scholarly journals Usage of Compromised Lung Volume in Monitoring Steroid Therapy on Severe COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Su ◽  
Ze-song Qiu ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Min-jie Ju ◽  
Guo-guang Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Therapy ◽  
Lung Volume ◽  
Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽  
Hounsfield Unit ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Quantitative Ct ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Stage 1

Abstract BackgroundQuantitative computed tomography (QCT) analysis may serve as a tool for assessing the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and for monitoring its progress. The present study aimed to assess the association between steroid therapy and quantitative CT parameters in a longitudinal cohort with COVID-19.MethodsBetween February 7 and February 17, 2020, 300 chest CT scans from 72 patients with severe COVID-19 were retrospectively collected and classified into five stages according to the interval between hospital admission and follow-up CT scans: Stage 1 (at admission); Stage 2 (3–7 days); Stage 3 (8–14 days); Stage 4 (15–21 days); and Stage 5 (22–31 days). QCT was performed using a threshold-based quantitative analysis to segment the lung according to different Hounsfield unit (HU) intervals. The primary outcomes were changes in percentage of compromised lung volume (%CL, –500 to 100 HU) at different stages. Multivariate Generalized Estimating Equations were performed after adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsOf 72 patients, 31 patients (43.1%) received steroid therapy. Steroid therapy was associated with a decrease in %CL (-3.27% [95% CI, -5.86 to -0.68, P = 0.01]) after adjusting for duration and baseline %CL. Associations between steroid therapy and changes in %CL varied between different stages or baseline %CL (all interactions, P < 0.01). Steroid therapy was associated with decrease in %CL after stage 3 (all P < 0.05), but not at stage 2. Similarly, steroid therapy was associated with a more significant decrease in %CL in the high CL group (P < 0.05), but not in the low CL group.ConclusionsSteroid administration was independently associated with a decrease in %CL, with interaction by duration or disease severity in a longitudinal cohort. The quantitative CT parameters, particularly compromised lung volume, may provide a useful tool to monitor COVID-19 progression during the treatment process. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04953247. Registered July 7, 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04953247

scholarly journals Usage of Compromised Lung Volume in Monitoring Steroid Therapy on Severe COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Su ◽  
Ze-song Qiu ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Min-jie Ju ◽  
Guo-guang Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Therapy ◽  
Lung Volume ◽  
Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽  
Hounsfield Unit ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Quantitative Ct ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Stage 1

Abstract BackgroundQuantitative computed tomography (QCT) analysis may serve as a tool for assessing the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)and for monitoringits progress. The present study aimed to assess the association between steroid therapy and quantitative CT parameters in a longitudinal cohort with COVID-19.MethodsBetween February 7 and February 17, 2020, 300 chest CT scans from 72 patients with severe COVID-19 were retrospectively collected and classified into five stages according to the interval between hospital admission and follow-up CT scans: Stage 1 (at admission); Stage 2 (3–7 days); Stage 3 (8–14 days); Stage 4 (15–21 days); and Stage 5 (22–31 days). QCT was performed using a threshold-based quantitative analysis to segment the lungaccording to different Hounsfield unit (HU) intervals. The primary outcomeswerechanges in percentage of compromised lung volume (%CL, –500 to 100 HU) at different stages. Multivariate Generalized Estimating Equations were performed after adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsOf 72 patients, 31 patients (43.1%) received steroid therapy. Steroid therapy was associated with a decrease in %CL (-3.27% [95%CI, -5.86 to -0.68,P = 0.01]) after adjusting for duration and baseline %CL. Associations between steroid therapy and changes in %CL varied between different stages or baseline %CL (all interactions,P<0.01). Steroid therapy was associated with decrease in %CL after stage 3 (all P<0.05), but not at stage 2. Similarly, steroid therapy was associated with a more significant decrease in %CL in the high CL group (P<0.05), but not inthe low CL group.ConclusionsSteroid administration was independently associated with a decrease in %CL, with interaction by duration or disease severity in a longitudinal cohort. The quantitative CT parameters, particularly compromised lung volume, may provide a useful tool to monitor COVID-19 progression during the treatment process. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04953247. Registered July 7, 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04953247

scholarly journals Radiological Characteristics of Patients Infected with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19): A Retrospective, Observational Study from Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Latif Panahi ◽  
Abolfazl Etebarian Khorasgani ◽  
Marzieh Amiri ◽  
Somaye Pouy
Keyword(s):  
Ct Scan ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
Chest Ct ◽  
Definitive Diagnosis ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
Chest Ct Scan

