Identification of blood metabolic biomarkers associated with diabetic distal symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Distal symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) is a common neurologic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanisms and changes in serum metabolites remain largely undefined. This study aimed to characterize the plasma metabolite profiles of participants with T2DM using targeted metabolomics analysis and identify potential biomarkers for DSPN. METHODS: A combined liquid chromatography MS/MS and direct flow injection were used to quantify plasma metabolite obtained from 63 participants with T2DM, 81 with DSPN, and 33 nondiabetic control participants. A total of 130 metabolites, including amino acids, biogenic amines, sphingomyelins (SM), phosphatidylcholines, carnitines, and hexose, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 16 plasma metabolites and 3 cholesterol-related laboratory parameters were found to have variable importance in the projection score >1.0 and false discovery rate <5.0% between control, T2DM, and DSPN. Among these variables, five serum metabolites, including phenylalanine (AUC = 0.653), alanine (AUC = 0.630), lysine (AUC = 0.622) tryptophan (AUC = 0.620), and SM C16:0 (AUC = 0.630), are potential biomarkers (all p < .05) in distinguishing T2DM with DSPN from those without (AUC = 0.720). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study, derangement of several metabolites in the plasma was observed in T2DM with and without DSPN, and these metabolites may be potential biomarkers for predicting DSPN. Longitudinal studies are warranted.

Establishment of a new classification system for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy based on unsupervised machine learning.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: A model for predicting responsiveness to immunotherapy in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) has not been well established. We aimed to establish a new classifier for CIDP patients based on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and electrophysiological features. METHODS: The clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological features of 172 treatment-naïve patients with CIDP between 2003 and 2019 were analyzed using an unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The identified pivotal features were used to establish simple classifications using a tree-based model. RESULTS: Three clusters were identified: 1, n = 65; 2, n = 70; and 3, n = 37. Patients in Cluster 1 scored lower on the disability assessment score before treatment. More patients in Clusters 2 (90.0%) fulfilled demyelinating criteria than patients in Cluster 1 (30.8%, p < .001). Cluster 3 had more patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (27.0%) and hypoalbuminemia (3.40 g/dL) than did Cluster 2 (CKD: 0%, p < .001; hypoalbuminemia: 4.09 g/dL, p < .001). The responsiveness to pulse steroid therapy was higher in Cluster 2 (70.0%) than in Clusters 1 (31.8%; p = .043) and 3 (25.0%; p = .014). A tree-based model with four pivotal features classified patients in our cohort into new clusters with high accuracy (89.5%). DISCUSSION: The established hierarchical clustering with the tree-based model identified key features contributing to differences in disease severity and response to pulse steroid therapy. This classification system could assist clinicians in the selection of treatments and could also help researchers by clustering patients for clinical treatment trials.

Reappraisal of the incidence, various types and risk factors of malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis in Taiwan.

Our study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors and time to occurrence of malignancy in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM). The electronic medical records of 1100 patients with DM and 1164 patients with PM were studied between January 2001 and May 2019. Malignancies after myositis were diagnosed in 61 (5.55%) patients with DM and 38 (3.26%) patients with PM. The cumulative incidence of malignancies in patients with DM were significantly higher than patients with PM (hazard ratio = 1.78, log-rank p = 0.004). Patients with DM had a greater risk of developing malignancy than those with PM at 40-59 years old (p = 0.01). Most malignancies occurred within 1 year after the initial diagnosis of DM (n = 35; 57.38%). Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) was the most common type of malignancy in patients with DM (22.95%), followed by lung, and breast cancers. In patients with PM, colorectal, lung and hepatic malignancies were the top three types of malignancy. The risk factors for malignancy included old age (≥ 45 years old) and low serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) for patients with DM and male sex and low serum levels of CPK for patients with PM. Low serum levels of CPK in patients with myositis with malignancy represented a low degree of muscle destruction/inflammation, which might be attributed to activation of the PD-L1 pathway by tumor cells, thus inducing T-cell dysfunction mediating immune responses in myofibers. A treatment and follow-up algorithm should explore the occurrence of malignancy in different tissues and organs and suggested annual follow-ups for at least 5.5 years to cover the 80% cumulative incidence of malignancy in patients with DM and PM.

