri , Milan
| | - Elisabetta Pupillo
- d Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Department of Neuroscience , IRCCS Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri , Milan
| | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- f Neurology Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital and University of Milano-Bicocca , Monza
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- g Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, Department of Basic Medicine Neuroscience and Sense Organs, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari at 'Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico' Hospital Tricase (LE) , University of Bari
| | - Adriano Chiò
- h ALS Centre, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience , University of Torino , AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza , Turin , Italy
| | - Pierre Marie Preux
- a INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology , Limoges.,b University of Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology , CNRS FR 3503 GEIST , Limoges.,c CHU Limoges, Centre d'Epidémiologie de Biostatistique et de Méthodologie de la Recherche , France
| | - Ettore Beghi
- d Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Department of Neuroscience , IRCCS Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri , Milan
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Chiò A, Hammond ER, Mora G, Bonito V, Filippini G. Development and evaluation of a clinical staging system for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86:38-44. [PMID: 24336810 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-306589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staging of disease severity is useful for prognosis, decision-making and resource planning. However, no commonly used, validated staging system exists for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our purpose was to develop an ALS staging system (ALS Milano-Torino Staging) that captures the observed progressive loss of independence and function. METHODS Clinical milestones in ALS progression were defined by loss of independence in four key domains on the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS): swallowing, walking/self-care, communicating and breathing. Stages were defined as follows: stage 0, functional involvement but no loss of independence on any domain; stages 1-4, number of domains in which independence was lost; and stage 5, death. Staging criteria were applied to patients enrolled in a Quality of Care in ALS (QOC) study; endpoints included function (ALSFRS), quality of life (QOL; Short Form-36) and health service costs. Between-stage transition probabilities were assessed in the QOC study and in a second clinical study of lithium carbonate in ALS. RESULTS 70/118 (59.3%) participants in the QOC study progressed to higher stages of disease at 12 months compared with their baseline stage. Functional (ALSFRS) and QOL measures were inversely related to disease stage. Health service costs were directly related to increasing disease stages from 0 to 4 (p<0.001). Probabilities for transitioning from a given stage at baseline in both studies were usually greatest for the next highest stage. CONCLUSIONS The proposed ALS Milano-Torino Staging system correlates well with assessments of function, QOL and health service costs. Further studies are warranted to validate this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chiò
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Edward R Hammond
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginio Bonito
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Graziella Filippini
- Unit of Neuroepidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Prognostic factors for the course of functional status of patients with ALS: a systematic review. J Neurol 2014; 262:1407-23. [PMID: 25385051 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-014-7564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The progressive course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) results in an ever-changing spectrum of the care needs of patients with ALS. Knowledge of prognostic factors for the functional course of ALS may enhance clinical prediction and improve the timing of appropriate interventions. Our objective was to systematically review the evidence regarding prognostic factors for the rate of functional decline of patients with ALS, assessed with versions of the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS). Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the thirteen included studies using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. The overall quality of evidence for each prognostic factor was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, considering risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness, and publication bias. The quality of evidence for the prognostic value of age at onset, site of onset, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and ALSFRS-Revised baseline score was low, mainly due to the limited data and inconsistency of results in the small number of studies included. The prognostic value of initial rate of disease progression, age at diagnosis, forced vital capacity, frontotemporal dementia, body mass index, and comorbidity remains unclear. We conclude that the current evidence on prognostic factors for functional decline in ALS is insufficient to allow the development of a prediction tool that can support clinical decisions. Given the limited data, future prognostic studies may need to focus on factors that have a predictive value for a decline in ALSFRS(-R) domain scores, preferably based on internationally collected and shared data.