Background: Management of Covid-19 patients is key to control the pandemic. In this line, access to chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan findings and investigating changes during initial diagnosis until recovery is of crucial importance. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the chest CT-scan findings of patients with a definitive diagnosis of Covid-19 in Guilan, Iran. Methods: In this retrospective study, 1000 patients with a definitive diagnosis of Covid-19, from 20 April to 30 July 2020, were enrolled. Their first and follow-up chest CT-scans were obtained. Total lung involvement was determined by the number of lobes involved and by scoring 0 to 5 for each lobe (5 lobes, lowest score: 0, and highest score: 25). Results: In this study, three CT-scans of all 1000 patients were studied. Patients were classified into 4 stages according to their hospitalization duration (ranging from 0 to 30 days): stage 1 or primary (0 to 7 days): ground-glass opacities (n = 178 or 89%), stage 2 or progressive (8 to 15 days): increased crazy-paving pattern (n = 89 or 44.5%), stage 3 or peak involvement (16 to 22 days): consolidation (n = 78 or 89%), and stage 4 or decreased pulmonary involvement severity (greater than 23 Day): the gradual resolution of consolidation (n = 178 or 89%). Conclusions: Chest CT-scan findings revealed that patients with Covid-19 had a high rate of pulmonary involvement, on average, for the first 15 days, which then declined.

scholarly journals Temporal changes of quantitative CT findings from 102 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: A longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 297-309
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Chen ◽  
Wenbo Sun ◽  
Dan Xu ◽  
Jiaojiao Ma ◽  
Feng Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Lesion Area ◽  
Quantitative Ct ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Ct Findings ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Stage 1

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) imaging combined with artificial intelligence is important in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate temporal changes of quantitative CT findings in patients with COVID-19 in three clinic types, including moderate, severe, and non-survivors, and to predict severe cases in the early stage from the results. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included in this study. Based on the time interval between onset of symptoms and the CT scan, four stages were defined in this study: Stage-1 (0 ∼7 days); Stage-2 (8 ∼ 14 days); Stage-3 (15 ∼ 21days); Stage-4 (> 21 days). Eight parameters, the infection volume and percentage of the whole lung in four different Hounsfield (HU) ranges, ((-, -750), [-750, -300), [-300, 50) and [50, +)), were calculated and compared between different groups. RESULTS: The infection volume and percentage of four HU ranges peaked in Stage-2. The highest proportion of HU [-750, 50) was found in the infected regions in non-survivors among three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate rapid deterioration in the first week since the onset of symptoms in non-survivors. Higher proportion of HU [-750, 50) in the lesion area might be a potential bio-marker for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

scholarly journals P0828CKD STAGE DISTRIBUTION IN AN ITALIAN PROVINCE; SEVEN YEARS OF FOLLOW UP

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Roggeri ◽  
Daniela Paola Roggeri ◽  
Carlotta Rossi ◽  
Marco Gambera ◽  
Rossana Piccinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Administrative Database ◽  
Ca Channel ◽  
Dialysis Treatment ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Ckd Stage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stage 1

