1
|
Grapperon AM, Harlay V, Boucekine M, Devos D, Rolland AS, Desnuelle C, Delmont E, Verschueren A, Attarian S. Could the motor unit number index be an early prognostic biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:47-55. [PMID: 38703699 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the associations between motor unit number index (MUNIX) and disease progression and prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a large-scale longitudinal study. METHODS MUNIX was performed at the patient's first visit, at 3, 6, and 12 months in 4 muscles. MUNIX data from the patients were compared with those from 38 age-matched healthy controls. Clinical data included the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R), the forced vital capacity (FVC), and the survival of the patients. RESULTS Eighty-two patients were included at baseline, 62 were evaluated at three months, 48 at six months, and 33 at twelve months. MUNIX score was lower in ALS patients compared to controls. At baseline, MUNIX was correlated with ALSFRS-R and FVC. Motor unit size index (MUSIX) was correlated with patient survival. Longitudinal analyses showed that MUNIX decline was greater than ALSFRS-R decline at each evaluation. A baseline MUNIX score greater than 378 predicted survival over the 12-month period with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 56%. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal study suggests that MUNIX could be an early quantitative marker of disease progression and prognosis in ALS. SIGNIFICANCE MUNIX might be considered as potential indicator for monitoring disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aude-Marie Grapperon
- APHM, Timone University Hospital, Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, ERN Euro-NMD Center, Marseille, France.
| | - Vincent Harlay
- APHM, Timone University Hospital, Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, ERN Euro-NMD Center, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Boucekine
- Aix Marseille University, Center for Studies and Research on Health Services and Quality of Life, Marseille, France
| | - David Devos
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Expert Center of ALS Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1772, Lille University Hospital, LICEND COEN Centre, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, 59000, ACT4ALS-MND Network, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Rolland
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Expert Center of ALS Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1772, Lille University Hospital, LICEND COEN Centre, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, 59000, ACT4ALS-MND Network, France
| | - Claude Desnuelle
- Côte d'Azur University, Medical Faculty of Nice, Department of Neurology, Nice, France
| | - Emilien Delmont
- APHM, Timone University Hospital, Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, ERN Euro-NMD Center, Marseille, France
| | - Annie Verschueren
- APHM, Timone University Hospital, Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, ERN Euro-NMD Center, Marseille, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- APHM, Timone University Hospital, Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, ERN Euro-NMD Center, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, GMGF, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shin-Yi Lin C, Howells J, Rutkove S, Nandedkar S, Neuwirth C, Noto YI, Shahrizaila N, Whittaker RG, Bostock H, Burke D, Tankisi H. Neurophysiological and imaging biomarkers of lower motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron diseases/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 162:91-120. [PMID: 38603949 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
This chapter discusses comprehensive neurophysiological biomarkers utilised in motor neuron disease (MND) and, in particular, its commonest form, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These encompass the conventional techniques including nerve conduction studies (NCS), needle and high-density surface electromyography (EMG) and H-reflex studies as well as novel techniques. In the last two decades, new methods of assessing the loss of motor units in a muscle have been developed, that are more convenient than earlier methods of motor unit number estimation (MUNE),and may use either electrical stimulation (e.g. MScanFit MUNE) or voluntary activation (MUNIX). Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is another novel approach for the evaluation that relies upon the application and measurement of high-frequency, low-intensity electrical current. Nerve excitability techniques (NET) also provide insights into the function of an axon and reflect the changes in resting membrane potential, ion channel dysfunction and the structural integrity of the axon and myelin sheath. Furthermore, imaging ultrasound techniques as well as magnetic resonance imaging are capable of detecting the constituents of morphological changes in the nerve and muscle. The chapter provides a critical description of the ability of each technique to provide neurophysiological insight into the complex pathophysiology of MND/ALS. However, it is important to recognise the strengths and limitations of each approach in order to clarify utility. These neurophysiological biomarkers have demonstrated reliability, specificity and provide additional information to validate and assess lower motor neuron dysfunction. Their use has expanded the knowledge about MND/ALS and enhanced our understanding of the relationship between motor units, axons, reflexes and other neural circuits in relation to clinical features of patients with MND/ALS at different stages of the disease. Taken together, the ultimate goal is to aid early diagnosis, distinguish potential disease mimics, monitor and stage disease progression, quantify response to treatment and develop potential therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Shin-Yi Lin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia.
