scholarly journals Elevated CSF Neuron-specific Enolase Levels in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als): A Useful Biomarker for Distinguishing ALS From Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Tsukahara ◽  
Takafumi Hosokawa ◽  
Daisuke Nishioka ◽  
Takuya Kotani ◽  
Shimon Ishida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Neuron Specific Enolase ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract The current study aimed to evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels are elevated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are effective in distinguishing ALS from cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We retrospectively evaluated 45 patients with ALS, 23 with CSM, and 28 controls who underwent analysis of CSF NSE levels. The control group comprised patients aged above 45 years who underwent lumbar puncture because of suspected neurological disorders that were ruled out after extensive investigations. CSF NSE levels were evaluated using the electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay. The ALS group had significantly higher CSF NSE levels than the CSM and control groups (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). The CSM and control groups did not significantly differ in terms of CSF NSE levels. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic value of CSF NSE levels in distinguishing ALS from CSM. The area under the curve for CSF NSE levels was 0.86. The optimal cutoff value was 17.7 ng/mL, with a specificity of 87% and a sensitivity of 80%. Hence, CSF NSE levels are elevated in ALS and are effective in distinguishing ALS from CSM.

scholarly journals Neuron-specific enolase level is a useful biomarker for distinguishing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from cervical spondylotic myelopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Tsukahara ◽  
Takafumi Hosokawa ◽  
Daisuke Nishioka ◽  
Takuya Kotani ◽  
Shimon Ishida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Neuron Specific Enolase ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractThe current study aimed to evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels are elevated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are effective in distinguishing ALS from cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We retrospectively evaluated 45 patients with ALS, 23 with CSM, 28 controls, and 10 with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who underwent analysis of CSF NSE levels. The control group comprised patients aged above 45 years who underwent lumbar puncture because of suspected neurological disorders that were ruled out after extensive investigations. CSF NSE levels were evaluated using the electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay. The ALS group had significantly higher CSF NSE levels than the CSM and control groups (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). The CSM, control, and PD groups did not significantly differ in terms of CSF NSE levels. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic value of CSF NSE levels in distinguishing ALS from CSM. The area under the curve for CSF NSE levels was 0.86. The optimal cutoff value was 17.7 ng/mL, with a specificity of 87% and a sensitivity of 80%. Hence, CSF NSE levels are elevated in ALS and are effective in distinguishing ALS from CSM.

Serum Endocan, Neuron-Specific Enolase and Ischemia-Modified Albumin Levels in Newborns with Partial Blood Exchange Transfusion

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erbu Yarci ◽  
Cuneyt Tayman ◽  
Ufuk Cakir ◽  
Utku Serkant
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Transfusion ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Neuron Specific Enolase ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Term Neonates ◽  
Blood Exchange ◽  
Blood Exchange Transfusion ◽  
And Control

Background:: Hyperviscosity of blood secondary to polycythemia results in increased resistance to blood flow and decrease in delivery of oxygen. Objective:: To evaluate whether serum endocan, NSE and IMA levels can be compared in terms of endothelial injury/ dysfunction and neuronal damage in term neonates with polycythemia who underwent PET. Methods:: 38 symptomatic polycythemic newborns having PET and 38 healthy newborns were included in the study. Blood samples for endocan, NSE and IMA were taken at only postnatal 24 hours of age in the control group and in polycytemia group just before PET, at 24 and 72 hours after PET. Results:: The polycythemia group had higher serum endocan(1073,4 ± 644,8 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05), IMA(1,32 ± 0,34 vs.0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and NSE(44,7 ± 4,3 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p<0.05) levels than control group before the PET procedure. At 24 hours after PET, IMA(0,656 ± 0,07 vs. 0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and endocan(510,9 ± 228,6 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05) levels were closer to the control group, being still statistically significant higher. NSE levels decreased to control group levels having no difference between the PET and control groups at 24 hours after PET (28,98 ± 6,5 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p>0.05). At 72 hours after PET the polycythemia and control groups did not differ statistically for IMA, endocan and NSE levels (p>0.05). Conclusion:: Serum endocan and IMA levels can be used as a biomarker for endothelial damage / dysfunction and tissue hypoxia in infants with symptomatic polycytemia.

