Analysis of calpain-3 protein in muscle biopsies of different muscular dystrophies from India.

Background & objectives: Calpain-3, a Ca2+-dependent protease has been implicated in the pathology of neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The current study aimed to analyze calpain-3 expression in cases diagnosed as muscular dystrophy from the Indian population. Methods: Calpain-3 Western blot analysis in muscle biopsies of immunohistochemically confirmed cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (n=10), dysferlinopathy (n=30) and sarcoglycanopathy (n=8) was carried out. Calpain-3 Western blotting was also used in a blinded study to identify cases of calpain-3 deficiency in 28 NMD patients with potential muscular dystrophy. Results: Calpain-3 appeared as a full length 94 kDa band with an autolytic product (~60 kDa) on Western blots with antibody NCL-CALP-12A2 (Ab-2). Eight of the 10 DMD samples showed absence of 94 kDa band but presence of 60 kDa band while one case of sarcoglycanopathy showed absence of both. Twenty one of the 30 dysferlinopathy samples showed both bands while six showed only the 60 kDa band and three showed absence of both. In the blinded study, five NMD cases with potential muscular dystrophy that showed complete absence of both bands in retrospect exhibited clinical features of limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2A (LGMD2A). Interpretation & conclusions: While the study revealed a consistent pattern of calpain-3 in DMD, one sarcoglycanopathy and three dysferlinopathy samples exhibited secondary reduction in calpain-3. It was recognized that both calpain-3 bands should be considered to confirm calpain deficiency. Further, western blot offers an economical and fast preliminary screening method for LGMD2A especially in cases of complete absence of calpain-3 prior to conclusive diagnosis by genetic testing.

Dysferlinopathy: Spectrum of pathological changes in skeletal muscle tissue.

Background: Dysferlinopathy is an autosomal recessive-limb girdle muscular dystrophy (AR-LGMD) caused due to the defect in gene encoding dysferlin, a sarcolemmal protein. Awareness of the variants and their relative frequency is essential for accurate diagnosis. Aim: To study the spectrum of morphologic changes in immunohistochemically proven cases of dysferlinopathies, to correlate the findings with clinical phenotype and durations of illness and determine the frequency. Materials and Methods: Dysferlinopathies seen over a period of 2 years at a tertiary neurological center were analyzed. Results: Clinically, majority had Miyoshi phenotype (46.6%) with distal involvement and LGMD phenotype (40%) with proximal muscle involvement. In addition, a proximo-distal and tibial muscle phenotype was encountered. Morphologically, rimmed vacuoles were noted in the Miyoshi phenotype. The presence of ragged red fibers, lobulated fibers and inflammation had no preference to a particular phenotype. Significant atrophy and lobulated fibers were noted in patients with longer duration of illness. Conclusions: Dysferlinopathy was the second most common identifiable cause (21%) of LGMD next to sarcoglycanopathies (27%).

Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy: report of nine cases from India.

BACKGROUND: Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD) is a unique congenital disorder characterized clinically by generalized muscle weakness, contractures of the proximal joints and hyperextensibility of the distal joints and begins from birth or early infancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated nine cases of classical UCMD and recorded the clinical phenotypic characteristics and the histopathological findings. RESULTS: There were eight boys and one girl child with classical features of severe muscle weakness, prominent proximal contractures, distal hyperlaxity and prominent calcanei. Immunohistochemistry for Collagen VI A1 done on seven cases showed total absence of labeling in six while sarcolemmal-specific deficiency was noted in one case confirming the diagnosis of UCMD. Interestingly, all our patients were noted to have near total absence of major palmar and plantar creases, and instead there were fine mesh-like lines in addition to the soft velvety skin on the palms and soles suggestive of altered collagen arrangements in the skin. Hitherto, this clinical finding has not been described in UCMD in the English literature.

Deletion analysis of spinal muscular atrophy in southern Indian population.

Background: Proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetically heterogeneous disease with paresis and muscle atrophy due to loss of anterior horn cell function. The survival of motor neuron gene (SMN) and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) play a primary role. Both the gene homologues exist as inverted duplications on Chromosome 5q. The telomeric/functional (SMN1) and the centromeric (SMN2) copies differ from each other in eight nucleotides. The C-->T transition (at Codon 280) within Exon 7 of SMN2 causes disruption of an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) and/or creates an exonic splicing silencer (ESS) leading to abnormal splicing and a truncated protein. Objective: To determine the molecular genetics of SMN1 and NAIP genes in SMA from southern India. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 37 patients from the neuromuscular disorders clinic of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences were assayed for the deletions in the SMN1 and NAIP genes using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: Among the SMA Type I patients, 43% showed deletions of SMN1 and NAIP. In patients Type II SMA, 57% showed deletions of the SMN1 exons. Conclusion: Thus, deletions were found to occur in 47.8% of the Type I and II patients. Lower sensitivity of gene deletion study in clinically suspected SMA needs further study as clinical diagnosis of SMA is not gold standard. However, the results do correlate with other studies conducted in India.

Dysferlinopathy: A clinical and histopathological study of 28 patients from India.

