News Express
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Science News: Standardized Tapering off Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
March 15, 2024
The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patients who entered remission after complete discontinuation of treatment with subcutaneous immunoglobulin by employing a standardized tapering-off regimen.
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Science News: Efficacy and Safety of Hydrokinesitherapy in Patients With Dystrophinopathy
February 29, 2024
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of regular pool dynamic aerobic exercises in ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
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Science News: Comparing the Effect of Implanted Peroneal Nerve Stimulation and Ankle-Foot Orthosis on Gait Kinematics in Chronic Hemiparesis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
February 16, 2024
The study at hand investigated the effects of semi-implanted selective functional electrical stimulation on gait kinematics compared to ankle foot orthotic.
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Science News: Tactile Perception of the Hand in Children With an Upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy
January 30, 2024
The aim of this study was to investigate sensory deficits that cause impairment of hand function in children between 7-12 years with an upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). This was a cross sectional study comparing 41 children with upper NBPP in non-dominant hand with 25 healthy controls (mean ages approximately 10 yo).
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Science News: Nutritional and Metabolic Factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
January 08, 2024
Weight loss and metabolic abnormalities are common in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often preceding symptom onset and predicting poorer outcomes. Clinical studies show premorbid weight loss, low body mass index, and loss of fat mass are associated with increased ALS risk and faster progression. Metabolic alterations such as reduced adiposity and cholesterol can be detected years before symptoms arise, indicating a causal role in disease pathogenesis rather than just a consequence of impairment.
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Science News: High and Persistent Anti-GM1 Antibody Titers Are Associated With Poor Clinical Recovery in Guillain-Barré Syndrome
December 22, 2023
This study investigated the relationship between the serum antibody titers of ganglioside GM1 and outcomes in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Patients who met the criteria for GBS were included if hospitalized within two weeks from the onset of weakness and unable to walk 10 meters independently. Serum anti-GM1 antibody titers were collected at study enrollment and during a six-month follow-up appointment.
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Science News: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Oncology Trainees on Function and Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine
December 06, 2023
Enhancing functionality is linked to decreased morbidity and mortality among individuals living with cancer. Cancer rehabilitation medicine (CRM) emphasizes elevating functionality in this patient population. However, a notable impediment to patients availing themselves of CRM services lies in the insufficient number of referrals originating from oncology providers. Addressing this challenge necessitates an exploration of the perspectives held by oncology trainees. Unraveling their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs concerning the significance of function and the role played by CRM is imperative. This understanding is pivotal in mitigating educational gaps and improving patients' access to rehabilitation services.
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Science News: Management Of Spastic Equinovarus Foot in Children With Cerebral Palsy: An Evaluation of Anatomical Landmarks for Selective Nerve Blocks of the Tibial Nerve Motor Branches
November 28, 2023
This is small observational study of 24 children aged 6-16 with cerebral palsy (CP), to define landmarks of tibial motor nerve branches for selective motor nerve blocks of the gastrocnemii, soleus and tibialis posterior muscles to manage spastic equinovarus foot.
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Science News: Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as a Reliable Biomarker of Hereditary Transthyretin-Related Amyloidosis - A Swiss Reference Center Experience
November 10, 2023
In this prospective study, the authors aimed to determine if serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a reliable and early biomarker of peripheral neuropathy in hereditary transthyretin-related (hATTR) amyloidosis.
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Science News: VCP-Related Myopathy: A Case Series and a Review of Literature
October 26, 2023
Valosin containing protein (VCP) controls the ubiquitin proteasome system, endolysosomal sorting, and autophagy. Frontotemporal dementia, inclusion body myopathy, and Paget’s disease of bone all have been related to dominant missense mutations in the VCP gene causing a multisystem proteinopathy. In this study, the authors describe a series of 5 patients with VCP mutations, majority with lower limb weakness with distal predominance.
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Science News: Myopathy as a Cause of Long COVID Fatigue: Evidence From Quantitative and Single Fiber EMG and Muscle Histopathology
October 13, 2023
The authors of this study previously reported myopathic changes in quantitative EMG (qEMG) and pathological changes in muscle biopsies of a small group of long COVID patients with fatigue. Therefore, the authors aimed in this study to investigate the clinical and electrodiagnostic features in a larger Cohort of long COVID patients to explore whether myopathy and neuromuscular transmission failure are common causes of post-COVID fatigue.
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Science News: Denervation Impacts Muscle Quality and Knee Bone Mineral Density After Spinal Cord Injury
October 02, 2023
Conducted at a single center, this cross-sectional study aimed to compare muscle size, body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and metabolic profiles between two groups: individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) characterized by denervation lower motor neuron (LMN) and those with innervation upper motor neuron (UMN).
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Science News: Image Analysis Can Reliably Quantify Median Nerve Echogenicity and Texture Changes in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
September 15, 2023
The authors in this study aimed to assess the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of two quantitative methods as objective methods to assess median nerve echotexture changes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to controls.
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Science News: Preservation of Functional Descending Input to Paralyzed Upper Extremity Muscles in Motor Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
August 31, 2023
In this study, the authors investigated neurophysiological evidence of motor involvement in clinically paralyzed muscles in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) using surface EMG.
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Science News: Current and Emerging Prostheses for Partial Hand Amputation: A Narrative Review
August 21, 2023
This review article explored and compared several prosthetic options that have been investigated and marketed by researchers and companies. Some of these options include passive, body powered, activity-specific, and externally powered prostheses.
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Science News: Impaired B Cell Expression of the Inhibitory Fcγ Receptor IIB in Myasthenia Gravis
August 03, 2023
In this study, the authors report that FcγRIIB expression levels are substantially reduced in B lineage cells derived from immunotherapy-naïve patients with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive (Ab+) early-onset MG. In contrast, genetic variants associated with impaired FcγRIIB expression are not enriched in MG, indicating posttranscriptional dysregulation. The authors suggest that FcγRIIB-targeting therapies could have therapeutic benefits in AChR-Ab+ MG.
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Science News: Immune Response and Safety of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 Vaccine in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis
July 24, 2023
This prospective study investigated the safety profile of mRNA-1273 vaccine and its ability to induce humoral and cellular responses in patients with mysthenia gravis (MG).
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Science News: Epidemiology, Survival, and Clinical Characteristics of Inclusion Body Myositis
July 07, 2023
In this study, the authors conducted a population-based study on inclusion body myositis (IBM) with the primary aims to define the disease prevalence, survival rate, and incidence, and to investigate the symptom profiles associated with disease duration and sex over a 33-year period. A total of 128 patients fulfilled the clinicopathological definition of IBM.
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Science News: Treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Using Onasemnogene Abeparvovec
June 26, 2023
The article summarizes the development, safety, and efficacy of intravenously administered drugs using the Adeno-associated virus vector for SMA type 1 and intrathecal administration for SMA type 2.
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Science News: Diagnostic Performance of Preoperative Ultrasound for Traumatic Brachial Plexus Root Injury: A Comparison Study With an Electrophysiology Study
June 09, 2023
This retrospective study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of preoperative ultrasound (US) compared with electrophysiology study (EPS) in the assessment of traumatic brachial plexus (BP) root injury. Patients with suspected traumatic BP root injury who underwent preoperative US and EPS examination were included in the analysis. Each BP root was assessed via US and EPS as either completely or incompletely injured.