scholarly journals The multistep hypothesis of ALS revisited

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. e635-e642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Chiò ◽  
Letizia Mazzini ◽  
Sandra D'Alfonso ◽  
Lucia Corrado ◽  
Antonio Canosa ◽  
...  

ObjectiveAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) incidence rates are consistent with the hypothesis that ALS is a multistep process. We tested the hypothesis that carrying a large effect mutation might account for ≥1 steps through the effect of the mutation, thus leaving fewer remaining steps before ALS begins.MethodsWe generated incidence data from an ALS population register in Italy (2007–2015) for which genetic analysis for C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes was performed in 82% of incident cases. As confirmation, we used data from ALS cases diagnosed in the Republic of Ireland (2006–2014). We regressed the log of age-specific incidence against the log of age with least-squares regression for the subpopulation carrying disease-associated variation in each separate gene.ResultsOf the 1,077 genetically tested cases, 74 (6.9%) carried C9orf72 mutations, 20 (1.9%) had SOD1 mutations, 15 (1.4%) had TARDBP mutations, and 3 (0.3%) carried FUS mutations. In the whole population, there was a linear relationship between log incidence and log age (r2 = 0.98) with a slope estimate of 4.65 (4.37–4.95), consistent with a 6-step process. The analysis for C9orf72-mutated patients confirmed a linear relationship (r2 = 0.94) with a slope estimate of 2.22 (1.74–2.29), suggesting a 3-step process. This estimate was confirmed by data from the Irish ALS register. The slope estimate was consistent with a 2-step process for SOD1 and with a 4-step process for TARDBP.ConclusionThe identification of a reduced number of steps in patients with ALS with genetic mutations compared to those without mutations supports the idea of ALS as a multistep process and is an important advance for dissecting the pathogenic process in ALS.

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 11s-11s
Author(s):  
A.Z. Shams ◽  
V. Winkler ◽  
H. Pohlabeln ◽  
V. Arndt ◽  
U. Haug

Background: Liver cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide1. In 2013, 79,2000 new cases of liver cancer and 818,000 deaths occurred globally2,3. Chronic infection with HBV accounts for at least 50% of liver cancer globally4. In the United States (US), liver cancer constitute the ninth leading cause of cancer death. The incidence of the cancer has persistently increased in the recent decades. Universal HBV vaccination was introduced in 1992 in the US. However, incidence trends of liver cancer among US children is poorly researched or relevant studies are not up-to-date5. Aim: This study aims to explore the effect of HBV population-wide vaccination program in reducing liver cancer incidence in the vaccinated children and adolescents in the US. Methods: Liver cancer incidence data were obtained from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) databases (volumes I to X) from International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC). Data acquisition and analysis covered available incidence data between 1978-2007 from 9 cancer registries from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) from the US presented in the CI5 databases. Age-specific incidence rates of liver cancer (based on 5 year age groups ie 5-9 year, 10-14 year and 15-19 years) were calculated using age and sex-disaggregated incidence and population data from the SEER cancer registries. Stata software version 14.0 (StataCorp, USA) was used to calculate age-specific incidence rates, using number of liver cancer incident cases in each age group by the number of population in the respective age group. Age-specific rates were analyzed by period of diagnosis and by birth year. Rate ratios were estimated from age-group-specific Poisson regressions. Results: A total of 140 liver cancer incident cases were registered in the 9 SEER registries between 1978 to 2007 in the US. The incidence rate of liver cancer in children 5 to 9 years of age from 1978-1982 was 0.10 per 100,000 children. The incidence increased to 0.16 for the period from 2003-2007. The same trend is seen for the age group 10-14 and 15-19 years of age. Overall, age-specific incidence rates for liver cancer increased across age groups of 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19 year in the population covered by the 9 SEER registries in the US. However, risk estimates (incidence rate ratios, resulted from age-group-specific Poisson regressions did not show statistical significant effects. Conclusion: While the global response to implement population-wide HBV vaccination program is out of question, efforts to establish processes to evaluate the effect of such programs seems to be incomparably limited. Estimating the effect of HBV vaccination will relatively improve with time as further incidence data become available eg upon publication of data from new volume of CI5 databases.


Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (15) ◽  
pp. e1657-e1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Vucic ◽  
Mana Higashihara ◽  
Gen Sobue ◽  
Naoki Atsuta ◽  
Yuriko Doi ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo establish whether amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multistep process in South Korean and Japanese populations when compared to Australian cohorts.MethodsWe generated incident data by age and sex for Japanese (collected between April 2009 and March 2010) and South Korean patients with ALS (collected between January 2011 and December 2015). Mortality rates were provided for Australian patients with ALS (collected between 2007 and 2016). We regressed the log of age-specific incidence against the log of age with least squares regression for each ALS population.ResultsWe identified 11,834 cases of ALS from the 3 populations, including 6,524 Australian, 2,264 Japanese, and 3,049 South Korean ALS cases. We established a linear relation between the log incidence and log age in the 3 populations: Australia r2 = 0.99, Japan r2 = 0.99, South Korea r2 = 0.99. The estimate slopes were similar across the 3 populations, being 5.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.8–5.5) in Japanese, 5.4 (95% CI, 5.2–5.7) in Australian, and 4.4 (95% CI, 4.2–4.8) in South Korean patients.ConclusionsThe linear relationship between log age and log incidence is consistent with a multistage model of disease, with slope estimated suggesting that 6 steps were required in Japanese and Australian patients with ALS while 5 steps were needed in South Korean patients. Identification of these steps could identify novel therapeutic strategies.


Author(s):  
Riley Golby ◽  
Brigitte Poirier ◽  
Marife Fabros ◽  
Jacquelyn J. Cragg ◽  
Masoud Yousefi ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal degenerative neurological disease with significant effects on quality of life. International studies continue to provide consistent incidence values, though complete case ascertainment remains a challenge. The Canadian population has been understudied, and there are currently no quantitative data on the incidence of ALS in British Columbia (BC). The objectives of this study were to determine the five-year incidence rates of ALS in BC and to characterize the demographic patterns of the disease. Methods: The capture–recapture method was employed to estimate ALS incidence over a five-year period (2010-2015). Two sources were used to identify ALS cases: one database from an ALS medical centre and another from a not-for-profit ALS organization. Results: During this time period, there were 690 incident cases within the two sources. The capture–recapture method estimated 57 unobserved cases, corresponding to a crude five-year incidence rate of 3.29 cases per 100,000 (CI95%=3.05-3.53). The mean age of diagnosis was 64.6 (CI95%=59.7-69.4), with 63.5 (CI95%=56.9-70.1) for men and 65.7 (CI95%=58.6-72.7) for women. There was a slight male preponderance in incidence, with a 1.05:1 ratio to females. Peak numbers in incidence occurred between the ages of 70 and 79. Conclusions: The incidence of ALS in BC was found to be consistent with international findings though nominally higher than that in other Canadian provinces to date.


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A59.3-A60
Author(s):  
Neil Pearce

BackgroundThere are several intriguing features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Some people with genetic susceptibility never develop ALS; ALS develops in late life and progresses rapidly; the same mutation can predispose to ALS or other diseases; ALS starts in one region and spreads; degeneration is specific to a subgroup of neurons; and ALS shows complex inheritance. Cancer shares many of these characteristics, and these have been incorporated into the Armitage-Doll multistage model. We therefore used this model to investigate the hypothesis that ALS is a multistage process.MethodsIncidence data by age and sex were generated from five ALS population registers, in Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Scotland and England; age and sex adjusted incidences were calculated for each register.Findings6274 cases were identified from 73 million people. There was a linear relationship between log incidence and log age in all five registers: Ireland R2=0·99, Netherlands R2=0·99, Italy R2=0·95, Scotland R2=0·97, England R2=0·95, overall R2=0·99. All five registers gave very similar estimates of the linear slope ranging from 4·5 to 5·1, with overlapping confidence intervals. Combining all five registers gave an overall slope of 4·8 (95% CI 4·5, 5·0) with similar estimates for males and females. In persons with known genetic mutations which predispose to ALS, the risk of ALS was higher, but the log-incidence/log-age slope was lower, as predicted by the multistage modelo.InterpretationA linear relationship between the log incidence and log age of onset of ALS is consistent with a multistage model of disease. The slope estimate is about 5, suggesting that ALS is a 6-step process; the slope is 3–4 in persons with known genetic causes. These findings have implications for the search for causes of ALS, including occupational causes and gene-environment interactions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Carolyn A. Brown ◽  
Cathy Lally ◽  
Varant Kupelian ◽  
W. Dana Flanders