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a chronic illness with important implications for the health of the population and for the commitment of resources by public health services. CKD staging makes it possible to assess the severity of the disease and its distribution in the population. The distribution of the stages of CKD diagnosed through hospitalization were analyzed using administrative database of the Local Health Authority of a province with a population of about 1 million inhabitants in northern Italy. Method Patients with hospital discharge with a diagnosis of CKD (ICD9CM 5851, 5852, 5853, 5854) in 2011- 2012 years, without dialysis treatment, neither transplantation procedure nor acute renal failure were selected. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, dialysis treatment, drugs prescription and nephrological follow-up were investigated. This cohort of patients was examined over a 7-year period (2011-2017). Stage five was not considered to avoid possible misunderstanding with five D stage. Results 1808 patients diagnosed with CKD were extracted from the 2011-2017 administrative database; of these, 1267 had a diagnosis with the CKD stage specification. The distribution of 1267 patients in the CKD stages at the first hospital discharge was as follows: 7.4% stage 1, 30.9% stage 2, 42.3% stage 3, 19.3% stage 4. The 832 patients described in the study were still alive as of Jan. 1, 2013 while 435 (34.3%) died by Dec. 31, 2012. Until Dec. 31, 2017, 503 of the 832 patients died representing the 52.8% of stage 1 patients, 62% of stage 2 patients, 58.2% of stage 3 patients, 66.4% of stage 4 patients. Males were the most prevalent gender (58.5%), without any significant difference into CKD stages. Our patients have a fairly high age as can be seen from the table 1. The presence of co-morbidities was assessed either directly for the main risk factors or by the modified Charlson index (MCI) for CKD patients. The average value of the MCI is 3.8 ± 3.1 for all patients and 3.4 ±3.0 for stage 1, 4.1 ± 3.3 for stage 2, 3.7 ± 3.1 for stage 3, 3.7 ± 2.9 for stage 4, with maximum values of 12.0, 17.0, 16.0 and 14.0 respectively. About 40% of patients had diabetes mellitus, with the highest prevalence in stage 4 (49.3%) and the lowest in stage 1 (25%). Cardiovascular disease was distributed almost equally among all patients with a value between 82% in stage 1 and 86.3% in stage 4. Cancer were present in 26.3% of patients with similar values in all stages. Just about 9% of patients underwent dialysis treatment for achieving ESRD, with a percentage of 5.6% among patients in stage 1 and 17.1% among those in stage 4. Hemodialysis represented first choice treatment (86%) compared with peritoneal one (14%). Time from the diagnosis of CKD to the first dialysis was variable with an average of 3.4 ±1.7 years; the longest interval for patients in stage 1 (5.1±1.8) and the shortest (3.0 ±1.6) for patients in stage 4. The number of nephrological visits at renal units was analyzed for an assessment of the extent of follow-up and prevention upon reaching the ESRD (table2). More than 90% of patients had prescribed drugs antagonists of the renin angiotensin system, in all stages of CKD; other antihypertensive drugs (Ca channel blockers and peripheral vasodilators) had a similar prescription level. Anemia control drugs (ESA and iron) had an incremental prescription with stages of the disease from 51.4% in stage 1 to 74% in stage 4, similarly to Ca-P metabolism control drugs ranging from 44.4% in stage 1 to 67.8% in stage 4. Conclusion Correct staging of CKD is very important to assess the prognosis of patients, but the major determinants of outcome are comorbidities and age of the patients. The cohort examined has a high mortality rate, far higher than reported in the literature for CKD. It should be noted that the sample was identified by hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases more than 50% complicated by diabetes and hypertension, so death represents the main outcome and not ESRD.

Impact of pathological staging on survival in patients with epithelial mesothelioma treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7706-7706 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Sugarbaker ◽  
W. G. Richards ◽  
C. A. Alsup ◽  
M. T. Jaklitsch ◽  
J. M. Corson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staging System ◽  
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy ◽  
Single Institution ◽  
Favorable Prognosis ◽  
Pathological Staging ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Staging Systems ◽  
Ajcc Staging ◽  
Stage 1

7706 Objective: There is no universally accepted staging system in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). A seventeen-year single institution experience of surgically treating a large epithelial MPM cohort with extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) gives insight to the applications and limitations of BWH/ DFCI and AJCC staging systems. Methods: We retrospectivly reviewed 526 consecutive patients with epithelial MPM who were surgically explored at our institution since 1988 with intent to perform EPP. Pathologic diagnoses of mesothelioma were confirmed and clinicopathologic data were recorded. Kaplan-Meyer survival from diagnosis was calculated. Those who underwent EPP were staged using BWH / DFCI (J Thorac Cardiov Surg 117:5463;1999) and AJCC (6th Edition) criteria. Operative deaths were included in the analysis and patients received varied adjuvant regimens. Results: Of 526 patients explored for potential EPP, 53 (10%) underwent alternative pleurectomy and 55 (11%) were unresectable. The remaining 418 (79%) underwent EPP. Of these, 307 (73%) were male. Median age at diagnosis was 57.9 years (17–78). Operative mortality was 5%. Median follow-up was 16 months and 23% of observations were censored. Overall median, 1-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr survival was: 18.9 mo., 68.8%, 26.3%, and 13.9%. The table below presents Kaplan-Meyer survival by stage. Conclusions: 1) Both pathological staging systems stratify survival in this cohort, although each system is limited in that a majority of patients are classified as stage 3. 2) BWH / DFCI criteria identify more stage 1–2 patients with favorable prognosis, 164 (39%) vs 46 (11%). 3) AJCC criteria classify more patients to stage 4, 76 (18%) vs 4 (1%), but appear to identify some patients with relatively favorable prognosis. 4) Selected criteria from both systems might be combined to optimally stratify patients with epithelial MPM undergoing EPP. No significant financial relationships to disclose. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Increased Circulating Level of the Survival Factor GP88 (Progranulin) in the Serum of Breast Cancer Patients When Compared to Healthy Subjects

