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Salari M, Etemadifar M, Rashedi R, Mardani S. A Review of Ocular Movement Abnormalities in Hereditary Cerebellar Ataxias. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:702-721. [PMID: 37000369 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01554-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar ataxias are a wide heterogeneous group of disorders that may present with fine motor deficits as well as gait and balance disturbances that have a significant influence on everyday activities. To review the ocular movements in cerebellar ataxias in order to improve the clinical knowledge of cerebellar ataxias and related subtypes. English papers published from January 1990 to May 2022 were selected by searching PubMed services. The main search keywords were ocular motor, oculomotor, eye movement, eye motility, and ocular motility, along with each ataxia subtype. The eligible papers were analyzed for clinical presentation, involved mutations, the underlying pathology, and ocular movement alterations. Forty-three subtypes of spinocerebellar ataxias and a number of autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive ataxias were discussed in terms of pathology, clinical manifestations, involved mutations, and with a focus on the ocular abnormalities. A flowchart has been made using ocular movement manifestations to differentiate different ataxia subtypes. And underlying pathology of each subtype is reviewed in form of illustrated models to reach a better understanding of each disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehri Salari
- Neurology Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Etemadifar
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ronak Rashedi
- Neurology Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sayna Mardani
- Neurology Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Lopergolo D, Rosini F, Pretegiani E, Bargagli A, Serchi V, Rufa A. Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias: a diagnostic classification approach according to ocular features. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 17:1275794. [PMID: 38390227 PMCID: PMC10883068 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1275794] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders affecting primarily the cerebellum and/or its afferent tracts, often accompanied by damage of other neurological or extra-neurological systems. Due to the overlap of clinical presentation among ARCAs and the variety of hereditary, acquired, and reversible etiologies that can determine cerebellar dysfunction, the differential diagnosis is challenging, but also urgent considering the ongoing development of promising target therapies. The examination of afferent and efferent visual system may provide neurophysiological and structural information related to cerebellar dysfunction and neurodegeneration thus allowing a possible diagnostic classification approach according to ocular features. While optic coherence tomography (OCT) is applied for the parametrization of the optic nerve and macular area, the eye movements analysis relies on a wide range of eye-tracker devices and the application of machine-learning techniques. We discuss the results of clinical and eye-tracking oculomotor examination, the OCT findings and some advancing of computer science in ARCAs thus providing evidence sustaining the identification of robust eye parameters as possible markers of ARCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Lopergolo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- UOC Neurologia e Malattie Neurometaboliche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosini
- UOC Stroke Unit, Department of Emergenza-Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Pretegiani
- Unit of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise Lausanne, Unit of Neurology and Cognitive Neurorehabilitation, Universitary Hospital of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Bargagli
- Evalab-Neurosense, Department of Medicine Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Valeria Serchi
- Evalab-Neurosense, Department of Medicine Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rufa
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- UOC Neurologia e Malattie Neurometaboliche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
- Evalab-Neurosense, Department of Medicine Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Garces P, Antoniades CA, Sobanska A, Kovacs N, Ying SH, Gupta AS, Perlman S, Szmulewicz DJ, Pane C, Németh AH, Jardim LB, Coarelli G, Dankova M, Traschütz A, Tarnutzer AA. Quantitative Oculomotor Assessment in Hereditary Ataxia: Discriminatory Power, Correlation with Severity Measures, and Recommended Parameters for Specific Genotypes. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:121-135. [PMID: 36640220 PMCID: PMC10864420 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01514-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing bedside oculomotor deficits is a critical factor in defining the clinical presentation of hereditary ataxias. Quantitative assessments are increasingly available and have significant advantages, including comparability over time, reduced examiner dependency, and sensitivity to subtle changes. To delineate the potential of quantitative oculomotor assessments as digital-motor outcome measures for clinical trials in ataxia, we searched MEDLINE for articles reporting on quantitative eye movement recordings in genetically confirmed or suspected hereditary ataxias, asking which paradigms are most promising for capturing disease progression and treatment response. Eighty-nine manuscripts identified reported on 1541 patients, including spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA2, n = 421), SCA3 (n = 268), SCA6 (n = 117), other SCAs (n = 97), Friedreich ataxia (FRDA, n = 178), Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC, n = 57), and ataxia-telangiectasia (n = 85) as largest cohorts. Whereas most studies reported discriminatory power of oculomotor assessments in diagnostics, few explored their value for monitoring genotype-specific disease progression (n = 2; SCA2) or treatment response (n = 8; SCA2, FRDA, NPC, ataxia-telangiectasia, episodic-ataxia 4). Oculomotor parameters correlated with disease severity measures including clinical scores (n = 18 studies (SARA: n = 9)), chronological measures (e.g., age, disease duration, time-to-symptom onset; n = 17), genetic stratification (n = 9), and imaging measures of atrophy (n = 5). Recurrent correlations across many ataxias (SCA2/3/17, FRDA, NPC) suggest saccadic eye movements as potentially generic quantitative oculomotor outcome. Recommendation of other paradigms was limited by the scarcity of cross-validating correlations, except saccadic intrusions (FRDA), pursuit eye movements (SCA17), and quantitative head-impulse testing (SCA3/6). This work aids in understanding the current knowledge of quantitative oculomotor parameters in hereditary ataxias, and identifies gaps for validation as potential trial outcome measures in specific ataxia genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Garces