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by progressive deterioration of motor neurons. Assessment of the size/geographic distribution of the ALS population, including ALS with genetic origin, is needed to understand the burden of the disease and the need for clinical intervention and therapy. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The main objective of this study was to estimate the number of prevalent and incident ALS cases overall and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) ALS in 22 countries across Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and UK), North America (USA and Canada), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay), and Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify population-based studies reporting ALS prevalence and/or incidence rates. Pooled prevalence and incidence rates were obtained using a meta-analysis approach at the country and regional geographic level. A country-level pooled estimate was used when ≥2 studies were available per country and geographic regional pooled estimates were used otherwise. The proportion of cases with a SOD1 or C9orf72 mutation among sporadic (sALS) and familial (fALS) cases were obtained from a previous systematic review and meta-analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Pooled prevalence rates (per 100,000 persons) and incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were 6.22 and 2.31 for Europe, 5.20 and 2.35 for North America, 3.41 and 1.25 for Latin America, 3.01 and 0.93 for Asian countries excluding Japan, and 7.96 and 1.76 for Japan, respectively. Significant heterogeneity in reported incidence and prevalence was observed within and between countries/geographic regions. The estimated number of 2020 ALS cases across the 22 countries is 121,028 prevalent and 41,128 incident cases. The total estimated number of prevalent SOD1 cases is 2,876 cases, of which, 1,342 (47%) were fALS and 1,534 (53%) were sALS, and the number of incident SOD1 cases is 946 (434 [46%] fALS and 512 [54%] sALS). The total estimated number of prevalent C9orf72 cases is 4,545 (1,198 [26%] fALS, 3,347 [74%] sALS), and the number of incident C9orf72 cases is 1,706 (450 [26%] fALS and 1,256 [74%] sALS). <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> The estimated number of patients with SOD1 and C9orf72 ALS suggests that although the proportions of SOD1 and C9orf72 are higher among those with fALS, the majority of SOD1 and C9orf72 ALS cases may be found among those with sALS (about 53 and 74%, respectively). These results suggest that classification of fALS based on reported family history does not capture the full picture of ALS of genetic origin.


Author(s):  
Stephanie C Melkonian ◽  
Hannah K Weir ◽  
Melissa A Jim ◽  
Bailey Preikschat ◽  
Donald Haverkamp ◽  
...  

Abstract Cancer incidence varies among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, as well as between AI/AN and White populations. This study examined trends for cancers with elevated incidence among AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White populations and estimated potentially avoidable incident cases among AI/AN populations. Incident cases diagnosed during 2012–2016 were identified from population-based cancer registries and linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases to improve racial classification of AI/AN populations. Age-adjusted rates (per 100,000) and trends were calculated for cancers with elevated incidence among AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White populations (rate ratio &gt;1.0), by region. Trends were estimated using joinpoint regression analyses. Expected cancers were estimated by applying age-specific cancer incidence rates among non-Hispanic White populations to population estimates for AI/AN populations. Excess cancer cases among AI/AN populations were defined as observed minus expected cases. Liver, stomach, kidney, lung, colorectal and female breast cancers had higher incidence rate among AI/AN populations across most regions. Between 2012 and 2016, nearly 5,200 excess cancers were diagnosed among AI/AN populations, with the largest number of excess cancers (1,925) occurring in the Southern Plains region. Culturally informed efforts may reduce cancer disparities associated with these and other cancers among AI/AN populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 654.1-654
Author(s):  
T. Garvey ◽  
C. S. Crowson ◽  
M. Koster ◽  
K. J. Warrington

