[Expert consensus on the management strategy of patients with hereditary ataxia during prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic].

Since December 2019, a series of highly infectious cases of unexplained pneumonia have been discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which have been confirmed as '2019 corona virus disease' caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 virus can invade many human systems including the lungs. Patients with central nervous system involvement may show a series of neurological symptoms, which is easy to be misdiagnosed and neglected, thereby increasing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Hereditary ataxia is a large group of neurodegenerative diseases with great clinical and genetic heterogeneity and high mortality and disability. In view of the seriousness of the COVID-19 epidemic, a series of prevention and control measures adopted by the government have restricted the follow-up, diagnosis and treatment of patients by the hospitals, which has a great impact on their mental and physical health. In order to standardize the management of patients during the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic, the Specialized Committee of Neurogenetics of the Neurophysician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association has formulated this consensus, with an aim to help patients to overcome the difficulties and pass the epidemic prevention period safely.

Methodology implementation in order to evaluate the biological risks in the Centre for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias of Cuba. A biosecurity surveillance method / Aplicación de la metodología para la evaluación del riesgo biológico en el Centro para la Investigación y Rehabilitación de las Ataxias Hereditarias, Cuba. Una forma de vigilancia en Bioseguridad

INTRODUCTION: The Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias faces biological risks. Nevertheless a Biosafety system was not yet implemented. OBJECTIVE: To apply the methodology in order to evaluate these risks MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interview with the researchers of the center and the use of the methodology for evaluating biological risks designed for Cobos, 2009. RESULTS: Fifty-three biological risks were identified and evaluated, 32 as moderated, 18 as tolerable and 3 as trivial. Such classification are crucial to establish its management priorities and represent a way of surveillance in Biosafety field. CONCLUSION: The results of this research represent an essential factor for the Biosafety documentation development adapted to the Center and according to the legal basis in terms of biological safety in Cuba

INTRODUCCIÓN: El Centro para la Investigación y Rehabilitación de las Ataxias Hereditarias presenta riesgo biológico, sin embargo no tiene implementado un sistema de bioseguridad. OBJETIVO: Aplicar la metodología para evaluar este tipo de riesgo. Materiales y MÉTODOS: Entrevistas con los trabajadores del centro y el empleo de la metodología diseñada por Cobos, 2009. RESULTADOS: Cincuenta y tres riesgos biológicos fueron identificados y evaluados, de ellos 32 moderados, 18 tolerables y 3 triviales. Esta clasificación es muy importante para establecer prioridades para su gestión, además representa una manera de establecer vigilancia en bioseguridad. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de esta investigación representan un factor esencial para el desarrollo de la documentación de bioseguridad ajustada a las características de la entidad de acuerdo a la base legal en materia de seguridad biológica en Cuba

Ataxias cerebelosas autosómicas recesivas. Clasificación, aspectos genéticos y fisiopatología / Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias. Their classification, genetic features and pathophysiology

Introducción y desarrollo. Las ataxias cerebelosas autosómicas recesivas (ARCA) son un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos neurológicos raros que afectan a los sistemas nerviosos central y periférico y, en algunos casos, a otros sistemas y órganos. Estos trastornos suelen tener una edad de inicio antes de los 20 años de edad. En base a criterios patogénicos se pueden distinguir cinco grupos de ARCA: ataxias congénitas (trastorno del desarrollo), ataxias mitocondriales, ataxias asociadas a defectos metabólicos, ataxias asociadas a defectos en la reparación del ADN y ataxias degenerativas de mecanismo patogénico desconocido. Las formas más frecuentes en la población caucásica son la ataxia de Friefreich y la ataxia-telangiectasia. Otras formas más raras son la abetalipoproteinemia, la ataxia con deficiencia de vitamina E (AVED), la ataxia con apraxia oculomotora tipos 1 (AOA1) y 2 (AOA2), la ataxia precoz con reflejos conservados, la ataxia espástica de Charlevoix-Saguenay y el síndrome de Joubert. La prevalencia de las ARCA se estima en siete casos por 100.000 habitantes. Estas enfermedades se deben a mutaciones en genes específicos, algunos de los cuales y sus proteínas se han identificado, como FRDA (frataxina) en la ataxia de Friedreich, APTX (aprataxina) en la AOA1, aTTP (proteína transferidora de a-tocoferol) en la AVED y STX (senataxina) en la AOA2. Como se trata de trastornos autonómicos recesivos, no suele haber antecedentes en la familia de los enfermos y ambos progenitores están sanos. Conclusiones. La mayoría de las ataxias cerebelosas no tienen tratamiento específico, excepto algunas debidas a déficit de coenzima Q10 y la abetalipoproteinemia. El diagnóstico clínico debe confirmarse mediante las pruebas complementarias de neuroimagen (tomografía axial computarizada, resonancia magnética), el examen electrofisiológico y el análisis de mutaciones del gen causante si éste se ha identificado. El diagnóstico clínico y genético correcto son muy importantes para ofrecer un pronóstico y un consejo genético apropiados y, en ocasiones, un tratamiento farmacológico (AU)