Diagnostic efficacy of serum and urinary netrin-1 in the early detection of diabetic nephropathy

2021 ◽  
pp. jim-2021-001785
Author(s):  
Rasha A Elkholy ◽  
Reham L Younis ◽  
Alzahraa A Allam ◽  
Rasha Youssef Hagag ◽  
Muhammad Tarek Abdel Ghafar
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patients With Diabetes

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of serum and urinary netrin-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at different stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to compare its efficacy of estimation in serum with that in the urine. This study was carried out on 135 patients with T2DM and 45 healthy subjects. The patients with diabetes were divided according to urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) into: T2DM with normoalbuminuria, incipient DN with microalbuminuria, and overt DN with macroalbuminuria groups. Serum and urinary levels of netrin-1 were measured by ELISA. The mean levels of serum and urinary netrin-1 were significantly higher in the microalbuminuric and macroalbuminuric patients with DN than those in the normoalbuminuric patients with T2DM, with the highest values detected in macroalbuminuric patients with DN. Urinary netrin-1 level was significantly higher in the normoalbuminuric T2DM group than control group, whereas no significant difference existed regarding serum netrin-1 level. In T2DM groups, the urinary and serum netrin-1 correlated with each other and were independently related to fasting blood glucose, UACR, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of urinary netrin-1 was 0.916 which is significantly higher than that of serum netrin-1 (0.812) for the detection of incipient DN and reached 0.938 on coestimation of both urinary and serum netrin-1. In conclusion, netrin-1 is a potential diagnostic marker for early detection of DN with its estimation in urine has higher accuracy than that of serum.

scholarly journals Open Randomized Clinical Trial on JWSJZ Decoction for the Treatment of ALS Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Pan ◽  
Xiaojing Su ◽  
Jie Bao ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Jin Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Basic Treatment

Objective. To investigate the efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine Jiawei Sijunzi (JWSJZ) decoction for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Methods. Forty-eight patients with ALS were divided into a JWSJZ group (n=24) and a control group (n=24) using a randomized number method. Together with the basic treatment for ALS, JWSJZ decoction was added to the treatment regimen of patients in the JWSJZ group or Riluzole was administered to the control group for 6 months. Neurologists evaluated the treated and control patients using the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS) before, 3 and 6 months after starting the additional treatments.Results. The ALSFRS scores in both groups were lower 3 and 6 months after treatment than before. There was a significant difference at 6 months after treatment between the subgroups of patients with ALS whose limbs were the initial site of attack. No serious adverse effects were observed in the JWSJZ group.Conclusion. JWSJZ decoction may be a safe treatment for ALS, and may have delayed the development of ALS, especially in the subgroup of patients in whom the limbs were attacked first when compared with Riluzole treatment.

scholarly journals Motor cortical excitability predicts cognitive phenotypes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smriti Agarwal ◽  
Elizabeth Highton-Williamson ◽  
Jashelle Caga ◽  
James Howells ◽  
Thanuja Dharmadasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Cortical Hyperexcitability ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are well-recognised as an extended disease spectrum. This study hypothesised that cortical hyperexcitability, an early pathophysiological abnormality in ALS, would distinguish cognitive phenotypes, as a surrogate marker of pathological disease burden. 61 patients with ALS, matched for disease duration (pure motor ALS, n = 39; ALS with coexistent FTD, ALS-FTD, n = 12; ALS with cognitive/behavioural abnormalities not meeting FTD criteria, ALS-Cog, n = 10) and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Cognitive function on the Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination (ACE) scale, behavioural function on the motor neuron disease behavior scale (MiND-B) and cortical excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were documented. Cortical resting motor threshold (RMT), lower threshold indicating hyperexcitability, was lower in ALS-FTD (50.2 ± 6.9) compared to controls (64.3 ± 12.6, p < 0.005), while ALS-Cog (63.3 ± 12.7) and ALS (60.8 ± 13.9, not significant) were similar to controls. Short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) was reduced across all ALS groups compared to controls, indicating hyperexcitability. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, RMT differentiated ALS-FTD from ALS (area under the curve AUC = 0.745, p = 0.011). The present study has identified a distinct pattern of cortical excitability across cognitive phenotypes in ALS. As such, assessment of cortical physiology may provide more precise clinical prognostication in ALS.