Serum levels of cell adhesion molecules in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a critical pathological process involved in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Here, we characterized the profile of five cell adhesion molecules in patients with NMOSD. METHODS: We measured levels of cell adhesion molecules, including ICAM-1, ICAM-2, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, and NCAM-1, in the serum of 28 patients with NMOSD, 24 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 25 healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS: ICAM-2 levels (median: 394.8 ng/mL) were increased in patients with NMOSD compared with MS (267.1 ng/mL, P = 0.005) and HCs (257.4 ng/mL, P = 0.007), and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels were higher in patients with NMOSD (641.9 ng/mL and 212.7 ng/mL, respectively) compared with HCs (465 ng/mL [P = 0.013] and 141.8 ng/mL [P = 0.002], respectively). However, serum PECAM-1 levels were lower in patients with NMOSD (89.62 ng/mL) compared with MS (106.9 ng/mL, P = 0.015) and HCs (107.2 ng/mL, P = 0.007). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that PECAM-1 (area under the curve (AUC): 0.729) and ICAM-2 (AUC: 0.747) had adequate abilities to distinguish NMOSD from MS, and VCAM-1 (AUC: 0.719), PECAM-1 (area under the curve: 0.743), ICAM-1 (AUC: 0.778), and ICAM-2 (AUC: 0.749) exhibited potential to differentiate NMOSD and HCs. Serum levels of PECAM-1 also demonstrated a negative correlation with Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale scores in patients with NMOSD. INTERPRETATION: Our results reveal possible BBB breakdown signals specifically observed in NMOSD and highlight the potential role of cell adhesion molecules as biomarkers of this disease.

Diabetic Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy: Correlation of Clinical, Laboratory, and Electrophysiologic Studies in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This cross-sectional study is aimed at determining the prevalence of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); finding the risk factors for DSPN and DPNP via biochemical tests; and correlating DSPN and DPNP with the results of electrophysiologic studies, quantitative sensory tests, and neurologic examination. The 145 participants with T2DM enrolled were divided into the DSPN (abnormal nerve conduction studies (NCS) with signs of polyneuropathy), subclinical DSPN (abnormal NCS without signs of polyneuropathy), minimal DSPN (normal NCS with signs of polyneuropathy), and no DSPN groups. The biochemical risk factors of diabetic peripheral neuropathy were investigated. Neurologic examinations, laboratory tests, NCS, vibration threshold tests, and thermal threshold tests were conducted. The modified Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (mMNSI) and Douleur Neuropathique 4 were used to evaluate the severity of DSPN and DPNP, respectively. In all, 30% of participants had DSPN and 11% had DPNP. DSPN correlated strongly with male gender and higher glycohaemoglobin levels; NCS abnormality correlated with higher glycohaemoglobin levels; DSPN severity correlated with NCS of each stimulating nerve. DPNP commonly occurred with clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of DSPN. Symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy significantly correlated with longer disease duration, higher glycohaemoglobin levels, and abnormal vibration tests. The thermal threshold test combined with nerve conduction tests could detect most of the patients with DSPN, subclinical DSPN, and minimal DSPN. Poor diabetic control was independently associated with the development of DSPN. DPNP was associated with DSPN. The combination of thermal threshold tests with NCS can potentially provide the diagnosis of DSPN.

The Imaging Features and Clinical Associations of a Novel Tau PET Tracer-18F-APN1607 in Alzheimer Disease.

