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1.
Gynecol Oncol ; 162(2): 517-525, 2021 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34053747

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is often diagnosed late, with a 5-year relative survival of 30.2% for patients with metastatic disease. Residual disease following cytoreductive surgery is an important predictor for poor survival. EOC is characterized by diffuse peritoneal metastases and depositions of small size, challenging a complete resection. Targeted fluorescence imaging is a technique to enhance tumor visualization and can be performed intraoperatively. Folate receptor alpha (FRα) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are overexpressed in EOC in 80% and 20% of the cases, respectively, and have been previously studied as a target for intraoperative imaging. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on the feasibility of FRα and HER2 targeted fluorescence-guided cytoreductive surgery (FGCS) in women with EOC. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched for human and animal studies on FGCS targeting either HER2 or FRα in either women with EOC or animal models of EOC. Risk of bias and methodological quality were assessed with the SYRCLE and MINORS tool, respectively. RESULTS: All animal studies targeting either FRα or HER2 were able to detect tumor deposits using intraoperative fluorescence imaging. One animal study targeting HER2 compared conventional cytoreductive surgery (CCS) to FGCS and concluded that FGCS, either without or following CCS, resulted in statistically significant less residual disease compared to CCS alone. Human studies on FGCS showed an increased detection rate of tumor deposits. True positives ranged between 75%-77% and false positives between 10%-25%. Lymph nodes were the main source of false positive results. Sensitivity was 85.9%, though only reported by one human study. CONCLUSION: FGCS targeting either HER2 or FRα appears to be feasible in both EOC animal models and patients with EOC. FGCS is a promising technique, but further research is warranted to validate these results and particularly study the survival benefit.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/surgery , Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures/methods , Optical Imaging/methods , Ovarian Neoplasms/surgery , Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods , Animals , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/mortality , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , False Positive Reactions , Feasibility Studies , Female , Fluorescence , Folate Receptor 1/metabolism , Humans , Lymph Node Excision/methods , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Molecular Imaging/methods , Neoplasm, Residual , Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis , Ovarian Neoplasms/mortality , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Ovary/diagnostic imaging , Ovary/pathology , Ovary/surgery , Progression-Free Survival , Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
2.
Sci Transl Med ; 9(388)2017 05 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28469040

ABSTRACT

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. We screened 751 familial ALS patient whole-exome sequences and identified six mutations including p.D40G in the ANXA11 gene in 13 individuals. The p.D40G mutation was absent from 70,000 control whole-exome sequences. This mutation segregated with disease in two kindreds and was present in another two unrelated cases (P = 0.0102), and all mutation carriers shared a common founder haplotype. Annexin A11-positive protein aggregates were abundant in spinal cord motor neurons and hippocampal neuronal axons in an ALS patient carrying the p.D40G mutation. Transfected human embryonic kidney cells expressing ANXA11 with the p.D40G mutation and other N-terminal mutations showed altered binding to calcyclin, and the p.R235Q mutant protein formed insoluble aggregates. We conclude that mutations in ANXA11 are associated with ALS and implicate defective intracellular protein trafficking in disease pathogenesis.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Annexins/genetics , Annexins/metabolism , Human Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , Humans , Mutation/genetics , Protein Binding , Protein Transport , S100 Calcium Binding Protein A6/metabolism
3.
Science ; 347(6229): 1436-41, 2015 Mar 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25700176

ABSTRACT

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological disease with no effective treatment. We report the results of a moderate-scale sequencing study aimed at increasing the number of genes known to contribute to predisposition for ALS. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 2869 ALS patients and 6405 controls. Several known ALS genes were found to be associated, and TBK1 (the gene encoding TANK-binding kinase 1) was identified as an ALS gene. TBK1 is known to bind to and phosphorylate a number of proteins involved in innate immunity and autophagy, including optineurin (OPTN) and p62 (SQSTM1/sequestosome), both of which have also been implicated in ALS. These observations reveal a key role of the autophagic pathway in ALS and suggest specific targets for therapeutic intervention.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Autophagy/genetics , Exome/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cell Cycle Proteins , Female , Genes , Genetic Association Studies , Humans , Male , Membrane Transport Proteins , Middle Aged , Protein Binding , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Risk , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequestosome-1 Protein , Transcription Factor TFIIIA/genetics , Transcription Factor TFIIIA/metabolism , Young Adult
4.
Neurobiol Aging ; 35(8): 1956.e9-1956.e11, 2014 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24612671