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chrystalina A Antoniades
- NeuroMetrology Lab, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Anna Sobanska
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Norbert Kovacs
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Sarah H Ying
- Department of Otology and Laryngology and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anoopum S Gupta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Perlman
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David J Szmulewicz
- Balance Disorders and Ataxia Service, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Chiara Pane
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura B Jardim
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Serviço de Genética Médica/Centro de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Giulia Coarelli
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Department of Genetics, Neurogene National Reference Centre for Rare Diseases, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Michaela Dankova
- Department of Neurology, Centre of Hereditary Ataxias, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andreas Traschütz
- Research Division "Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases," Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander A Tarnutzer
- Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Brueggemann A, Bicvic A, Goeldlin M, Kalla R, Kerkeni H, Mantokoudis G, Abegg M, Kolníková M, Mohaupt M, Bremova-Ertl T. Effects of Acetyl-DL-Leucine on Ataxia and Downbeat-Nystagmus in Six Patients With Ataxia Telangiectasia. J Child Neurol 2022; 37:20-27. [PMID: 34620022 DOI: 10.1177/08830738211028394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no authorized treatment for ataxia telangiectasia (AT). As cerebellar symptoms of storage diseases were improved by acetyl-DL-leucine (ADLL), the authors hypothesized a symptomatic and disease-modifying effect in AT upon supplementation with ADLL. METHODS Six patients were treated with ADLL 3 g/day for 1 week followed by 5g/day for 3 weeks to 1 year. Cerebellar ataxia was evaluated by validated scales. Gaze-holding, saccades and smooth pursuit were examined by video-oculography. Measurements took place at baseline, at 1 month of therapy in 5 patients, and after 6 and 12 months in 1 patient. RESULTS The Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia changed from the baseline, mean, (SD, min-max) of 22.1 (5.88, 11-28.5) to 18 points (5.39, 8.5-23.5) after 1 month on medication (P = .0028). All patients demonstrated gaze-holding deficits; 3 patients had central-position downbeat-nystagmus. Mean slow-phase velocity of this nystagmus with the gaze straight-ahead changed from 5.57°/s (1.8, 3.53-6.99) to 4.7°/s (0.79, 3.97-5.56) after 1 month on treatment (1.35, -2.56-4.17) (P = .046). INTERPRETATION ADLL may improve ataxia and ocular stability in AT patients, while the molecular basis still remains to be elucidated. A multicentric, rater-blinded, phase II trial currently investigates the effects of acetyl-L-leucine in AT (NCT03759678).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Brueggemann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sonnenhofspital, Lindenhofgruppe, Bern, Switzerland.,Shares the first author place
| | - Antonela Bicvic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Shares the first author place
| | - Martina Goeldlin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roger Kalla
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hassen Kerkeni
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Georgios Mantokoudis
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Abegg
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Kolníková
- Comenius University Children's Hospital, Department of Child Neurology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Markus Mohaupt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sonnenhofspital, Lindenhofgruppe, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tatiana Bremova-Ertl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sonnenhofspital, Lindenhofgruppe, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Center for Rare Diseases, Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilians University Hospital, Campus Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
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5
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Amirifar P, Ranjouri MR, Lavin M, Abolhassani H, Yazdani R, Aghamohammadi A. Ataxia-telangiectasia: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical phenotype, diagnosis, prognosis and management. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020; 16:859-871. [PMID: 32791865 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2020.1810570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, variable immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity, and cancer predisposition. Mutations cause A-T in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene encoding a serine/threonine-protein kinase. AREAS COVERED The authors reviewed the literature on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to collect comprehensive data related to A-T. This review aims to discuss various update aspects of A-T, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prognosis, and management. EXPERT OPINION A-T as a congenital disorder has phenotypic heterogeneity, and the severity of symptoms in different patients depends on the severity of mutations. This review provides a comprehensive overview of A-T, although some relevant questions about pathogenesis remain unanswered, probably owing to the phenotypic heterogeneity of this monogenic disorder. The presence of various clinical and immunologic manifestations in A-T indicates that the identification of the role of defective ATM in phenotype can be helpful in the better management and treatment of patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Amirifar
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Ranjouri
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran.,Molecular Medicine and Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences , Zanjan, Iran
| | - Martin Lavin
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), University of Queensland , L, Australia
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, Iran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran.,Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Reza Yazdani
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran
| | - Asghar Aghamohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran