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The effects of sa-am acupuncture treatment on respiratory physiology parameters in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a pilot study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:506317. [PMID: 24101939 PMCID: PMC3786471 DOI: 10.1155/2013/506317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Revised: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory dysfunction and complications are the most common causes of death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This is a pilot study to observe the changes in respiratory physiology parameters after Sa-am acupuncture treatment. Eighteen ALS patients received Sa-am acupuncture treatment twice a day for 5 days. The EtCO2, SpO2, RR, and pulse rate were measured for 15 min before and during treatment, using capnography and oximetry. Correlation of K-ALSFRS-R scores against measured parameters showed that patients who had high K-ALSFRS-R scores had greater changes in pulse rate after acupuncture stimulation; they also showed a decrease in EtCO2, RR, and pulse rate and an increase in SpO2. A comparison of the mean values of these different parameters before and after Sa-am acupuncture stimulation revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in SpO2 and pulse rate, but none in EtCO2 and RR. Sa-am acupuncture treatment on ALS patients seems to be more effective in the early stages of the disease. In light of increased SpO2 values, Sa-am acupuncture appears to have a greater effect on inspiration rather than on expiration. As a pilot study of acupuncture on ALS patients, this study could be used as a basis for future research.
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Abdulla S, Vielhaber S, Körner S, Machts J, Heinze HJ, Dengler R, Petri S. Validation of the German version of the extended ALS functional rating scale as a patient-reported outcome measure. J Neurol 2013; 260:2242-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-013-6955-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Spataro R, Bono V, Marchese S, La Bella V. Tracheostomy mechanical ventilation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Clinical features and survival analysis. J Neurol Sci 2012; 323:66-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Maier A, Holm T, Wicks P, Steinfurth L, Linke P, Münch C, Meyer R, Meyer T. Online assessment of ALS functional rating scale compares well to in-clinic evaluation: a prospective trial. AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGY RESEARCH GROUP ON MOTOR NEURON DISEASES 2012; 13:210-6. [PMID: 22292842 PMCID: PMC3310482 DOI: 10.3109/17482968.2011.633268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Self-assessment of symptom progression in chronic diseases is of increasing importance in clinical research, patient management and specialized outpatient care. Against this background, we developed a secure internet platform (ALShome.de) that allows online assessment of the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and other established self-assessment questionnaires. We developed a secure and closed internet portal to assess patient reported outcomes. In a prospective, controlled and stratified study, patients conducted a web-based self-assessment of ALSFRS-R compared to on-site assessment. On-site and online assessments were compared at baseline (n = 127) and after 3.5 months (n = 81, 64%). Results showed that correlation between on-site evaluation and online testing of ALSFRS-R was highly significant (r = 0.96; p < 0.001). The agreement of both capturing methods (online vs. on-site) was excellent (mean interval, 8.8 days). The adherence to online rating was high; 75% of patients tested on-site completed a follow-up online visit (mean 3.5 months, SD 1.7). We conclude that online self-assessment of ALS severity complements the well-established face-to-face application of the ALSFRS-R during on-site visits. The results of our study support the use of online administration of ALSFRS-R within clinical trials and for managing the care of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Maier
- Department of Neurology, Charité-University Hospital, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, Germany
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Seksenyan A, Ron-Harel N, Azoulay D, Cahalon L, Cardon M, Rogeri P, Ko MK, Weil M, Bulvik S, Rechavi G, Amariglio N, Konen E, Koronyo-Hamaoui M, Somech R, Schwartz M. Thymic involution, a co-morbidity factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Cell Mol Med 2010; 14:2470-82. [PMID: 19650830 PMCID: PMC3823164 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00863.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 07/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease, characterized by extremely rapid loss of motor neurons. Our studies over the last decade have established CD4(+) T cells as important players in central nervous system maintenance and repair. Those results, together with recent findings that CD4(+) T cells play a protective role in mouse models of ALS, led us to the current hypothesis that in ALS, a rapid T-cell malfunction may develop in parallel to the motor neuron dysfunction. Here, we tested this hypothesis by assessing thymic function, which serves as a measure of peripheral T-cell availability, in an animal model of ALS (mSOD1 [superoxide dismutase] mice; G93A) and in human patients. We found a significant reduction in thymic progenitor-cell content, and abnormal thymic histology in 3-4-month-old mSOD1 mice. In ALS patients, we found a decline in thymic output, manifested in the reduction in blood levels of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles, a non-invasive measure of thymic function, and