1.Analysis of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 1247 cases of infectious diseases of the central nervous system
Jia-Hua ZHAO ; Yu-Ying CEN ; Xiao-Jiao XU ; Fei YANG ; Xing-Wen ZHANG ; Zhao DONG ; Ruo-Zhuo LIU ; De-Hui HUANG ; Rong-Tai CUI ; Xiang-Qing WANG ; Cheng-Lin TIAN ; Xu-Sheng HUANG ; Sheng-Yuan YU ; Jia-Tang ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(1):43-49
Objective To summarize the epidemiological and clinical features of infectious diseases of the central nervous system(CNS)by a single-center analysis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 1247 cases of CNS infectious diseases diagnosed and treated in the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from 2001 to 2020.Results The data for this group of CNS infectious diseases by disease type in descending order of number of cases were viruses 743(59.6%),Mycobacterium tuberculosis 249(20.0%),other bacteria 150(12.0%),fungi 68(5.5%),parasites 18(1.4%),Treponema pallidum 18(1.4%)and rickettsia 1(0.1%).The number of cases increased by 177 cases(33.1%)in the latter 10 years compared to the previous 10 years(P<0.05).No significant difference in seasonal distribution pattern of data between disease types(P>0.05).Male to female ratio is 1.87︰1,mostly under 60 years of age.Viruses are more likely to infect students,most often at university/college level and above,farmers are overrepresented among bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis,and more infections of Treponema pallidum in workers.CNS infectious diseases are characterized by fever,headache and signs of meningeal irritation,with the adductor nerve being the more commonly involved cranial nerve.Matagenomic next-generation sequencing improves clinical diagnostic capabilities.The median hospital days for CNS infectious diseases are 18.00(11.00,27.00)and median hospital costs are ¥29,500(¥16,000,¥59,200).The mortality rate from CNS infectious diseases is 1.6%.Conclusions The incidence of CNS infectious diseases is increasing last ten years,with complex clinical presentation,severe symptoms and poor prognosis.Early and accurate diagnosis and standardized clinical treatment can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality rate and ease the burden of disease.
2.Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients (version 2024)
Yao LU ; Yang LI ; Leiying ZHANG ; Hao TANG ; Huidan JING ; Yaoli WANG ; Xiangzhi JIA ; Li BA ; Maohong BIAN ; Dan CAI ; Hui CAI ; Xiaohong CAI ; Zhanshan ZHA ; Bingyu CHEN ; Daqing CHEN ; Feng CHEN ; Guoan CHEN ; Haiming CHEN ; Jing CHEN ; Min CHEN ; Qing CHEN ; Shu CHEN ; Xi CHEN ; Jinfeng CHENG ; Xiaoling CHU ; Hongwang CUI ; Xin CUI ; Zhen DA ; Ying DAI ; Surong DENG ; Weiqun DONG ; Weimin FAN ; Ke FENG ; Danhui FU ; Yongshui FU ; Qi FU ; Xuemei FU ; Jia GAN ; Xinyu GAN ; Wei GAO ; Huaizheng GONG ; Rong GUI ; Geng GUO ; Ning HAN ; Yiwen HAO ; Wubing HE ; Qiang HONG ; Ruiqin HOU ; Wei HOU ; Jie HU ; Peiyang HU ; Xi HU ; Xiaoyu HU ; Guangbin HUANG ; Jie HUANG ; Xiangyan HUANG ; Yuanshuai HUANG ; Shouyong HUN ; Xuebing JIANG ; Ping JIN ; Dong LAI ; Aiping LE ; Hongmei LI ; Bijuan LI ; Cuiying LI ; Daihong LI ; Haihong LI ; He LI ; Hui LI ; Jianping LI ; Ning LI ; Xiying LI ; Xiangmin LI ; Xiaofei LI ; Xiaojuan LI ; Zhiqiang LI ; Zhongjun LI ; Zunyan LI ; Huaqin LIANG ; Xiaohua LIANG ; Dongfa LIAO ; Qun LIAO ; Yan LIAO ; Jiajin LIN ; Chunxia LIU ; Fenghua LIU ; Peixian LIU ; Tiemei LIU ; Xiaoxin LIU ; Zhiwei LIU ; Zhongdi LIU ; Hua LU ; Jianfeng LUAN ; Jianjun LUO ; Qun LUO ; Dingfeng LYU ; Qi LYU ; Xianping LYU ; Aijun MA ; Liqiang MA ; Shuxuan MA ; Xainjun MA ; Xiaogang MA ; Xiaoli MA ; Guoqing MAO ; Shijie MU ; Shaolin NIE ; Shujuan OUYANG ; Xilin OUYANG ; Chunqiu PAN ; Jian PAN ; Xiaohua PAN ; Lei PENG ; Tao PENG ; Baohua QIAN ; Shu QIAO ; Li QIN ; Ying REN ; Zhaoqi REN ; Ruiming RONG ; Changshan SU ; Mingwei SUN ; Wenwu SUN ; Zhenwei SUN ; Haiping TANG ; Xiaofeng TANG ; Changjiu TANG ; Cuihua TAO ; Zhibin TIAN ; Juan WANG ; Baoyan WANG ; Chunyan WANG ; Gefei WANG ; Haiyan WANG ; Hongjie WANG ; Peng WANG ; Pengli WANG ; Qiushi WANG ; Xiaoning WANG ; Xinhua WANG ; Xuefeng WANG ; Yong WANG ; Yongjun WANG ; Yuanjie WANG ; Zhihua WANG ; Shaojun WEI ; Yaming WEI ; Jianbo WEN ; Jun WEN ; Jiang WU ; Jufeng WU ; Aijun XIA ; Fei XIA ; Rong XIA ; Jue XIE ; Yanchao XING ; Yan XIONG ; Feng XU ; Yongzhu XU ; Yongan XU ; Yonghe YAN ; Beizhan YAN ; Jiang YANG ; Jiangcun YANG ; Jun YANG ; Xinwen YANG ; Yongyi YANG ; Chunyan YAO ; Mingliang YE ; Changlin YIN ; Ming YIN ; Wen YIN ; Lianling YU ; Shuhong YU ; Zebo YU ; Yigang YU ; Anyong YU ; Hong YUAN ; Yi YUAN ; Chan ZHANG ; Jinjun ZHANG ; Jun ZHANG ; Kai ZHANG ; Leibing ZHANG ; Quan ZHANG ; Rongjiang ZHANG ; Sanming ZHANG ; Shengji ZHANG ; Shuo ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Weidong ZHANG ; Xi ZHANG ; Xingwen ZHANG ; Guixi ZHANG ; Xiaojun ZHANG ; Guoqing ZHAO ; Jianpeng ZHAO ; Shuming ZHAO ; Beibei ZHENG ; Shangen ZHENG ; Huayou ZHOU ; Jicheng ZHOU ; Lihong ZHOU ; Mou ZHOU ; Xiaoyu ZHOU ; Xuelian ZHOU ; Yuan ZHOU ; Zheng ZHOU ; Zuhuang ZHOU ; Haiyan ZHU ; Peiyuan ZHU ; Changju ZHU ; Lili ZHU ; Zhengguo WANG ; Jianxin JIANG ; Deqing WANG ; Jiongcai LAN ; Quanli WANG ; Yang YU ; Lianyang ZHANG ; Aiqing WEN
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2024;40(10):865-881
Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.
3.Gene cloning, functional identification, structural and expression analysis of sucrose synthase from Cistanche tubulosa
Wei-sheng TIAN ; Ya-ru YAN ; Xiao-xue CUI ; Ying-xia WANG ; Wen-qian HUANG ; Sai-jing ZHAO ; Jun LI ; She-po SHI ; Peng-fei TU ; Xiao LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(11):3153-3163
Sucrose synthase plays a crucial role in the plant sugar metabolism pathway by catalyzing the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose, which serves as a bioactive glycosyl donor for various metabolic processes. In this study, a sucrose synthase gene named
4.Genetic Subtypes and Pretreatment Drug Resistance in the Newly Reported Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men Aged≥50 Years Old in Guangxi.
