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Dharmadasa T, Pavey N, Tu S, Menon P, Huynh W, Mahoney CJ, Timmins HC, Higashihara M, van den Bos M, Shibuya K, Kuwabara S, Grosskreutz J, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Novel approaches to assessing upper motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:68-89. [PMID: 38705104 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.010] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Identifying upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is fundamental to the diagnosis and understanding of disease pathogenesis in motor neuron disease (MND). The clinical assessment of UMN dysfunction may be difficult, particularly in the setting of severe muscle weakness. From a physiological perspective, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques provide objective biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND and may also be useful to interrogate cortical and network function. Single, paired- and triple pulse TMS techniques have yielded novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MND, and have provided important pathogenic insights, particularly pertaining to site of disease onset. Cortical hyperexcitability, as heralded by reduced short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and increased short interval intracortical facilitation, has been associated with the onset of lower motor neuron degeneration, along with patterns of disease spread, development of specific clinical features such as the split hand phenomenon, and may provide an indication about the rate of disease progression. Additionally, reduction of SICI has emerged as a potential diagnostic aid in MND. The triple stimulation technique (TST) was shown to enhance the diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures in detecting UMN dysfunction in MND. Separately, sophisticated brain imaging techniques have uncovered novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration that have bene associated with progression. The present review will discuss the utility of TMS and brain neuroimaging derived biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND, focusing on recently developed TMS techniques and advanced neuroimaging modalities that interrogate structural and functional integrity of the corticomotoneuronal system, with an emphasis on pathogenic, diagnostic, and prognostic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital City Campus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sicong Tu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Colin J Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Hannah C Timmins
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mana Higashihara
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mehdi van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kazumoto Shibuya
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Excellence Cluster Precision Medicine in Inflammation, University of Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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López-Carbonero JI, García-Toledo I, Fernández-Hernández L, Bascuñana P, Gil-Moreno MJ, Matías-Guiu JA, Corrochano S. In vivo diagnosis of TDP-43 proteinopathies: in search of biomarkers of clinical use. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:29. [PMID: 38831349 PMCID: PMC11149336 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00419-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 proteinopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders that share the presence of aberrant, misfolded and mislocalized deposits of the protein TDP-43, as in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and some, but not all, pathological variants of frontotemporal dementia. In recent years, many other diseases have been reported to have primary or secondary TDP-43 proteinopathy, such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease or the recently described limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, highlighting the need for new and accurate methods for the early detection of TDP-43 proteinopathy to help on the stratification of patients with overlapping clinical diagnosis. Currently, TDP-43 proteinopathy remains a post-mortem pathologic diagnosis. Although the main aim is to determine the pathologic TDP-43 proteinopathy in the central nervous system (CNS), the ubiquitous expression of TDP-43 in biofluids and cells outside the CNS facilitates the use of other accessible target tissues that might reflect the potential TDP-43 alterations in the brain. In this review, we describe the main developments in the early detection of TDP-43 proteinopathies, and their potential implications on diagnosis and future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan I López-Carbonero
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene García-Toledo
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Fernández-Hernández
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Bascuñana
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María J Gil-Moreno
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi A Matías-Guiu
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Corrochano
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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Zejlon C, Nakhostin D, Winklhofer S, Pangalu A, Kulcsar Z, Lewandowski S, Finnsson J, Piehl F, Ingre C, Granberg T, Ineichen BV. Structural magnetic resonance imaging findings and histopathological correlations in motor neuron diseases—A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:947347. [PMID: 36110394 PMCID: PMC9468579 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.947347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesThe lack of systematic evidence on neuroimaging findings in motor neuron diseases (MND) hampers the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thus, we aimed at performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of MRI features in MND including their histopathological correlation.MethodsIn a comprehensive literature search, out of 5941 unique publications, 223 records assessing brain and spinal cord MRI findings in MND were eligible for a qualitative synthesis. 21 records were included in a random effect model meta-analysis.ResultsOur meta-analysis shows that both T2-hyperintensities along the corticospinal tracts (CST) and motor cortex T2*-hypointensitites, also called “motor band sign”, are more prevalent in ALS patients compared to controls [OR 2.21 (95%-CI: 1.40–3.49) and 10.85 (95%-CI: 3.74–31.44), respectively]. These two imaging findings correlate to focal axonal degeneration/myelin pallor or glial iron deposition on histopathology, respectively. Additionally, certain clinical MND phenotypes such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seem to present with distinct CNS atrophy patterns.ConclusionsAlthough CST T2-hyperintensities and the “motor band sign” are non-specific imaging features, they can be leveraged for diagnostic workup of suspected MND cases, together with certain brain atrophy patterns. Collectively, this study provides high-grade evidence for the usefulness of MRI in the diagnostic workup of suspected MND cases.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42020182682.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Zejlon