| | - James Howells
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Seward Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanjeev Nandedkar
- Natus Medical Inc, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Ichi Noto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nortina Shahrizaila
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Roger G Whittaker
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute (NUTCRI), Newcastle University., Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Hugh Bostock
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, WC1N 3BG, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Burke
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hatice Tankisi
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Barkhaus PE, Nandedkar SD, de Carvalho M, Swash M, Stålberg EV. Revisiting the compound muscle action potential (CMAP). Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2024; 9:176-200. [PMID: 38807704 PMCID: PMC11131082 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2024.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is among the first recorded waveforms in clinical neurography and one of the most common in clinical use. It is derived from the summated muscle fiber action potentials recorded from a surface electrode overlying the studied muscle following stimulation of the relevant motor nerve fibres innervating the muscle. Surface recorded motor unit potentials (SMUPs) are the fundamental units comprising the CMAP. Because it is considered a basic, if not banal signal, what it represents is often underappreciated. In this review we discuss current concepts in the anatomy and physiology of the CMAP. These have evolved with advances in instrumentation and digitization of signals, affecting its quantitation and measurement. It is important to understand the basic technical and biological factors influencing the CMAP. If these influences are not recognized, then a suboptimal recording may result. The object is to obtain a high quality CMAP recording that is reproducible, whether the study is done for clinical or research purposes. The initial sections cover the relevant CMAP anatomy and physiology, followed by how these principles are applied to CMAP changes in neuromuscular disorders. The concluding section is a brief overview of CMAP research where advances in recording systems and computer-based analysis programs have opened new research applications. One such example is motor unit number estimation (MUNE) that is now being used as a surrogate marker in monitoring chronic neurogenic processes such as motor neuron diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Barkhaus
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Sanjeev D. Nandedkar
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA
- Natus Medical Inc., Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular and Institute of Physiology, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, CHULN-Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Michael Swash
- Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London UK
| | - Erik V. Stålberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vucic S, de Carvalho M, Bashford J, Alix JJP. Contribution of neurophysiology to the diagnosis and monitoring of ALS. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:87-118. [PMID: 38802184 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
This chapter describes the role of neurophysiological techniques in diagnosing and monitoring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite many advances, electromyography (EMG) remains a keystone investigation from which to build support for a diagnosis of ALS, demonstrating the pathophysiological processes of motor unit hyperexcitability, denervation and reinnervation. We consider development of the different diagnostic criteria and the role of EMG therein. While not formally recognised by established diagnostic criteria, we discuss the pioneering studies that have demonstrated the diagnostic potential of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex and highlight the growing evidence for TMS in the diagnostic process. Finally, accurately monitoring disease progression is crucial for the successful implementation of clinical trials. Neurophysiological measures of disease state have been incorporated into clinical trials for over 20 years and we review prominent techniques for assessing disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Clinical School and Department of Neurology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences, CHULN, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - James Bashford
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James J P Alix
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Although the past two decades have produced exciting discoveries in the genetics and pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progress in developing an effective therapy remains slow. This review summarizes the critical discoveries and outlines the advances in disease characterization, diagnosis, imaging, and biomarkers, along with the current status of approaches to ALS care and treatment. Additional knowledge of the factors driving disease progression and heterogeneity will hopefully soon transform the care for patients with ALS into an individualized, multi-prong approach able to prevent disease progression sufficiently to allow for a dignified life with limited disability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hristelina Ilieva
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Justin Kwan
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Risi B, Cotti Piccinelli S, Gazzina S, Labella B, Caria F, Damioli S, Poli L, Padovani A, Filosto M. Prognostic Usefulness of Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX) in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5036. [PMID: 37568439 PMCID: PMC10420094 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The MUNIX technique allows us to estimate the number and size of surviving motor units (MUs). Previous studies on ALS found correlations between MUNIX and several clinical measures, but its potential role as a predictor of disease progression rate (DPR) has not been thoroughly evaluated to date. We aimed to investigate MUNIX's ability to predict DPR at a six-month follow up. METHODS 24 ALS patients with short disease duration (<24 months from symptoms' onset) were enrolled and divided according to their baseline DPR into two groups (normal [DPR-N] and fast [DPR-F] progressors). MUNIX values were obtained from five muscles (TA, APB, ADM, FDI, Trapezius) and averaged for each subject. RESULTS MUNIX was found to predict DPR at follow up in a multivariable linear regression model; namely, patients with lower MUNIX values were at risk of showing greater DPR scores at follow up. The result was replicated in a simple logistic regression analysis, with the dichotomic category "MUNIX-Low" as the independent variable and the outcome "DPR-F" as the dependent variable. CONCLUSIONS our results pave the way for the use of the MUNIX method as a prognostic tool in early ALS, enabling patients' stratification according to their rates of future decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Risi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (B.R.); (S.C.P.); (B.L.); (A.P.)
- Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, 25064 Gussago, Italy; (F.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Stefano Cotti Piccinelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (B.R.); (S.C.P.); (B.L.); (A.P.)
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, 25064 Gussago, Italy; (F.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Stefano Gazzina
- Unit of Neurophysiology, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Beatrice Labella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (B.R.); (S.C.P.); (B.L.); (A.P.)
- Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Filomena Caria
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, 25064 Gussago, Italy; (F.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Simona Damioli
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, 25064 Gussago, Italy; (F.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Loris Poli
- Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (B.R.); (S.C.P.); (B.L.); (A.P.)
- Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Filosto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (B.R.); (S.C.P.); (B.L.); (A.P.)
