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Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2021 06 2;141(9). Epub 2021 Jun 2.

BMJ Open 2021 06 2;11(6):e048808. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Harefield Respiratory Research Group, Royal Brompton and Harefield Clinical Group, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.

Objectives: To assess the acceptability of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps muscles in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to identify whether a future definitive trial is feasible.

Design: A randomised, parallel, two-group, participant and assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled feasibility trial with embedded qualitative interviews.

Setting: Outpatient department, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals. Read More

Neuromodulation 2021 May 24. Epub 2021 May 24.

KITE - Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Objectives: This scoping review was undertaken to synthetize and appraise the literature on the potential mechanisms of action of functional electrical stimulation therapy in combination with task-specific training (FEST + TST) in the rehabilitation following stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis.

Materials And Methods: The literature search was performed using multiple databases (including APA, PsycInfo, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, CCRCT, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) from 1946 to June 2020. The literature search used the following terms: (spinal cord injury, paraplegia, tetraplegia, quadriplegia, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, or acquired brain injury) AND (functional electrical stimulation or FES). Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 24;14(5). Epub 2021 May 24.

Rehabilitation Medicine, Oxford Centre for Enablement, Oxford, UK.

A range of neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been reported in the literature, but the pathogenesis of these have yet to be fully explained. The majority of cases of peripheral nervous system disease published thus far have shown a symmetrical pattern. In contrast, we describe the case of a patient with asymmetrical predominantly upper-limb sensorimotor polyneuropathy following COVID-19 infection, likely due to a multifactorial pathological process involving critical illness neuropathy, mechanical injury and inflammatory disease. Read More

J Int Med Res 2021 May;49(5):3000605211005954

The Spine Centre of SE Georgia, Brunswick, GA, USA.

There are limited treatment options for patients with foot drop and associated lower back and/or leg pain. We present a case series of three patients who received permanent implantation of 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation (10 kHz SCS) devices. Following treatment, all patients reported sustained improvements in lower back and leg pain, foot mechanics and function which resulted in increased mobility and cessation of opioid use for pain management. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 20;14(5). Epub 2021 May 20.

Pain Management, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) therapy is a rapidly emerging tool being used by pain physicians in the treatment of chronic pain. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a debilitating disease whose mechanism is still has yet to be fully elucidated, is a common pathology targeted by DRGS therapy, often better results than traditional spinal cord stimulation. DRGS therapy, however, is not bereft of complications. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 May;100(20):e26008

Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between myasthenia gravis (MG) and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in an Asian population. The risk was analyzed in a cohort of 5528 patients with history of MG and 5528 individuals without MG using a hospitalization claim dataset. Both groups were matched by age, sex, index year and baseline comorbidities as an original analysis. Read More

Unfallchirurg 2021 Jun 17;124(6):456-464. Epub 2021 May 17.

St. Vinzenz-Hospital, Merheimer Str. 221-223, 50733, Köln, Deutschland.

Background: Successful treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) depends mainly on an early diagnosis and an adequate treatment concept with active participation of the patient.

Objective: Diagnostics and treatment recommendation of CRPS with localization on the hand.

Material And Methods: Presentation and research of studies on treatment recommendations and the CRPS guidelines. Read More

J Int Med Res 2021 May;49(5):3000605211012367

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Republic of Korea.

Trigger point injection (TPI) is commonly administered for myofascial pain syndrome management, but occasionally leads to complications, including bleeding, muscle hematoma, vasovagal syncope, skin infections, and pneumothorax. This report presents a case of TPI-induced iatrogenic spinal cord injury (SCI). A 59-year-old woman received TPI for myofascial pain on both thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 19;57(4). Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

: The aetiology and pathomechanism of fibromyalgia syndrome 12 (FMS) as one of chronic pain syndromes still need to be further elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been proposed as a novel approach in pain management. Since the major symptom of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients is pain, it became of interest whether MAPK pathways, such as the stress-activated p38 MAPK/MK2 axis, are activated in FMS patients. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 12;57(4). Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan.

