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Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2022 Jun 22;8(1):61. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Introduction: Entrapment neuropathies, typically carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy, frequently occur in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Upper limb impairments due to entrapment neuropathy can be particularly debilitating in this population. Anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) neuropathy has not been previously described in the SCI population. Read More

Eur J Dent 2022 Jun 21. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Dental Services, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by muscle weakness and can vary in severity from the mild form that affects the ocular muscles only to the generalized form that affects the other muscle groups. The prevalence of MG is 150 to 200 per million population over the past 50 years, and approximately 10% of these cases are pediatric patients where the disease onset starts before the age of 18 years. The etiology of MG is due to the blockage of neuromuscular transmission by circulating autoantibodies targeting mainly the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and associated proteins in the postsynaptic membrane of skeletal muscles. Read More

Neurosurg Clin N Am 2022 Jul 26;33(3):323-330. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, 4th, Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address:

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a powerful interventional option for the management of otherwise intractable pain. This technique involves the implantation of electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to named peripheral nerves, thereby alleviating pain in the territory of the target nerves. Recent advancements, largely driven by physician-industry relationships, have transformed the therapy into one that is minimally invasive, safe, evidence-based, and effective. Read More

J Bodyw Mov Ther 2022 Jul 28;31:30-36. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address:

The integrity of connective tissue sheaths surrounding the nerves influences both the severity and the potential for recovery of brachial plexus lesions. This study presents an innovative, early onset, multidisciplinary approach to obstetric brachial plexus palsy. This approach is aimed at functional recovery of the nerve lesion and includes mobilization of the fascia using the Fascial Manipulation® method. Read More

Trials 2022 Jun 14;23(1):493. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Rheumatology, Østfold Hospital Trust, Grålum, Norway.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to treat sciatica, despite insufficient evidence from placebo-controlled trials. NSAIDs may cause serious side effects; hence, there is a strong need to clarify their potential beneficial effects in patients with sciatica.

Methods: This is a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group superiority trial. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 26;13:874490. Epub 2022 May 26.

Science for Life Laboratory, Genetics and Pathology, Department of Immunology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is an idiopathic chronic disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia, often accompanied by fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and other symptoms. Autoimmunity and neuroinflammatory mechanisms have been suggested to play important roles in the pathophysiology of FM supported by recently identified interferon signatures in affected individuals. However, the contribution of different components in the immune system, such as the B-lymphocytes, in the progression to FM are yet unknown. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 May 28;19(11). Epub 2022 May 28.

Gerodontology, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan.

This one-year multicenter longitudinal study aimed to assess whether older adult residents of long-term care facilities should switch from a normal to a dysphagia diet. Using the results of our previous cross-sectional study as baseline, older adults were subdivided into those who maintained a normal diet and those who switched to a dysphagia diet. The explanatory variables were age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Barthel Index, clinical dementia rating (CDR), and 13 simple and 5 objective oral assessments (remaining teeth, functional teeth, oral diadochokinesis, modified water swallowing test, and repetitive saliva swallowing test), which were used in binomial logistic regression analysis. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2022 06 9;8(1):59. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Introduction: Although common in individuals with cancer as well as nerve root compression, neuropathic pain can be difficult to prevent and manage due to the complex pain mechanisms involved in its pathophysiology. Although contrast baths have a long history of use for pain management, there is little known about their efficacy in the acute rehabilitation setting or in patients with cancer related neuropathic pain.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old man with multiple myeloma presented with progressive lower extremity weakness and 8/10 neuropathic pain intensity in both feet due to extensive myelomatous involvement of his lumbar spine. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022 Aug 25;28:100926. Epub 2022 May 25.

Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Background: Gait alterations are among the most disabling motor-symptoms associated with Parkinson's Disease (PD): reduced stride length, stride velocity and lower limb joint range of motion are hallmarks of parkinsonian gait. Research focusing on optimal functional rehabilitation methods has been directed towards powered lower-limb exoskeletons which combines the advantages delivered from the grounded robotic devices with the ability to train the patient in a real-world environment As gait involves both central (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), targeted rehabilitation must restore not only mechanics but also neurophysiological gait patterns.

Methods: Two cohorts of subjects will be enrolled and equally distributed between one group (n = 25) who will undergo a functional kinematic therapy, and one group (n = 25) who will undergo an overground wearable-exoskeleton training. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2022 May;184(21)

Center for Funktionelle Lidelser, Aalborg Universitetshospital.

