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Study of spindle microtubule reassembly in cells from Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients following exposure to colcemid
Krawczun MS, Jenkins EC, Lele KP, Sersen EA, Wisniewski HM.. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 1990-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plain-language summary
Numerous intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles and senile (neuritic) plaques are the two characteristic lesions in Alzheimer disease (AD) and adult Down syndrome (DS). Evidence indicates that microtubule assembly is impaired in AD. We studied spindle microtubule repolymerization rates in EBV-transformed lymphoblasts from AD, DS, and control individuals after colcemid exposure. The distinctive arrangement of microtubules in spindle and its size make this structure an obvious choice for study. Recovery trends in the three patient groups differed significantly; in particular, the controls showed an earlier appearance of intact spindle microtubules than AD. Other researchers found similar results using AD fibroblasts. The results from the DS cells were inconsistent and difficult to interpret. It is unclear how the AD microtubules differ from controls, or whether a relationship exists between the altered microtubule repolymerization kinetics observed in this study and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles in AD patients. A difference in repolymerization rates can be the basis for a diagnostic test for AD if it can be verified.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
Spindle microtubule reassembly after colcemid exposure differed between Alzheimer's disease cells and controls, with controls showing intact microtubules earlier, while results from Down syndrome cells were inconsistent. The authors say it is unclear how Alzheimer's microtubules differ or whether this relates to neurofibrillary tangles, and that the difference could only form the basis of a diagnostic test if verified.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Krawczun, M. S., Jenkins, E. C., Lele, K. P., Sersen, E. A., & Wisniewski, H. M. (1990). Study of spindle microtubule reassembly in cells from Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients following exposure to colcemid. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199040400-00002
Vancouver
Krawczun MS, Jenkins EC, Lele KP, Sersen EA, Wisniewski HM. Study of spindle microtubule reassembly in cells from Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients following exposure to colcemid. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. 1990. doi:10.1097/00002093-199040400-00002. PMID: 2148262.
BibTeX
@article{krawczun1990-2148262,
author = {Krawczun, M. S. and Jenkins, E. C. and Lele, K. P. and Sersen, E. A. and Wisniewski, H. M.},
title = {{Study of spindle microtubule reassembly in cells from Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients following exposure to colcemid}},
journal = {Alzheimer disease and associated disorders},
year = {1990},
doi = {10.1097/00002093-199040400-00002},
pmid = {2148262},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199040400-00002}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Evidence indicates that microtubule assembly is impaired in AD.
- Recovery trends in the three patient groups differed significantly; in particular, the controls showed an earlier appearance of intact spindle microtubules than AD.
- Other researchers found similar results using AD fibroblasts.
- The results from the DS cells were inconsistent and difficult to interpret.
Why it matters
Spindle microtubule reassembly after colcemid exposure differed between Alzheimer's disease cells and controls, with controls showing intact microtubules earlier, while results from Down syndrome cells were inconsistent. The authors say it is unclear how Alzheimer's microtubules differ or whether this relates to neurofibrillary tangles, and that the difference could only form the basis of a diagnostic test if verified.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 30/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer disease and associated disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1990 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 9 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.2 citations a year over 38 year(s) since 1990 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Henryk M. Wı́sniewski: h-index 76 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities: institution h-index 138 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 2148262) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 30 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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