ABSTRACT

Inclusion body myopathy (IBM) associated with Paget disease of the bone, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called IBMPFD/ALS or multi system proteinopathy, is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of muscle, brain, motor neurons, and bone with prominent TDP-43 pathology. Recently, 2 novel genes for multi system proteinopathy were discovered; heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 and A2B1. Subsequently, a mutation in hnRNPA1 was also identified in a pedigree with autosomal dominant familial ALS. The genetic evidence for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases is still insufficient. We therefore sequenced the prion-like domain of these genes in 135 familial ALS, 1084 sporadic ALS, 68 familial FTD, 74 sporadic FTD, and 31 sporadic IBM patients in a Dutch population. We did not identify any mutations in these genes in our cohorts. Mutations in hnRNPA1 and hnRNPA2B1 prove to be a rare cause of ALS, FTD, and IBM in the Netherlands.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Frontotemporal Dementia/genetics , Genetic Association Studies , Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B/genetics , Myositis, Inclusion Body/genetics , Osteitis Deformans/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Female , Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Netherlands
5.
Ann Oncol ; 24(10): 2672-2676, 2013 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23868907

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To determine the activity of radiotherapy in patients with inoperable desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) a multicenter prospective phase II trial was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with inoperable progressive disease of primary, recurrent or incompletely resected lesions received a dose of 56 Gy in 28 fractions. Follow-up MRI studies were carried out every 3 months for 2 years and thereafter every 6 months. The primary end point was local control rate at 3 years, estimated by a nonparametric method for interval-censored survival data. Secondary end points were objective tumor response, acute and late toxic effect. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (27 F/17 M) were enrolled from 2001 to 2008. Median age was 39.5 years. Main tumor sites included trunk 15 (34.1%) and extremities 27 (61.3%). Median follow-up was 4.8 years. The 3-year local control rate was 81.5% (90% one-sided confidence interval 74% to 100%). Best overall response during the first 3 years was complete response (CR) 6 (13.6%), partial response (PR) 16 (36.4%), stable disease 18 (40.9%), progressive disease 3 (6.8%) and nonassessable 1 (2.3%). Five patients developed new lesions. After 3 years, the response further improved in three patients: (CR 2, PR 1). Acute grade 3 side-effects were limited to skin, mucosal membranes and pain. Late toxic effect consisted of mild edema in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate dose radiotherapy is an effective treatment of patients with DF. Response after radiation therapy is slow with continuing regression seen even after 3 years.


Subject(s)
Fibromatosis, Aggressive/radiotherapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiotherapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Fibromatosis, Aggressive/diagnostic imaging , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Prospective Studies , Radiography , Survival Analysis , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
6.
Eur J Hum Genet ; 21(1): 102-8, 2013 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22692064

ABSTRACT

A massive hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation (HREM) in C9ORF72 has recently been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here we describe the frequency, origin and stability of this mutation in ALS+/-FTD from five European cohorts (total n=1347). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms defining the risk haplotype in linked kindreds were genotyped in cases (n=434) and controls (n=856). Haplotypes were analysed using PLINK and aged using DMLE+. In a London clinic cohort, the HREM was the most common mutation in familial ALS+/-FTD: C9ORF72 29/112 (26%), SOD1 27/112 (24%), TARDBP 1/112 (1%) and FUS 4/112 (4%) and detected in 13/216 (6%) of unselected sporadic ALS cases but was rare in controls (3/856, 0.3%). HREM prevalence was high for familial ALS+/-FTD throughout Europe: Belgium 19/22 (86%), Sweden 30/41 (73%), the Netherlands 10/27 (37%) and Italy 4/20 (20%). The HREM did not affect the age at onset or survival of ALS patients. Haplotype analysis identified a common founder in all 137 HREM carriers that arose around 6300 years ago. The haplotype from which the HREM arose is intrinsically unstable with an increased number of repeats (average 8, compared with 2 for controls, P<10(-8)). We conclude that the HREM has a single founder and is the most common mutation in familial and sporadic ALS in Europe.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Founder Effect , Frontotemporal Dementia/genetics , Mutation , Proteins/genetics , Age of Onset , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/epidemiology , C9orf72 Protein , Cohort Studies , Europe/epidemiology , Frontotemporal Dementia/epidemiology , Gene Frequency , Genomic Instability , Haplotypes , Humans , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
7.
Strahlenther Onkol ; 188(1): 71-6, 2012 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22194023