Contrary to its precursor, the new NICE guidelines for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) caution against graded exercise therapy for the severely ill, and cognitive behavioural therapy is only recommended for treating consequence of ME/CFS and not the condition itself. Instead, energy management is recommended. The recommendations are based on dismissing most current evidence from studies not using new diagnostic criteria introduced by NICE or not including patient viewpoints. Read More

Spinal Cord 2022 May 28. Epub 2022 May 28.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study.

Objectives: To detail respiratory management after a high cervical spinal cord injury (HCSCI).

Setting: A tertiary university hospital's pulmonary rehabilitation center to which most individuals with HCSCI and ventilatory insufficiency throughout Korea are referred. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 05 23;19(10). Epub 2022 May 23.

Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.

Sense of Coherence (SOC), comprising comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness, is important for the sense of living a good life with Late Effects of Polio (LEoP). However, there is a lack of knowledge about the meaning of these three components. The aim of this study was to explore in-depth the meaning of SOC among persons living with LEoP, in terms of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. Read More

Biomedicines 2022 Apr 26;10(5). Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.

Accumulating data suggest that chronic neuroinflammation-mediated neurodegeneration is a significant contributing factor for progressive neuronal and glial cell death in age-related neurodegenerative pathology. Furthermore, it could be encountered as long-term consequences in some viral infections, including post-COVID-19 Parkinsonism-related chronic sequelae. The current systematic review is focused on a recent question aroused during the pandemic's successive waves: are there post-SARS-CoV-2 immune-mediated reactions responsible for promoting neurodegeneration? Does the host's dysregulated immune counter-offensive contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, emerging as Parkinson's disease, in a complex interrelation between genetic and epigenetic risk factors? A synthetic and systematic literature review was accomplished based on the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Principles Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) methodology, including registration on the specific online platform: International prospective register of systematic reviews-PROSPERO, no. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2022 04 27;14(5). Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.

Although botulinum toxin (BoNT) has been suggested as a treatment to counter neuropathic pain, no previous systematic reviews investigated the multidimensional effects of BoNT on pain relief and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL). The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence on the effectiveness of BoNT treatment for neuropathic pain, and to characterize its multidimensional effectiveness in order to guide physicians in clinical practice. Five databases were systematically searched up to 4 April 2022, to identify randomized controlled trials satisfying the following criteria: adults suffering from neuropathic pain, BoNT administration, any comparator, multidimensional assessment of pain as primary outcome, HR-QoL, physical function, anxiety and depression, and sleep quality as secondary outcomes. Read More

Front Pediatr 2022 6;10:892445. Epub 2022 May 6.

Neuroradiology, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Background: Moyamoya is a rare progressive cerebral arteriopathy, occurring as an isolated phenomenon (moyamoya disease, MMD) or associated with other conditions (moyamoya syndrome, MMS), responsible for 6-10% of all childhood strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study on pediatric-onset MMD/MMS in Italy in order to characterize disease presentation, course, management, neuroradiology, and outcome in a European country.

Results: A total of 65 patients (34/65 women) with MMD (27/65) or MMS (38/65) were included. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2022 Jul 13;438:120280. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Health Policy and Informatics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Clinical Data Management and Research, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Growing evidence indicates that carefully programmed rehabilitation can improve symptoms in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). However, evidence on rehabilitation to aid in recovery from a myasthenic crisis is lacking. This study aimed to examine the association between inpatient rehabilitation and recovery in the activities of daily living (ADL) after a myasthenic crisis. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 17;12(1):8127. Epub 2022 May 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been utilized for more than 50 years to treat refractory neuropathic pain. Currently, SCS systems with fully implantable pulse generators (IPGs) represent the standard. New wireless extracorporeal SCS (wSCS) devices without IPGs promise higher levels of comfort and convenience for patients. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 05 17;12(5):e054566. Epub 2022 May 17.

International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

Background: Chronic Sciatica is a disabling condition causing considerable medical, social and financial implications. Currently, there is no recognised long-term effective treatment to alleviate sciatica. Acupuncture has been widely used for treating chronic pains with persistent analgesic effects. Read More

Braz J Phys Ther 2022 May-Jun;26(3):100402. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Department of Physical Therapy, Speech, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) compromises the structures of the musculoskeletal system, especially in the foot-ankle complex. Foot-related exercises can be a promising tool to be incorporated in health care programs to manage and prevent musculoskeletal complications resulting from DM and DPN progression.