scholarly journals Value of NSE and S100 Protein of Kawasaki Disease with aseptic meningitis in Infant

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 358-362
Author(s):  
Jiangtao Wang ◽  
Shouhang Chen ◽  
Xiaoling Wang ◽  
Huiru Gu ◽  
Junli Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Kawasaki Disease ◽  
Aseptic Meningitis ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
S100 Protein ◽  
Neuron Specific Enolase ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Purulent Meningitis ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe cerebrospinal fluid content was examined for concentrations of S100 protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in two diseases, Kawasaki disease (KD) with aseptic meningitis (1-3 months) and purulent meningitis (PM), to determine whether or not these measuremets could be used in early diagnosis. The content of cerebrospinal fluid S100 protein of KD with aseptic meningitis and PM were significantly higher than those in the control group. There was also a difference between KD and purulent meningitis (PM). The concentration of NSE was highest in the encephalitis group, which was statistically different from control group. However, there was no difference between the KD and control groups. The levels of S100 protein and NSE of KD with aseptic meningitis were lower than those in PM, indicating that the extent of neuronal damage is significantly lower than of the enchephalitis group. The area under the curve (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for S100 and NSE were both 0.972. The S100 threshold was 0.4315, the sensitivity was 92.1%, and the specificity was 100%, while the NSE threshold was 9.325, sensitivity 92.1%, and specificity 90%. The combined detection of NSE and S100 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid can be used for the differential diagnosis of KD with aseptic meningitis and purulent meningitis.

scholarly journals Post-mortem 7.0-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Hippocampus in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques De Reuck ◽  
◽  
Florent Auger ◽  
Nicolas Durieux ◽  
Claude-Alain Maurage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Post Mortem Brain ◽  
Mri Sequences ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is reported to be probably linked to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Since FTLD is characterized by severe frontotemporal degeneration along with hippocampal atrophy (HA), the present study used post-mortem 7.0-tesla magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whether a certain degree of HA occurs in the ALS brains as well. The examined post-mortem brain samples comprised 9 from the ALS cases and 17 from the age-matched controls. The hippocampus samples were examined on the most representative coronal section using T2 and T2* MRI sequences, and the average degree of HA was determined for both groups. The occurrence of hippocampal micro-infarcts (HMIs) and hippocampal micro-bleeds (HMBs), as well as the frequency of cortical micro-infarcts (CoMIs) and cortical micro-bleeds (CoMBs) in the neocortex, were compared between the groups. Considerable HA was observed in the ALS group compared to the control group. The incidence of HMIs and HMBs was low and comparable in the ALS and control groups. Moreover, the frequency of CoMIs and CoMBs in the neocortex was relatively comparable in the two groups. This post-mortem observation of HA is an additional argument in favor of the link between ALS and FTLD. Furthermore, both ALS and FTLD share a low vascular risk profile.

A Diagnostic Value of Serum Level Cyclase-Associated Plasma Protein 2 Versus Alpha Fetoproteins as a novel Biomarker for Detection of Hepato-Cellular Carcinoma in Egyptian Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd Elmaghny Moustafa ◽  
Zainab Ahmed Ahmed Ali- Eldin ◽  
Nevine Ibrahim Musa ◽  
Milad Emad Milad
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Diagnostic Marker ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Egyptian Patients ◽  
Cellular Carcinoma ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background HCC is the third deadliest and fifth most common cancer worldwide, despite the widespread use of surveillance programs in at risk populations, more than half of HCC cases are diagnosed late, and curative therapies such as surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation or TACE are possible in less than 30% of patients. Objective To assess the value of plasma cyclase-associated protein 2 level in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma among the Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis c virus. Patients and Methods This study has been carried out in the department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology in Ain Shams University Hospitals and Manshiet El-Bakry general hospital, Department of Gastrohepatology. This study evaluate the significance of Plasma CAP2 level as a new diagnostic marker for HCC patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis where (80) persons, divided into three groups; Group A included (30) patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis without HCC, Group B included (40) patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and HCC, and Group C included (10) healthy subjects as a control group. Results In this study CAP2 was significantly higher in HCC group than in cirrhotic and control groups (p &lt; 0.001) with mean levels (30.7±12.4), (14.4±7.6), and (6.9±4.3) ng/ml respectively although in HCC patients with negative or low AFP levels. This finding could imply the role of CAP2 in diagnosing early and AFP negative HCC patients. Conclusion CAP2 is significantly elevated in HCC group than in cirrhotic and control groups with better sensitivity and specificity than AFP at cut off values ≥15.9 ng/ml and ≥53.2 ng/ml respectively. Such results support using of CAP2 as a better diagnostic marker for HCC. AFP and CAP-2 were higher in multiple lesions than in single lesions, but the differences were significant only in CAP-2 with ≥27.3 ng/ml in differentiating multiple from solitary lesions Considering the HCC if both of them were positive decreased sensitivity but had perfect specificity.