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to examine toxicity and risk factors after irradiation of the cervical spinal cord. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 437 patients irradiated for a laryngeal and oropharyngeal carcinoma were eligible (median follow-up 27 months). Spinal cord contouring was defined differently over time as anatomically defined spinal cord area (SCA) and the spinal cord on CT (SC) with a margin of 3 or 5 mm (SCP3/SCP5). RESULTS: None developed chronic progressive radiation myelopathy (CPRM) (maximum spinal dose 21.8-69 Gy); 3.9% (17/437) developed a Lhermitte sign (LS) with a median duration of 6 months (range 1-30 months) and was reversible in all patients. Risk factors for developing LS were younger age (52 vs. 61 years, p < 0.001), accelerated RT (12/17 patients, p < 0.005), and dose-volume relationships for SCA with ≥ 45 Gy of 14.15 cm(3) and 7.9 cm(3) for patients with and without LS, respectively. CONCLUSION: LS is more frequently observed in younger patients and in patients treated with accelerated radiotherapy. A dose-volume relationship was seen for V45 in the case of SCA. For higher doses, no clear dose-volume relationships were observed.


Subject(s)
Laryngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiation Injuries/etiology , Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology , Spinal Cord/radiation effects , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cause of Death , Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant , Combined Modality Therapy , Disability Evaluation , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Radiation Injuries/diagnosis , Radiation Injuries/mortality , Radiotherapy Dosage , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant , Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnosis , Spinal Cord Diseases/mortality , Survival Rate
8.
Neurobiol Dis ; 42(3): 211-20, 2011 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21220013

ABSTRACT

Increasing evidence suggests a role for the immune system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine the extent of the immune activation in ALS we analyzed the expression and cellular distribution of components of innate and adaptive immunity in spinal cord (SC) and motor cortex (MCx) from patients with rapid and slow sporadic ALS and controls. High levels of mRNA and protein of classical complement pathway, C1q and C4, as well as the downstream complement components C3 and C5b-9 were found in all ALS samples. Furthermore, we found higher numbers of activated microglia, reactive astrocytes, dendritic cells (DCs) and CD8(+) T-cells in ALS than in control tissue. Rapid ALS cases had more dendritic cells than slow ALS cases, whereas slow ALS cases had more activated microglia than rapid cases. Our findings demonstrate a persistent and prominent activation of both innate and adaptive immunity in ALS. We propose a complement-driven immune response which may contribute to the progression of the inflammation and ultimately lead to even more motor neuron injury.


Subject(s)
Adaptive Immunity/immunology , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/immunology , Complement Activation/immunology , Immunity, Innate/immunology , Adult , Aged , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , Analysis of Variance , Complement Membrane Attack Complex/immunology , Complement Membrane Attack Complex/metabolism , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , In Situ Hybridization , Inflammation/immunology , Inflammation/metabolism , Male , Microglia/immunology , Microglia/metabolism , Middle Aged , Motor Neurons/immunology , Motor Neurons/metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Spinal Cord/immunology , Spinal Cord/metabolism
9.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol ; 31(10): 1799-806, 2010 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20801763

