Onset of age, site and respiratory symptoms are strongly associated with respiratory decline in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a long-term longitudinal study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify factors influencing progression of respiratory decline from the onset of neurological symptoms to respiratory failure in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: In 100 patients with sporadic ALS, %vital capacity (%VC) was continuously measured from the first visit to the respiratory endpoint (REP). Cox proportional hazards model identified factors influencing the duration from onset of ALS to REP (Onset-REP).

[Thrombolytic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment in the acute ischemic stroke with limb arterial embolism; three case reports].

We report three female patients, aged 77, 89, and 92 years, with arterial emboli in their limbs that developed before and after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment for cerebral infarction. Arterial embolism in one limb developed in two patients before rt-PA treatment and in one during rt-PA treatment at the time of the first medical examination. Thrombectomy was performed in two patients.