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Front Neurol 2022 3;13:837023. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Although there are several reports of the significant efficacy of zolpidem for treating dystonia, zolpidem is still considered an anecdotal treatment. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of zolpidem for treating residual dystonia in patients who previously received various neurosurgical treatments majorly including deep brain stimulation and radiofrequency ablation. We retrospectively reviewed medical records from January 2021 to September 2021 to identify patients with dystonia who had been prescribed zolpidem after undergoing neurosurgery. Read More

Brain Nerve 2022 May;74(5):581-587

Nomura Neuro Sleep Clinic.

Botulinum toxin treatment is most commonly used for blepharospasm, spastic torticollis, upper limb dystonia, and local dystonia in Japan. Botulinum toxin treatment is the first choice in these conditions. However, it has the disadvantages that the therapeutic effect is transient, that there are cases in whom the treatment is ineffective, and a high cost. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.

Introduction: Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) is a rare condition that occurs most commonly in children. The torticollis caused by AARF usually presents as abnormal posturing of the head and neck, with rotation of the chin to the opposite side. AARF in children could occur due to congenital bony malformation, minor trauma, upper respiratory tract infections (Grisel's syndrome), postoperatively after head and neck (ENT) surgery, and unknown reasons. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2022 May 15;15(1):168. Epub 2022 May 15.

Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, but reports of infections in central and northern Europe have been recently increasing. Infections occur mainly in humans and dogs. In dogs, both dog-adapted and zoonotic S. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 10;12(1):7678. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Neurosurgery, Aerospace Center Hospital, No. 15, Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China.

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proven to be an alternative target choice for refractory isolated cervical dystonia (CD). However, assessments of its short and long-term safety, efficacy, and sustained effectiveness have been limited to few reports. Here, we evaluated nine consecutive refractory isolated CD patients who underwent bilateral STN DBS and accepted to short and long-term follow-up in this retrospective study. Read More

Rom J Ophthalmol 2022 Jan-Mar;66(1):101-108

Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Emergency Eye Hospital Bucharest, Romania.

The aim of this report was to present a rare case of apparently unilateral Peters anomaly and describe the clinical characteristics, surgical approach, and visual prognosis. We presented the case of a 7-year-old female patient with posterior corneal defect due to kerato-lenticular adhesions along with anterior dislocation and opacification of the lens in the left eye and a history of post-traumatic evisceration of the right eye. Systemic associations included mental underdevelopment, left torticollis and scoliosis. Read More

Saudi J Biol Sci 2022 Apr 15;29(4):2911-2920. Epub 2022 Jan 15.

Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Nadi El-Seid Street, Dokki P.O. Box246, Giza 12618, Egypt.

Pigeon's flocks have shown several neurological symptoms including circling, torticollis, tremors, paralysis, which caused suspicion for viral or bacterial natural infections. type-1 (PPMV-1) is a notifiable disease-causing high morbidity and mortality with severe nervous symptoms. Clinical represented tissue specimens were collected from 50 infected pigeon flocks in eight governorates. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 Apr 27;12(1):6866. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland.

Alterations in brain plasticity seem to play a role in the pathophysiology of cervical dystonia (CD). Since evidences indicate that sleep regulates brain plasticity, we hypothesized that an alteration in sleep homeostatic mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of CD. We explored sleep in control subjects (CTL) and CD patients before (T) and after (T) botulinum toxin (BoNT) treatment. Read More

Orthop Surg 2022 Apr 25. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.

Background: Ponticulus posticus (PP) occurs frequently and may cause symptom series, including vertebrobasilar insufficiency, migraine, hearing loss, and Barré-Liéou syndrome. However, few studies to date have described surgical treatment of PP. We report a rare case of a patient who suffered from torticollis, facial asymmetry, localized pain, and Barré-Liéou syndrome in connection with PP. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Mar 11;101(10):e29035. Epub 2022 Mar 11.

Department of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine, Graduate School of Dongguk University, Republic of Korea.