Objective: To present the development, validation, and usability evaluation of a booklet that directs training and personalizes the progression of a home-based program of foot-ankle exercises. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Apr 27;23(9). Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Stomatognathic Function and Occlusal Reconstruction, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan.

The Special Issue "Orofacial Pain: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Treatment 2021" contains 6 articles published by 41 authors from different countries focusing on nucleus accumbens core GABAergic neurons, receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1, pannexin 1-mediated ATP signaling, ultra-low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and triamcinolone acetonide. The content covers several pain models, including neuropathic pain caused by peripheral nerve constriction or malpositioned dental implants, tongue cancer, myogenous temporomandibular dysfunction, and oral ulcerative mucositis. In addition, a review paper on trigeminal neuralgia is included. Read More

Neural Plast 2022 27;2022:7055697. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common and severe complication after varicella-zoster infection, especially in elderly patients. PHN is always refractory to treatment. Both pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) have been used as effective analgesia methods in clinic. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2022 05;33(2):455-474

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department (117), Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA; Inpatient and Interventional Pain Service, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles CA, USA; Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles- UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is an integral component of the body's response to stress. Once activated, the SNS has broad-reaching effects on multiple organ systems that modulate pain, behavior, and mood. Blockade of the system can improve pain associated with multiple etiologies, including vascular, visceral, and neuropathic pain. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2022 05;33(2):379-407

Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, Center for Pain Medicine, 9400 Campus Point Drive, MC 7328, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Interventional pain procedures offer treatments for chronic pain conditions refractory to conservative measures. Neuromodulation, including peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), applies electrical stimuli to neural structures to treat pain. Here we review the literature on PNS for various chronic pain conditions including neuropathic pain, postamputation pain, musculoskeletal pain, migraine, and pelvic pain. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 05 3;12(1):7192. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.

Existing guidelines advocate an updated therapeutic algorithm for chronic neuropathic pain (NeP), but pharmacotherapeutic management should be individualized to pain phenotypes to achieve higher efficacy. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of medications, based on NeP phenotypes, and to propose symptom-based pharmacotherapy. This retrospective study was enrolled 265 outpatients with chronic NeP related to spinal disorders. Read More

BMC Neurol 2022 May 2;22(1):162. Epub 2022 May 2.

Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy in the pediatric population. The manifestations of this disease include progressive muscle weakness, gait dysfunction, and motor impairment, leading to a loss of ambulation by the age of 13 years. Molecular diagnosis is the standard diagnostic tool for DMD. Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2022 May 20;38:77-84. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh, 160012, India; Department of Management, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India.

Background: US food and drug administration has recently approved deflazacort for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and recommended the dosage of 0.9 mg/kg/d for patients aged ≥5years. However, data assessing the minimal efficacious dose and need of dose-titration based on age or disease severity is limited. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2022 14;2022:8035109. Epub 2022 Feb 14.

Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310053, China.

Complex regional pain syndrome type-I (CRPS-I) represents a type of neurovascular condition featured by severe pain in affected extremities. Few treatments have proven effective for CRPS-I. Electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective therapy for pain relief. Read More

Aust J Gen Pract 2022 05;51(5):329-336

MBBS, MRCP, FRACP, Neurologist, The Sutherland Hospital, Caringbah, NSW; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW.

Background: For patients with motor neuron disease (MND), the final 12 months of life can be a tumultuous period, with rapid and significant losses in function and independence, regular contact with the health system and carer stress.

Objective: The aim of this article is to provide an outline of the challenges encountered during the last 12 months of life and the role of the specialised multidisciplinary team in managing the challenges that may arise.

Discussion: While MND remains rare overall, it is likely that most general practitioners (GPs) will encounter at least one patient with MND during their career. Read More

Lancet 2022 04;399(10335):1604

Klinikum Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.

Eur J Oncol Nurs 2022 Jun 29;58:102124. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the best available evidence regarding the use of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Methods: A systematic literature search of the following databases from their inception to October 17, 2021 was performed and was updated on March 2, 2022: AMED via Ovid, CINAHL via the EBSCO Host, Cochrane Library, Embase, PEDro, PubMed, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies examining the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for managing established CIPN were identified. Read More