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Gandor F, Tesch M, Neuhauser H, Gruber D, Heinze HJ, Ebersbach G, Lempert T. Diagnostic accuracy of a smartphone bedside test to assess the fixation suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex: when nothing else matters. J Neurol 2020; 267:2159-2163. [PMID: 32488297 PMCID: PMC7351825 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-09947-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Validation of a bedside test to objectify the fixation suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (FS-VOR) in patients with a cerebellar syndrome and healthy controls. METHODS The vestibulo-ocular reflex and its fixation suppression were assessed by video-nystagmography (VNG) in 20 healthy subjects (mean age 56 ± 15) and 19 patients with a cerebellar syndrome (mean age 70 ± 11). The statistical cutoff delineating normal from pathological FS-VOR was determined at the 2.5th percentile of the normal distribution of the healthy cohort. VNG was then compared to a bedside test, where eye movements were recorded with a smartphone while patients were rotated on a swivel chair at a defined speed and amplitude. These videos were rated as normal or pathological FS-VOR by six blinded raters, and results compared to VNG. RESULTS VNG in healthy controls showed FS-VOR with a reduction of nystagmus beats by 95.0% ± 7.2 (mean ± SD). The statistical cutoff was set at 80.6%. Cerebellar patients reduced nystagmus beats by only 26.3% ± 25.1. Inter-rater agreement of the smartphone video ratings was 85%. The sensitivity of the video ratings to detect an impaired FS-VOR was 99%, its specificity 92%. Inter-test agreement was 91%. CONCLUSION The smartphone bedside test is an easily performed, reliable, sensitive, specific, and inexpensive alternative for assessing FS-VOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florin Gandor
- Movement Disorders Hospital, Kliniken Beelitz GmbH, Strasse nach Fichtenwalde 16, 14547, Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany. .,Department of Neurology, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Manfred Tesch
- Department of Neurology, Schlosspark-Klinik Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Doreen Gruber
- Movement Disorders Hospital, Kliniken Beelitz GmbH, Strasse nach Fichtenwalde 16, 14547, Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Jochen Heinze
- Department of Neurology, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Georg Ebersbach
- Movement Disorders Hospital, Kliniken Beelitz GmbH, Strasse nach Fichtenwalde 16, 14547, Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany
| | - Thomas Lempert
- Department of Neurology, Schlosspark-Klinik Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Yacovino DA, Akly MP, Luis L, Zee DS. The Floccular Syndrome: Dynamic Changes in Eye Movements and Vestibulo-ocular Reflex in Isolated Infarction of the Cerebellar Flocculus. THE CEREBELLUM 2019; 17:122-131. [PMID: 28844105 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-017-0878-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellar flocculus is a critical structure involved in the control of eye movements. Both static and dynamic abnormalities of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) have been described in animals with experimental lesions of the flocculus/paraflocculus complex. In humans, lesions restricted to the flocculus are rare so they can become an exceptional model to contrast with the clinical features in experimental animals or in patients with more generalized cerebellar diseases. Here, we examined a 67-year-old patient with an acute vestibular syndrome due to an isolated infarct of the right flocculus. We evaluated him multiple times over 6 months-to follow the changes in eye movements and vestibular function-with caloric testing, video-oculography and head-impulse testing, and the anatomical changes on imaging. Acutely, he had an ipsilateral-beating spontaneous nystagmus, bilateral gaze-evoked nystagmus, borderline impaired smooth pursuit, and a complete contraversive ocular tilt reaction. The VOR gain was reduced for head impulses directed contralateral to the lesion, and there was also an ipsilesional caloric weakness. All abnormalities progressively improved at follow-up visits but with a considerable reduction in volume of the affected flocculus on imaging. The vestibular and ocular motor findings, qualitatively similar to a previously reported patient, further clarify the "acute floccular syndrome" in humans. We also add new information about the pattern of recovery from such a lesion with corresponding changes in the size of the affected flocculus on imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Andres Yacovino
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Cesar Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Memory and Balance Clinic, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Manuel Perez Akly
- Department of Neuroradiology, Dr. Cesar Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Radiology, Italian Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leonel Luis
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Santa Maria, CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David S Zee
- Departments of Neurology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Tang SY, Shaikh AG. Past and Present of Eye Movement Abnormalities in Ataxia-Telangiectasia. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 18:556-564. [PMID: 30523550 PMCID: PMC6751135 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-018-0990-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia is the second most common autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 100,000 births. Besides ataxia and ocular telangiectasias, eye movement abnormalities have long been associated with this disorder and is frequently present in almost all patients. A handful of studies have described the phenomenology of ocular motor deficits in ataxia-telangiectasia. Contemporary literature linked their physiology to cerebellar dysfunction and secondary abnormalities at the level of brainstem. These studies, while providing a proof of concept of ocular motor physiology in disease, i.e., ataxia-telangiectasia, also advanced our understanding of how the cerebellum works. Here, we will summarize the clinical abnormalities seen with ataxia-telangiectasia in each subtype of eye movements and subsequently describe the underlying pathophysiology. Finally, we will review how these deficits are linked to abnormal cerebellar function and how it allows better understanding of the cerebellar physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry Y Tang
- Department of Neurology, Neurology Service, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44110, USA
| | - Aasef G Shaikh
- Department of Neurology, Neurology Service, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44110, USA.