Introduction and development. Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCA) are a heterogeneous group of rare neurological disorders involving both central and peripheral nervous system, and in some case other systems and organs. They use to have early onset before the age of 20. Based on pathogenic mechanisms five main types may be distinguished: congenital (developmental disorder), mitochondrial ataxias, ataxias associated with metabolic disorders, ataxias with a DNA repair defect, and degenerative ataxia with unknown pathogenesis. The most frequent in Caucasian population are Friedreich ataxia and ataxia-telangiectasia. Other forms are much less common, and include abetaliproteinemia, ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED), ataxia with oculomotor apraxia types 1 (AOA1) and 2 (AOA2), early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained reflexes, Charlevoix-Saguenay spastic ataxia, and Joubert syndrome. The prevalence of ARCA has been estimated to 7 in 100,000 inhabitants. These diseases are due to mutations in specific genes, some of which and its encoded proteins have been identified, such as FRDA (frataxin) in Friedreich ataxia, APTX (aprataxin) in AOA1, αTTP (α-tocopherol transfer protein) in AVED, and STX (senataxin) in AOA2. Due to autosomal recessive inheritance, previous familial history of affected individuals unlikely. Conclusions. Most of these cerebellar ataxias have no specific treatment with exception of the ataxia associated with deficiency coenzyme Q10 and abetalipoproteinemia. Clinical diagnosis must be confirmed by ancillary tests such as neuroimaging (magnetic resonance, scanning), electrophysiological examination, and mutation analysis when the causative gene has been identified. Correct clinical and genetic diagnosis is important for appropriate prognosis and genetic counseling and, in some instances, pharmacological treatment (AU)

GDNF and IGF-I trophic factors delay hereditary Purkinje cell degeneration and the progression of gait ataxia.

Neurotrophic factors GDNF and/or IGF-I were chronically infused into shaker mutant rats to rescue cerebellar Purkinje neurons from adult-onset heredodegeneration. The natural expression of the shaker mutation is characterized by spatially restricted degeneration of Purkinje cells that occurs earlier and faster in an anterior vermal compartment and slightly later and more slowly in a posterior vermal compartment. Gait ataxia and whole body tremor develop concomitant with the degeneration of Purkinje neurons. The number and spatial distribution of surviving Purkinje neurons, identified by cell-specific calbindin immunoreactivity, were quantitatively analyzed in mid-sagittal sections and correlated with quantitative movement analysis of hindlimb gait patterns. Compared to the number of surviving Purkinje cells in age-matched, non-infused, or saline-infused control mutants, 4 weeks of infusion of GDNF or IGF-I rescued many anterior compartment Purkinje cells from early degeneration. However, 2 and 4 weeks after cessation of GDNF or IGF-I infusion, respectively, the number and spatial distribution of surviving Purkinje cells was comparable to that observed in age-matched controls. Eight weeks of infusion of trophic factors did not support the continued survival of most anterior compartment Purkinje cells and was partially, and probably only transiently, neuroprotective for some posterior compartment Purkinje cells. When GDNF and IGF-I were infused together for 4 weeks the number of surviving Purkinje cells was additively greater than with either factor alone. Behaviorally, 4 weeks of infusion of trophic factors delayed the development of gait ataxia. Infused GDNF appeared to preserve hip stability, whereas IGF-I stabilized step length. Tremor was attenuated with 8 weeks of infusion of GDNF or IGF-I. GDNF-infused animals showed low power tremor frequencies, whereas IGF-I infusion resulted in a single large power peak with decreased numbers of low-amplitude frequencies. Collectively these findings indicate that exogenous trophic factors can delay the onset of hereditary Purkinje cell degeneration and gait ataxia. Quite surprisingly, GDNF and IGF-I appeared to act on disparate populations of mutant Purkinje cells, whose differential survival affected different aspects of locomotion.