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Upper motor neuron degeneration varies in different phenotypes of MND. We used single-voxel MR spectroscopy of the primary motor cortex to detect corticomotoneuron degeneration and glial hyperactivity in different phenotypes of MND with a relatively short disease duration, contributing to further delineation of the phenotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively included patients with ALS-B, ALS-L, and PMA and compared their data with those of patients with PLS and healthy controls. Each cohort consisted of 12 individuals. Disease duration was <1 year in ALS and PMA, but longer in PLS by definition. Follow-up examination was at 6 months. We measured ALSFRS-R, finger- and foot-tapping speed, and levels of the following: 1) NAAx, 2) mIns, and 3) Glx in the primary motor cortex. RESULTS: At baseline, we found significantly decreased NAAx levels and increased mIns levels in PLS. Levels of NAAx and mIns in patients with ALS-L and ALS-B were not significantly different from those in controls, but NAAx levels were significantly lower compared with those in PMA. At follow-up, only in PMA was a decrease of NAAx demonstrated. Glx levels varied widely in all groups. Levels of NAAx and mIns correlated well with clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolite changes suggest neuronal dysfunction and active glial involvement in PLS. The corticomotoneuron is affected in early ALS-B and ALS-L, but at a later stage also in PMA. MR spectroscopy data are useful to obtain insight into the disease process at the level of the upper motor neuron in various phenotypes of MND.


Subject(s)
Early Diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods , Motor Neuron Disease/diagnosis , Motor Neuron Disease/metabolism , Motor Neurons/metabolism , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/standards , Male , Middle Aged , Motor Cortex/metabolism , Motor Neurons/cytology , Neuroglia/cytology , Neuroglia/metabolism , Phenotype , Prospective Studies , ROC Curve , Reproducibility of Results
10.
Ann Neurol ; 66(2): 227-34, 2009 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19743466

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor that showed antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties and reduced glutamate toxicity in preclinical studies, is safe and effective in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a sequential trial design. METHODS: Between April 2005 and January 2007, 163 ALS patients received VPA 1,500mg or placebo daily. Primary end point was survival. Secondary outcome measure was decline of functional status measured by the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale. Analysis was by intention to treat and according to a sequential trial design. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT00136110). RESULTS: VPA did not affect survival (cumulative survival probability of 0.72 in the VPA group [standard error (SE), 0.06] vs 0.88 in the placebo group [SE, 0.04] at 12 months, and 0.59 in the VPA group [SE, 0.07] vs 0.68 in the placebo group [SE, 0.08] at 16 months) or the rate of decline of functional status. VPA intake did not cause serious adverse reactions. INTERPRETATION: Our finding that VPA, at a dose used in epilepsy, does not show a beneficial effect on survival or disease progression in patients with ALS has implications for future trials with histone deacetylase inhibitors in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. The use of a sequential trial design allowed inclusion of only half the number of patients required for a classic trial design and prevented patients from unnecessarily continuing potentially harmful study medication.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/drug therapy , Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Valproic Acid/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/mortality , Disease Progression , Double-Blind Method , Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects , Female , Genotype , Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Middle Aged , Motor Neurons/physiology , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Severity of Illness Index , Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein/genetics , Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein/genetics , Treatment Outcome , Valproic Acid/administration & dosage , Valproic Acid/adverse effects
11.
Arch Neurol ; 66(4): 509-14, 2009 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19364936

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study whether clinical characteristics can differentiate sporadic presentations of hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) from primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). Differentiation between these diseases is important for genetic counseling and prognostication. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred four Dutch patients with an adult-onset, sporadic upper motor neuron syndrome of at least 3 years' duration. Hereditary spastic paraparesis was genetically confirmed in 14 patients (7 with SPG4 and 7 with SPG7 mutations). RESULTS: All 14 patients with the SPG4 or SPG7 mutation had symptom onset in the legs, and 1 of the patients with the SPG7 mutation also developed symptoms in the arms. Of the other 90 patients, 78 (87%) had symptom onset in the legs. Thirty-six patients developed a PLS phenotype (bulbar region involvement), 15 had a phenotype that was difficult to classify as similar to HSP or PLS (involvement of legs and arms only), and 39 continued to have a phenotype similar to typical HSP (involvement of the legs only). Median age at onset was lower in patients with the SPG4 or SPG7 mutation (39 [range, 29-69] years), but there was considerable overlap with patients with the PLS phenotype (52 [range, 32-76] years). No differences were found in the features used by previous studies to distinguish HSP from PLS, including evidence of mild dorsal column impairment (decreased vibratory sense or abnormal leg somatosensory evoked potentials), symptoms of urinary urgency, or mild electromyographic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with a sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndrome, differentiation of sporadic presentations of HSP from PLS based on clinical characteristics is unreliable and therefore depends on results of genetic testing.