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9
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Amirifar P, Ranjouri MR, Yazdani R, Abolhassani H, Aghamohammadi A. Ataxia-telangiectasia: A review of clinical features and molecular pathology. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2019; 30:277-288. [PMID: 30685876 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency (PID) disease that is caused by mutations in ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene encoding a serine/threonine protein kinase. A-T patients represent a broad range of clinical manifestations including progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, variable immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity, susceptibility to malignancies, and increased metabolic diseases. This congenital disorder has phenotypic heterogeneity, and the severity of symptoms varies in different patients based on severity of mutations and disease progression. The principal role of nuclear ATM is the coordination of cellular signaling pathways in response to DNA double-strand breaks, oxidative stress, and cell cycle checkpoint. The pathogenesis of A-T is not limited to the role of ATM in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, and it has other functions mainly in the hematopoietic cells and neurons. ATM adjusts the functions of organelles such as mitochondria and peroxisomes and also regulates angiogenesis and glucose metabolisms. However, ATM has other functions in the cells (especially cell viability) that need further investigations. In this review, we described functions of ATM in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and also its association with some disorder formation such as neurologic, immunologic, vascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and dermatologic complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Amirifar
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Ranjouri
- Molecular Medicine and Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Reza Yazdani
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
- University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
- University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Asghar Aghamohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
- University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Tarnutzer AA, Straumann D, Salman MS. Neuro-ophthalmologic assessment and investigations in children and adults with cerebellar diseases. THE CEREBELLUM: FROM EMBRYOLOGY TO DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS 2018; 154:305-327. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63956-1.00019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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11
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Choudry TN, Hilton-Jones D, Lennox G, Houlden H. Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2: an evolving axonal neuropathy. Pract Neurol 2017; 18:52-56. [PMID: 29212862 DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2017-001711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A 23-year-old woman had presented initially to a podiatrist complaining of poorly fitting shoes during her adolescence. After extensive neurological review, she was diagnosed with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2. This is a progressive autosomal recessive ataxia associated with cerebellar atrophy, peripheral neuropathy and an elevated serum α-fetoprotein. Within Europe, it is the most frequent autosomal recessive ataxia after Friedreich's ataxia and is due to mutations in the senataxin (SETX) gene. The age of onset is approximately 15 years.The diagnosis of oculomotor apraxia type 2 is often challenging. We provide a framework for assessing a young ataxic patient with or without oculomotor apraxia and review clues that will aid diagnosis. The prognosis, level of disability, cancer and immunosuppression risk all markedly differ between the conditions. Patients and their families need the correct diagnosis for genetic counselling, management and long-term surveillance with appropriate subspecialty services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Graham Lennox
- Department of Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- Reta Lila Weston Laboratories and Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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Wiener-Vacher SR, Wiener SI. Video Head Impulse Tests with a Remote Camera System: Normative Values of Semicircular Canal Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain in Infants and Children. Front Neurol 2017; 8:434. [PMID: 28936193 PMCID: PMC5594068 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The video head impulse test (VHIT) is widely used to identify semicircular canal function impairments in adults. But classical VHIT testing systems attach goggles tightly to the head, which is not tolerated by infants. Remote video detection of head and eye movements resolves this issue and, here, we report VHIT protocols and normative values for children. Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain was measured for all canals of 303 healthy subjects, including 274 children (aged 2.6 months–15 years) and 26 adults (aged 16–67). We used the Synapsys® (Marseilles, France) VHIT Ulmer system whose remote camera measures head and eye movements. HITs were performed at high velocities. Testing typically lasts 5–10 min. In infants as young as 3 months old, VHIT yielded good inter-measure replicability. VOR gain increases rapidly until about the age of 6 years (with variation among canals), then progresses more slowly to reach adult values by the age of 16. Values are more variable among very young children and for the vertical canals, but showed no difference for right versus left head rotations. Normative values of VOR gain are presented to help detect vestibular impairment in patients. VHIT testing prior to cochlear implants could help prevent total vestibular loss and the resulting grave impairments of motor and cognitive development in patients with residual unilateral vestibular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvette R Wiener-Vacher
- Vestibulometry Unit, ORL Department, Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.,INSERM U-1141, Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Sidney I Wiener
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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13
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Abstract