- NeMO-Brescia Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, 25064 Gussago, Italy; (F.C.); (S.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Boostani R, Olfati N, Shamshiri H, Salimi Z, Fatehi F, Hedjazi SA, Fakharian A, Ghasemi M, Okhovat AA, Basiri K, Haghi Ashtiani B, Ansari B, Raissi GR, Khatoonabadi SA, Sarraf P, Movahed S, Panahi A, Ziaadini B, Yazdchi M, Bakhtiyari J, Nafissi S. Iranian clinical practice guideline for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1154579. [PMID: 37333000 PMCID: PMC10272856 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1154579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegeneration involving motor neurons. The 3-5 years that patients have to live is marked by day-to-day loss of motor and sometimes cognitive abilities. Enormous amounts of healthcare services and resources are necessary to support patients and their caregivers during this relatively short but burdensome journey. Organization and management of these resources need to best meet patients' expectations and health system efficiency mandates. This can only occur in the setting of multidisciplinary ALS clinics which are known as the gold standard of ALS care worldwide. To introduce this standard to the care of Iranian ALS patients, which is an inevitable quality milestone, a national ALS clinical practice guideline is the necessary first step. The National ALS guideline will serve as the knowledge base for the development of local clinical pathways to guide patient journeys in multidisciplinary ALS clinics. To this end, we gathered a team of national neuromuscular experts as well as experts in related specialties necessary for delivering multidisciplinary care to ALS patients to develop the Iranian ALS clinical practice guideline. Clinical questions were prepared in the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) format to serve as a guide for the literature search. Considering the lack of adequate national/local studies at this time, a consensus-based approach was taken to evaluate the quality of the retrieved evidence and summarize recommendations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Boostani
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Nahid Olfati
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hosein Shamshiri
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zanireh Salimi
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farzad Fatehi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Arya Hedjazi
- Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atefeh Fakharian
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Center (PRRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Asghar Okhovat
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Keivan Basiri
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Isfahan Neuroscience Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bahram Haghi Ashtiani
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnaz Ansari
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Isfahan Neuroscience Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- AL Zahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Gholam Reza Raissi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Payam Sarraf
- Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Movahed
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Akram Panahi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bentolhoda Ziaadini
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Yazdchi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jalal Bakhtiyari
- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahriar Nafissi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gonçalves LMN, Siéssere S, Cecilio FA, Hallak JEC, de Vasconcelos PB, Júnior WM, Regalo IH, Palinkas M, Regalo SCH. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Analysis of the Electromyographic Fatigue of the Masticatory Muscles. Prague Med Rep 2022; 123:258-265. [DOI: 10.14712/23362936.2022.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects motor neurons, thereby promoting functional changes in the human body. The study evaluated the electromyographic fatigue threshold of the masseter and temporal muscles of subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A total of eighteen subjects were divided into two groups: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n=9) and disease-free control (n=9). The groups were equally divided according to gender (7 males, 2 females). The fatigue threshold was analysed using median frequencies obtained during the 5-second window (initial [IP], mid [MP], and final [FP] periods) of electromyographic signalling of the masseter and temporal muscles bilaterally, with reduction in muscle force during maximal voluntary dental clenching. Significant difference (p<0.05) in the left temporal muscle: IP (p=0.05) and MP (p=0.05) periods was demonstrated. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis group showed a decrease in median frequency of the electromyographic signal of the masseter and temporal muscles compared to the control group. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis promotes functional impairment of the stomatognathic system, especially at the electromyographic fatigue threshold of the masticatory muscles.
Collapse
|
9
|
Chan Y, Alix JJP, Neuwirth C, Barkhaus PE, Castro J, Jenkins TM, McDermott CJ, Shaw PJ, de Carvalho M, Nandedkar S, Stålberg E, Weber M. Reinnervation as measured by the motor unit size index is associated with preservation of muscle strength in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but not all muscles reinnervate. Muscle Nerve 2021; 65:203-210. [PMID: 34687220 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS The motor unit size index (MUSIX) may provide insight into reinnervation patterns in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, it is not known whether MUSIX detects clinically relevant changes in reinnervation, or if all muscles manifest changes in MUSIX in response to reinnervation after motor unit loss. METHODS Fifty-seven patients with ALS were assessed at 3-month intervals for 12 months in four centers. Muscles examined were abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, biceps brachii, and tibialis anterior. Results were split into two groups: muscles with increases in MUSIX and those without increases. Longitudinal changes in MUSIX, motor unit number index (MUNIX), compound muscle action potential amplitude, and Medical Research Council strength score were investigated. RESULTS One hundred thirty-three muscles were examined. Fifty-nine percent of the muscles exhibited an increase in MUSIX during the study. Muscles with MUSIX increases lost more motor units (58% decline in MUNIX at 12 months, P < .001) than muscles that did not increase MUSIX (34.6% decline in MUNIX at 12 months, P < .001). However, longitudinal changes in muscle strength were similar. When motor unit loss was similar, the absence of a MUSIX increase was associated with a significantly greater loss of muscle strength (P = .002). DISCUSSION MUSIX increases are associated with greater motor unit loss but relative preservation of muscle strength. Thus, MUSIX appears to be measuring a clinically relevant response that can provide a quantitative outcome measure of reinnervation in clinical trials. Furthermore, MUSIX suggests that reinnervation may play a major role in determining the progression of weakness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young Chan
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - James J P Alix
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - José Castro
- Department of Neurosciences, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-Hospital de Santa Maria, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Thomas M Jenkins