Subject(s)
Motor Neuron Disease/diagnosis , Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary/diagnosis , ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities , Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , DNA Mutational Analysis , Diagnosis, Differential , Disease Progression , Electromyography , Female , Genetic Counseling , Genetic Testing , Humans , Male , Metalloendopeptidases/genetics , Middle Aged , Motor Neuron Disease/genetics , Neurologic Examination , Phenotype , Prognosis , Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary/genetics , Spastin , Young Adult
12.
Neuromuscul Disord ; 19(1): 53-8, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19070491

ABSTRACT

There is an ongoing discussion whether ALS is primarily a disease of upper motor neurons or lower motor neurons. We undertook a review to assess how new insights have contributed to solve this controversy. For this purpose we selected relevant publications from 1995 onwards focussing on (1) primary targets and disease progression in ALS and variants of ALS, (2) brain imaging markers for upper motor neuron lesion, and (3) evidence for ALS being a multisystem disorder. Clinically, upper motor and lower motor neuron symptoms can occur in any order over time. Brain imaging markers show upper motor neuron involvement in early disease. Overlap syndromes of ALS and dementia, and involvement of autonomic and sensory nerves occur frequently. PET/SPECT scans, functional MRI and voxel based morphometry studies clearly show abnormalities in extra-motor areas of the brain. Pathologically, the 43 kDa TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) provides a clue to these overlapping disorders. In conclusion, evidence accumulates that ALS is a multisystem disorder rather than a pure lower and/or upper motor neuron disorder.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/physiopathology , Brain/physiopathology , Motor Neuron Disease/physiopathology , Spinal Cord/physiopathology , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/complications , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/pathology , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Dementia/etiology , Dementia/pathology , Dementia/physiopathology , Diagnostic Imaging , Humans , Motor Neuron Disease/complications , Motor Neuron Disease/pathology , Radionuclide Imaging , Spinal Cord/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Cord/pathology
13.
J Neurol ; 255(6): 903-9, 2008 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18484238

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We present the electrophysiologic data at baseline of 37 patients who were included in our prospective study on sporadic adult-onset progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). The aim was to correlate electrophysiological signs of lower motor neuron (LMN) loss with clinical signs of LMN loss, and to determine the prognostic value of the distribution of electrophysiological abnormalities in patients who presented clinically with only lower motor neuron signs. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients, who met our inclusion criteria for a prospective study on sporadic adult-onset PMA, underwent extensive standardized electrophysiological examination at baseline, consisting of concentric needle EMG in three regions (cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral) and standardized nerve conduction studies. RESULTS: Denervation on needle EMG was found in 88 % of clinically affected and in 40 % of clinically unaffected limb regions. All patients with a segmental or distal phenotype at baseline who developed generalized weakness had denervation in the thoracic region. Motor nerve conduction abnormalities were found in a substantial number of nerves and included reduced CMAP amplitude, increased distal motor latency, decreased motor conduction velocity, and F-wave abnormalities. Signs of demyelination and sensory nerve conduction abnormalities were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Our electrophysiological data in patients recently diagnosed with sporadic progressive muscular atrophy are consistent with widespread LMN loss. Progression in patients with a segmental or distal onset of PMA may be likely if denervation is found in clinically unaffected regions, including the thoracic region.


Subject(s)
Electrodiagnosis/methods , Motor Neuron Disease/diagnosis , Motor Neuron Disease/physiopathology , Motor Neurons/pathology , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/diagnosis , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/diagnosis , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/physiopathology , Disease Progression , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle Weakness/diagnosis , Muscle Weakness/etiology , Muscle Weakness/physiopathology , Muscle, Skeletal/innervation , Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology , Nerve Degeneration/diagnosis , Nerve Degeneration/etiology , Nerve Degeneration/physiopathology , Neural Conduction/physiology , Peripheral Nerves/physiopathology , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies
14.
Neurology ; 70(9): 723-7, 2008 Feb 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18299524

ABSTRACT

Since its first description more than a century ago, there has been much debate about the diagnostic entity progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). Initially, PMA included all forms of progressive amyotrophy. With the identification of several myogenic and neurogenic diseases and the recognition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), PMA was deemed to disappear as a nosologic entity at the end of the 19th century. In the last century, various other lower motor neuron syndromes were distinguished which may previously have been designated as cases of PMA. In contrast, several observations provided evidence that PMA can be linked both clinically and pathologically to ALS. Therefore, PMA should be considered as a syndromal subtype within a clinical spectrum of motor neuron diseases.