In 1988, we introduced impulsive testing of semicircular canal (SCC) function measured with scleral search coils and showed that it could accurately and reliably detect impaired function even of a single lateral canal. Later we showed that it was also possible to test individual vertical canal function in peripheral and also in central vestibular disorders and proposed a physiological mechanism for why this might be so. For the next 20 years, between 1988 and 2008, impulsive testing of individual SCC function could only be accurately done by a few aficionados with the time and money to support scleral search-coil systems—an expensive, complicated and cumbersome, semi-invasive technique that never made the transition from the research lab to the dizzy clinic. Then, in 2009 and 2013, we introduced a video method of testing function of each of the six canals individually. Since 2009, the method has been taken up by most dizzy clinics around the world, with now close to 100 refereed articles in PubMed. In many dizzy clinics around the world, video Head Impulse Testing has supplanted caloric testing as the initial and in some cases the final test of choice in patients with suspected vestibular disorders. Here, we consider seven current, interesting, and controversial aspects of video Head Impulse Testing: (1) introduction to the test; (2) the progress from the head impulse protocol (HIMPs) to the new variant—suppression head impulse protocol (SHIMPs); (3) the physiological basis for head impulse testing; (4) practical aspects and potential pitfalls of video head impulse testing; (5) problems of vestibulo-ocular reflex gain calculations; (6) head impulse testing in central vestibular disorders; and (7) to stay right up-to-date—new clinical disease patterns emerging from video head impulse testing. With thanks and appreciation we dedicate this article to our friend, colleague, and mentor, Dr Bernard Cohen of Mount Sinai Medical School, New York, who since his first article 55 years ago on compensatory eye movements induced by vertical SCC stimulation has become one of the giants of the vestibular world.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Halmagyi
- Neurology Department, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Luke Chen
- Neurology Department, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Hamish G MacDougall
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Konrad P Weber
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leigh A McGarvie
- Neurology Department, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian S Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Rothblum-Oviatt C, Wright J, Lefton-Greif MA, McGrath-Morrow SA, Crawford TO, Lederman HM. Ataxia telangiectasia: a review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2016; 11:159. [PMID: 27884168 PMCID: PMC5123280 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-016-0543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 348] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
DEFINITION OF THE DISEASE Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disorder primarily characterized by cerebellar degeneration, telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, cancer susceptibility and radiation sensitivity. A-T is often referred to as a genome instability or DNA damage response syndrome. EPIDEMIOLOGY The world-wide prevalence of A-T is estimated to be between 1 in 40,000 and 1 in 100,000 live births. CLINICAL DESCRIPTION A-T is a complex disorder with substantial variability in the severity of features between affected individuals, and at different ages. Neurological symptoms most often first appear in early childhood when children begin to sit or walk. They have immunological abnormalities including immunoglobulin and antibody deficiencies and lymphopenia. People with A-T have an increased predisposition for cancers, particularly of lymphoid origin. Pulmonary disease and problems with feeding, swallowing and nutrition are common, and there also may be dermatological and endocrine manifestations. ETIOLOGY A-T is caused by mutations in the ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia, Mutated) gene which encodes a protein of the same name. The primary role of the ATM protein is coordination of cellular signaling pathways in response to DNA double strand breaks, oxidative stress and other genotoxic stress. DIAGNOSIS The diagnosis of A-T is usually suspected by the combination of neurologic clinical features (ataxia, abnormal control of eye movement, and postural instability) with one or more of the following which may vary in their appearance: telangiectasia, frequent sinopulmonary infections and specific laboratory abnormalities (e.g. IgA deficiency, lymphopenia especially affecting T lymphocytes and increased alpha-fetoprotein levels). Because certain neurological features may arise later, a diagnosis of A-T should be carefully considered for any ataxic child with an otherwise elusive diagnosis. A diagnosis of A-T can be confirmed by the finding of an absence or deficiency of the ATM protein or its kinase activity in cultured cell lines, and/or identification of the pathological mutations in the ATM gene. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS There are several other neurologic and rare disorders that physicians must consider when diagnosing A-T and that can be confused with A-T. Differentiation of these various disorders is often possible with clinical features and selected laboratory tests, including gene sequencing. ANTENATAL DIAGNOSIS Antenatal diagnosis can be performed if the pathological ATM mutations in that family have been identified in an affected child. In the absence of identifying mutations, antenatal diagnosis can be made by haplotype analysis if an unambiguous diagnosis of the affected child has been made through clinical and laboratory findings and/or ATM protein analysis. GENETIC COUNSELING Genetic counseling can help family members of a patient with A-T understand when genetic testing for A-T is feasible, and how the test results should be interpreted. MANAGEMENT AND PROGNOSIS Treatment of the neurologic problems associated with A-T is symptomatic and supportive, as there are no treatments known to slow or stop the neurodegeneration. However, other manifestations of A-T, e.g. immunodeficiency, pulmonary disease, failure to thrive and diabetes can be treated effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Wright
- The Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
| | - Maureen A. Lefton-Greif
- The Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
| | - Sharon A. McGrath-Morrow
- The Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
| | - Thomas O. Crawford
- The Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
| | - Howard M. Lederman
- The Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center, Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine and Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland USA
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Lewis RF. Vestibular implants studied in animal models: clinical and scientific implications. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:2777-2788. [PMID: 27760820 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00601.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to the peripheral vestibular system can result in debilitating postural, perceptual, and visual symptoms. A potential new treatment for this clinical problem is to replace some aspects of peripheral vestibular function with an implant that senses head motion and provides this information to the brain by stimulating branches of the vestibular nerve. In this review I consider animal studies performed at our institution over the past 15 years, which have helped elucidate how the brain processes information provided by a vestibular (semicircular canal) implant and how this information could be used to improve the problems experienced by patients with peripheral vestibular damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard F Lewis