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Department of Neurosciences, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-Hospital de Santa Maria, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Erik Stålberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kang X, Quan D. Electrodiagnostic Assessment of Motor Neuron Disease. Neurol Clin 2021; 39:1071-1081. [PMID: 34602215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases involve degeneration of motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons), brain stem, and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). Symptoms vary depending on the degree of upper and lower neuron involvement, but progressive painless weakness is the predominant complaint. Motor neuron disease includes numerous specific disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, and other inherited and acquired conditions. Abnormalities on nerve conduction studies, repetitive nerve stimulation, needle electromyography, and other electrodiagnostic techniques help to distinguish these disorders from each other, and from other disorders with progressive weakness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Kang
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, Academic Office 1, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Mailstop B185, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Dianna Quan
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, Academic Office 1, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Mailstop B185, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Boulay C, Delmont E, Audic F, Chabrol B, Attarian S. Motor unit number index: A potential electrophysiological biomarker for pediatric spinal muscular atrophy. Muscle Nerve 2021; 64:445-453. [PMID: 34255873 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS In adult spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the motor unit number index (MUNIX) has been shown to be an useful electrophysiological biomarker. This study evaluated the feasibility and the clinical relevance of using the MUNIX technique for patients with pediatric SMA (Ped-SMA) and correlated MUNIX results with clinical scores. METHODS Fourteen patients with type II Ped-SMA (11 females; median age 11 y [interquartile range (IQR), 4.8-17 y]) and 14 controls (nine females; median age 10.75 y [IQR, 6.5-13.4 y]) were enrolled and matched by sex, age, height, weight, and body mass index. Clinical examination included manual muscle testing, dynamometry (grasp and pinch), and motor function measure (MFM). The MUNIX technique was evaluated in the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) on two sides when possible. RESULTS In the patients with Ped-SMA, the MUNIX and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes were significantly decreased and the motor size unit index (MUSIX) was significantly increased in the ADM and APB when compared to controls. The intraclass correlation coefficient was good for the intrarater variability of the CMAP amplitude, MUNIX, and MUSIX in the ADM (0.95, 0.83, and 0.89, respectively) and the APB (0.98, 0.96, and 0.94, respectively). The total CMAP amplitude correlated with the grasp and pinch scores (P < .05), and the MUNIX measurements correlated with the MFM scores. DISCUSSION The MUNIX technique, which accurately estimated lower motor neuron loss and the number of remaining functional motor units, was shown to be a useful electrophysiological biomarker for disease progression and a potential biomarker for treatment response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Boulay
- Neuropediatric Department, Children Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - Emilien Delmont
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, UMR 7286, Medicine Faculty, Marseille, France
| | - Frédérique Audic
- Neuropediatric Department, Children Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Brigitte Chabrol
- Neuropediatric Department, Children Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, Inserm UMR S 910, Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, Inserm UMR S 910, Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mendonça RH, Machado LMS, Heise CO, Polido GJ, Matsui C, Silva AMS, Reed UC, Zanoteli E. Motor unit number index (MUNIX) in children and adults with 5q-spinal muscular atrophy: Variability and clinical correlations. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 31:498-504. [PMID: 33824074 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease associated with progressive muscle weakness and motor disability. The motor unit number index (MUNIX) is a biomarker used to assess loss of motor units in later-onset SMA patients. Twenty SMA patients (SMA types 3 and 4), aged between 7 and 41 years, were clinically evaluated through the Hammersmith Motor Functional Scale Expanded and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy-Functional Rating Scale. The patients underwent compound motor action potential (CMAP) and MUNIX studies of the right abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Age-matched healthy controls (n = 20) were enrolled to obtain normative CMAP and MUNIX values from the same muscles. Compared to healthy controls, SMA patients showed significant reductions in MUNIX values among all muscles studied, whereas CMAP showed reductions only in the weaker muscles (abductor digiti minimi and TA). MUNIX variability was significantly higher in the SMA group than in the control group. MUNIX variability in TA correlated with CMAP variability. Motor functional scores correlated with TA MUNIX. The MUNIX study is feasible in later-onset SMA patients, and TA MUNIX values correlate with disease severity in patients with mild motor impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carlos Otto Heise
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Graziela Jorge Polido
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ciro Matsui
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Umbertina Conti Reed
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edmar Zanoteli
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ranieri F, Mariotto S, Dubbioso R, Di Lazzaro V. Brain Stimulation as a Therapeutic Tool in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Current Status and Interaction With Mechanisms of Altered Cortical Excitability. Front Neurol 2021; 11:605335. [PMID: 33613416 PMCID: PMC7892772 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.605335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 20 years, several modalities of neuromodulation, mainly based on non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, have been tested as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach to slow disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In both sporadic and familial ALS cases, neurophysiological studies point to motor cortical hyperexcitability as a possible priming factor in neurodegeneration, likely related to dysfunction of both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. A trans-synaptic anterograde mechanism of excitotoxicity is thus postulated, causing upper and lower motor neuron degeneration. Specifically, motor neuron hyperexcitability and hyperactivity are attributed to intrinsic cell abnormalities related to altered ion homeostasis and to impaired glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. Several neuropathological mechanisms support excitatory and synaptic dysfunction in ALS; additionally, hyperexcitability seems to drive DNA-binding protein 43-kDA (TDP-43) pathology, through the upregulation of unusual isoforms directly contributing to ASL pathophysiology. Corticospinal excitability can be suppressed or enhanced using NIBS techniques, namely, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as well as invasive brain and spinal stimulation. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that the after-effects of NIBS are mediated by long-term potentiation (LTP)-/long-term depression (LTD)-like mechanisms of modulation of synaptic activity, with different biological and physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of tDCS and rTMS and, possibly, of different rTMS protocols. This potential has led to several small trials testing different stimulation interventions to antagonize excitotoxicity in ALS. Overall, these studies suggest a possible efficacy of neuromodulation in determining a slight reduction of disease progression, related to the type, duration, and frequency of treatment, but current evidence remains preliminary. Main limitations are the small number and heterogeneity of recruited patients, the limited "dosage" of brain stimulation that can be delivered in the hospital setting, the lack of a sufficient knowledge on the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms targeted by specific stimulation interventions, and the persistent uncertainty on the key pathophysiological processes leading to motor neuron loss. The present review article provides an update on the state of the art of neuromodulation in ALS and a critical appraisal of the rationale for the application/optimization of brain stimulation interventions, in the light of their interaction with ALS pathophysiological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ranieri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Mariotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Raffaele Dubbioso
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Neuwirth C, Weber M. MUNIX
in children with spinal muscular atrophy: An unexpected journey. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:565-566. [DOI: 10.1002/mus.27053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic Kantonsspital St Gallen St Gallen Switzerland
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic Kantonsspital St Gallen St Gallen Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Xu LQ, Hu W, Guo QF, Lai LL, Xu GR, Chen WJ, Wang N, Zhang QJ. Median Nerve-Neurophysiological Index Correlates With the Survival of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:570227. [PMID: 33193014 PMCID: PMC7642643 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.570227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to explore the association between median nerve-neurophysiological index (NI) and survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: A retrospective case series with a prospective follow-up study was performed in 238 patients with ALS. Their clinical profiles and NI were recorded. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were adopted to perform survival analysis. Results: The median survival time of all ALS cases was 33.0 months. Multivariate analysis showed that older age of onset, shorter diagnostic delay, higher ΔALSFRS-R, and faster progression {NI ≤ 2.15; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.543 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.136–2.094]} were associated with short survival. NI was correlated with ALSFRS-R at baseline (rs = 0.3153; p < 0.0001) and ALSFRS-R at different time points of follow-up (rs = 0.5127; p < 0.0001). The higher NI slope of decline (> 0.25) showed shorter survival compared with the lower group (≤ 0.25; 34.0 vs. 52.0 months; p = 0.0003). A predictive model was constructed based on the age of onset, diagnostic delay, median nerve NI, and ΔALSFRS-R. The higher predictive score (> 14) showed significantly shorter survival compared with the lower group (≤ 14; HR = 3.907, 95% CI, 2.857–5.342). Conclusion: Median nerve NI and its slope of decline were predictive of survival of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liu-Qing Xu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qi-Fu Guo
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lu-Lu Lai
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guo-Rong Xu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Ning Wang
| | - Qi-Jie Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qi-Jie Zhang
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Neuwirth C, Weber M. Estimating the Number of Motor Neurons: First Go to the Roots Before Cropping the Fruits. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:154-155. [PMID: 32406530 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Verma S, Forte J, Ritchey M, Shah D. Motor unit number index in children with later-onset spinal muscular atrophy. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:633-637. [PMID: 32369629 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Motor unit number index (MUNIX) is a validated electrophysiological biomarker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. MUNIX studies in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are limited. METHODS Later-onset SMA children (n = 13; three SMN2 copy number) were evaluated for Hammersmith Motor Function Scale Expanded (HMFSE) and MUNIX of right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles. Age-matched healthy controls (n = 8) were enrolled to obtain normative APB and ADM MUNIX values. RESULTS Mean APB and ADM MUNIX values in SMA subjects were significantly reduced (P < .001) compared with controls. HMFSE scores strongly correlated with ADM MUNIX (r 0.63). CONCLUSIONS APB and ADM muscle MUNIX studies are feasible in SMA type 2 children. ADM MUNIX correlated with disease severity on motor function testing. MUNIX studies in later-onset SMA could be a potential biomarker of motor neuron loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Verma
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jasmine Forte
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mary Ritchey
- Department of Physical Therapy, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Durga Shah
- Department of Physical Therapy, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bashford JA, Wickham A, Iniesta R, Drakakis EM, Boutelle MG, Mills KR, Shaw CE. The rise and fall of fasciculations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa018. [PMID: 32901231 PMCID: PMC7425399 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with a median survival of 3 years from symptom onset. Accessible and reliable biomarkers of motor neuron decline are urgently needed to quicken the pace of drug discovery. Fasciculations represent an early pathophysiological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and can be reliably detected by high-density surface electromyography. We set out to quantify fasciculation potentials prospectively over 14 months, seeking comparisons with established markers of disease progression. Twenty patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and five patients with benign fasciculation syndrome underwent up to seven assessments each. At each assessment, we performed the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-functional rating scale, sum power score, slow vital capacity, 30-min high-density surface electromyography recordings from biceps and gastrocnemius and the motor unit number index. We employed the Surface Potential Quantification Engine, which is an automated analytical tool to detect and characterize fasciculations. Linear mixed-effect models were employed to account for the pseudoreplication of serial measurements. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-functional rating scale declined by 0.65 points per month (P < 0.0001), 35% slower than average. A total of 526 recordings were analysed. Compared with benign fasciculation syndrome, biceps fasciculation frequency in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was 10 times greater in strong muscles and 40 times greater in weak muscles. This was coupled with a decline in fasciculation frequency among weak muscles of -7.6/min per month (P = 0.003), demonstrating the rise and fall of fasciculation frequency in biceps muscles. Gastrocnemius behaved differently, whereby strong muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had fasciculation frequencies five times greater than patients with benign fasciculation syndrome while weak muscles were increased by only 1.5 times. Gastrocnemius demonstrated a significant decline in fasciculation frequency in strong muscles (2.4/min per month, P < 0.0001), which levelled off in weak muscles. Fasciculation amplitude, an easily quantifiable surrogate of the reinnervation process, was highest in the biceps muscles that transitioned from strong to weak during the study. Pooled analysis of >900 000 fasciculations revealed inter-fasciculation intervals <100 ms in the biceps of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, particularly in strong muscles, consistent with the occurrence of doublets. We hereby present the most comprehensive longitudinal quantification of fasciculation parameters in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, proposing a unifying model of the interactions between motor unit loss, muscle power and fasciculation frequency. The latter showed promise as a disease biomarker with linear rates of decline in strong gastrocnemius and weak biceps muscles, reflecting the motor unit loss that drives clinical progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Bashford
