Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38894662›Full record

ArticleAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2024

Threshold tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation and neurofilament light chain as diagnostic aids in ALS.

Anna B Jacobsen, Hugh Bostock, James Howells, Bülent Cengiz, Gintaute Samusyte, Martin Koltzenburg, Hossein Pia, Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen, Jakob Blicher, Izabella Obál and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. [Advances in the Structure and Function of Neurofilament Protein and Its Application in Early Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Anna B JacobsenDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0002-8110-3636
Hugh BostockUCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
James HowellsCentral Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Bülent CengizDepartment of Neurology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Beşevler, 06570, Ankara, Turkey.
Gintaute SamusyteDepartment of Neurology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, 44307, Lithuania.
Martin KoltzenburgUCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9181-5966
Hossein PiaDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.
Anders Fuglsang-FrederiksenDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.
Jakob BlicherDepartment of Neurology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark.
Izabella ObálDepartment of Neurology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark.
Henning AndersenDepartment of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.
Hatice TankisiDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0001-8495-9769

Funding

Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens FondFamilien Hede Nielsens FondLundbeck Foundation R290-2018-751Lundbeck Foundation R346-2020-1946Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet, Aarhus UniversitetWilliam Demant Fonden
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThere is a need for sensitive biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to enable earlier diagnosis and to help assess potential treatments. The main objective of this study was to compare two potential biomarkers, threshold-tracking short-interval cortical inhibition (T-SICI), which has shown promise as a diagnostic aid, and neurofilament light chains (NfL).

methodsNinety-seven patients with ALS (mean age 67.1 ± 11.5 years) and 53 ALS mimics (aged 62.4 ± 12.9) were included. Mean disease duration was 14 months ±14.1. Patients were evaluated with revised ALS functional rating score (ALSFRS-R), Penn upper motor neuron score (UMNS), muscle strength using the Medical Research Council (MRC) score and examined with T-SICI, quantitative electromyography (EMG), and NfL measured in spinal fluid.

resultsNfL increased with increasing UMNS (rho = 0.45, p = 8.2 × 10

interpretationBoth T-SICI and NfL correlated with UMN involvement and combined, they provided a strong discrimination between ALS patients and ALS mimics.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisBiomarkersNeurofilament ProteinsTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAgedElectromyographyEvoked Potentials, MotorFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedBiomarkersneurofilament protein LNeurofilament Proteins

Identifiers

PMID38894662
PMCPMC11251469

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.