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: In vivo tau PET imaging could help clarify the spatial distribution of tau deposition in Alzheimer disease (AD) and aid in the differential diagnosis of tauopathies. To date, there have been no in vivo F-APN1607 tau PET studies in patients with AD. METHODS: We applied tau tracer in 12 normal controls (NCs) and 10 patients in the mild to moderate stage of probable AD. Detailed clinical information, cognitive measurements, and disease severity were documented. Regional SUV ratios (SUVRs) from F-AV-45 (florbetapir), F-APN1607 PET images, and regional gray matter (GM) atrophic ratios were calculated for further analysis. RESULTS: Quantitative analyses showed significantly elevated SUVRs in the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes, anterior and posterior cingulate gyri, precuneus, and parahippocampal region (all P's < 0.01) with medium to large effect sizes (0.44-0.75). The SUVRs from F-APN1607 PET imaging showed significant correlations with the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) scores (all P's < 0.01) and strong correlation coefficients (R ranged from 0.54 to 0.68), even adjusted for age and sex effects. Finally, the SUVRs from F-APN1607 PET imaging of the parahippocampal region showed rapid saturation as the ADAS-cog scores increased, and the SUVRs of the posterior cingulate gyrus and the temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital regions slowly increased. The combined SUVRs from amyloid, tau PET, and regional GM atrophic ratio showed regional specific patterns as the ADAS-cog scores increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the F-APN1607 tau tracer correlated well with cognitive changes and demonstrated the spatial pattern of amyloid, tau deposition, and GM atrophy in the progression of AD.

Clinical, neuroimaging, and nerve conduction characteristics of spontaneous Conus Medullaris infarction.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous conus medullaris infarction is a rare disease. We describe two patients with spontaneous conus medullaris infarction presenting as acute cauda equina syndrome and their unique electromyography (EMG) findings. CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients developed acute low back pain with mild asymmetric paraparesis, loss of perianal sensation and sphincter dysfunction. Ankle deep tendon reflexes were reduced in bilaterally. Neither patient had cardiovascular risk factors. Magnetic Resonance imaging showed infarction in the conus medullaris. Functional recovery was good in both patients, but progressive asymmetric calf wasting and sphincter dysfunction remained. EMG studies at follow-up of at least 3 years demonstrate active denervation at the muscles innervated by the first sacrum anterior horn cells. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous conus medullaris infarction can occur in healthy individuals and presents as cauda equina syndrome. Findings of needle EMG studies indicate a progressive course of sacrum anterior horn cell disorder during long-term follow-up.

The etiologies and prognosis associated with spinal cord infarction.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the etiology and prognosis of spinal cord infarction (SCI). METHODS: Over a period of 16 years, we retrospectively analyzed 31 patients with SCI. Demographic features and symptom presentations were carefully documented. Etiology-specific MRI features, such as the length and distribution of the lesions and owl's eyes sign, were recorded and analyzed to determine their associations with the clinical signs/symptoms. RESULTS: In total, seven patients had aortic or vertebral artery dissections. We divided the patients with SCI into two groups: those with or without vessel dissection. Among SCI patients, the onset age was younger, and the proportion of patients with long-segment lesions and posterior pattern involvement on axial view was higher in the group with dissection than in the group without dissection (all P < 0.05). The lesions were frequently located in the upper cervical or lower thoracic-lumbar regions, and the lengths of the lesions were associated with 1-month outcomes, suggesting that artery dissection may contribute to the longitudinal and posterior extension of SCI. In contrast, among patients without dissection, the range of longitudinal extensions of in spans of vertebral bodies was broader (range, 1-8). A higher proportion of patients had focal pain adjacent to the lesion (P = 0.05) and a poorer 1-month outcome (P = 0.04) in the long-segment lesion group than in the short-segment lesion group. CONCLUSIONS: A detailed history and the use of modern imaging tools may help clinicians search for vessel dissection and other etiologies, evaluate the spatial extension of lesions in SCI, and predict prognosis.

Tau PET With 18F-THK-5351 Taiwan Patients With Familial Alzheimer's Disease With the APP p.D678H Mutation.