Background: Miyoshi myopathy (MM) and limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2B) are distinct clinical entities because different muscle groups are involved at the onset. We describe the clinical features in 28 patients with dysferlin deficiency confirmed by muscle immunohistochemistry (IHC). Settings and Design: A case series from a tertiary national referral center for neurological disorders. Materials and Methods: Patients with classical phenotype of MM and LGMD2B underwent a thorough phenotypic characterization followed by muscle histopathological study including IHC for dysferlin deficiency. Results: There were 28 patients (20 men and eight women) presenting with manifestations of distal myopathy or LGMD2B and had absence of dysferlin staining on IHC. Patients presented predominantly with distal myopathy of Miyoshi type (MM) or proximal LGMD type and were diagnosed to have dysferlinopathy on IHC. Two patients had the proximodistal form and two had onset as tibial muscular dystrophy. The main clinical features in these patients were onset in late adolescence or early adulthood (mean age of onset for MM was 22.0 +/- 6.7 years and for LGMD2B 19.4 +/- 5.1 years). There was early and predominant involvement of the posterior compartment muscles of the leg or proximal pelvic girdle muscles, dystrophic features with necrotic regeneration pattern without vacuoles on muscle biopsy and markedly elevated serum creatine kinase values with mean of 10033.8 +/- 9283 IU/l (range 402-27460). Consanguinity was reported in 46.4%. The mean duration of illness was 6.4 +/- 4.2 years. Dysferlinopathies formed nearly one-fourth of our patients with LGMD. Conclusion: In our experience dysferlinopathies was not an uncommon form of LGMD.

Multichannel somato sensory evoked potential study demonstrated abnormalities in cervical cord function in brachial monomelic amyotrophy.

Background: Brachial monomelic amyotrophy (BMMA) is known to affect the central cervical cord gray matter resulting in single upper limb atrophy and weakness. Settings and Design: Case series of BMMA patients who underwent somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) studies at a tertiary referral center. Aims: We proposed to record Multichannel Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (MCSSEP) from median and ulnar nerves with neck in neutral and neck fully flexed position in 17 patients with classical BMMA seen over three years. Materials and Methods: Recordings were done from both median (MN) and ulnar nerves (UN). N9, P9, N13, N20 potentials were recorded and amplitudes measured. SSEPs were performed in 22 age-matched healthy men. Amplitudes of cervical response were calculated by N13/P9 ratio and compared in both positions. Results: Among the controls N13 amplitude was always normal {MN: mean N13/P9 - 0.96 in neutral; 0.95 in flexed}{UN: mean N13/P9 - 0.82 in neutral; 0.83 in flexed}, and mean amplitudes did not reveal any difference in both conditions ( P> 0.05). Among 17 patients N9, P9 and N20 responses were normal in neutral position. Flexion showed no change in latency or amplitude of N9 and N20 responses ( P -0.63) whereas the N13 response was abnormal in at least one tested nerve in the affected limb (MN: P < 0.01; UN: P < 0.01). During flexion, N13 response was abnormal in 14 (82%) patients after MN stimulation and in all 17(100%) after UN stimulation {MN: mean N13/P9 - 0.62 in neutral; 0.38 in flexed}{UN: mean N13/P9 - 0.55 in neutral; 0.31 in flexed}. Conclusion: MCSSEP in BMMA with neck flexion caused a significant reduction of the cervical N13 response indicating segmental cervical cord dysfunction.

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: first report from India.

We report two patients diagnosed to have familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). A 40 year old lady had progressive weakness and atrophy of the limbs and bulbar palsy from the age of 39 years and with electrophysiological evaluation was confirmed as definite ALS. Her mother had presented in 1978 at the age of 42 years with symptoms and signs of ALS. The other patient was a 43 year old male with rapidly progressive weakness, wasting and spasticity of the limbs and bulbar palsy of 4 months duration and with electrophysiological evidence of diffuse anterior horn cell involvement. His father also had onset of illness at 43 years of age with gradually progressive spasticity and atrophy of the extremities followed by bulbar palsy. In the first instance the mother had a duration of illness of 8 years while in the second the father lived for 15 years after the onset of illness.

Hemiplegia: an initial manifestation of Japanese encephalitis.

A 7-year-old boy from an area endemic to Japanese encephalitis (JE) manifested with acute febrile illness, left hemiplegia and preserved consciousness during the prodromal phase of illness. The child developed features of encephalitis 48 hours after the onset of hemiplegia. IgM MAC ELISA for JE virus revealed high titers in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid suggestive of JE. MRI of the brain showed asymmetrical bilateral thalamic hyperintense lesions on T2 weighted image, considered diagnostic of JE. Hemiplegia during the prodromal phase or as an initial symptom of JE is rather unusual.

Profile of neurologic disorders associated with HIV/AIDS from Bangalore, south India (1989-96).

One hundred patients (95 males, 5 females, mean age at presentation 31.6 +/- 9.4 yr) with various neurological disorders associated with HIV infection during 1989-1996 were evaluated at NIMHANS, Bangalore. Eighty patients belonged to group I associated with opportunistic neuroinfections and 20 to group II--non infectious neurological disorders. Cryptococcal meningitis either alone (n = 31) or associated with tuberculous meningitis (n = 6) was the most common (46.3%) followed by neurotuberculosis either alone (n = 24) or with cerebral toxoplasmosis (n = 4) accounting for 35 per cent. Other opportunistic neuroinfections included cerebral toxoplasmosis, herpes zoster, fulminant pyogenic meningitis and neurosyphilis. Clinical characteristics, diagnostic clues, their laboratory and radiological profiles and problems encountered in diagnosis and management of these opportunistic infections are highlighted. In group II (19 males and one female; mean age of 32.6 +/- 9.4 yr), two patients had cortical dementia, three acute brain stem involvement, two epilepsy and one had features suggestive of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Two patients of group I during follow up developed cortical dementia. Six had peripheral nervous system involvement similar to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Sixty six patients (63 of group I and 3 of group II) progressed to AIDS, 33 patients from group I and one patient from group II succumbed to the disease. With the rapid increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS and an increase in the neurological manifestations of HIV/AIDS it is important to recognise the magnitude of the problem for health planning in India.