News Express

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Science News: Physical Activity in People With Motor Neuron Disease: Validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly as a Measuring Tool

June 02, 2023

This prospective, observational study investigated the physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE) as a tool to measure physical activity in patients with motor neuron disease (MND). The PASE is a brief questionnaire that assesses the type, frequency, duration, and intensity of the physical activities chosen by the patient over the previous week to assign a score ranging from 0-793, with higher scores indicating greater physical activity.

Science News: Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Neuropathic Pain, Nerve Injury, and Recovery

May 15, 2022

Findings of this article highlight the potential role of systemic immune dysregulation and the role of cytokines in focal nerve injury and chronic neuropathic pain. The study provides important information relevant to neuropathic pain and possible biomarkers for future studies. Findings of this article highlight the potential role of systemic immune dysregulation and the role of cytokines in focal nerve injury and chronic neuropathic pain. The study provides important information relevant to neuropathic pain and possible biomarkers for future studies. 

Science News: Identification of Serum Interleukin 6 Levels as a Disease Severity Biomarker in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

May 15, 2022

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common inherited myopathies, presenting as slowly progressive, often asymmetric muscle weakness. Although a gain-of-toxic function secondary to aberrant DUX4 expression is the known etiology, exact pathomechanism is not known. Inflammatory reactions are sometimes seen in muscle biopsies, leading to speculation of the role of inflammatory pathway activation in disease pathogenesis. This retrospective study analyzed serum cytokines in 100 FSHD1 patients to identify potential biomarkers. 

Science News: Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Patients with Stroke

April 28, 2022

This study determines the treatment effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the motor function of upper extremity (UE) in persons with stroke. The study allows for additive tools physicians can utilize to optimize and improve upon conventional rehabilitation.

Science News: Home-Based Exercise in Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

April 28, 2022

Currently, no evidence-based guideline exists on the amount and type of exercise in the patient with generalized MG and effects on the quality of life. In this study, the authors tried to analyze home-based exercise over a home rowing program over 3 months. Although the exercise was well tolerated, the intention to treat analysis revealed no evidence of improved health-related quality of life.

Science News: Natural History of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy in Children: A 2-Year Follow-Up

April 18, 2022

This is a small 2-year follow-up study of genetically confirmed facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) cases from the Netherlands. On clinical examination, facial weakness was observed as a sign of disease progression. FSHD clinical score 0-15 and muscle ultrasound Z score appeared to be most promising outcome measures of progression. Despite disease progression, children may still notice improvement in functional capacity, including the 6-minute walk test. Pain, fatigue, and decreased quality of life were common symptoms during follow-up. 

Science News: Mitochondrial Disease in Adults: Recent Advances and Future Promise

April 18, 2022

This article provides an up-to-date review of the clinical and biochemical approach to mitochondrial disorders in adults. The clinical approach algorithm is especially useful. The NM neuro-imaging features will also help clinicians.

Science News: Life Expectancy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Reproduced Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

April 03, 2022

This is a systemic review of published literature on mortality in Duchenne muscular dystroph (DMD) up to July 2020 which focused on publications with Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves with age as a time scale. Of the 1,177 articles identified, 14 publications met the inclusion criteria providing data on 2,283 patients of whom 1,049 had died. Median life expectancy was 22 years. Analysis stratified by 3 time periods showed increased life expectancy in more recent patient populations born after 1990 had a median life expectancy of 28.1 years.

Science News: Clinical and Genetic Characteristics in Young, Glucocorticoid-Naïve Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

April 03, 2022

This article reports the genotype-phenotype characteristics of the largest international cohort of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) boys (participants in the Finding the Optimum Corticosteroid Regime for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (FOR-DMD)) pretreated with glucocorticoids. Out of 196 boys recruited, 193 were found to have a DMD mutation.

Science News: Ultrasound First for Pediatric Patients in an Electrodiagnostic Laboratory

March 20, 2022

Authors investigated the impact of a US-first approach, adopted in their EMG lab, for pediatric patients. They retrospectively identified pediatric patients who were examined via US prior to EDX tests and those undergoing EDX tests initially. Authors compared the number of nerves stimulated in NCS and the number of muscles sampled in EMG between groups. They also presented two cases to demonstrate the impact of using a US-first approach.

Science News: Is There an Association Between Ulnar Nerve Hypermobility and Neuropathy at the Elbow?

March 20, 2022

This is a review of literature regarding associations between ulnar nerve hypermobility (UNH) and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). Case control, cohort, and RCTs were included. Studies diagnosing UNH both with physical exam (3) and US (17) were included. Diagnosis was made with both electrodiagnostic studies and ultrasonography. Studies looking at post op findings, hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy, polyneuropathy, trauma, and pediatric cases were included. Cadaveric or animal studies were excluded.