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; .,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.,Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Vestibular function in patients with Niemann-Pick type C disease. J Neurol 2016; 263:2260-2270. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8247-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Impaired Tilt Suppression of Post-Rotatory Nystagmus and Cross-Coupled Head-Shaking Nystagmus in Cerebellar Lesions: Image Mapping Study. THE CEREBELLUM 2016; 16:95-102. [DOI: 10.1007/s12311-016-0772-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The study describes the clinical phenomenology and contemporary pathophysiology of concurrent oscillations of the eyes and the head that are present in neurological conditions with diverse causes. RECENT FINDINGS One classic example is spasmus nutans in which the eye oscillations are the primary cause, whereas head nodding is thought to be an operant conditional response that suppresses the eye oscillations to facilitate clear vision. The second example is a combination of head tremor and inadequate compensatory eye movements because of vestibular hypofunction leading to the illusion of pendular nystagmus - hence, the condition is called pseudonystagmus. Cerebellar degeneration in ataxia-telangiectasia or synchronized spontaneous discharge from the inferior olive and cerebellum in the syndrome of ocular palatal tremor with dystonia are examples of eye and head oscillations because of the impairment in cerebellar outflow. Infantile nystagmus syndrome also presents with eye and head oscillations, but here the relationship between the two types of oscillations differs among patients and is still unclear. SUMMARY The clinical features and putative pathophysiology of diverse disorders of the eyes and head that produce unwanted oscillations are reviewed. Key clinical pearls that are essential to separate these disorders at the bedside are also emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasef G. Shaikh
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Neurology Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA medical center, Cleveland, OH
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20
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Abstract
The differential diagnosis of patients with vestibular symptoms usually begins with the question: is the lesion central or is it peripheral? The answer commonly emerges from a careful examination of eye movements, especially when the lesion is located in otherwise clinically silent areas of the brain such as the vestibular portions of the cerebellum (flocculus, paraflocculus which is called the tonsils in humans, nodulus, and uvula) and the vestibular nuclei as well as immediately adjacent areas (the perihypoglossal nuclei and the paramedian nuclei and tracts). The neural circuitry that controls vestibular eye movements is intertwined with a larger network within the brainstem and cerebellum that also controls other types of conjugate eye movements. These include saccades and pursuit as well as the mechanisms that enable steady fixation, both straight ahead and in eccentric gaze positions. Navigating through this complex network requires a thorough knowledge about all classes of eye movements to help localize lesions causing a vestibular disorder. Here we review the different classes of eye movements and how to examine them, and then describe common ocular motor findings associated with central vestibular lesions from both a topographic and functional perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kheradmand
- Departments of Neurology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A I Colpak
- Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - D S Zee
- Departments of Neurology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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21
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Mizelle JC, Oparah A, Wheaton LA. Reliability of Visual and Somatosensory Feedback in Skilled Movement: The Role of the Cerebellum. Brain Topogr 2015; 29:27-41. [PMID: 26306810 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-015-0446-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The integration of vision and somatosensation is required to allow for accurate motor behavior. While both sensory systems contribute to an understanding of the state of the body through continuous updating and estimation, how the brain processes unreliable sensory information remains to be fully understood in the context of complex action. Using functional brain imaging, we sought to understand the role of the cerebellum in weighting visual and somatosensory feedback by selectively reducing the reliability of each sense individually during a tool use task. We broadly hypothesized upregulated activation of the sensorimotor and cerebellar areas during movement with reduced visual reliability, and upregulated activation of occipital brain areas during movement with reduced somatosensory reliability. As specifically compared to reduced somatosensory reliability, we expected greater activations of ipsilateral sensorimotor cerebellum for intact visual and somatosensory reliability. Further, we expected that ipsilateral posterior cognitive cerebellum would be affected with reduced visual reliability. We observed that reduced visual reliability results in a trend towards the relative consolidation of sensorimotor activation and an expansion of cerebellar activation. In contrast, reduced somatosensory reliability was characterized by the absence of cerebellar activations and a trend towards the increase of right frontal, left parietofrontal activation, and temporo-occipital areas. Our findings highlight the role of the cerebellum for specific aspects of skillful motor performance. This has relevance to understanding basic aspects of brain functions underlying sensorimotor integration, and provides a greater understanding of cerebellar function in tool use motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Mizelle
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
- Cognitive Motor Control Laboratory, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 555 14th St., Atlanta, GA, 30332-0356, USA
| | - Alexis Oparah
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Box 90086, 417 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Lewis A Wheaton
- Cognitive Motor Control Laboratory, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 555 14th St., Atlanta, GA, 30332-0356, USA.