Subject(s)
Motor Neuron Disease/history , Muscular Atrophy/history , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Syndrome
15.
Neuromuscul Disord ; 17(11-12): 964-7, 2007 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17651970

ABSTRACT

Growth factors, such as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), have been implicated in neuronal survival and proliferation. About 2% of the human population is homozygous for a polymorphism that induces truncated and biologically inactive CNTF but does not obviously change the phenotype. In a population of patients with hereditary neuropathy, a higher rate of the CNTF null mutation would indicate greater susceptibility for clinically significant disease, and a recent report attributes early onset and rapid deterioration in a case of familial ALS (FALS) to this mutation. We have, therefore, genotyped the CNTF polymorphism in a large group of patients with CMT 1a, HNPP, sporadic ALS, in one pedigree with FALS, and controls. All groups exhibited a similar distribution of the polymorphism. We conclude that absence of CNTF does not increase susceptibility for these disorders and confirm that it does not affect onset and course of familial and sporadic ALS.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/genetics , Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/genetics , Adult , Age of Onset , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alleles , Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/metabolism , Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/physiopathology , DNA Mutational Analysis , Disease Progression , Female , Genetic Testing , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/metabolism , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Phenotype , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics
16.
Arch Neurol ; 64(4): 522-8, 2007 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17420313

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the natural history and prognostic factors in patients with nonhereditary, adult-onset progressive muscular atrophy. DESIGN: Inception cohort conducted for 18 months. Settings Three university hospitals in the Netherlands (referral centers for neuromuscular diseases). Patients Thirty-seven consecutive patients newly diagnosed (onset of weakness <4 years) with progressive muscular atrophy enrolled between 1998 and 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disease progression was measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months by the Medical Research Council sum score, number of affected limb regions, and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale score. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of poor outcome. Clinical features and classification of phenotype during follow-up were evaluated. Survival analysis was planned after data collection, performed 5 years after the end of the study. RESULTS: Significant decline of muscle strength (mean, 6.01 Medical Research Council sum score points [95% confidence interval [CI], 3.84-8.18]; P value <.001) and significant increase in the number of affected regions (mean, 0.53 affected region [95% CI, 0.42-0.65]; P value <.001) and functional impairment (mean, 1.85 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale score points [95% CI, 1.38-2.33]; P value <.001) were found. Vital capacity (VC) at baseline and decrease of VC during the first 6 months were significantly associated with outcome. Median survival duration after initial weakness was 56 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients with progressive muscular atrophy have a relentlessly progressive disease course. Patients with a low VC at baseline and a sharp decline of VC during the first 6 months have an especially poor prognosis.


Subject(s)
Muscular Atrophy/pathology , Muscular Atrophy/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, University , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Muscle Strength/physiology , Muscle Weakness/physiopathology , Netherlands , Prognosis , Time Factors
17.
Neurology ; 65(10): 1643-5, 2005 Nov 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16301496

ABSTRACT

Sequence alterations in the promoter region of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene have been implicated in increasing the risk of developing ALS. VEGF promoter haplotypes were determined in 373 patients with sporadic ALS and 615 matched healthy controls in The Netherlands. No significant association between the previously reported at-risk haplotypes and ALS was found. Pooling our results with the previously studied population still showed a significant association with the AAG haplotype.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Central Nervous System/metabolism , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/physiopathology , Base Sequence/genetics , Central Nervous System/pathology , Central Nervous System/physiopathology , Cohort Studies , DNA Mutational Analysis , Female , Genetic Testing , Haplotypes/genetics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation/genetics , Netherlands , Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics , Sex Factors , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/deficiency
18.
Neurology ; 64(10): 1778-9, 2005 May 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15911810