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dominik Nakhostin
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Winklhofer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Athina Pangalu
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zsolt Kulcsar
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Johannes Finnsson
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Neurology, Academic Specialist Center, Stockholm Health Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Granberg
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Victor Ineichen
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Benjamin Victor Ineichen
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El Mendili MM, Grapperon AM, Dintrich R, Stellmann JP, Ranjeva JP, Guye M, Verschueren A, Attarian S, Zaaraoui W. Alterations of Microstructure and Sodium Homeostasis in Fast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progressors: A Brain DTI and Sodium MRI Study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022; 43:984-990. [PMID: 35772800 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE While conventional MR imaging has limited value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, nonconventional MR imaging has shown alterations of microstructure using diffusion MR imaging and recently sodium homeostasis with sodium MR imaging. We aimed to investigate the topography of brain regions showing combined microstructural and sodium homeostasis alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis subgroups according to their disease-progression rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-nine patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 24 age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Clinical assessments included disease duration and the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale. Patients were clinically differentiated into fast (n = 13) and slow (n = 16) progressors according to the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale progression rate. 3T MR imaging brain protocol included 1H T1-weighted and diffusion sequences and a 23Na density-adapted radial sequence. Quantitative maps of diffusion with fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and total sodium concentration were measured. The topography of diffusion and sodium abnormalities was assessed by voxelwise analyses. RESULTS Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis showed significantly higher sodium concentrations and lower fractional anisotropy, along with higher sodium concentrations and higher mean diffusivity compared with healthy controls, primarily within the corticospinal tracts, corona radiata, and body and genu of the corpus callosum. Fast progressors showed wider-spread abnormalities mainly in the frontal areas. In slow progressors, only fractional anisotropy measures showed abnormalities compared with healthy controls, localized in focal regions of the corticospinal tracts, the body of corpus callosum, corona radiata, and thalamic radiation. CONCLUSIONS The present study evidenced widespread combined microstructural and sodium homeostasis brain alterations in fast amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M El Mendili
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France .,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - A-M Grapperon
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hôpital de la Timone (A.-M.G., R.D., S.A.), Referral Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Marseille, France
| | - R Dintrich
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hôpital de la Timone (A.-M.G., R.D., S.A.), Referral Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Marseille, France
| | - J-P Stellmann
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - J-P Ranjeva
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - M Guye
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - A Verschueren
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - S Attarian
- APHM, Hôpital de la Timone (A.-M.G., R.D., S.A.), Referral Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Marseille, France
| | - W Zaaraoui
- From the Aix Marseille University (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, The Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hopital de la Timone (M.M.E.M., A.-M.G., R.D., J.-P.S., J.-P.R., M.G., A.V., W.Z.), CEMEREM, Marseille, France
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Motor Band Sign in Motor Neuron Disease: A Marker for Upper Motor Neuron Involvement. Can J Neurol Sci 2022; 50:373-379. [PMID: 35477836 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2022.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The prevalence and role of the motor band sign (MBS) remain unclear in motor neuron disease. We report the frequency of MBS in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), its correlation with clinical upper motor neuron (UMN) signs, and prognostic value in ALS. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of ALS, PLS, and controls with retrievable MRI between 2010 and 2018. We compared the frequencies of MBS across the three groups, and studied correlation between susceptibility-weighted MRI measurements in primary motor cortices and contralateral UMN features. Clinical outcomes were compared between ALS with and without MBS. RESULTS Thirteen ALS, 5 PLS, and 10 controls were included (median age 60 years, IQR 54-66 years; 14/28 males). MBS was present in 9/13 (69.2%, 95% CI 38.9-89.6%) and 4/5 (80.0%, 95% CI 29.9-99.0%) of ALS and PLS, respectively, and none in controls. 2/13 (15.4%, 95% CI 2.7-46.3%) ALS and 3/5 (60.0%, 95% CI 17.0-92.7%) PLS had MBS in the absence of corticospinal T2/FLAIR hyperintensity sign. Susceptibility measurements in left motor cortices had a significantly positive correlation with contralateral UMN signs in ALS (τb = 0.628, p = 0.03). Similar but nonsignificant trends was observed for right motor cortices in ALS (τb = 0.516, p = 0.07). There were no significant differences in mRS at last follow-up, mortality, or time from symptom onset to last follow-up between ALS patients with and without MBS. CONCLUSIONS We provide limited evidence that MBS and susceptibility quantification measurements in motor cortices may serve as surrogate markers of UMN involvement in motor neuron disease.
