Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2016
The identification of cognitive subtypes in Alzheimer's disease dementia using latent class analysis.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a heterogeneous disorder with complex underlying neuropathology that is still not completely understood. For better understanding of this heterogeneity, we aimed to identify cognitive subtypes using latent class analysis (LCA) in a large sample of patients with AD dementia. In addition, we explored the relationship between the identified cognitive subtypes, and their demographical and neurobiological characteristics. ⋯ Using LCA, we identified eight distinct cognitive subtypes in a large sample of patients with AD dementia. Cognitive clusters were associated with distinct demographical and neurobiological characteristics.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2016
Cerebrovascular injury as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
To use an unbiased method to test a previously reported association between cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) embolisation and the subsequent development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ⋯ Cerebrovascular injury from a variety of causes, rather than the presence of AVM or the associated embolisation procedure per se, may be a risk factor for ALS within the context of a more complex multiple-hit model of pathogenesis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2016
Weakened functional connectivity in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) converges on basal ganglia.
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are involuntary paroxysmal events that are unaccompanied by epileptiform EEG discharges. We hypothesised that PNES are a disorder of distributed brain networks resulting from their functional disconnection.The disconnection may underlie a dissociation mechanism that weakens the influence of unconsciously presented traumatising information but exerts maladaptive effects leading to episodic failures of behavioural control manifested by psychogenic 'seizures'. ⋯ We believe that this finding reveals a possible neurobiological substrate of PNES, which explains both attenuation of the effect of potentially disturbing mental representations and the occurrence of PNES episodes. By improving understanding of the aetiology of this condition, our results suggest a potential refinement of diagnostic criteria and management principles.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2016
Sialylated IgG-Fc: a novel biomarker of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Sialylation in Fc portion of IgG plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and the working mechanism of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). We aim to test whether IgG-Fc sialylation is a biomarker of disease activity for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). ⋯ Sialylation of IgG-Fc is reduced in CIDP. Its level correlated with clinical severity and increased after IVIG treatment. Sialylated as well as ratio of sialylated/agalactosylated IgG-Fc could be new measures to monitor the disease severity and treatment status in CIDP.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2016
Identification of novel biomarkers for Parkinson's disease by metabolomic technologies.
The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) involves complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Metabolomics can shed light on alterations in metabolic pathways in many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the candidate metabolic pathway(s) associated with PD. ⋯ Metabolomic analysis detected biomarkers associated with PD pathogenesis and disease progression. Since critical metabolic biomarkers need to be identified in PD, future studies should include assay validation and replication in independent cohorts.