Background: Brain 18F-AV-45 amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in Taiwanese patients with familial Alzheimer's disease with the amyloid precursor protein (APP) p.D678H mutation tends to involve occipital and cerebellar cortical areas. However, tau pathology in patients with this specific Taiwan mutation remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to study the Tau PET images in these patients. Methods: Clinical features, brain magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography (MRI/CT), and brain 18F-THK-5351 PET were recorded in five patients with the APP p.D678H mutation and correlated with brain 18F-AV-45 PET images. We also compared the tau deposition patterns among five patients with familial mild cognitive impairment (fMCI), six patients with sporadic amnestic mild cognitive impairment (sMCI), nine patients with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 12 healthy controls (HCs). All of the subjects also received brain 18F-AV-45 PET. Results: The nine patients with sAD and six patients with sMCI had a positive brain AV-45 PET scans, while the 12 HCs had negative brain AV-45 PET scans. All five patients with fMCI received a tau PET scan with the age at onset ranging from 46 to 53 years, in whom increased standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) of 18F-THK-5351 was noted in all seven brain cortical areas compared with the HCs. In addition, the SUVRs of 18F-THK-5351 were increased in the frontal, medial parietal, lateral parietal, lateral temporal, and occipital areas (P < 0.001) in the patients with sAD compared with the HCs. The patients with fMCI had a significant higher SUVR of 18F-THK-5351 in the cerebellar cortex compared to the patients with sMCI. The correlations between regional SUVR and Mini-Mental State Examination score and between regional SUVR and clinical dementia rating (sum box) scores within volumes of interest of Braak stage were statistically significant. Conclusion: Tau deposition was increased in the patients with fMCI compared to the HCs. Increased regional SUVR in the cerebellar cortical area was a characteristic finding in the patients with fMCI. As compared between amyloid and tau PET, the amyloid deposition is diffuse, but tau deposition is limited to the temporal lobe in the patients with fMCI.

A comparison between spinal cord infarction and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Clinical and MRI studies.

This study aims to investigate the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with spinal cord infarction (SCI) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). Over a period of 16 years, we retrospectively analyzed 39 patients with SCI and 21 patients with NMOSD. The demographic features and clinical presentations of both diseases were carefully documented. Etiology-specific MRI features, such as the length and distribution of the lesions, the owl's eyes sign and bright spotty lesions, were recorded and analyzed regarding their association with the clinical signs/symptoms. Patients with SCI were older than patients with NMOSD and had sudden onset of clinical symptoms with focal pain adjacent to the lesions. Concomitant spinal cord and vertebral body infarctions were frequently associated with aortic pathology (p = 0.04). In addition, artery dissection was highly associated with combined ASA and unilateral PSA infarctions and long segments of SCI (all p < 0.05). In contrast, patients with NMOSD had a relatively younger age of onset, female predominance and subacute progression of limbs weakness. As observed by MRI, the length and location of the lesions demonstrated significant differences between the two diseases (P < 0.01). The owl's eyes sign showed more frequently in patients with SCI than NMOSD (p < 0.01). The predicted prognoses in SCI and NMOSD were significantly associated with initial motor function (muscle power), after adjustments for age and gender (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Along with patient demographic characteristics, lesion features on MRI can help clinicians differentiate acute noncompressive myelopathy due to SCI from that due to NMOSD, which may lead to immediate initiation of adequate therapeutic measures.

Amyloid PET pattern with dementia and amyloid angiopathy in Taiwan familial AD with D678H APP mutation.

INTRODUCTION: The novel D678H amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene mutation has been called the "Taiwan mutation". The study aims to identify amyloid deposition patterns and clinical features associated with this mutation. METHODS: we analyzed the clinical manifestations, brain neuroimages and 18F-AV-45 positron emission tomography (PET) findings in symptomatic patients and asymptomatic subjects with the autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease (AD). We compared the amyloid deposition pattern among 10 patients with genetically-positive familial cognitive decline (CD), 18 patients with sporadic CD, and 19 healthy controls. RESULTS: The clinical features were the early onset of memory impairment in all 10 patients and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in 3 patients. The characteristic results of brain 18F-AV-45 PET included the highest standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) in the occipital and cerebellar cortical areas in the genetically-positive CD patients. In subgroup analysis, the familial AD patients had a decreased amyloid SUVR trend in most areas except for cerebellar cortex compared to those with familial mild cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the familial D678H gene mutation have resulted in a more potent amyloid burden than in the patients with sporadic AD patients. The high amyloid uptake in the occipital area is characteristic of the specific Taiwan APP gene.