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Bell LC, Fuentes AE, Healey DR, Chao R, Bakkar N, Sirianni RW, Medina DX, Bowser RP, Ladha SS, Semmineh NB, Stokes AM, Quarles CC. Longitudinal evaluation of myofiber microstructural changes in a preclinical ALS model using the transverse relaxivity at tracer equilibrium (TRATE): A preliminary study. Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 85:217-221. [PMID: 34715291 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.10.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
T2⁎ relaxivity contrast imaging may serve as a potential imaging biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by noninvasively quantifying the tissue microstructure. In this preliminary longitudinal study, we investigated the Transverse Relaxivity at Tracer Equilibrium (TRATE) in three muscle groups between SOD1-G93A (ALS model) rat and a control population at two different timepoints. The control group was time matched to the ALS group such that the second timepoint was the onset of disease. We observed a statistically significant decrease in TRATE over time in the gastrocnemius, tibialis, and digital flexor muscles in the SOD1-G93A model (p-value = 0.003, 0.008, 0.005; respectively), whereas TRATE did not change over time in the control group (p-value = 0.4777, 0.6837, 0.9682; respectively). Immunofluorescent staining revealed a decrease in minimum fiber area and cell density in the SOD1-G93A model when compared to the control group (p-value = 6.043E-10 and 2.265E-10, respectively). These microstructural changes observed from histology align with the theorized biophysical properties of TRATE. We demonstrate that TRATE can longitudinally differentiate disease associated atrophy from healthy muscle and has potential to serve as a biomarker for disease progression and ultimately therapy response in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Bell
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Alberto E Fuentes
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Deborah R Healey
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Renee Chao
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Nadine Bakkar
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Rachael W Sirianni
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - David X Medina
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Robert P Bowser
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Shafeeq S Ladha
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Natenael B Semmineh
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Ashley M Stokes
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - C Chad Quarles
- Division of Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America.
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Measurement of structural integrity of the spinal cord in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224078. [PMID: 31661496 PMCID: PMC6818775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is low. Functional and quantitative MRI could be more accurate. We aimed to examine the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements of the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord in patients with ALS. Patients and methods Fourteen patients with ALS and 15 sex- and age-matched controls were examined with DTI at a 3T MRI scanner. Region-of-interest (ROI) based fractional anisotropy measurements were performed at the levels C2-C4, C5-C7 and Th1-Th3. ROIs were placed at different anatomical locations of the axial cross sections of the spinal cord. Results FA was significantly reduced in ALS patients in anterolateral ROIs and the whole cross section at the C2-C4 level and the cross section of the Th1-Th3 level. There was a trend towards a statistically significant FA reduction in the anterolateral ROIs at the C5-C7 level in ALS patients. No significant differences between patients and controls were found in posterior ROIs. Conclusion FA was reduced in ROIs representing the motor tracts in ALS patients. DTI with FA measurements is a promising method in this circumstance. However, for DTI to become a valuable and established method in the diagnostic workup of ALS, larger studies and further standardisation are warranted.
