Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Charcot disease, Lou Gehrig disease), is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure. This report describes a case of motor neuron disease with typical weakness in one leg, one hand and the tongue. Despite of treatment with riluzole, symptoms progressed relativ...

Objective Bullous pemphigoid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (BP-ALS) is rare and poorly understood. We herein assessed the association between ALS and BP using clinical and biological findings. Methods The clinical features of six new BP-ALS cases were described and collated with cases from a systematic literature review. Results Our six cases were combined with three other published cases. T...

In this study, we analyzed the effects of tensile mechanical stress on the gene expression profile of in vitro-maintained human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. A DNA chip analysis identified 17 up-regulated genes in human PDL cells under the mechanical stress, including HOMER1 (homer homolog 1) and GRIN3A (glutamate receptor ionotropic N-methyl-d-aspartate 3A), which are related to glutamate ...

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of three major hydroxycholesterols (24-, 25-, and 27-hydroxycholesterols) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as to show their role in the pathogenesis of ALS experimental models. The level of 25-hydroxycholesterol were higher in untreated ALS patients (n = 30) than in controls without A...

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder with fatal prognosis. Cellular therapy has been studied for ALS in various animal models and these advances have highlighted its potential to be a treatment modality. This is a retrospective controlled cohort study of total 57 patients. Out of these, 37 patients underwent autologous bone marrow mononuclear c...

OBJECTIVE To systematically review evidence bearing on the management of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS The authors analyzed studies from 1998 to 2007 to update the 1999 practice parameter. Topics covered in this section include slowing disease progression, nutrition, and respiratory management for patients with ALS. RESULTS The authors identified 8 Class I studi...

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 ...

Background K2P channels play a key role in stabilizing the resting membrane potential, thereby modulating cell excitability in the central and peripheral somatic nervous system. Whole-cell experiments revealed a riluzole-activated current (I(RIL)), transported by potassium, in mouse superior cervical ganglion (mSCG) neurons. The activation of this current by riluzole, linoleic acid, membrane st...

BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relatively rare neurodegenerative disorder of both upper and lower motoneurons. Currently, the management of ALS is essentially symptoms-based, and riluzole, an antiglutamatergic agent, is the only drug for the treatment of ALS approved by the food and drug administration. OBJECTIVE We reviewed current literature concerning emerging treatmen...