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22
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Shaikh AG, Ghasia FF. Misdirected horizontal saccades in pan-cerebellar atrophy. J Neurol Sci 2015; 355:125-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Diedrichsen J, Zotow E. Surface-Based Display of Volume-Averaged Cerebellar Imaging Data. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133402. [PMID: 26230510 PMCID: PMC4521932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The paper presents a flat representation of the human cerebellum, useful for visualizing functional imaging data after volume-based normalization and averaging across subjects. Instead of reconstructing individual cerebellar surfaces, the method uses a white- and grey-matter surface defined on volume-averaged anatomical data. Functional data can be projected along the lines of corresponding vertices on the two surfaces. The flat representation is optimized to yield a roughly proportional relationship between the surface area of the 2D-representation and the volume of the underlying cerebellar grey matter. The map allows users to visualize the activation state of the complete cerebellar grey matter in one concise view, equally revealing both the anterior-posterior (lobular) and medial-lateral organization. As examples, published data on resting-state networks and task-related activity are presented on the flatmap. The software and maps are freely available and compatible with most major neuroimaging packages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörn Diedrichsen
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ewa Zotow
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Shaikh AG. Motion perception without Nystagmus--a novel manifestation of cerebellar stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2013; 23:1148-56. [PMID: 24268101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2013] [Revised: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The motion perception and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) each serve distinct functions. The VOR keeps the gaze steady on the target of interest, whereas vestibular perception serves a number of tasks, including awareness of self-motion and orientation in space. VOR and motion perception might abide the same neurophysiological principles, but their distinct anatomical correlates were proposed. In patients with cerebellar stroke in distribution of medial division of posterior inferior cerebellar artery, we asked whether specific location of the focal lesion in vestibulocerebellum could cause impaired perception of motion but normal eye movements. METHODS/RESULTS Thirteen patients were studied, 5 consistently perceived spinning of surrounding environment (vertigo), but the eye movements were normal. This group was called "disease model." Remaining 8 patients were also symptomatic for vertigo, but they had spontaneous nystagmus. The latter group was called "disease control." Magnetic resonance imaging in both groups consistently revealed focal cerebellar infarct affecting posterior cerebellar vermis (lobule IX). In the "disease model" group, only part of lobule IX was affected. In the disease control group, however, complete lobule IX was involved. CONCLUSIONS This study discovered a novel presentation of cerebellar stroke where only motion perception was affected, but there was an absence of objective neurologic signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasef G Shaikh
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
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Effects of 4-aminopyridine on nystagmus and vestibulo-ocular reflex in ataxia-telangiectasia. J Neurol 2013; 260:2728-35. [PMID: 23884713 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-013-7046-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with prominent eye movement deficits localizing to the cerebellum. We sought to determine if 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which putatively enhances the precision of Purkinje neurons, could improve the disorders of eye movements and vestibular function in A-T. The influence of 4-AP on disorders of eye movements and vestibular function was studied in four A-T patients. The effects on the cerebellar control of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was quantitatively assessed by the decay time constant of per- and post-rotational nystagmus during constant velocity en bloc rotations. The length of the VOR time constant determines the fidelity of the vestibular velocity storage, a neural mechanism that increases the bandwidth of VOR under cerebellar control. The VOR time constant was not increased in A-T patients. The latter is explained by the extent of cerebellar lesion as previously described in A-T and other cerebellar disorders. Nevertheless, 4-AP shortened the VOR time constant during horizontal rotations. Severe disinhibition of velocity storage in subjects with putatively profound cerebellar degeneration manifest periodic alternating nystagmus (PAN). Among two A-T subjects who manifested PAN, 4-AP reduced the peak slow phase velocity of the more severely affected individual and abrogated the PAN in the other. Two A-T subjects manifested horizontal and vertical spontaneous nystagmus (SN) in primary gaze, 4-AP reduced its slow phase velocity. We conclude that in subjects with A-T 4-AP has a prominent effect on the ocular motor and vestibular deficits that are ascribed to the loss of cerebellar Purkinje neurons.
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Shaikh AG, Zee DS, Mandir AS, Lederman HM, Crawford TO. Disorders of Upper Limb Movements in Ataxia-Telangiectasia. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67042. [PMID: 23826191 PMCID: PMC3694953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ataxia-telangiectasia is known for cerebellar degeneration, but clinical descriptions of abnormal tone, posture, and movements suggest involvement of the network between cerebellum and basal ganglia. We quantitatively assessed the nature of upper-limb movement disorders in ataxia-telangiectasia. We used a three-axis accelerometer to assess the natural history and severity of abnormal upper-limb movements in 80 ataxia-telangiectasia and 19 healthy subjects. Recordings were made during goal-directed movements of upper limb (kinetic task), while arms were outstretched (postural task), and at rest. Almost all ataxia-telangiectasia subjects (79/80) had abnormal involuntary movements, such as rhythmic oscillations (tremor), slow drifts (dystonia or athetosis), and isolated rapid movements (dystonic jerks or myoclonus). All patients with involuntary movements had both kinetic and postural tremor, while 48 (61%) also had resting tremor. The tremor was present in transient episodes lasting several seconds during two-minute recording sessions of all three conditions. Percent time during which episodic tremor was present was greater for postural and kinetic tasks compared to rest. Resting tremor had higher frequency but smaller amplitude than postural and kinetic tremor. Rapid non-rhythmic movements were minimal during rest, but were triggered during sustained arm postures and goal directed arm movements suggesting they are best considered a form of dystonic jerks or action myoclonus. Advancing age did not correlate with the severity of involuntary limb movements. Abnormal upper-limb movements in ataxia-telangiectasia feature classic cerebellar impairment, but also suggest involvement of the network between the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasef G. Shaikh
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David S. Zee
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Allen S. Mandir
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., United States of America
| | - Howard M. Lederman
- Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas O. Crawford
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Gravity-dependent nystagmus and inner-ear dysfunction suggest anterior and posterior inferior cerebellar artery infarct. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2013; 23:788-90. [PMID: 23800506 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar lesions may present with gravity-dependent nystagmus, where the direction and velocity of the drifts change with alterations in head position. Two patients had acute onset of hearing loss, vertigo, oscillopsia, nausea, and vomiting. Examination revealed gravity-dependent nystagmus, unilateral hypoactive vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), and hearing loss ipsilateral to the VOR hypofunction. Traditionally, the hypoactive VOR and hearing loss suggest inner-ear dysfunction. Vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and nystagmus may suggest peripheral or central vestibulopathy. The gravity-dependent modulation of nystagmus, however, localizes to the posterior cerebellar vermis. Magnetic resonance imaging in our patients revealed acute cerebellar infarct affecting posterior cerebellar vermis, in the vascular distribution of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). This lesion explains the gravity-dependent nystagmus, nausea, and vomiting. Acute onset of unilateral hearing loss and VOR hypofunction could be the manifestation of inner-ear ischemic injury secondary to the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) compromise. In cases of combined AICA and PICA infarction, the symptoms of peripheral vestibulopathy might masquerade the central vestibular syndrome and harbor a cerebellar stroke. However, the gravity-dependent nystagmus allows prompt identification of acute cerebellar infarct.