Ning-Ye FANG ; Wen-Cui WEI ; Jian-Jun LI ; Ping CEN ; Xian-Xiang FENG ; Dong YANG ; Kai-Ling TANG ; Shu-Jia LIANG ; Yu-Lan SHAO ; Hua-Xiang LU ; He JIANG ; Qin MENG ; Shuai-Feng LIU ; Qiu-Ying ZHU ; Huan-Huan CHEN ; Guang-Hua LAN ; Shi-Xiong YANG ; Li-Fang ZHOU ; Jing-Lin MO ; Xian-Min GE
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2023;45(3):399-404
Objective To analyze the genetic subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance in the newly reported HIV-infected men in Guangxi. Methods The stratified random sampling method was employed to select the newly reported HIV-infected men aged≥50 years old in 14 cities of Guangxi from January to June in 2020.The pol gene of HIV-1 was amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced.The mutation sites associated with drug resistance and the degree of drug resistance were then analyzed. Results A total of 615 HIV-infected men were included in the study.The genetic subtypes of CRF01_AE,CRF07_BC,and CRF08_BC accounted for 57.4% (353/615),17.1% (105/615),and 22.4% (138/615),respectively.The mutations associated with the resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI),non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI),and protease inhibitors occurred in 8 (1.3%),18 (2.9%),and 0 patients,respectively.M184V (0.7%) and K103N (1.8%) were the mutations with the highest occurrence rates for the resistance to NRTIs and NNRTIs,respectively.Twenty-two (3.6%) patients were resistant to at least one type of inhibitors.Specifically,4 (0.7%),14 (2.3%),4 (0.7%),and 0 patients were resistant to NRTIs,NNRTIs,both NRTIs and NNRTIs,and protease inhibitors,respectively.The pretreatment resistance to NNRTIs had much higher frequency than that to NRTIs (2.9% vs.1.3%;χ2=3.929,P=0.047).The prevalence of pretreatment resistance to lamivudine,zidovudine,tenofovir,abacavir,rilpivirine,efavirenz,nevirapine,and lopinavir/ritonavir was 0.8%, 0.3%, 0.7%, 1.0%, 1.3%, 2.8%, 2.9%, and 0, respectively. Conclusions CRF01_AE,CRF07_BC,and CRF08_BC are the three major strains of HIV-infected men≥50 years old newly reported in Guangxi,2020,and the pretreatment drug resistance demonstrates low prevalence.
Male
;
Humans
;
Middle Aged
;
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
;
HIV Infections/drug therapy*
;
Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Mutation
;
HIV-1/genetics*
;
Protease Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
;
Genotype
5.Clinical observation of flumatinib combined with induction chemotherapy and sequential allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of 6 patients with newly diagnosed Ph(+) acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Xia Ying LIAN ; Hai Ping DAI ; Qing Ya CUI ; Xiao Wen TANG
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2023;44(2):169-172
6.Status of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in 25 neonatal intensive care units of tertiary hospitals in China.
Xin Cheng CAO ; Si Yuan JIANG ; Shu Juan LI ; Jun Yan HAN ; Qi ZHOU ; Meng Meng LI ; Rui Miao BAI ; Shi Wen XIA ; Zu Ming YANG ; Jian Fang GE ; Bao Quan ZHANG ; Chuan Zhong YANG ; Jing YUAN ; Dan Dan PAN ; Jing Yun SHI ; Xue Feng HU ; Zhen Lang LIN ; Yang WANG ; Li Chun ZENG ; Yan Ping ZHU ; Qiu Fang WEI ; Yan GUO ; Ling CHEN ; Cui Qing LIU ; Shan Yu JIANG ; Xiao Ying LI ; Hui Qing SUN ; Yu Jie QI ; Ming Yan HEI ; Yun CAO
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2023;61(1):29-35
Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34+0 weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Humans
;
Birth Weight
;
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Tertiary Care Centers
;
Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
;
Gestational Age
;
Infant, Extremely Premature
;
Sepsis/epidemiology*
;
Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology*
;
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*
7.UPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomic study on improvement of acute myocardial ischemia in rats by Dalbergia cochinchinensis heartwood.