Background:Diagnostic methods for giant cell arteritis (GCA) have evolved over recent decades, and large vessel imaging plays an increasing role in disease detection.Objectives:This study aims to estimate the incidence of GCA over the past 10 years in a population and compare it to preceding incidence estimates. It also explores trends in the diagnostic modalities used to identify GCA.Methods:A pre-existing population-based cohort of patients diagnosed with GCA between 1950 and 2009 was extended with incident cases from 2010 to 2019. The diagnosis of GCA was confirmed by review of medical records of patients with ICD9/10 codes for GCA between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2019. Incident cases that met either one of the following sets of inclusion criteria were added to the cohort: one, American College of Rheumatology 1990 GCA classification criteria; or two, patients aged ≥50 years with elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein and radiographic evidence of large vessel vasculitis attributed to GCA. Incident cases were classified into one of three groups: group 1, temporal artery biopsy (TAB) positive; group 2, TAB negative or not done with positive large-vessel imaging; or group 3, clinical diagnosis of GCA.Results:The study cohort included 305 patients diagnosed with GCA from 1950 until 2019. Fifty-five incident cases were diagnosed between 2010 and 2019; 37 females (67%) and 18 males (33%). The age and sex adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) per 100,000 between 2010 and 2019 for females, males, and the total population were 13.0 (8.8, 17.3), 8.6 (4.6, 12.7), and 10.8 (8.0, 13.7), respectively. The corresponding incidence rates from 2000-2009 were 28.0 (21.0, 35.1), 10.2 (5.0, 15.5), and 20.5 (15.9, 25.1), respectively. This represents a significant decline in the incidence rates in females (p<0.001) and the total group (p<0.001) between the 2000-2009 and 2010-2019 cohorts but no change in males (p=0.64). Of the 55 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2019, there were 37 (67%) in group 1, 10 (18%) in group 2, and 8 (15%) in group 3. In contrast, of the 250 patients diagnosed between 1950 and 2009 there were 209 (84%) in group 1, 4 (2%) in group 2, and 37 (15%) in group 3. There was a significant difference between the 1950-2009 and 2010-2019 cohorts in the composition of these groups (p<0.001).Conclusion:In this population-based cohort of patients with GCA diagnosed over a 70-year period, the incidence of GCA has declined in recent years. The total decline is driven by a decline in females but not in males. The reasons for this are unclear but should be followed over time and investigated in other population-based cohorts. There has also been a shift in the diagnostic modalities for GCA. In recent years, there are fewer TAB positive patients, and more patients diagnosed with large vessel imaging. This is the first population-based incidence cohort demonstrating a trend towards increased use of large vessel imaging for the diagnosis of GCA.References:[1]Chandran AK, et al. Incidence of Giant Cell Arteritis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, over a 60-year period 1950-2009. Scand J Rheumatol. 2015;44(3):215-218.[2]Gonzalez-Gay MA, et al. Giant cell arteritis: is the clinical spectrum of the disease changing? BMC Geriatr. 2019; Jul 29;19(1):200.[3]Rubenstein E, et al. Sensitivity of temporal artery biopsy in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: a systemic literature review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 May 1:59(5):1011-1020.Figure 1.Trends in the incidence of GCA in Olmsted County by sex (1950-2019).Acknowledgements:This study was made possible using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, which is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award Number R01 AG034676, and CTSA Grant Number UL1 TR000135 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a component of the NIH. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.Disclosure of Interests:Thomas Garvey: None declared, Cynthia S. Crowson: None declared, Matthew Koster: None declared, Kenneth J Warrington Grant/research support from: Clinical research support from Eli Lilly and Kiniksa


