AANEM Education News Express

Science News: Tau Protein as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    8/30/2021
This study highlights role of Tau protein as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ALS patients.

Science News: The Value of Sensory Nerve Conduction Studies in the Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

    8/19/2021
This article reviews the utility of sensory testing for GBS. Specifically, sural sensory sparing, i.e. abnormal median and ulnar SNAPs (sensory nerve action potential) amplitudes and normal sural SNAP, is 47-83% sensitive and up to 96% specific for GBS. Likewise, one study indicated an abnormal (dorsal ulnar/palmar ulnar) SNAP ratio of less than 0.78 is 87% sensitive and 100% specific for GBS.

Science News: Rate of Change in Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Levels Predicts Myasthenia Gravis Outcome

    8/19/2021
Up to 80% of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients are seropositive for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR-Ab) and these antibodies are routinely checked as diagnostic markers in clinical practice. However, their use in prognosis is thought to be limited.

Science News: Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Association With COVID-19 Infection: A Tale of Two Studies

    8/4/2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread, there have been increasing reports of neurological manifestations. In one study 36.4% patients reported dysgeusia or anosmia, headaches, dizziness, stroke and encephalopathy. In another, up to 84% of patients with severe COVID-19 had neurological complaints. There have been reports of concomitant COVID-19 and GBS which led the authors to the above meta-analysis and multi-center case-control study. 

Science News: Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 in CT, USA: A Single-Center Experience With 50 Patients

    7/26/2021
Myotonic muscular dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a an autosomal dominant genetic disease stemming from expansion of the first intron of the Cellular Nucleic acid Binding Protein (CNBP) gene which encodes for a zinc finger protein. This disease tends to course with wasting muscle weakness, characteristic myotonia, and cataracts.

Science News: Comorbidities, Anthropometric, Demographic, and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow: A Case Control Study

    7/26/2021

Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow is second only to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the most frequently encountered focal neuropathy. The clinical presentation of UINE can vary from intermittent fourth and fifth digit paresthesias to anesthesia as well as weakness and atrophy of the ulnar muscles.

Science News: Comparison of Corticosteroid Tapering Regimens in Myasthenia Gravis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

    7/14/2021
Submitted by: Niranjan N. Singh, MD
Edited by: Betul Gondogdu, MD

This multicenter, parallel, single-blind randomized trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of the standard slow-tapering regimen of prednisone therapy with a rapid-tapering regimen in patients with generalized Myasthenia Gravis treated with Azathioprine (n=117). The slow-tapering arm included a gradual increase of the prednisone dose to 1.5 mg/kg every other day and a slow decrease once remission was achieved.

Science News: Natural History of "Pure" Primary Lateral Sclerosis

    7/14/2021
Submitted by: Hristelina Ilieva, MD, PhD
Edited by: Betul Gondogdu, MD

This retrospective review of pure PLS patients seen at Mayo Clinic-Rochester over a 26 year period (1990-2016), describes clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of 43 patients. Of these, 25 (58%) were female; median onset-age was 50 years (range: 38-78), and median follow-up duration was 9 years (range:4- 36).

Science News: Value of Systematic Genetic Screening of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    6/24/2021
Submitted by: Francisco Gomez, MD
Edited by: Hristelina Ilieva, MD, PhD

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease comprising injury and cell death of upper and lower motor neurons in the brainstem, spinal cord and cortex.  Overt respiratory failure and death occur on average at 2–5 years of onset.

Science News: Relation of Exercise and Pain in Patients With Idiopathic Distal Axonal Polyneuropathies

    6/24/2021
Submitted by: Pritikanta Paul, MD
Edited by: Hristelina Ilevia, MD, PhD

Benefits of exercise in peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome were studied. Exercise improves glycemic control and control of other metabolic measures resulting into improved small fiber function and reducing risk of developing neuropathy.