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Swindell WR, Kruse CPS, List EO, Berryman DE, Kopchick JJ. ALS blood expression profiling identifies new biomarkers, patient subgroups, and evidence for neutrophilia and hypoxia. J Transl Med 2019; 17:170. [PMID: 31118040 PMCID: PMC6530130 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1909-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating disease with few treatment options. Progress towards new therapies requires validated disease biomarkers, but there is no consensus on which fluid-based measures are most informative. METHODS This study analyzed microarray data derived from blood samples of patients with ALS (n = 396), ALS mimic diseases (n = 75), and healthy controls (n = 645). Goals were to provide in-depth analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), characterize patient-to-patient heterogeneity, and identify candidate biomarkers. RESULTS We identified 752 ALS-increased and 764 ALS-decreased DEGs (FDR < 0.10 with > 10% expression change). Gene expression shifts in ALS blood broadly resembled acute high altitude stress responses. ALS-increased DEGs had high exosome expression, were neutrophil-specific, associated with translation, and overlapped significantly with genes near ALS susceptibility loci (e.g., IFRD1, TBK1, CREB5). ALS-decreased DEGs, in contrast, had low exosome expression, were erythroid lineage-specific, and associated with anemia and blood disorders. Genes encoding neurofilament proteins (NEFH, NEFL) had poor diagnostic accuracy (50-53%). However, support vector machines distinguished ALS patients from ALS mimics and controls with 87% accuracy (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 87%). Expression profiles were heterogeneous among patients and we identified two subgroups: (i) patients with higher expression of IL6R and myeloid lineage-specific genes and (ii) patients with higher expression of IL23A and lymphoid-specific genes. The gene encoding copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) was most strongly associated with survival (HR = 0.77; P = 1.84e-05) and other survival-associated genes were linked to mitochondrial respiration. We identify a 61 gene signature that significantly improves survival prediction when added to Cox proportional hazard models with baseline clinical data (i.e., age at onset, site of onset and sex). Predicted median survival differed 2-fold between patients with favorable and risk-associated gene expression signatures. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral blood analysis informs our understanding of ALS disease mechanisms and genetic association signals. Our findings are consistent with low-grade neutrophilia and hypoxia as ALS phenotypes, with heterogeneity among patients partly driven by differences in myeloid and lymphoid cell abundance. Biomarkers identified in this study require further validation but may provide new tools for research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R. Swindell
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45236 USA
| | - Colin P. S. Kruse
- Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Edward O. List
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Darlene E. Berryman
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - John J. Kopchick
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
- The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
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Wirth AM, Johannesen S, Khomenko A, Baldaranov D, Bruun TH, Wendl C, Schuierer G, Greenlee MW, Bogdahn U. Value of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI data analyzed by the lesion segmentation toolbox in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 2018; 50:552-559. [PMID: 30569457 PMCID: PMC6767504 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MRI fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) studies reported hyperintensity in the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Purpose To evaluate the lesion segmentation toolbox (LST) for the objective quantification of FLAIR lesions in ALS patients. Study Type Retrospective. Population Twenty‐eight ALS patients (eight females, mean age: 50 range: 24–73, mean ALSFRS‐R sum score: 36) were compared with 31 age‐matched healthy controls (12 females, mean age: 45, range: 25–67). ALS patients were treated with riluzole and additional G‐CSF (granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor) on a named patient basis. Field Strength/Sequence 1.5 T, FLAIR, T1‐weighted MRI. Assessment The lesion prediction algorithm (LPA) of the LST enabled the extraction of individual binary lesion maps, total lesion volume (TLV), and number (TLN). Location and overlap of FLAIR lesions across patients were investigated by registration to FLAIR average space and an atlas. ALS‐specific functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS‐R), disease progression, and survival since diagnosis served as clinical correlates. Statistical Tests Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated‐measures ANOVA, t‐test, Bravais‐Pearson correlation, Chi‐square test of independence, Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox‐regression analysis. Results Both ALS patients and healthy controls exhibited FLAIR alterations. TLN significantly depended on age (F(1,54) = 24.659, P < 0.001) and sex (F(1,54) = 5.720, P = 0.020). ALS patients showed higher TLN than healthy controls depending on sex (F(1, 54) = 5.076, P = 0.028). FLAIR lesions were small and most pronounced in male ALS patients. FLAIR alterations were predominantly detected in the superior and posterior corona radiata, anterior capsula interna, and posterior thalamic radiation. Patients with pyramidal tract (PT) lesions exhibited significantly inferior survival than patients without PT lesions (P = 0.013). Covariate age exhibited strong prognostic value for survival (P = 0.015). Data Conclusion LST enables the objective quantification of FLAIR alterations and is a potential prognostic biomarker for ALS. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:552–559.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Wirth
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Siw Johannesen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Andrei Khomenko
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dobri Baldaranov
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tim-Henrik Bruun
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christina Wendl
- Center of Neuroradiology, University Hospital and District Medical Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schuierer
- Center of Neuroradiology, University Hospital and District Medical Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mark W Greenlee
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Bogdahn
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany
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Rule based classification of neurodegenerative diseases using data driven gait features. HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12553-018-0274-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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11
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The "Motor Band Sign:" Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Can J Neurol Sci 2015; 42:260-3. [PMID: 25971894 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2015.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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