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Correspondence to: James A. Bashford, MRCP, PhD UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK E-mail:
| | - Aidan Wickham
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raquel Iniesta
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Kerry R Mills
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Chris E Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
De Schaepdryver M, Goossens J, De Meyer S, Jeromin A, Masrori P, Brix B, Claeys KG, Schaeverbeke J, Adamczuk K, Vandenberghe R, Van Damme P, Poesen K. Serum neurofilament heavy chains as early marker of motor neuron degeneration. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019; 6:1971-1979. [PMID: 31518073 PMCID: PMC6801162 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.50890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine whether serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH) levels are elevated before patients were diagnosed with sporadic or familial ALS, and what the prognostic value of these prediagnostic pNfH levels is. Methods pNfH was measured via ELISA in leftovers of serum drawn for routine purposes before the time of diagnosis. These prediagnostic samples were retrieved from the biobank of the University Hospitals Leuven for 95 patients who in follow‐up received a diagnosis of ALS. Additionally, 35 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 85 healthy controls (HC) were included in this retrospective study. Results The median disease duration (range) from onset to prediagnostic sampling and from onset to diagnosis was 6.5 (−71.9–36.1) and 9.9 (2.0–40.7) months, respectively. Fifty‐eight percent of the prediagnostic samples had serum pNfH levels above the 95th percentile of pNfH levels measured in HC. Serum pNfH levels (median (range)) were elevated up to 18 months before the diagnosis of ALS (91 pg/mL (6–342 pg/mL)) in comparison with HC (30 pg/mL (6–146 pg/mL); P = 0.05), and increased during the prediagnostic stage, which was not observed in patients with MCI. Furthermore, prediagnostic pNfH levels were a univariate predictor of survival in ALS (hazard ratio (95% CI): 2.16 (1.20–3.87); P = 0.01). Interpretation Our findings demonstrate that serum pNfH is elevated well before the time of diagnosis in mainly sporadic ALS patients. These results encourage to prospectively explore if pNfH has an added value to shorten the diagnostic delay in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxim De Schaepdryver
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Janne Goossens
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steffi De Meyer
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Pegah Masrori
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Kristl G Claeys
- Laboratory for Muscle diseases and Neuropathies, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Schaeverbeke
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katarzyna Adamczuk
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Poesen
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cao B, Wei Q, Ou R, Zhang L, Hou Y, Chen Y, Shang H. Neurophysiological index is associated with the survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2019; 130:1730-1733. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
21
|
Stålberg E, van Dijk H, Falck B, Kimura J, Neuwirth C, Pitt M, Podnar S, Rubin DI, Rutkove S, Sanders DB, Sonoo M, Tankisi H, Zwarts M. Standards for quantification of EMG and neurography. Clin Neurophysiol 2019; 130:1688-1729. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
22
|
The ‘neurophysiological index’ predicts survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2019; 130:1684-1685. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
23
|
Sirin NG, Oguz Akarsu E, Kocasoy Orhan E, Erbas B, Artug T, Dede HO, Baslo MB, Idrisoglu HA, Oge AE. Parameters derived from compound muscle action potential scan for discriminating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis‐related denervation. Muscle Nerve 2019; 60:400-408. [DOI: 10.1002/mus.26644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Gorkem Sirin
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Emel Oguz Akarsu
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Elif Kocasoy Orhan
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Bahar Erbas
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Tugrul Artug
- Electrical and Electronics EngineeringIstanbul Arel University Istanbul Turkey
| | - H. Ozlem Dede
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - M. Baris Baslo
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Halil A. Idrisoglu
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| | - A. Emre Oge
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of MedicineIstanbul University Istanbul Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gomes de Sousa MW, Escorcio-Bezerra ML, Pinto WBVR, Souza PVS, de Oliveira Braga NI, Oliveira ASB, Manzano GM. Motor unit number index (MUNIX) in myopathic disorders: Clinical correlations and potential pitfalls. Neurophysiol Clin 2019; 49:329-334. [PMID: 31331650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Our aim was to study motor unit number index (MUNIX) in myopathic disorders. We studied 11 patients with myopathy, and healthy controls. We obtained MUNIX, compound muscle action potential (CMAP), motor unit size index (MUSIX) and alpha (α, power exponent from MUNIX equation) measurements from three different muscles. MUNIX and CMAP were significantly lower in one muscle. This MUNIX decrease may not be related to motor neuron loss, but rather to muscle fiber atrophy. MUSIX and α did not change and may be useful in determining whether the MUNIX decrease is indeed due to motor unit loss.
Collapse
|
25
|
Extracellular vesicles and their diagnostic potential in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Chim Acta 2019; 497:27-34. [PMID: 31301281 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles, small reservoirs that carry various biomolecules, have gained significant interest from the clinical field in recent years based on the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic possibilities they offer. While information abound regarding the clinical potential of such vesicles in diverse conditions, the information demonstrating their likely importance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is more limited. This review will thus provide a brief introduction to extracellular vesicles, highlight their diagnostic significance in various diseases with a focus on ALS and explore additional applications of extracellular vesicles in the medical field. Overall, this work sheds further light on the clinical importance of extracellular vesicles in diagnostic applications as well as supports the need to better characterize their roles and signatures in patients diagnosed with ALS.
