News Express

Science News: Dry Needling Versus Corticosteroid Injections To Treat Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review

September 12, 2024

This study is looking at the comparison of dry needling to steroid injection for treating tendinopathy.

Science News: Analysis of Predictive Factors for the Poor Prognosis of Peripheral Facial Paralysis

August 28, 2024

The aim of the study is to evaluate predictive factors for a poor prognosis in patients with facial paralysis evaluated in the rehabilitation department of a tertiary hospital.

Science News: Effectiveness of Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Sham-Controlled Study

August 19, 2024

The authors of this study investigated PEMF application in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) in conjunction with physical therapy.

Science News: Insights Into Refractory Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Comprehensive Real-World Study

August 01, 2024

In this study, the authors sought to delineate the clinical characteristics, disease progression patterns, and potential risk factors associated with refractory chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), as well as the electrophysiological features of this condition.

Science News: Nerve Ultrasound in Friedreich’s Ataxia: Enlarged Nerves as a Biomarker of Disease Severity

July 22, 2024

Sensory neuropathy is one of the disease hallmarks. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are typically used to detect neuropathy but is not the optimum biomarker because sensory responses are commonly lost. Therefore, the authors in this study assessed the ability of nerve ultrasound (US) to serve as a potential biomarker in patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.