Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...

Cross-bridge Cycle

Cross-bridge Cycle

As muscle contracts, the overlap between the thin and thick filaments increases, decreasing the length of the sarcomere—the contractile unit of the muscle—using energy in the form of ATP. At the molecular level, this is a cyclic, multistep process that involves binding and hydrolysis of ATP, and movement of actin by myosin.

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...

Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology

Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology

The disease process of myasthenia gravis begins at the neuromuscular junction, where antibodies attack key proteins needed for muscle activation. This immune reaction weakens signal transmission, leading to the characteristic muscle fatigue and weakness that define the condition.Immune-Mediated DamageIn most individuals, antibodies target acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of muscle cells. By blocking acetylcholine binding, these antibodies prevent the nerve signal...

Neural Regulation

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Decreased Amount of Collagen in The Skin of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in The Kii Peninsula of Japan.

Acta neurologica Taiwanica·2015

Same author

An immunohistochemical study of increased tumor necrosis factor-α in the skin of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·2013

Same author

[Case report: a case of Hashimoto's encephalopathy with myxedema coma].

Nihon Naika Gakkai zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine·2013

Same author

Immunohistochemical studies of angiogenin in the skin of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Journal of the neurological sciences·2013

Same author

Increased expression of valosin-containing protein in the skin of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·2012

Same author

Increased progranulin in the skin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an immunohistochemical study.

Journal of the neurological sciences·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: March 4, 2014

[Skin changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

¹Department of Neurology, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, 3426-3 Anegasaki, Ichihara-shi, Chiba 299-0111, Japan.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo

|November 1, 2007

Summary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients exhibit unique skin properties, including resistance to bedsores and delayed return phenomenon (DRP), suggesting skin is affected in ALS. Research reveals abnormalities in collagen, growth factors, and neurotrophic factors in ALS skin.

More Related Videos

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: October 13, 2016

Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay

Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay

Published on: June 25, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: March 4, 2014

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: October 13, 2016

Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay

Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay

Published on: June 25, 2019

Area of Science:

Neurology
Dermatology
Biochemistry

Context:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients characteristically do not develop bedsores, even in advanced stages.
ALS skin exhibits a unique 'delayed return phenomenon' (DRP), losing elasticity and returning slowly to its original shape after stretching, typically observed over 2.5 years post-symptom onset.

Purpose:

To review recent research on skin abnormalities in ALS patients.
To highlight the significance of DRP and the absence of bedsores as potential diagnostic markers.
To explore the molecular underpinnings of these cutaneous changes in ALS.

Summary:

ALS affects not only motor neurons but also the skin, leading to characteristic changes.
Abnormalities in skin components such as collagen, glycosaminoglycans, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and neurotrophic factors (CNTF, NT-3, IGF-1) are present in ALS patients.
These findings suggest that skin examination could serve as an accessible additional diagnostic tool for ALS.

Impact:

Understanding skin abnormalities in ALS can provide insights into the disease's basic pathological mechanisms.
Further analysis of these complex skin changes may lead to novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for ALS.
The study emphasizes the potential of dermatological examination as a complementary approach in ALS patient assessment.