Increased Circulating T Cell Reactivity to GM1 Ganglioside in Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

This study was performed to determine whether increased ganglioside-specific T cell reactivity can be detected in the peripheral blood of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). T cell responsiveness to the gangliosides GM1, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GD3, GT1b, GQ1b and sulphatide was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from untreated GBS patients (57), CIDP patients (43), patients with other peripheral neuropathies (55) and healthy control subjects (74) in a standard 6-day proliferation assay. Increased T cell reactivity to GM1 occurred in GBS patients compared to healthy controls and patients with other neuropathies. There was increased reactivity to GM3 in GBS patients compared to patients with other neuropathies but not compared to healthy controls. The frequencies of increased T cell reactivity to GM1 and GM3 in CIDP patients were intermediate between those of GBS patients and controls. We suggest that T cell reactivity to gangliosides might play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of GBS and perhaps CIDP

Natalizumab, Fingolimod and Dimethyl Fumarate Use and Pregnancy-Related Relapse and Disability in Women With Multiple Sclerosis

To investigate pregnancy-related disease activity in a contemporary multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort

Neurofilaments as biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background To allow early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression, there is a need for biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurofilaments (NF) are emerging protein biomarkers in other neurological diseases, and are of possible use in ALS. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of NF levels as blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker in patients with ALS. Methods A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase and Scopus was performed. Methodological quality assessment was applied to refine the final search results. Meta-analysis of the data was performed. Results Level of NF heavy chain and light chains were significantly elevated in the CSF of ALS patients compared to healthy controls/controls without parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) involvement and ALS mimic disease patients. NF light chain level in CSF was higher in ALS patients than in neurological patients with CNS involvement (SMD = 1.352, P = 0.01). NF light chain concentration in blood was higher in ALS patients than healthy controls/controls without CNS involvement (SMD = 1.448,

Plasma from some patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exhibits elevated formaldehyde levels

The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) exhibit higher plasma levels of formaldehyde (FA) than controls, and to look for alterations in levels of FA precursors.We studied 40 heathy controls and 50 ALS patients from the Motor Neuron Disease clinic at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. Plasma FA levels were quantified using a FA detection assay. Trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) in plasma were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry. Plasma levels in patients and controls were compared using Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation test was used to assess the correlation between levels of FA, TMA, TMAO and other variables.The levels of plasma FA were significantly greater in ALS subjects than controls. TMA and TMAO levels were not significantly different between healthy controls and patients, but were greater in ALS subjects with elevated FA levels than those with normal levels. Of note, levels of TMA and TMAO demonstrated a significant positive correlation with plasma FA levels (spearman's correlation coefficients of TMA with FA [r\ua0=\ua00.451, p\ua0=\ua00.010] and TMAO [r\ua0=\ua00.401, p\ua0=\ua00.023]). There was no association of FA levels with disability measured with the ALS functional rating scale, with the duration of disease or with the age of the subjects.Elevated FA is found in some patients with ALS. FA is neurotoxic and could contribute to disease pathogenesis

CSF NFL and disease duration.

<p>Meta-analysis of correlation between CSF NFL and disease duration. The random effect model was applied. There is significant negative correlation between two variables (P< 0.0001).</p

NFL ALS-mimic.

<p>Meta-analysis of NFL levels in CSF between ALS patients and ALS mimics. Because the I² = 0, the fixed effect model was applied. There is significant difference between the two groups (P<0.0001).</p

CSF NFL and disease duration.

<p>Meta-analysis of correlation between CSF NFL and disease duration. The random effect model was applied. There is significant negative correlation between two variables (P< 0.0001).</p

NFH Blood ALS-healthy.

<p>Meta-analysis of NFH levels in blood between ALS patients and healthy controls /controls without parenchymal CNS disease. The random effect model was applied. There is no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.068).</p

Summary of the meta-analyses.

<p>Summary of the meta-analyses.</p

CSF NFH and disease duration.

<p>Meta-analysis of correlation between CSF NFH and disease duration. The fixed effect model was applied. There is significant negative correlation between two variables (P< 0.0001).</p