Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0002736 (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
 19,048 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have studied the survival of 49 patients suffering from neuromuscular disease, who were hospitalised in the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit between 1981 and 1990 (29 males and 20 females with a mean age of 49.3 +/- 17 years with a range of 15 to 79). The neuromuscular diseases consisted of 8 with multiple sclerosis, 9 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 8 with Steinert's disease, 11 myopathies, and 10 suffering from miscellaneous neurological diseases. Initially 27 of the 49 patients had been intubated and ventilated. During the hospital stay long-term ventilation was undertaken in 27 patients (21 by tracheotomy and 6 by nasal mask). The principal prognostic factor was the aetiology. Three groups of varying degrees of severity could be individualized: progressive neuromuscular disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis), primary muscle disorders (myopathies and Steinert's disease), and neuromuscular disease with little or no evolution (survival at two years was 15%, 45% and 71% respectively for three groups. p = 0.001 by log-rank testing). The other factors which influence survival are age (p < 0.01), the presence of false route (p < 0.01), and the reason for hospitalisation (acute as opposed to chronic progressive deterioration, p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis the most significant factors associated with the diagnosis were age, the reason for hospitalisation, and the existence of false routes. The initial treatment (intubation) and the prescription of long-term ventilation did not bring with it any significant further information as to prognosis, compared to the model which included these four factors.
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PMID:[Prognostic factors in the survival of patients with neuromuscular diseases after an episode of acute respiratory insufficiency]. 804 89

There has been remarkable progress in the identification of mutations in genes that cause inherited neurological disorders. Abnormalities in the genes for Huntington disease, neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, one form of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, fragile X syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Kennedy syndrome, Menkes disease, and several forms of retinitis pigmentosa have been elucidated. Rare disorders of neuronal migration such as Kallmann syndrome, Miller-Dieker syndrome, and Norrie disease have been shown to be due to specific gene defects. Several muscle disorders characterized by abnormal membrane excitability have been defined as mutations of the muscle sodium or chloride channels. These advances provide opportunity for accurate molecular diagnosis of at-risk individuals and are the harbinger of new approaches to therapy of these diseases.
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PMID:Molecular genetics in neurology. 791 6

Thirty-four biopsied muscles of Duchenne, Becker and congenital muscular dystrophy, congenital myotonic dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were examined by an immunocytochemical method with an anti-dystrophin-related protein (DRP) antibody. Strongly positive immunoreaction to DRP at the neuromuscular junctions in all biopsied specimens and faint reaction on the surface membrane of atrophic fibers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis suggest that DRP is an anchor protein of the acetylcholine receptor. Additionally, the surface membrane of muscle fibers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy was positively stained. DRP is, therefore, thought to be expressed to compensate for dystrophin deficiency in these muscle fibers.
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PMID:Dystrophin-related protein in skeletal muscles in neuromuscular disorders: immunohistochemical study. 846 May 31

We studied the relationships between the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, free radical (FR) levels and clinical data in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). The SOD activities and blood FR levels of 16 patients with SALS (mean age 58.6 +/- 10.2 years), 11 with other neurological disease, including myotonic dystrophy (ND, mean age 53.5 +/- 9.1 years), and 15 normal control subjects (mean age 56.2 +/- 7.3 years) were measured. The mean levels of FR in blood from the patients with SALS and ND and the SOD activities in red blood cells (RBC) from those with ND were significantly higher than the corresponding control values. There was a positive correlation between the SOD activities in RBC and blood hydroxyl radical levels in the patients with ND, but neither the patients with SALS nor the controls showed such a correlation. The SALS patients without pyramidal signs showed slow disease progression and their mean RBC SOD activity was significantly higher than the corresponding control value. We compared the FR levels and SOD activities of 8 patients who needed a respirator within 40 months after the onset of SALS (SALS40, mean age 58.7 +/- 9.4 years), 3 who needed a respirator over 100 months after the onset of SALS (SALS100, mean age 58.3 +/- 15.9 years) and the controls. The mean blood FR levels of the SALS40 and SALS100 patients were significantly higher than the corresponding control values. The mean SOD activity in RBC from the SALS100 group was significantly higher than the SALS40 and control group values. Therefore, we concluded that elevated blood FR levels do not induce RBC SOD in SALS patients and that the disease progressed more rapidly in SALS patients with low than high RBS SOD activities.
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PMID:Superoxide dismutase and free radicals in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: relationship to clinical data. 874 43

The clinical relevance of neurological disorders associated with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT) is reviewed. In this review some neurological diseases, such as, myotonic dystrophy, Crow-Fukase syndrome, Wolfram syndrome (DIDMOAD), Friedreich ataxia, spinal muscular atrophy of the Kennedy-Alter-Sung type, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson-dementia, and MELAS are discussed in relation to, glucose intolerance. Although the etiology of these disorders still remains an enigma, MELAS was caused by an A-to-G mutation at nucleotide position 3243 of the mitochondria genome. An association of "diabetic neuropathy" with IGT appears to be negative. Peripheral nerve function did not differ between IGT and control subjects, whereas autonomic nerve function deviated; an abnormal expiration to inspiration ratio of R-R interval was significantly more common in IGT than in control subjects. In conclusion, diabetes, but not IGT, is associated with peripheral nerve dysfunction.
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PMID:[Neurological disorders associated with impaired glucose tolerance]. 891 31