Both laboratory investigations and body composition quantification measures (e.g., computed tomography, CT) portray muscle loss in symptomatic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Apr 14;10(8). Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Physiotherapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 Leon, Spain.

The long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are only now beginning to be defined, but it is already known that the disease can have direct and indirect impacts mainly on the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular systems and may affect mental health. A role for rehabilitation professionals from all disciplines in addressing COVID-19 sequelae is recognised, but it is essential that patient assessment be systematic if health complications are to be identified and treated and, if possible, prevented. The aim is to present a COVID-19 prospective surveillance model based on sensitive and easily used assessment tools, which is urgently required. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 1;57(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Guro Hospital, Gurodong Road 148, Guro-Gu, Seoul 08308, Korea.

New developments in spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have improved the treatment of patients with chronic pain. Although the overall safety of modern SCS has been established, there are no published reports regarding safety considerations when implanting a burst-mode spinal cord stimulator in patients with permanent cardiac pacemakers (PCPs). An 80-year-old man with a complete atrioventricular block implanted with a PCP was considered as a candidate for burst-mode SCS due to well-established postherpetic neuralgia (>180 days after rash). Read More

Muscle Nerve 2021 Apr 23. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL & Dermatologie, Groupe Recherche en Kinésithérapie Respiratoire, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

Introduction/aims: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Its early recognition is vital for proper management. We tested a large cohort of adult NMD patients for oropharyngeal dysphagia using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ). Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021 Apr 22;4:CD013170. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Centre for Home Mechanical Ventilation and Specialized Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Inkendaal Rehabilitation Hospital, Vlezenbeek, Belgium.

Background: People with neuromuscular disorders may have a weak, ineffective cough predisposing them to respiratory complications. Cough augmentation techniques aim to improve cough effectiveness and mucous clearance, reduce the frequency and duration of respiratory infections requiring hospital admission, and improve quality of life.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of cough augmentation techniques in adults and children with chronic neuromuscular disorders. Read More

J Rehabil Med 2021 May 21;53(5):jrm00194. Epub 2021 May 21.

Department of Rehabilitation, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6541GX Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail:

Gait impairments in people with Charcot Marie Tooths disease are the combined result of ankle-foot deformities, muscle weakness, and somatosensory impairments. People with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease often experience pain and difficulties when walking, especially barefoot. They also trip and fall frequently and have a lower than normal gait speed and distance. Read More

Acta Myol 2021 Mar 31;40(1):8-42. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Neurorehabilitation Unit, the NEMO Clinical Center in Milan, University of Milan, Italy.

Respiratory complications are common in the patient with muscular dystrophy. The periodic clinical and instrumental respiratory evaluation is extremely important. Despite the presence in the literature of updated guidelines, patient associations often report lack of knowledge of these pathologies, particularly in peripheral hospitals. Read More

BMC Psychol 2021 Apr 17;9(1):56. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Sur Les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé Et de Services Sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Québec, Canada.

Background: The childhood phenotype of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) involves impaired cognitive functioning starting in infancy, which may compromise later on their ability to carry out instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) necessary for living independently. The current study aims to document the ability to perform IADLs among adults with the childhood phenotype of DM1 and to explore its links to cognitive functioning.

Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted among 11 individuals living with DM1. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Mar;9(6):512

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Even when severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is treated with first-line drugs, it progresses and leads to irreversible loss of lung function in some critically ill patients, and lung transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage chronic pulmonary disease. This case report mainly describes the rehabilitation of a 66-year-old female patient with severe COVID-19 after bilateral lung transplantation. The old patient had a body mass index of 31. Read More

J Neuromuscul Dis 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Peripheral Nervous System and Muscle Department, Rare Neuromuscular Disease Reference Center, ERN-Euro-NMD, Nice, France.