Wen-Long WANG ; An LI ; Lan-Ying CHEN ; Jia-Rong LI ; Ya-Ru CUI ; Ni ZHANG ; Ying-Ying LUO ; Rong-Hua LIU ; Can-Yue OUYANG ; Bei-Xin YUAN ; Ying ZHANG ; Peng-Hao-Bang LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(4):1043-1053
This paper aimed to study the effect of Dalbergia cochinchinensis heartwood on plasma endogenous metabolites in rats with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and to analyze the mechanism of D. cochinchinensis heartwood in improving acute myocardial ischemic injury. The stability and consistency of the components in the D. cochinchinensis heartwood were verified by the establishment of fingerprint, and 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group, and a D. cochinchinensis heartwood(6 g·kg~(-1)) group, with 10 rats in each group. The sham group only opened the chest without ligation, while the other groups established the model of ligation. Ten days after administration, the hearts were taken for hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the content of heart injury indexes in the plasma creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), energy metabolism-related index glucose(Glu) content, and vascular endothelial function index nitric oxide(NO) was determined. The endogenous metabolites were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The results showed that the D. cochinchinensis heartwood reduced the content of CK-MB and LDH in the plasma of rats to relieve myocardial injury, reduced the content of Glu in the plasma, improved myocardial energy metabolism, increased the content of NO, cured the vascular endothelial injury, and promoted vasodilation. D. cochinchinensis heartwood improved the increase of intercellular space, myocardial inflammatory cell infiltration, and myofilament rupture caused by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The metabolomic study showed that the content of 26 metabolites in the plasma of rats in the model group increased significantly, while the content of 27 metabolites decreased significantly. Twenty metabolites were significantly adjusted after the administration of D. cochinchinensis heartwood. D. cochinchinensis heartwood can significantly adjust the metabolic abnormality in rats with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of cardiac energy metabolism, NO production, and inflammation. The results provide a corresponding basis for further explaining the effect of D. cochinchinensis on the acute myocardial injury.
Male
;
Animals
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Dalbergia
;
Myocardial Ischemia
;
Metabolomics
;
Heart
;
Heart Injuries
;
Creatine Kinase, MB Form
8.Pathogenic genes of primary open angle glaucoma in a Chinese family
Juan-Juan XIE ; Ying CHEN ; Guo-Wei ZHANG ; Hai-Yue CUI ; Meng-Yao HAO ; Shao-Wen WANG ; Zhen JIA ; Chun-Long XU ; Hong LU
International Eye Science 2023;23(1):175-180
AIM: To identify the pathogenic gene in a family with primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)from Nantong, Jiang Province, and to analyze its clinical phenotype and pathogenic mechanism.METHOD: A POAG pedigree was reviewed and recruited from January 2020 to December 2020, which spans 5 generations, with 33 people in total. A total of 13 family members were enrolled in our study, of whom 4 members were diagnosed with POAG, 1 with ocular hypertension(OHT), and the other 8 members were unaffected. Detailed medical history was collected and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed. High throughput sequencing was used to screen for possible pathogenic gene, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify candidate pathogenic gene.RESULT: All patients in this family were found to have elevated intraocular pressure(IOP)and diagnosed with glaucoma at a young age, requiring surgical treatments to control the IOP. The highest IOP of proband was up to 55mmHg. A heterozygous mutation(c.1197C>A, p.Phe399Leu)of LTBP2 gene was found in the proband genome by whole exon sequencing(WES). Sanger sequencing verified that the mutation was not isolated from the family disease.CONCLUSION: LTBP2 (c.1197C>A)mutation was not the pathogenic gene of POAG in this family. However, the pathogenic potential of LTBP2 gene in POAG cases is worth studying.
9.Academic characteristics of contemporary famous traditional Chinese medicine experts and schools in treatment of chronic renal failure based on SrTO.