Progress of Brain Amyloid Deposition in Familial Alzheimer's Disease with Taiwan D678H APP Mutation.

BACKGROUND: The amyloid AV-45 (florbetapir) positron emission tomography (PET) has been used in the study of the familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) with the D678H amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation. In addition, the progress of the disease remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate the progression rate of amyloid accumulation in FAD patients with this mutation by neuroimages analysis. METHODS: The clinical course, changes in cognitive function, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F-AV-45 PET scan were investigated in FAD patients and sporadic AD (sAD) patients. We compared the amyloid deposition pattern in serial brain 18F-AV-45 PET scan among the FAD, familial mild cognitive impairment (FMCI), and sMCI and sAD patients. RESULTS: Seven familial patients received a follow-up survey. The follow up duration for brain AV-45 PET was from 1.54 to 3.61 years. In 4 FMCI patients, an increased regional SUVR was noted, and the annual change rates were increased from 1.03% to 18.82%. However, a decreased regional SUVR was noted in 3 FAD patients and the annual change rates were from -2.62% to -16.03%. As compared with the sAD and sMCI patients, the annual change rate is statistically significant in FAD and FMCI patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate a biphasic course with an initial increase and then a decrease of SUVR in brain amyloid PET scan in familial APP mutation patients. The data also reveal that the novel Taiwan APP (D678H) mutation has a more amyloid burden than the sAD patients, particularly in an MCI stage.

Atypical presentation of dopa-responsive dystonia in Taiwan.

The typical clinical presentation of dopa-responsive dystonia, which is also called Segawa disease, is a young age of onset, with predominance in females, diurnal fluctuation of lower limb dystonia, and fair response to low-dose levodopa. This disease has both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance. Autosomal dominant Segawa disease is caused by GCH1 mutation on chromosome 14q22.1-q22.2. Here, we report the case of a male patient with genetically confirmed Segawa disease and atypical presentations including no diurnal symptom fluctuation and insufficient response to levodopa. The patient's father who had the same mutation presented parkinsonism in old age. We also review the literature to address the broad clinical heterogeneity of Segawa disease and the influence of onset age on clinical presentation.

Elevated serum levels of endothelin-1 in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired, or non-hereditary, chronic demyelinating neuropathy. Currently, there is no reliable molecular biomarker that can identify CIDP patients as well as monitor disease severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We measured serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a factors involved in vasoconstrictive, inflammatory and nerve regenerative processes, in 20 CIDP, 21 acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), 37 multiple sclerosis (MS), and 10 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, as well as 26 healthy control (HC) subjects. RESULTS: Patients with CIDP demonstrated higher serum levels of ET-1 (2.07±1.07pg/mL) than those with AIDP (0.75±0.62ng/mL, P<0.001), AD (0.78±0.49pg/mL, P<0.001), as well as HCs (1.16±0.63pg/mL, P=0.002), while levels of ET-1 in patients with MS (2.10±0.81pg/mL) and CIDP were similar. Furthermore, the serum ET-1 levels significantly correlated with Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause And Treatment (INCAT) disability scale in CIDP patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed good discrimination ability for ET-1 to distinguish CIDP patients from AIDP (AUC=0.883) or HCs (AUC=0.763). CONCLUSION: This study discloses the potential of serum ET-1 as a biomarker for CIDP.