By definition, neuromuscular diseases are rare and fluctuating in terms of symptoms; patients are often lately diagnosed, do not have enough information to understand their condition and be proactive in their management. Usually, insufficient resources or services are available, leading to patients' social burden. From a medical perspective, the rarity of such diseases leads to the unfamiliarity of the medical staff and caregiver and an absence of consensus in disease assessment, treatment, and management. Read More

Pain Res Manag 2021 20;2021:6637705. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.

Objective: Many patients with postpolio syndrome (PPS) experience pain. In this study, we aimed to review previous studies to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for managing pain in patients with PPS. We performed a narrative review. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2021 05 26;32(2):239-251. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359612 Seattle, WA 98104, USA.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis are neurodegenerative diseases requiring interdisciplinary rehabilitation services to maximize function, manage symptoms, prevent complications, and promote higher quality of life. Distance and disability may pose barriers to access of subspecialized care. Telehealth is one solution to facilitate access and was rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Respir Med 2021 Apr-May;180:106373. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Norwegian Advisory Unit on Home Mechanical Ventilation, Thoracic Department, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address:

In neuromuscular disorders (NMDs), nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV) via a nasal mask is offered when hypercapnic respiratory failure occurs. With disease progression, nocturnal NIV needs to be extended into the daytime. Mouthpiece ventilation (MPV) is an option for daytime NIV. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2021 4;2021:5592472. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system, which is still incurable. In recent years, with the progress of immunosuppressive and supportive treatment, the therapeutic effect of MG in the acute stage is satisfactory, and the mortality rate has been greatly reduced. However, there is still no consensus on how to conduct long-term management of stable MG, such as guiding patients to identify relapses, practice exercise, return to work and school, etc. Read More

Eur Heart J 2021 05;42(20):1976-1984

Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, FranceINSERM Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France.

Aims: To estimate the effect of prophylactic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on survival in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods And Results: We analysed the data from the French multicentre DMD Heart Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03443115). Read More

BMJ Open 2021 03 16;11(3):e043021. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Introduction: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a clinical condition whereby motor, reflex and/or sensory changes such as radicular pain, paraesthaesia or numbness can exist. Conservative management is a preferred first treatment option as the risk-benefit ratio for surgery is less favourable. Systematic reviews and treatment guidelines gather evidence on the effectiveness of non-surgical management of patients with CR from randomised controlled trials, which do not consider the natural course of recovery to modify the management strategy accordingly. Read More

Front Neurol 2021 19;12:626319. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties and Dentistry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.

The outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide with a huge impact on the healthcare system. Compared to the previous coronaviruses-related pandemics, COVID-19 is more transmissible with potential systemic involvement and peculiar neurological manifestations, such as Guillan-Barrè syndrome up to critical illness myopathy, occurring in the intensive care setting. In this clinical scenario, people living with a neuromuscular disease (NMD) represent a vulnerable category with a high risk of a severe course of COVID-19. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 02 18;18(4). Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, I-00133 Rome, Italy.

The aim of this article was to investigate the knowledge, management, and clinical practice of Italian physiotherapists concerning patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A national cross-sectional survey consisted of 24 questions was administered from December 2019 until February 2020. A Chi-squared independence test was run to study any difference between subgroups of the sample and responses to the questionnaire. Read More

Autophagy 2021 Jan 8;17(1):1-382. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

University of Crete, School of Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Voutes, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Read More

Biomaterials 2021 04 3;271:120700. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. Electronic address:

Neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are powerful tools for modeling neural pathophysiology and preclinical efficacy/toxicity screening of novel therapeutic compounds. However, human neurons cultured in vitro typically do not fully recapitulate the physiology of the human nervous system, especially in terms of exhibiting morphological maturation, longevity, and electrochemical signaling ability comparable to that of adult human neurons. In this study, we investigated the potential for astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) to modulate survival and electrophysiological function of human neurons in vitro. Read More