Xiao-Dan WANG ; Tian-Ying CHANG ; Ying-Zi CUI ; Le ZHANG ; Wen-Ya WANG ; Shou-Lin ZHANG ; Xing LIAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(23):6257-6268
According to the systematic review of text and opinion(SrTO) developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI), this study integrated the evidence of the medical cases, papers, medical experience, and other related research of famous experts and schools on the treatment of chronic renal failure in the field of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) nephropathy, analyzed the academic characteristics and influencing factors from the aspects of the principle, method, recipe, and medicines, and explored the internal logic and law of inheritance and innovation in TCM nephropathy. A total of 36 famous TCM experts and 4 schools were included. The work areas are concentrated in North and South China. 94.0% of the famous TCM experts have experienced master-disciple teaching. 27.8% have studied TCM through family succession. 38.9% have been taught by multiple famous teachers. And 5.6% have not experienced master-disciple teaching. In terms of principle, method, recipe, and medicines, many innovations have been made, with 30.6% of famous TCM experts proposing new theories, 11.1% advocating staged treatment of chronic renal failure, and 47.2% summarizing the treatment methods. The formation of the academic thoughts of contemporary famous TCM experts and schools on the treatment of chronic renal failure is closely related to the learning mode, era, and work area. Contemporary famous TCM experts and schools have the academic characteristics of combining classical and clinical theories and paying more attention to TCM with western medicine supplemented. The field of TCM nephropathy has the characteristics of simultaneous inheritance and innovation. On the basis of inheriting the classical theories of TCM, it absorbs modern medical theories, combines clinical diagnosis with the syndrome and treatment law of contemporary diseases, and makes innovations in principle, method, recipe, and medicines, which has significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of chronic renal failure.
Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Schools
;
China
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/drug therapy*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
10.Differentiation Between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Mimics Using Quantitative Analysis of Fsciculation with Muscle Ultrasound.
Jing FAN ; Yi LI ; Jing-Wen NIU ; Nan HU ; Yu-Zhou GUAN ; Li-Ying CUI ; Ming-Sheng LIU
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2023;38(4):265-272
Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the intensity of fasciculation evaluated by muscle ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods We prospectively recruited patients who had ALS and neuropathy-radiculopathy attending Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2017 to 2020. Healthy adults from a community were recruited as healthy controls. Muscle strength was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. At the first visit to the hospital, patients were assessed for maximal grade of fasciculations, total fasciculation score, and fasciculation grade in 16 muscle groups of bilateral upper and lower limbs using ultrasonography. The sensitivity and specificity of maximal grade of fasciculations, total fasciculation score, and fasciculation grade for the diagnosis of ALS were assessed by receiver operating characteristic analyses. Results The percentage of limb muscles with a maximal fasciculation grade higher than grade 2 in ALS patients and neuropathy-radiculopathy patients was 84.9% and 9.8%, respectively (χ2 = 172.436, P < 0.01). Of the 16 limb muscles detected, the total fasciculation score [median (interquartile range)] was 29 (15, 41) in ALS patients and 3 (0, 8) in neuropathy-radiculopathy patients (Z = 9.642, P < 0.001). Remarkable fasciculations were seen in ALS patients whose muscles with a MRC score ranging from 2 to 4, followed by patients with MRC score 5, and then in those with MRC score 0 and 1. The sensitivity and specificity of total fasciculation score for diagnosis of ALS were 80.6% and 93.4%, respectively (cut-off value 14). In patients with ALS, for muscles with MRC score 4 and 5, the percentage of muscles with fasciculation grades ≥ 3 was 42.3% and 24.1% respectively, while in neuropathy-radiculopathy patients, the percentage for muscles with MRC score 4 and 5 was only 1.7% and 0, respectively. Conclusion A combined analysis of fasciculation intensity and MRC score of the limb muscles may be helpful for differential diagnosis of ALS.
Adult
;
Humans
;
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/diagnostic imaging*
;
Fasciculation/diagnostic imaging*
;
Radiculopathy
;
Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging*
;
Ultrasonography/methods*

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail