AANEM News Express Related to Science News

Science News: Heteronymous H Reflex in Temporal Muscle as a Sign of Hyperexcitability in ALS Patients

    3/10/2020
Submitted by Elliot Bodofsky, MD
Edited by Clark Pinyan, MD

This article outlines a new electrodiagnostic technique for early diagnosis amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a common severe disorder in electrodiagnostic practice. 

Science News: Relative Contributions of Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease to Neuropathy Development in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients

    2/24/2020
Submitted by Elliot Bodofsky, MD
Edited by Clark Pinyan, MD

This article proves that the neuropathy associated with DKD is worse than seen with DM or renal disease alone, and that NCS is helpful as part of TNS criteria. Readers will better understand the pathology of a common cause of peripheral neuropathy in clinical neurophysiology practice, and the importance of NCS testing.

Science News: Frequency and Risk Factors for Prolonged Opioid Prescriptions After Surgery for Brachial Plexus Injury

    2/10/2020
Submitted by Rebecca O'Bryan, MD
Edited by Clark Pinyan, MD

This article reports the results of an extensive retrospective analysis of data for 1,936 patients that underwent surgery for a brachial plexus injury (BPI) investigating potential identifiable risk factors for prolonged opioid use postoperatively.

Science News: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Potential Early, Red-Flag Sign of Amyloidosis

    1/23/2020
Submitted by Rebecca O'Bryan, MD
Edited by Clark Pinyan, MD

This article reports on the clinical significance of certain presentations of carpal tunnel syndrome as they relate to the potential earlier diagnosis of amyloidosis in patients with systemic disease. Due to the importance of diagnosing systemic amyloidosis (either light chain or transthyretin), a high index of suspicion is vital in identification and early treatment of these patients.

Science News: Degree of Agreement between Electrodiagnostic Testing and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Brachial Plexopathy

    1/9/2020
Submitted by Rebecca O'Bryan, MD
Edited by Clark Pinyan, MD

This article reports the findings of a retrospective analysis of 69 patients with symptoms of brachial plexopathy of various etiologies to investigate the degree of agreement between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrodiagnostic testing (EDX). Of the 69 patients reviewed, 12 were excluded due to diagnoses of other diseases during the assessment, or due to lack of evidence to support the diagnosis on either test (EDX or MRI).

Science News: Muscle and Not Neuronal Biomarkers Correlate With Severity in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

    12/12/2019
Submitted by Bryan X. DeSouza, MD
Edited by Elliot Bodofsky, MD

This study examined longitudinal changes in neuronal and muscular serum biomarkers (neurofilament light chain [NfL], creatinine kinase [CK] and creatinine) in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA, also known as Kennedy's disease - KD) and correlated their findings to clinical measures of disease severity in patients and a mouse model.

Science News: Inhibition of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor 1 Reduces Itch in Mice

    11/26/2019
Submitted by Hristelina Ilieva, MD, PhD
Edited by Elliot Bodofsky, MD

Neuromuscular specialists see a variety of neuropathies, particularly uremic neuropathy patients, with very frequent complaints of itching. Being aware of the neurophysiology and that future therapeutic targets exist will be helpful.

Science News: Schwann Cell Transcript Biomarkers For Hereditary Neuropathy Skin Biopsies

    10/22/2019
Submitted by Clark Pinyan, MD
Edited by Nandita Keole, MD

This article strives to help the reader understand the expanding potential of skin biopsy. As treatments emerge for CMT, skin biopsy may prove a useful marker for treatment response or disease progression.

Science News: Smoking and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study

    10/4/2019
Submitted by Clark Pinyan, MD
Edited by Nandita Keole, MD

Authors examined the potential causal effect of smoking on ALS using Mendelian randomization method. Genome-wide association study data was reviewed for loci associated with smoking (current or ever smoked).