Objective To evaluate proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for detection of the motor cortex and adjacent brain in amyotrophic lateralsclerosis (ALS) patients with apparent upper motor neuron involvement after olfactory ensheathing cells(OECs) transplantation. Methods From December 2004 to February 2005, 7 patients with clinically definite ALS who could safely undergo MRS were admitted into the perspective study. The neurological status, ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS), EMG, and 1H-MRS taken before and 2 weeks after operationswere carefully analyzed. The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios were measured in the cerebral peduncle,genu and posterior limb of the internal capsule, corona radiata and precentral gyrus. Results The ALSFRS in 2 cases mproved obviously whose ALSFRS increased from 30 to 33 and from 29 to 34 respectively. And 5 cases remained stable 2 weeks after OECs transplantation. Statistical analyses for all seven cases showed both theNAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios decreased, but in the two cases with ALSFRS improvement the NAA/Cr increased in the certain anatomic position which confirmed the neurological and EMG findings. Conclusion The proton MR spectroscopy is a suitablenoninvasive measure for ALS evaluation. The preliminary study suggests that twoof the seven ALS cases improved apparently shortterm after OECs transplantation. More patients are required for the clinical study and longer followup duration is needed for future research.
Objective To introduce a new functional self-assessment scale of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods By comparing current different ALS functional scales and combining relative cl inical experience and numeric pain intensity scale, ALS self-assessment scale was set down by International Association of Neural Restoration. Results ALS self-assessment scale included 3 categories with 18 items, adopting 10 points grading system, namely 10 was defined as the normal, 0 as the worst, and the total scores was 180. This scale included: ① Bulbus medullae function: speech, swallowing, sal ivation, and tongue extension. ② Limbs function: left arm movement, left hand movement, right arm movement, right hand movement, left leg movement, right leg movement, trunk movement, head-up, walking, and cl imbing stairs. ③ Others: breathing, muscular tone, pain, and muscle discomfort. Conclusion ALS self-assessment scale is specifically designed for ASL patients. It can evaluate patient’s function comprehensively and is simple and convenient, consuming less time.
Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) on the denervated muscle atrophy. Methods Twenty-four SD male rats, weighting 200-220 g were made the models of denervated gastrocnemius muscle after sciatic nerves were transected under the piriform muscle at the right lower leg, and were randomly divided into two groups (n=12). rhEPO (2 500 U/kg) was injected daily into the denervated gastrocnemius muscle in EPO group, and normal sal ine was injected into the denervated gastrocnemius muscle in control group. To observe the general state of health of the experimental animal, the muscle wet weight, the muscle cell diameter, the cross section area, the protein amount, thepercentage of the apoptotic muscle cells, and the Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities were measured 2 and 4 weeks after operation. Results All experimental animals were survived during experiment without cut infection, and all animals could walk with pull ing the right knee. At 4 weeks after operation, 7 cases showed ulcer in the right heel, inculding 5 in the control group and 2 in the EPO group. At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the muscle wet weight in EPO group was (885.59 ± 112.35) and (697.62 ± 94.74) g, respectively; in control group, it was (760.63 ± 109.05) and (458.71 ± 58.76) g, respectively; indicating significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.01). The protein amount in EPO group was (77.37 ± 5.24) and (66.37 ± 4.87) mg/mL, respectivly；in control group, it was (65.39 ± 4.97) and (54.62 ± 6.32) mg/mL；indicating significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.01). At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the myofibrillar shapes were nearly normal in EPO group while there were muscle fiber atrophy, some collapse and obviously hyperblastosis between muscle bundle. There were significant differences in the muscle cell diameter and the cross section between two groups (P lt; 0.01). However, the percentage of the apoptotic muscle cells was 11.80% ± 1.74% and 28.47% ± 1.81% in control group, respectively, which was significantly smaller than that in EPO group (21.48% ± 2.21% and 55.89% ± 2.88%, P lt; 0.01). At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, Na+-K+-ATPaseand Ca2+-ATPase activities in EPO group were higher than those in control group (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion EPO can delay the denervated muscle atrophy.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked inherited progressive degenerative muscle disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, and is one of the most common progressive muscular dystrophies. We will review the selection of genetic diagnosis methods for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the selection of experimental animal models, and treatment for the primary cause (including gene replacement therapy, exon skipping therapy, genome editing, stop codon read-through therapy, and stem cell therapy), the treatment of secondary pathological reactions and methods of assessing disease progression. The purpose is to enrich clinicians’ knowledge of the disease and provide a reference and help for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.