Collapse
|
26
|
Verber NS, Shepheard SR, Sassani M, McDonough HE, Moore SA, Alix JJP, Wilkinson ID, Jenkins TM, Shaw PJ. Biomarkers in Motor Neuron Disease: A State of the Art Review. Front Neurol 2019; 10:291. [PMID: 31001186 PMCID: PMC6456669 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron disease can be viewed as an umbrella term describing a heterogeneous group of conditions, all of which are relentlessly progressive and ultimately fatal. The average life expectancy is 2 years, but with a broad range of months to decades. Biomarker research deepens disease understanding through exploration of pathophysiological mechanisms which, in turn, highlights targets for novel therapies. It also allows differentiation of the disease population into sub-groups, which serves two general purposes: (a) provides clinicians with information to better guide their patients in terms of disease progression, and (b) guides clinical trial design so that an intervention may be shown to be effective if population variation is controlled for. Biomarkers also have the potential to provide monitoring during clinical trials to ensure target engagement. This review highlights biomarkers that have emerged from the fields of systemic measurements including biochemistry (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine analysis); imaging and electrophysiology, and gives examples of how a combinatorial approach may yield the best results. We emphasize the importance of systematic sample collection and analysis, and the need to correlate biomarker findings with detailed phenotype and genotype data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick S Verber
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie R Shepheard
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Matilde Sassani
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Harry E McDonough
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie A Moore
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - James J P Alix
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Iain D Wilkinson
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Tom M Jenkins
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abati E, Bresolin N, Comi G, Corti S. Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives in Translational Stem Cell Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6703-6715. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1554-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
28
|
Grollemund V, Pradat PF, Querin G, Delbot F, Le Chat G, Pradat-Peyre JF, Bede P. Machine Learning in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Achievements, Pitfalls, and Future Directions. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:135. [PMID: 30872992 PMCID: PMC6403867 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative condition with limited therapeutic options at present. Survival from symptom onset ranges from 3 to 5 years depending on genetic, demographic, and phenotypic factors. Despite tireless research efforts, the core etiology of the disease remains elusive and drug development efforts are confounded by the lack of accurate monitoring markers. Disease heterogeneity, late-stage recruitment into pharmaceutical trials, and inclusion of phenotypically admixed patient cohorts are some of the key barriers to successful clinical trials. Machine Learning (ML) models and large international data sets offer unprecedented opportunities to appraise candidate diagnostic, monitoring, and prognostic markers. Accurate patient stratification into well-defined prognostic categories is another aspiration of emerging classification and staging systems. Methods: The objective of this paper is the comprehensive, systematic, and critical review of ML initiatives in ALS to date and their potential in research, clinical, and pharmacological applications. The focus of this review is to provide a dual, clinical-mathematical perspective on recent advances and future directions of the field. Another objective of the paper is the frank discussion of the pitfalls and drawbacks of specific models, highlighting the shortcomings of existing studies and to provide methodological recommendations for future study designs. Results: Despite considerable sample size limitations, ML techniques have already been successfully applied to ALS data sets and a number of promising diagnosis models have been proposed. Prognostic models have been tested using core clinical variables, biological, and neuroimaging data. These models also offer patient stratification opportunities for future clinical trials. Despite the enormous potential of ML in ALS research, statistical assumptions are often violated, the choice of specific statistical models is seldom justified, and the constraints of ML models are rarely enunciated. Conclusions: From a mathematical perspective, the main barrier to the development of validated diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring indicators stem from limited sample sizes. The combination of multiple clinical, biofluid, and imaging biomarkers is likely to increase the accuracy of mathematical modeling and contribute to optimized clinical trial designs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Grollemund
- Laboratoire d'Informatique de Paris 6, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- FRS Consulting, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-François Pradat
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre Référent SLA, Paris, France
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified Medecine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute Ulster University, C-TRIC, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Querin
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre Référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - François Delbot
- Laboratoire d'Informatique de Paris 6, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Département de Mathématiques et Informatique, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
| | | | - Jean-François Pradat-Peyre
- Laboratoire d'Informatique de Paris 6, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Département de Mathématiques et Informatique, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
- Modal'X, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
| | - Peter Bede
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre Référent SLA, Paris, France
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Huynh W, Dharmadasa T, Vucic S, Kiernan MC. Functional Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1141. [PMID: 30662429 PMCID: PMC6328463 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) relies on determination of progressive dysfunction of both cortical as well as spinal and bulbar motor neurons. However, the variable mix of upper and lower motor neuron signs result in the clinical heterogeneity of patients with ALS, resulting frequently in delay of diagnosis as well as difficulty in monitoring disease progression and treatment outcomes particularly in a clinical trial setting. As such, the present review provides an overview of recently developed novel non-invasive electrophysiological techniques that may serve as biomarkers to assess UMN and LMN dysfunction in ALS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Steve Vucic
- Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Escorcio-Bezerra ML, Abrahao A, Nunes KF, de Castro Sparapani FV, de Oliveira Braga NI, Robinson LR, Zinman L, Manzano GM. Optimal E2 (reference) electrode placement in fibular motor nerve conduction studies recording from the tibialis anterior muscle. Muscle Nerve 2018; 59:249-253. [PMID: 30370536 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In this study we aimed to determine the contribution of the E2 (reference electrode) to the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude during fibular motor recording to the tibialis anterior (TA) when E2 is placed over routine referential vs. alternative sites. METHODS The CMAP was obtained from 10 healthy subjects, using the active electrode (E1) over sites routinely used as E2 for the TA, whereas the E2 was over the contralateral knee. The same procedure was performed with the E1 over alternative E2 sites. RESULTS Significant electrical signal was captured over routine E2 placement sites. Among the tested alternative E2 sites, the ipsilateral patella (especially its medial aspect) was the most electrically silent. DISCUSSION Using alternative E2 sites with near isoelectric recordings can optimize near-field potential measurement in the fibular motor recording to the TA and represents a more accurate way of measuring nerve and muscle function. Muscle Nerve 59:249-253, 2019.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcio Luiz Escorcio-Bezerra