demonstrated a restricted T-cell repertoire. The morbidity of the peripheral immune cells was also manifested in the increase of pro-apoptotic BAX/BCXL2 expression ratio in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these patients. In addition, gene expression screening in the same PBMCs, revealed in the ALS patients a reduction in key genes known to be associated with T-cell activity, including: CD80, CD86, IFNG and IL18. In light of the reported beneficial role of T cells in animal models of ALS, the present observation of thymic dysfunction, both in human patients and in an animal model, might be a co-pathological factor in ALS, regardless of the disease aetiology. These findings may lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches directed at overcoming the thymic defect and T-cell deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akop Seksenyan
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Noga Ron-Harel
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - David Azoulay
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liora Cahalon
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Cardon
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - Patricia Rogeri
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Minhee K Ko
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Miguel Weil
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shlomo Bulvik
- Hematology Department, Laniado HospitalNetanya, Israel
| | - Gideon Rechavi
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ninette Amariglio
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eli Konen
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Raz Somech
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
- Pediatric Immunology Service, Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Schwartz
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
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Jawaid A, Murthy SB, Wilson AM, Qureshi SU, Amro MJ, Wheaton M, Simpson E, Harati Y, Strutt AM, York MK, Schulz PE. A decrease in body mass index is associated with faster progression of motor symptoms and shorter survival in ALS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 11:542-8. [PMID: 20500116 DOI: 10.3109/17482968.2010.482592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to test the hypothesis that changes in body mass index (BMI) are associated with changes in the clinical course of ALS. We examined the relationships between BMI at first clinical visit and changes in BMI up to a two-year follow-up, and multiple clinical variables related to ALS: age of onset, rate of progression of motor symptoms, and survival. Baseline BMI was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Changes in BMI were classified as a loss of >1 unit, no change, or a gain of >1 unit. Our results showed that baseline BMI was not associated with age of onset, rate of progression or survival. In contrast, a loss of BMI >1 over two years was associated with significantly shorter survival and a faster rate of progression. In a multiple regression model, these results were independent of gender, site of onset, history of diabetes mellitus and apolipoprotein (ApoE) genotype. In summary, a change in BMI after ALS diagnosis was significantly associated with rate of progression and survival. This raises the possibility that early changes in BMI may identify patients likely to have a more malignant course of the disease. However, further research is needed to clarify the relationship between BMI and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Jawaid
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, 6501 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Guedes K, Pereira C, Pavan K, Valério BCO. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of als Functional Rating Scale-Revised in Portuguese language. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2010; 68:44-7. [DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2010000100010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is the cross-cultural, as well as to validate in Portuguese language the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale - Revised (ALSFRS-R). We performed a prospective study of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinically defined. The scale, after obtaining the final version in Portuguese, was administered in 22 individuals and three weeks after re-applied. There were no significant differences between the application and reapplication of the scale (p=0.069). The linear regression and internal consistency measured by Pearson correlation and alpha Conbrach were significant with r=0.975 e α=0.934. The reliability test-retest demonstrated by intraclass correlation coefficient was strong with ICC=0.975. Therefore, this version proved to be applicable, reliable and easy to be conducted in clinical practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyte Guedes
- Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Karina Pavan
- Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Witgert M, Salamone AR, Strutt AM, Jawaid A, Massman PJ, Bradshaw M, Mosnik D, Appel SH, Schulz PE. Frontal-lobe mediated behavioral dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2009; 17:103-10. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02801.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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26
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Wicks P, Massagli MP, Wolf C, Heywood J. Measuring function in advanced ALS: validation of ALSFRS-EX extension items. Eur J Neurol 2009; 16:353-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02434.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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