scholarly journals A PRELIMINARY ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DERMATOGLYPHICS AND SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4.1) ◽  
pp. 7753-7760
Author(s):  
James Nketsiah ◽  
◽  
Chrissie Stansie Abaidoo ◽  
Adjei-Antwi Collins ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell Anaemia ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Ridge Count ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Anthropometric Study

Dermatoglyphics have been utilized as models for the diagnosis of vast genetic conditions due to their relationship with the genetic make-up of an individual. However, little studies have been conducted worldwide trying to ascertain the relationship between dermatoglyphics and sickle cell anaemia. Therefore, the present study aimed at generating baseline data to elucidate the possible diagnostic value of dermatoglyphics for earlier detection and screening of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) in Ghana. A total of 400 participants including 200 SCA patients from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and 200 control group (CG) from KNUST were recruited for this study. The palmprints and fingerprints of the participants were taken and the sickling status of the control group was determined. Distribution of the three major fingerprint patterns, PIC patterns, ATD angle and total finger ridge count (TFRC) were determined. Loop dominated in both the SCA and control groups followed by whorl and arch. PIC 300 dominated in the SCA group while PIC 310 dominated in the control group, this was statistically significant. Also, the study recorded 5 unreported PIC’s (PIC 400, PIC 410, PIC 430, PIC 500 and PIC 510) in the Ghanaian population. The SCA group recorded a mean ATD angle of 43.62o while the control group recorded 41.61o, this was statistically significant. The SCA group recorded a mean TFRC of 67.17 while the control group recorded 78.49. The results of the present study have shown that, there is a relationship between dermatoglyphics and SCA and this will serve as a reliable indicator for earlier detection and screening of sickle cell anaemia especially in neonates. KEY WORDS: Dermatoglyphics, sickle cell anaemia, Ghana.

scholarly journals Does the index-to-ring finger length ratio (2D:4D) differ in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Results from an international online case–control study

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Alana Parkin Kullmann ◽  
Roger Pamphlett
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Ring Finger ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽  
Prenatal Testosterone ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
And Control ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

ObjectivesThe ratio of the length of the index finger (2D) to the ring finger (4D) (2D:4D) has been reported to be lower (ie, 2D<4D) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than non-ALS controls. This has led to suggestions that exposure to increased prenatal testosterone, which also lowers this ratio, could be a risk factor for ALS. In an attempt to test this hypothesis, we examined 2D:4Ds from large numbers of patients with ALS and controls.SettingAn online multilingual questionnaire enabling respondents to measure their own index and ring finger lengths.ParticipantsOf the initial 949 respondents, 572 remained for analysis after elimination for inability to straighten fingers, not answering the question, statistical outliers and aged <40 years. Respondents remaining for analysis were 202 patients with ALS (125 males, 77 females) and 370 non-ALS controls (112 males, 258 females).ResultsUnpaired t-tests with 95% CIs were used to assess differences in mean 2D:4Ds. Males had significantly lower mean 2D:4Ds than females, in both ALS and control groups, for both left and right hands. No significant differences were found in 2D:4Ds between ALS and control groups, in either males or females, for either left or right hands. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed no power for 2D:4Ds to predict ALS status in either males or females.Conclusions2D:4Ds did not differ between patients with ALS and controls in this study. This was despite the dataset being large enough to confirm the established finding of lower 2D:4Ds in males compared with females. These findings do not support the hypothesis that exposure to increased prenatal testosterone is a risk factor for ALS. A putative lower 2D:4D has been proposed to explain the link between ALS and exercise, but our results indicate that other exercise-related factors are more likely to explain this association.

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