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Sang L, Qin W, Liu Y, Han W, Zhang Y, Jiang T, Yu C. Resting-state functional connectivity of the vermal and hemispheric subregions of the cerebellum with both the cerebral cortical networks and subcortical structures. Neuroimage 2012; 61:1213-25. [PMID: 22525876 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The human cerebellum is a heterogeneous structure, and the pattern of resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of each subregion has not yet been fully characterized. We aimed to systematically investigate rsFC pattern of each cerebellar subregion in 228 healthy young adults. Voxel-based analysis revealed that several subregions showed similar rsFC patterns, reflecting functional integration; however, different subregions displayed distinct rsFC patterns, representing functional segregation. The same vermal and hemispheric subregions showed either different patterns or different strengths of rsFCs with the cerebrum, and different subregions of lobules VII and VIII displayed different rsFC patterns. Region of interest (ROI)-based analyses also confirmed these findings. Specifically, strong rsFCs were found: between lobules I-VI and vermal VIIb-IX and the visual network; between hemispheric VI, VIIb, VIIIa and the auditory network; between lobules I-VI, VIII and the sensorimotor network; between lobule IX, vermal VIIIb and the default-mode network; between lobule Crus I, hemispheric Crus II and the fronto-parietal network; between hemispheric VIIb, VIII and the task-positive network; between hemispheric VI, VIIb, VIII and the salience network; between most cerebellar subregions and the thalamus; between lobules V, VIIb and the midbrain red nucleus; between hemispheric Crus I, Crus II, vermal VIIIb, IX and the caudate nucleus; between lobules V, VI, VIIb, VIIIa and the pallidum and putamen; and between lobules I-V, hemispheric VIII, IX and the hippocampus and amygdala. These results confirm the existence of both functional integration and segregation among cerebellar subregions and largely improve our understanding of the functional organization of the human cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
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Paravisini A, Gurbindo MD, Sánchez Román S. [Ataxia-telangiectasia]. Med Clin (Barc) 2012; 138:249-53. [PMID: 21940004 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2011.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2011] [Revised: 06/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Paravisini
- Unidad de Inmunología Clínica, Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España
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McCall AA, Yates BJ. Compensation following bilateral vestibular damage. Front Neurol 2011; 2:88. [PMID: 22207864 PMCID: PMC3246292 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2011.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bilateral loss of vestibular inputs affects far fewer patients than unilateral inner ear damage, and thus has been understudied. In both animal subjects and human patients, bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) produces a variety of clinical problems, including impaired balance control, inability to maintain stable blood pressure during postural changes, difficulty in visual targeting of images, and disturbances in spatial memory and navigational performance. Experiments in animals have shown that non-labyrinthine inputs to the vestibular nuclei are rapidly amplified following the onset of BVH, which may explain the recovery of postural stability and orthostatic tolerance that occurs within 10 days. However, the loss of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and degraded spatial cognition appear to be permanent in animals with BVH. Current concepts of the compensatory mechanisms in humans with BVH are largely inferential, as there is a lack of data from patients early in the disease process. Translation of animal studies of compensation for BVH into therapeutic strategies and subsequent application in the clinic is the most likely route to improve treatment. In addition to physical therapy, two types of prosthetic devices have been proposed to treat individuals with bilateral loss of vestibular inputs: those that provide tactile stimulation to indicate body position in space, and those that deliver electrical stimuli to branches of the vestibular nerve in accordance with head movements. The relative efficacy of these two treatment paradigms, and whether they can be combined to facilitate recovery, is yet to be ascertained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A McCall
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Abstract
An intact cerebellum is a prerequisite for optimal ocular motor performance. The cerebellum fine-tunes each of the subtypes of eye movements so they work together to bring and maintain images of objects of interest on the fovea. Here we review the major aspects of the contribution of the cerebellum to ocular motor control. The approach will be based on structural–functional correlation, combining the effects of lesions and the results from physiologic studies, with the emphasis on the cerebellar regions known to be most closely related to ocular motor function: (1) the flocculus/paraflocculus for high-frequency (brief) vestibular responses, sustained pursuit eye movements, and gaze holding, (2) the nodulus/ventral uvula for low-frequency (sustained) vestibular responses, and (3) the dorsal oculomotor vermis and its target in the posterior portion of the fastigial nucleus (the fastigial oculomotor region) for saccades and pursuit initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Kheradmand
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
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