Patients with neuromuscular disease may suffer from nocturnal respiratory failure despite normal daytime respiratory function. The physiological reduction in muscle tone during sleep may be life-threatening in a patient with impaired muscle strength. Nocturnal respiratory failure may occur in patients with the postpolio syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, myotonic dystrophy, and muscular dystrophy. Diagnosis of obstructive, central and mixed apneas, hypopneas, and hypoventilation is best made using polysomnography. Therapeutic options include noninvasive ventilation such as continuous positive airway pressure, bilevel positive airway pressure, intermittent positive pressure ventilation and, rarely, tracheostomy, oxygen, or protriptyline. Evaluation by a sleep specialist should be initiated in any neuromuscular patient with nocturnal symptoms such as air hunger, intermittent snoring or breathing, orthopnea, cyanosis, restlessness, and insomnia. Daytime symptoms may include morning drowsiness, headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. Polycythemia, hypertension, and signs of heart failure may also be seen. Effective treatment is available, and may improve the quality of life, and possibly increase survival.
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PMID:Nocturnal respiratory failure as an indication of noninvasive ventilation in the patient with neuromuscular disease. 967 Mar 10

Post-traumatic stress-induced disorders are still the focus of interest and most recently discussions are under way whether stress-induced cortisol excess leads to atrophy of the brain. In investigation on carcinogenesis the first reports were published on the use of antisense-oligonucleotides during inhibition of the development of tumours by a humoral mechanism and on the gene-based neuroendocrine differentiation of the lungs, perhaps associated with the basis for the development of small cell carcinoma. The oncogenic action of superoxides has also humoral mediators. Interest in nitrogen oxide is focused on two areas: inflammations and hypertension. Intraluminal NO concentrations increase in asthma 2-10x, in cystitis 30-100x, in Crohn's disease 20-200x. Humoral mechanisms in asthma offer new drugs--inhibitors of the development or action of leucotrienes. The basal NO production is reduced in "essential" hypertension but it is not known whether it is the cause or consequence. IGF-I increases the formation of NO in the vascular wall and thus perhaps reduces vascular contractility. As far as IGF is concerned, it is obvious that if recombinant preparations will be available, they will be tested in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myotonic dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, catabolic conditions, osteoporosis, in renal failure and to promote wound healing. STH may also prove useful in cardiac failure, in particular in cardiac cachexia. That TRH has receptors in the gut is not surprising, it acts, however, even there via TSH. Thrombopoietin is being tested in clinical trials. Neocytolysis is a new phenomenon: when erythropoietin secretion declines new erythrocytes disappear and only old ones remain in the blood stream. Alpha-adducin is a renal tubular protein, regulating the sodium balance.
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PMID:[Endocrinology 1996-1997]. 965 Mar 40

Since fiscal year 1991, the U.S. Human Genome Project has spent $170.6 million in federal funds to help isolate genes associated with Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, myotonic dystrophy, and fragile X syndrome and to localize genes that predispose people to breast cancer, colon cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Now comes the hard part. Biology's 21st century megaproject starts to look relatively manageable compared to another challenge facing the enterprise: sorting out ethical, legal, and social issues associated with using this information. "The Human Genome Project," wrote Senior Editor Barbara Jasny in the October 1 Science editorial, stretches "the limits of the technology and the limits of our ability to ethically and rationally apply genetic information to our lives."
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PMID:Ethical, legal, and social issues of the Human Genome Project: what to do with what we know. 971 68

The transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) are multifunctional growth factors that act on both fibroblasts and myosatellite cells. In rodent models of muscle diseases, high levels of TGF-beta2 are expressed by myogenic cells. We have examined whether the expression of TGF-beta2 is also elevated in diseased human muscles. The disorders examined were Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, myotubular myopathy, spinal muscular atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The levels of TGF-beta2 immunoreactivity were elevated in atrophic, necrotic, and regenerating fibers and in fibers with central nuclei or cytoplasmic masses, irrespective of whether fibrosis was present. We therefore suggest that TGF-beta2 is important for muscle repair and that the presence of a TGF-beta within a muscle only leads to fibrosis if certain other factors are present.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor-beta2 is elevated in skeletal muscle disorders. 1039 7

We examined the presence of ubiquitin-immunoreactive skein-like inclusions (SLI) in the neostriatum and spinal cord in normal individuals and patients with different neurodegenerative diseases. Ubiquitin-immunoreactive SLI in the neostriatum were observed both in the normal individuals and in the patients with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, SLI were frequently seen in normal aged subjects and certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and myotonic dystrophy. In contrast, the occurrence rate of SLI in cases with Pick's disease and multiple system atrophy tended to decrease. On the other hand, SLI in the spinal anterior horn were detected in cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but not in any cases with other neurodegenerative diseases. SLI in the neostriatum were also identifiable using phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin and Gomori trichrome staining. Ubiquitin immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the SLI in the neostriatum corresponded to bundles of filaments. These features of SLI in the neostriatum were quite similar to those of intracytoplasmic rod-like inclusions (RLI) in the large neurons of caudate nucleus, which were first described by Kojima and Ogawa in 1974. Our findings indicate that SLI in the neostriatum are ubiquitin-related structures whose occurrence increases by aging, and less frequently accompany several neurodegenerative diseases, and are identical to at least some RLI.
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PMID:Ubiquitin-immunoreactive skein-like inclusions in the neostriatum are not restricted to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but are rather aging-related structures. 1091 19


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