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 650, 04039-002, Brazil
| | - Agessandro Abrahao
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 650, 04039-002, Brazil.,Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karlo Faria Nunes
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 650, 04039-002, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lawrence R Robinson
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gilberto Mastrocola Manzano
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 650, 04039-002, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Fatehi F, Grapperon AM, Fathi D, Delmont E, Attarian S. The utility of motor unit number index: A systematic review. Neurophysiol Clin 2018; 48:251-259. [PMID: 30287192 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The need for a valid biomarker for assessing disease progression and for use in clinical trials on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has stimulated the study of methods that could measure the number of motor units. Motor unit number index (MUNIX) is a newly developed neurophysiological technique that was demonstrated to have a good correlation with the number of motor units in a given muscle, even though it does not necessarily accurately express the actual number of viable motor neurons. Several studies demonstrated the technique is reproducible and capable of following motor neuron loss in patients with ALS and peripheral polyneuropathies. The main goal of this review was to conduct an extensive review of the literature using MUNIX. We conducted a systematic search in English medical literature published in two databases (PubMed and SCOPUS). In this review, we aimed to answer the following queries: Comparison of MUNIX with other MUNE techniques; the reproducibility of MUNIX; the utility of MUNIX in ALS and preclinical muscles, peripheral neuropathies, and other neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Fatehi
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone University Hospital, 13385 Marseille, France; Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aude-Marie Grapperon
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone University Hospital, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Davood Fathi
- Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Emilien Delmont
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone University Hospital, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone University Hospital, 13385 Marseille, France; Inserm, GMGF, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, 13385 France.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Querin G, Lenglet T, Debs R, Stojkovic T, Behin A, Salachas F, Le Forestier N, Amador MDM, Lacomblez L, Meininger V, Bruneteau G, Laforêt P, Blancho S, Marchand-Pauvert V, Bede P, Hogrel JY, Pradat PF. The motor unit number index (MUNIX) profile of patients with adult spinal muscular atrophy. Clin Neurophysiol 2018; 129:2333-2340. [PMID: 30248623 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Objective of this study is the comprehensive characterisation of motor unit (MU) loss in type III and IV Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) using motor unit number index (MUNIX), and evaluation of compensatory mechanisms based on MU size indices (MUSIX). METHODS Nineteen type III and IV SMA patients and 16 gender- and age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Neuromuscular performance was evaluated by muscle strength testing and functional scales. Compound motor action potential (CMAP), MUNIX and MUSIX were studied in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), deltoid, tibialis anterior and trapezius muscles. A composite MUNIX score was also calculated. RESULTS SMA patients exhibited significantly reduced MUNIX values (p < 0.05) in all muscles, while MUSIX was increased, suggesting active re-innervation. Significant correlations were identified between MUNIX/MUSIX and muscle strength. Similarly, composite MUNIX scores correlated with disability scores. Interestingly, in SMA patients MUNIX was much lower in the ADM than in the ABP, a pattern which is distinctly different from that observed in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS MUNIX is a sensitive measure of MU loss in adult forms of SMA and correlates with disability. SIGNIFICANCE MUNIX evaluation is a promising candidate biomarker for longitudinal studies and pharmacological trials in adult SMA patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Querin
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Paris, France; APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - Timothée Lenglet
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France; APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtriere, Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Paris, France
| | - Rabab Debs
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France; APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtriere, Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Paris, France
| | - Tanya Stojkovic
- APHP, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Paris-Est, Institut de Myologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Behin
- APHP, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Paris-Est, Institut de Myologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - François Salachas
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Le Forestier
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France; Département de recherche en éthique, EA 1610: Etudes des sciences et techniques, Université Paris Sud/Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Maria Del Mar Amador
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - Lucette Lacomblez
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Paris, France; APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Meininger
- Hôpital des Peupliers, Ramsay Générale de Santé, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Gaelle Bruneteau
- APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Laforêt
- Neurology Department, Nord/Est/Ile de France Neuromuscular Center, Raymond-Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France; INSERM U1179, END-ICAP, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Sophie Blancho
- Institut pour la Recherche sur la Moelle Epinière et l'Encéphale (IRME), Paris, France
| | | | - Peter Bede
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Paris, France; APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France; Computational Neuroimaging Group, Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jean-Yves Hogrel
- Institute of Myology, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Paris, France; Institut pour la Recherche sur la Moelle Epinière et l'Encéphale (IRME), Paris, France
| | - Pierre-François Pradat
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Paris, France; APHP, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre référent SLA, Paris, France; Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute Ulster University, C-TRIC, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry/Londonderry, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Turner MR. Progress and new frontiers in biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biomark Med 2018; 12:693-696. [PMID: 29856233 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2018-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|