A prospective, observational study of patients with uncommon distal symmetric painful small-fiber neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with uncommon distal symmetric painful small-fiber neuropathy (DSPSFN). METHODS: From September 2012 to September 2014, participants between 18-70 years of age that had DSPSFN defined by clinical signs/symptoms and ID pain > 2 or DN4 > 4 on questionnaires for more than 1 month were included. Participants who had previous historical or laboratory evidence of common etiologies of DSPSFN were excluded. Enzyme activity and genetic studies for Fabry diseaseand familial amyloid polyneuropathy were performed after participants fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cryoglobulin test, autoantibodies studies and electrophysiological studies were performed in these participants. RESULTS: In total, 100 cases were enrolled in the current study. Three cases of subclinical diabetes mellitus and two cases of fibromyalgia were found. Fabry disease (1%) and familial amyloid polyneuropathy (3%) with Ala97Ser transthyretin (TTR) mutations were also detected. The cryoglobulin test was positive in 30% of participants, and these participants had higher DN4 scores than the negative group. In the autoantibodies studies, 59% of the participants had abnormal anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoglobulinemia is not a rare etiology of uncommon DSPSFN. The long-term prognosis is quite good in these participants. From our structuralized protocol, Fabry disease and familial amyloid polyneuropathy could be easily detected in these cases of uncommon DSPSFN.

Risk and association of HLA with oxcarbazepine-induced cutaneous adverse reactions in Asians.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk and genetic association of oxcarbazepine-induced cutaneous adverse reactions (OXC-cADRs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), in Asian populations (Chinese and Thai). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with OXC-cADRs in Taiwan and Thailand from 2006 to 2014, and analyzed the clinical course, latent period, drug dosage, organ involvement, complications, and mortality. We also investigated the carrier rate of HLA-B*15:02 and HLA-A*31:01 of patients with OXC-cADRs and compared to OXC-tolerant controls. The incidence of OXC-SJS/TEN was compared with carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced SJS/TEN according to the nationwide population dataset from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. RESULTS: We enrolled 50 patients with OXC-cADRs, including 20 OXC-SJS/TEN and 6 drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, of Chinese patients from Taiwan and Thai patients from Thailand. OXC-cADRs presented with less clinical severity including limited skin detachment (all ≦5%) and no mortality. There was a significant association between HLA-B*15:02 and OXC-SJS (p = 1.87 × 10-10; odds ratio 27.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.84-99.23) in Chinese and this significant association was also observed in Thai patients. The positive and negative predictive values of HLA-B*15:02 for OXC-SJS/TEN were 0.73% and 99.97%, respectively. HLA-A*31:01 was not associated with OXC-cADRs. The incidence and mortality of OXC-SJS/TEN was lower than CBZ-STS/TEN in new users (p = 0.003; relative risk 0.212; 95% CI 0.077-0.584). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HLA-B*15:02 is significantly associated with OXC-SJS in Asian populations (Chinese and Thai). However, the severity and incidence of OXC-SJS/TEN are less than that of CBZ-SJS/TEN. The need for preemptive HLA-B*15:02 screening should be evaluated further.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4-γ, 1 gene mutations are rare in Parkinson's disease among Taiwanese.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Although idiopathic PD accounts for most of the cases, several genetic mutations have been found to cause PD. Mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4-γ, 1 (EIF4G1) gene have been identified since 2011, which were reported to be associated with PD among Caucasians in subsequent research. However, this observation was not consistent. The contribution to other ethnic groups remains limited, with < 1% of sporadic cases. We conducted a case-control study to analyze if EIF4G1 is a risk factor for PD patients in Taiwan. METHODS: There were 595 PD patients and 600 controls without neurological diseases enrolled in this study. Four reported mutations-A502V (c.1505C>T), G686C (c.2056 G>T), R1197W (c.3589C>T), and R1205H (c.3614G>A)-were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no mutations found in either PD patients or controls. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the EIF4G1 mutation is rare in Taiwan, which is consistent with other reports from Asia. Ethnicity could have a great influence on EIF4G1 in PD. Further large scale studies are warranted to evaluate the association of PD and EIF4G1 gene.