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. BCBCR.S7224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Rak Tkaczuk ◽  
Binbin Yue ◽  
Min Zhan ◽  
Nancy Tait ◽  
Lavanya Yarlagadda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Tumor Grade ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Survival Factor ◽  
Serial Testing ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Her 2 ◽  
Stage 1

Introduction GP88 (PC-Cell Derived Growth Factor, progranulin) is a glycoprotein overexpressed in breast tumors and involved in their proliferation and survival. Since GP88 is secreted, an exploratory study was established to compare serum GP88 level between breast cancer patients (BC) and healthy volunteers (HV). Methods An IRB approved prospective study enrolled 189 stage 1–4 BC patients and 18 HV. GP88 serum concentration was determined by immunoassay. Results Serum GP88 level was 28.7+ 5.8 ng/ml in HV and increased to 40.7+ 16.0 ng/ml ( P= 0.007) for stage 1-3 and 45.3 +23.3 ng/ml ( P = 0.0007) for stage 4 BC patients. There was no correlation between the GP88 level and BC characteristics such as age, race, tumor grade, ER, PR and HER-2 expression. Conclusion These data suggest that serial testing of serum GP88 levels may have value as a circulating biomarker for detection, monitoring and follow up of BC.

scholarly journals Unmet needs for CKD care: from the general population to the CKD clinics. How many patients are we missing?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Torreggiani ◽  
Antoine Chatrenet ◽  
Antioco Fois ◽  
Jean Philippe Coindre ◽  
Romain Crochette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
Annual Salary ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Ckd Stage ◽  
Nephrology Care ◽  
Stage 1

Abstract Introduction Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) varies around the world. Little is known on the discrepancy between general population needs and nephrology offer of care. We aimed to contribute to filling this gap and propose a means to infer the number of patients needing follow-up. Methods All patients undergoing at least one nephrology consultation in 2019 were enrolled. We used the ratio between CKD stage 3 and 4 reported in the literature, and considered that only 25% to 50% of CKD stage-3 patients have progressive CKD, to hypothesize different scenarios to estimate the number of CKD stage-3 patients still needing nephrology follow-up. Results 1992 CKD patients were followed-up in our Center (56.93% males; age 66.71 ± 18.32 years; 16.82% stage-1; 14.66% stage-2; 39.46% stage-3; 19.88% stage-4; 7.68% stage-5). The ratio between stage 3 and 4 in population studies ranged from 7.72 to 51.29, being 1.98 in our center. Hypothesizing that we followed-up 100%, 70% or 50% of CKD stage-4 patients, 528 to 2506 CKD stage-3 patients in our area would need nephrology follow-up (1885 to 8946 per million population). Three to seventeen additional nephrologists per million population would be necessary to fully cover the need for care. Conclusions The number of patients with CKD stage-3 who would benefit from nephrology care is high. Considering that one patient-year of delay of dialysis could cover a nephrologist’s annual salary, interventions aimed to improve care of advanced CKD may be economically sound.

Serial changes and prognostic implications of CT findings in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: comparison with fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias alone

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 550-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geewon Lee ◽  
Ki Uk Kim ◽  
Ji Won Lee ◽  
Young Ju Suh ◽  
Yeon Joo Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Pulmonary Emphysema ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Quantitative Ct ◽  
Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

Background Although fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) alone and those combined with pulmonary emphysema are naturally progressive diseases, the process of deterioration and outcomes are variable. Purpose To evaluate and compare serial changes of computed tomography (CT) abnormalities and prognostic predictive factors in fibrotic IIPs alone and those combined with pulmonary emphysema. Material and Methods A total of 148 patients with fibrotic IIPs alone (82 patients) and those combined with pulmonary emphysema (66 patients) were enrolled. Semi-quantitative CT analysis was used to assess the extents of CT characteristics which were evaluated on initial and follow-up CT images. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effects of clinical and CT variables on survival. Results Significant differences were noted between fibrotic scores, as determined using initial CT scans, in the fibrotic IIPs alone (21.22 ± 9.83) and those combined with pulmonary emphysema groups (14.70 ± 7.28) ( P < 0.001). At follow-up CT scans, changes in the extent of ground glass opacities (GGO) were greater ( P = 0.031) and lung cancer was more prevalent ( P = 0.001) in the fibrotic IIPs combined with pulmonary emphysema group. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed changes in the extent of GGO (hazard ratio, 1.056) and the presence of lung cancer (hazard ratio, 4.631) were predictive factors of poor survivals. Conclusion Although patients with fibrotic IIPs alone and those combined with pulmonary emphysema have similar mortalities, lung cancer was more prevalent in patients with fibrotic IIPs combined with pulmonary emphysema. Furthermore, changes in the extent of GGO and the presence of lung cancer were independent prognostic factors of poor survivals.

