エムバイオテック


			Neurological Disorder

			Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ALS and Mycoplasma Infectious Diseases
			Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - also referred to as motor neurone disease in some British Commonwealth countries and as Lou Gehrig's disease in North America – is a debilitating disease with varied etiology characterized by rapidly progressive weakness, muscle atrophy and fasciculations, muscle spasticity, difficulty speaking (dysarthria), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and decline in breathing ability. ALS is the most common of the five motor neuron diseases. Signs and symptoms The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body caused by degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons. Unable to function, the muscles weaken and atrophy. Affected individuals may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement, although bladder and bowel sphincters and the muscles responsible for eye movement are usually, but not always, spared. Cognitive function is generally spared for most patients, although some (about 5%) also have frontotemporal dementia. A higher proportion of patients (30-50%) also have more subtle cognitive changes which may go unnoticed, but are revealed by detailed neuropsychological testing. S ensory nerves and the autonomic nervous system are generally unaffected, meaning the majority of people with ALS will maintain sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste Initial symptoms The earliest symptoms of ALS are typically obvious weakness and/or muscle atrophy. About 25% of cases are "bulbar onset" ALS. T hese patients first notice difficulty speaking clearly or swallowing. Over time, patients experience increasing difficulty moving, swallowing (dysphagia), and speaking or forming words (dysarthria). High prevalence of Mycoplasma infections among chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Examination of four Mycoplasma species in blood of chronic fatigue syndrome patients Nicolson GL, Nasralla MY, Haier J, Pomfret J. High frequency of systemic mycoplasmal infections in Gulf War veterans and civilians with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). J Clin Neurosci. 9:525-529. (2002)