Background: This study is the protocol to evaluate the clinical evidence for external treatments using herbal medicine (ETHM) with tuina as a congenital muscular treatment (CMT) in pediatrics.

Methods: Eleven databases will be searched until June 2022, without any language restrictions: four English databases (MEDLINE, Pubmed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Central Register of Database of Controlled Trials), three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Wan Fang Database), and four Korean electronic databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Links, and Research Information Sharing Service). This review will include randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of ETHM with tuina as an intervention versus the same tuina. Read More

Protein Expr Purif 2022 08 19;195-196:106093. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China. Electronic address:

Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) belongs to the avian paramyxovirus type 1 group of viruses, which can cause tremors, torticollis, and respiratory signs in domestic and wild pigeons. The M protein of PPMV-1 is a multifunctional structural protein. It not only helps in the assembly, budding, and positioning of the virus but also inhibits the host's immune response and promotes replication of the virus in the host. Read More

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2022 10;12. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, US.

Background: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for dystonia is usually targeted to the globus pallidus internus (GPi), though stimulation of the ventral-intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (Vim) can be an effective treatment for phasic components of dystonia including tremor. We report on a patient who developed a syndrome of bilateral upper limb postural and action tremor and progressive cervical dystonia with both phasic and tonic components which were responsive to Vim DBS. We characterize and quantify this effect using markerless-3D-kinematics combined with accelerometry. Read More

Pediatr Phys Ther 2022 Apr;34(2):192

Portland, Oregon.

Pediatr Phys Ther 2022 Apr;34(2):185-191

Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) who changed head presentation during an episode of physical therapy.

Methods: Data were extracted from electronic medical records between January 2015 and December 2018 to describe infants with CMT who changed presentation.

Results: Eighty-nine infants met criteria (predominantly male, non-Hispanic, White, with private insurance). Read More

Pediatr Phys Ther 2022 Apr;34(2):184

Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation Cleveland, OH.

Pediatr Phys Ther 2022 Apr;34(2):180-183

Pediatric Physical Therapy (Dr Bess), Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida; School of Physical Therapy (Dr Costa), Gannon University, Ruskin, Florida; Pediatric Physical Therapy (Dr Costa), Children's Therapy Solutions, Bradenton, Florida; Departments of Health Informatics (Mr Nguygen and Dr Amankwah) and Pediatric Gastroenterology (Dr Wilsey), Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida.

Purpose: Clinical experience suggests that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs commonly in infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). However, this is an understudied topic and prospective studies are absent. We determine the prevalence of GERD in infants with CMT, comparing clinical characteristics between CMT infants with and without GERD, and identifying infants with potentially undiagnosed GERD. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022 04 31;119(14):e2114985119. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Dystonia is a debilitating disease with few treatment options. One effective option is deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the internal pallidum. While cervical and generalized forms of isolated dystonia have been targeted with a common approach to the posterior third of the nucleus, large-scale investigations regarding optimal stimulation sites and potential network effects have not been carried out. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2022 06 30;89(6):626. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry 605006, India.

Neurology 2022 May 29;98(20):849-850. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

From the Department of Neurology, University of Louisville, KY.

J Zoo Wildl Med 2022 Mar;53(1):41-49

Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Since the emergence of the Goose/Guangdong H5 lineage in 1996 and spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) from poultry to wild birds, outbreaks have become increasingly frequent in wild birds. The latest outbreak in the Netherlands occurred in the fall-winter of 2020-2021 and was linked to incursions of HPAI H5N8 virus. During the larger national outbreak, wild birds in rehabilitation center "Vogelklas Karel Schot (VKS)" in Rotterdam presented with clinical signs compatible with HPAI, including head shaking, torticollis, and abnormal gait. Read More

Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022 May 25;9(5):684-694. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Institute for Neural Computation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.

Objective: Deviated head posture is a defining characteristic of cervical dystonia (CD). Head posture severity is typically quantified with clinical rating scales such as the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS). Because clinical rating scales are inherently subjective, they are susceptible to variability that reduces their sensitivity as outcome measures. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 03 24;12(1):5090. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, via Alfonso Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.

Smoothness (i.e. non-intermittency) of movement is a clinically important property of the voluntary movement with accuracy and proper speed. Read More

Clin Park Relat Disord 2022 14;6:100142. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

IntroductionSome patients with cervical dystonia (CD) receiving long-term botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) therapy report early waning of treatment benefit before the typical 12-week reinjection interval.

Methods: This phase 4, open-label, randomized, noninferiority study (CD Flex; NCT01486264) compared 2 incobotulinumtoxinA injection schedules (Short Flex: 8 ± 2 weeks; Long Flex: 14 ± 2 weeks) in CD patients. Previous BoNT-responsive subjects who reported acceptable clinical benefit lasting < 10 weeks were recruited. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022 03 21;17(1):130. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: Patient journey maps are increasingly used as a tool that enables healthcare providers to refine their service provision to best meet patient needs. We developed a cervical dystonia patient journey map (CDPJM) that describes the holistic patient experience from pre-diagnosis through to long-term treatment.

Methods: The CDPJM was developed in 2 stages; a patient survey (open questions and multichoice) of 15 patients with CD was conducted to inform the design of the CDPJM, which was then refined and validated by an expert-patient focus group. Read More

Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022 Apr 8;9(4):478-487. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Neurosurgical ablation of Forel's field H1 for cervical dystonia, which is currently abandoned, was formerly used in the 1960s-1970s. Regardless of the lack of neuroimaging modalities and objective evaluation scales, the reported efficacy was significant. Although recent studies have reappraised the ablation of the pallidothalamic tract at Forel's field H1 for Parkinson's disease, the efficacy for cervical dystonia has not been investigated well. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2022 03 16;96:74-79. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Denmark; University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Aim: This is a long-term open follow-up of a prospective double-blind crossover study, where electrodes were bilaterally implanted in both the Subthalamic nucleus (STN) and internal pallidum (GPi) in patients with isolated dystonia.

Methods: Patients with isolated dystonia were included to undergo surgery with Deep Brain stimulation (DBS) and after randomization, in a double-blind cross-over study, receiving bilateral stimulation of either STN or GPi for 6 months in each target. Preoperative and postoperative assessments with the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were performed. Read More

Cureus 2022 Jan 28;14(1):e21699. Epub 2022 Jan 28.

College of Medicine, West Visayas State University, Iloilo City, PHL.

Objective: This study aims to describe the demographic profile in terms of age, marital status, annual family income, and educational attainment; to describe the physical, psychological, and social manifestations; to determine and describe coping mechanisms; to determine the goals, aspirations, and needs; and to determine the interaction and impact of the lived experiences on the quality of life of X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) patients.

Methods: This qualitative-phenomenological study was conducted in the island of Panay. Purposive sampling was utilized. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2022 11;13:40. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.

Background: Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) can be caused by infection, rheumatoid arthritis, surgery of head and neck, and congenital diseases. Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1) is often associated with various musculoskeletal diseases, but few reports have described AARF with NF-1. Here, we report the success of a closed reduction and halo fixation utilized to treat chronic AARF with NF-1 in a 7-year-old female. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2022 29;13:31. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Background: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a rare and difficult-to-treat disorder. Various neurosurgical options are available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. We investigated using the modified McKenzie-Dandy operation for a patient with CD who failed selective peripheral denervation (SPD). Read More

Brain Behav 2022 Apr 3;12(4):e2541. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Department of Neurology, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.

Introduction: Studies explored physiotherapeutic approaches in cervical dystonia (CD) patients with or without botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections, however the results are varying. There are no clinical trials investigating the effects of kinesiology taping in CD patients. The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of kinesiology taping as an adjunct to the BoNT injections in patients with CD. Read More