P5582Predicting the clinical outcomes in moderate aortic stenosis: implementation of the newly proposed staging classification

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M R Amanullah ◽  
S M Pio ◽  
K Y Sin ◽  
N Ajmone Marsan ◽  
Z P Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Cardiac Damage ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
Staging Classification

Abstract Background While symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) carries a worse prognosis and early intervention is favoured, it is always assumed that patients with moderate AS are more stable and their disease progression can be monitored yearly. However, it is known that patients with moderate AS have a higher risk of cardiovascular events but is unclear if other factors may also affect the overall prognosis. Purpose In this multicentre registry of patients with moderate AS, the prognostic value of a new staging classification on the extent of cardiac damage was examined. Methods Based on the echocardiographic findings at the time of diagnosis of moderate AS (valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2), they were re-classified into five stages depending on the extra-aortic valvular cardiac damage: no signs of cardiac damage (Stage 0), left ventricular (LV) damage [LV ejection fraction <50%, LV mass index >95 g/m2 for women or >115 g/m2 for men or E/e' >14] (Stage 1), mitral valve or left atrial (LA) damage [LA volume index >34 ml/m2 or mitral regurgitation ≥grade 3 or presence of atrial fibrillation] (Stage 2), tricuspid valve or pulmonary artery vasculature damage [systolic pulmonary arterial pressure ≥60 mmHg or tricuspid regurgitation ≥grade 3] (Stage 3), or right ventricular damage [tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion <17 mm] (Stage 4). The clinical endpoint was all-cause mortality. The association between the extent of cardiac damage and all-cause mortality was assessed by the Kaplan Meier method using log-rank test. Results Of the included 522 patients with moderate AS (age 71±11 years, 54% males), 12% (63) of patients were re-classified as Stage 0, 30% (157) in Stage 1, 47% (245) in Stage 2, 6% (31) in Stage 3 and 5% (26) in Stage 4. During follow-up, 43% (226) of patients underwent surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Over a median follow-up of 6.2 [interquartile range 3.2–9.0] years, 254 (49%) patients died. The cumulative event rates for all-cause mortality increased with increasing stage, particularly for Stages ≥2: 39% for Stage 0, 55% for Stage 1, 67% for Stage 2, 68% for Stage 3 and 57% for Stage 4, respectively (Figure, log-rank test p=0.001). Cumulative death rates after re-staging Conclusion In a real-world registry of patients with moderate AS patients, worsening extra-aortic valvular cardiac damage portends a worse long-term prognosis.

Alterations in the number of motoneurons containing immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)& choline acetyltransferase(ChAT) in the cervical spinal cord of the wobbler mouse during the development of the motoneuron disease

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 970-971
Author(s):  
L. Vacca-Galloway ◽  
Y.Q. Zhang ◽  
P. Bose ◽  
S.H. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Wild Type Mouse ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Behavioral Tests ◽  
Wobbler Mouse ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Stage 1

The Wobbler mouse (wr) has been studied as a model for inherited human motoneuron diseases (MNDs). Using behavioral tests for forelimb power, walking, climbing, and the “clasp-like reflex” response, the progress of the MND can be categorized into early (Stage 1, age 21 days) and late (Stage 4, age 3 months) stages. Age-and sex-matched normal phenotype littermates (NFR/wr) were used as controls (Stage 0), as well as mice from two related wild-type mouse strains: NFR/N and a C57BI/6N. Using behavioral tests, we also detected pre-symptomatic Wobblers at postnatal ages 7 and 14 days. The mice were anesthetized and perfusion-fixed for immunocytochemical (ICC) of CGRP and ChAT in the spinal cord (C3 to C5).Using computerized morphomety (Vidas, Zeiss), the numbers of IR-CGRP labelled motoneurons were significantly lower in 14 day old Wobbler specimens compared with the controls (Fig. 1). The same trend was observed at 21 days (Stage 1) and 3 months (Stage 4). The IR-CGRP-containing motoneurons in the Wobbler specimens declined progressively with age.

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