News Express

AANEM Attends AMA House of Delegates Meeting

July 08, 2024

AANEM attended the AMA House of Delegates meeting in mid-June. The meeting covered a wide range of important, timely topics currently affecting healthcare in the USA.

Science News: Autonomic Small-Fiber Pathology in Patients With Fibromyalgia

July 08, 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate whether small fiber pathology (termed SFP) associated with fibromyalgia shows evidence of damage to dermal autonomic nerve fibers, and how the damage is associated with autonomic symptoms.

Science News: Anatomical Study and Proposed EMG Technique for the Cervical Paraspinal Muscles

June 24, 2024

Paraspinal electromyography has proven to be the most sensitive component of the electrodiagnostic examination for lumbar spinal disorders. However, no standardized, anatomically validated technique has been proposed for the cervical region. The purpose of this paper is to take the first step in improving the diagnostic power of cervical EMGs by presenting a standardized cervical EMG technique and scoring system based on the current textbook understanding of cervical spinal anatomy and clinical experience. The anatomical study focuses specifically on the multifidus muscle, which may be innervated by specific single nerve roots as found in previous studies of the lumbar multifidus muscles.

AANEM Hosted 11th Annual Day on Capitol Hill

June 10, 2024

AANEM hosted its 11th Annual Day on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2024.

Science News: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Survival Without New Pharmacotherapies: Two Treatment Paradigms

June 10, 2024

This is an observational study that aims to present noninvasive respiratory management outcomes using continuous positive pressure noninvasive ventilatory support (CNVS) and mechanical in-exsufflation (MIE) from infancy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. Additionally, the study looks at the outcomes and bearing on new medical therapies.

Trainee Talk: Young Leadership Council Emerging Leaders Forum 2024

May 28, 2024

Recap of the Young Leadership Council's 2024 Emerging Leaders Forum in Chicago, Illinois.

Science News: Autonomic Function Tests, Heart Rate Variability, and Electrophysiological Evaluation in Patients With a Primary Episodic Headache: An Observational Study

May 24, 2024

The basic postulated mechanism of headache involves the activation of the trigeminovascular system and sensitization of trigeminal brainstem nuclei. However, autonomic nervous system dysfunction has been reported in various headache disorders and proposed as one of the mechanisms that may trigger the headache attacks. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic functions in patients with migraine and tension-type headache.

Seeking Physician Input to Help Inform Accurate Physician Payment

May 23, 2024

A national survey of physician practices led by the American Medical Association (AMA) is underway and we strongly encourage your cooperation with this effort!

Science News: Decreased Quality of Life in Duchenne Muscular Disease Patients Related To Functional Neurological and Cardiac Impairment

May 10, 2024

In this prospective study involving 37 patients diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), aged between 8 and 18 years old and older, the impact of both neurological and cardiac factors on quality of life (QoL) was assessed. This study utilized the PEDSQL 3.0 and EQ-5D questionnaires.

Science News: Electrophysiology and Magnetic Resonance Neurography Findings of Nontraumatic Ulnar Mononeuropathy From a Tertiary Care Center

April 26, 2024

The ulnar nerve is frequently involved in mononeuropathies of the upper limb. Ulnar neuropathies have been diagnosed conventionally using clinical and electrophysiological findings. Physicians opt for nerve imaging in patients with ambiguous electrophysiological tests to gain additional information, identify etiology and plan management.

Trainee Talk: Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: A Showcase of Young Leadership Council Projects and Achievements

April 26, 2024

Read a showcase of Young Leadership Council projects and achievements submitted by Andriana Tompary, DO, NM Fellow, University of North Carolina.

Science News: Guillain-Barré Syndrome and COVID-19 Vaccine: A Multicenter Retrospective Study of 46 Cases

April 10, 2024

This study investigated the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of cases of GBS occurring after COVID-19 vaccination and compared them to GBS cases unrelated to recent vaccination.

Science News: Hospital-Diagnosed Morbidities and Recent Surgery as Risk Factors for Developing Guillain-Barré Syndrome

April 01, 2024

This study investigated the association between Gillian-Barre syndrome (GBS) development, hospital-associated morbidity, and recent surgery.

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.

Trainee Talk: Neuromuscular Ultrasound Applications in an Electrodiagnostic Laboratory

March 15, 2024

Ultrasound (US) has become an increasingly useful tool in the fields of neuromuscular (NM) and electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine. Read Drs. James Meiling and Michael Cartwright's discussion on how to apply and use NMUS in an EDX laboratory.

Advocacy Success: AANEM Opposes Census Disability Question Changes

February 29, 2024

AANEM successfully advocated to oppose changes to disability questions which would have resulted in undercounting the number of disabled individuals in the U.S. Census at the AMA House of delegates.

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).

2024 AANEM & Wake Forest Francis O. Walker Neuromuscular Ultrasound Course

February 27, 2024

Join physicians and advanced practice providers at the 2024 AANEM & Wake Forest Francis O. Walker Neuromuscular Ultrasound Course May 2-3 in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

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.

CMS Releases Final Rule on Prior Authorization

January 30, 2024

On Jan. 17, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that makes important reforms in prior authorization (PA) programs for medical services and addresses both technological and operational requirements.