ABSTRACT

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a diagnosis of exclusion in patients with progressive spinobulbar spasticity and could be part of the clinical spectrum of ALS. Unlike ALS, which is familial in 5 to 10% of the cases, PLS has been described as a sporadic disorder in adults. The authors report two patients with PLS from unrelated SOD1-negative familial ALS families. These observations provide further evidence that PLS can be linked pathophysiologically to ALS.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/physiopathology , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Motor Neuron Disease/genetics , Motor Neuron Disease/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/diagnosis , Brain Stem/pathology , Brain Stem/physiopathology , Comorbidity , DNA Mutational Analysis , Disease Progression , Family Health , Female , Genetic Testing , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Motor Neuron Disease/diagnosis , Motor Neurons/pathology , Muscle, Skeletal/innervation , Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology , Mutation/genetics , Pedigree , Spinal Cord/pathology , Spinal Cord/physiopathology , Superoxide Dismutase/genetics , Superoxide Dismutase-1
19.
Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol ; 30(4): 351-9, 2004 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15305980

ABSTRACT

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has recently been implicated in several neurological disorders. Apart from its prominent role in angiogenesis, VEGF has been shown to have direct effects on neuronal and glial cells through activation of different VEGF receptor (VEGFR) types. In the present study the expression patterns of VEGFR-1, -2 and -3 were investigated in the spinal cord of control and both sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Immunocytochemical analysis of control human spinal cord demonstrated that VEGFR-1, but not VEGFR-2 or -3 was found to be present in blood vessels of both white and grey matter. All three VGEFRs were not detectable in resting glial cells of control tissue. Diffuse neuropil staining was observed in the control spinal cord grey matter for VEGFR-3. Regional differences in VEGFRs immunoreactivity (IR) were apparent in ALS compared to controls. In particular, VEGFR-1 expression was increased in reactive astroglial cells in both grey (ventral horn) and white matter of ALS spinal cord. In addition to the astroglial labelling, increased expression of VEGFR-1 and, to a less extent also of VEGFR-2, was observed in blood vessels of the ALS spinal cord. No changes in VEGFR-3 IR were detected in blood vessels or reactive astroglial cells, whereas VEGFR-3 neuropil expression was reduced and paralleled the distribution of neuronal loss in the ventral horn of ALS spinal cord. These findings indicate that VEGFRs have specific distribution patterns, suggesting different physiological functions in human spinal cord. Moreover, the altered expression observed in ALS supports a role for these receptors in the complex reactive processes that are associated with the progression of spinal cord damage.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , Spinal Cord/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Blood Vessels/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Neuroglia/metabolism , Paraffin Embedding
20.
Head Neck ; 26(8): 681-92; discussion 692-3, 2004 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15287035

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the records of patients with malignant salivary gland tumors, as diagnosed in centers of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group, in search of independent prognostic factors for locoregional control, distant metastases, and overall survival. METHODS: In 565 patients, we analyzed general results and looked for the potential prognostic variables of age, sex, delay, clinical and pathologic T and N stage, site (332 parotid, 76 submandibular, 129 oral cavity, 28 pharynx/larynx), pain, facial weakness, clinical and pathologic skin involvement, histologic type (WHO 1972 classification), treatment, resection margins, spill, perineural and vascular invasion, number of neck nodes, and extranodal disease. The median follow-up period was 74 months; it was 99 months for patients who were alive on the last follow-up. RESULTS: The rates of local control, regional control, distant metastasis-free and overall survival after 10 years were, respectively, 78%, 87%, 67%, and 50%. In multivariable analysis, local control was predicted by clinical T-stage, bone invasion, site, resection margin, and treatment. Regional control depended on N stage, facial nerve paralysis, and treatment. The relative risk with surgery alone, compared to surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy, was 9.7 for local recurrence and 2.3 for regional recurrence. Distant metastases were independently correlated with T and N stage, sex, perineural invasion, histologic type, and clinical skin involvement. Overall survival depended on age, sex, T and pN stage, site, skin and bone invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Several prognostic factors for locoregional control, distant metastases, and overall survival were found. Postoperative radiotherapy was found to improve locoregional control.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/therapy , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic/therapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/therapy , Adenocarcinoma/mortality , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic/mortality , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology , Netherlands/epidemiology , Postoperative Care , Prognosis , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant , Regression Analysis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/mortality , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/pathology , Survival Rate , Treatment Outcome
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