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Nyandwi ◽  
Tom Veldkamp ◽  
Frank Badu Osei ◽  
Sherif Amer

Schistosomiasis is recognised as a major public health problem in Rwanda. We aimed to identify the spatio-temporal dynamics of its distribution at a fine-scale spatial resolution and to explore the impact of control programme interventions. Incidence data of Schistosoma mansoni infection at 367 health facilities were obtained for the period 2001-2012. Disease cluster analyses were conducted using spatial scan statistics and geographic information systems. The impact of control interventions was assessed for three distinct sub-periods. Findings demonstrated persisting, emerging and re-emerging clusters of schistosomiasis infection across space and time. The control programme initially caused an abrupt increase in incidence rates during its implementation phase. However, this was followed by declining and disappearing clusters when the programme was fully in place. The findings presented should contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of schistosomiasis distribution to be used when implementing future control activities, including prevention and elimination efforts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 289-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane L. Lynch ◽  
Margarita Barrientos-Pérez ◽  
Mona Hafez ◽  
Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin ◽  
Margarita Kovarenko ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> With increased awareness of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents, an overview of country-specific differences in epidemiology data is needed to develop a global picture of the disease development. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> This study examined country-specific prevalence and incidence data of youth-onset T2D published between 2008 and 2019, and searched for national guidelines to expand the understanding of country-specific similarities and differences. Of the 1,190 articles and 17 congress abstracts identified, 58 were included in this review. Our search found the highest reported prevalence rates of youth-onset T2D in China (520 cases/100,000 people) and the USA (212 cases/100,000) and lowest in Denmark (0.6 cases/100,000) and Ireland (1.2 cases/100,000). However, the highest incidence rates were reported in Taiwan (63 cases/100,000) and the UK (33.2 cases/100,000), with the lowest in Fiji (0.43 cases/100,000) and Austria (0.6 cases/100,000). These differences in epidemiology data may be partly explained by variations in the diagnostic criteria used within studies, screening recommendations within national guidelines and race/ethnicity within countries. <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> Our study suggests that published country-specific epidemiology data for youth-onset T2D are varied and scant, and often with reporting inconsistencies. Finding optimal diagnostic criteria and screening strategies for this disease should be of high interest to every country. <b><i>Trial Registration:</i></b> Not applicable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-11
Author(s):  
E. K. Kukubasov ◽  
A. R. Satanova ◽  
R. O. Bolatbekova ◽  
D. B. Kaldibekov ◽  
А. А. Kurmanova ◽  
...  

Relevance: According to Globocan 2018, ovarian cancer (OC) ranks 18th among all other cancers affecting women around the world. More than 295,414 new cases of OC were reported only in 2018. The incidence is low in Western Europe and is high in Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. In 2018, ovarian malignancies ranked 8th (3.1%) in Kazakhstan among all malignant tumors. At that, there are no clearly recognized preventative measures to ensure the early detection of OC. 70% of ovarian malignancies are detected at stage III-IV. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis and assessment of the dynamics of the prevalence of OC in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2013-2018. Results: The analysis of age-related OC incidence in Kazakhstan showed the presence of ovarian malignancies in all age groups, with a marked increase by the age of 65-69 years. The majority of patients were women of the working age. Differences were found in the incidence rates by regions of the country. In the study period, the incidence was high in Qostanai, Pavlodar, and North Kazakhstan regions (northern part of the country) and Almaty. The incidence was below the national average in Atyrau, Jambyl, and South Kazakhstan regions (southern and western parts of the country). Recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in OC incidence in East Kazakhstan and Karaganda regions. Conclusion: The analysis of OC prevalence in the Republic of Kazakhstan and by regions showed an increase in OC incidence. There is a marked increase in OC detection in the northern areas of the country and a decrease in the number of cases in the south.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document