OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that local vibration therapy can benefit recovery after peripheral nerve injury, but the optimized parameters and effective mechanism were unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of local vibration therapy of different amplitudes on the recovery of nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury (SNI). METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to SNI and then randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, SNI group, SNI + A-1 mm group, SNI + A-2 mm group, and SNI + A-4 mm group (A refers to the amplitude; n = 10 per group). Starting on the 7th day after model initiation, local vibration therapy was given for 21 consecutive days with a frequency of 10 Hz and an amplitude of 1, 2 or 4 mm for 5 min. The sciatic function index (SFI) was assessed before surgery and on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after surgery. Tissues were harvested on the 28th day after surgery for morphological, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the SNI group, on the 28th day after surgery, the SFIs of the treatment groups were increased; the difference in the SNI + A-2 mm group was the most obvious (95% confidence interval [CI]: [5.86, 27.09], P < 0.001), and the cross-sectional areas of myocytes in all of the treatment groups were improved. The G-ratios in the SNI + A-1 mm group and SNI + A-2 mm group were reduced significantly (95% CI: [-0.12, -0.02], P = 0.007; 95% CI: [-0.15, -0.06], P < 0.001). In addition, the expressions of S100 and nerve growth factor proteins in the treatment groups were increased; the phosphorylation expressions of ERK1/2 protein in the SNI + A-2 mm group and SNI + A-4 mm group were upregulated (95% CI: [0.03, 0.96], P = 0.038; 95% CI: [0.01, 0.94], P = 0.047, respectively), and the phosphorylation expression of Akt in the SNI + A-1 mm group was upregulated (95% CI: [0.11, 2.07], P = 0.031). CONCLUSION Local vibration therapy, especially with medium amplitude, was able to promote the recovery of nerve function in rats with SNI; this result was linked to the proliferation of Schwann cells and the activation of the ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathways.
Animals ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve/metabolism* ; Sciatic Neuropathy/metabolism* ; Vibration/therapeutic use*

Rats ; Animals ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sciatic Nerve/physiology* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Nerve Regeneration/physiology*

Humans ; Sciatic Neuropathy/etiology* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/etiology* ; Sciatic Nerve/injuries*

OBJECTIVE: Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders associated with neurodegeneration of motor nerves and neurons, mainly charac-terized by progressive atrophy and weakness of distal muscle without clinical or electrophysiological sensory abnormalities. To improve the recognition and diagnosis of the disease, we summarized the clinical manifestations, electrophysiological, pathological, and genetic characteristics in eight patients with dHMN. METHODS: Eight probands from different families diagnosed with dHMN were recruited in this study between June 2018 and April 2019 at Peking University People's Hospital. Eight patients underwent complete neurological examination and standard electrophysiological examinations. The clinical criteria were consistent with the patients presenting with a pure motor neuropathy with no sensory changes on electrophysiology. The detailed clinical symptoms, neurophysiological examinations, pathological features and gene mutations were analyzed retrospectively. Genetic testing was performed on the eight patients using targeted next-generation sequencing panel for inherited neuromuscular disorder and was combined with segregation analysis. RESULTS: The age of onset ranged between 11 and 64 years (median 39.5 years) in our dHMN patients. All the cases showed a slowly progressive disease course, mainly characterized by distal limb muscle weakness and atrophy. The motor nerve conduction revealed decreased compound muscle action potential amplitude and velocity, while the sensory nerve conduction velocities and action potentials were not affected. Needle electromyography indicated neurogenic chronic denervation in all patients. Muscle biopsy performed in two patients demonstrated neurogenic skeletal muscle damage. Sural nerve biopsy was performed in one patient, Semithin sections shows relatively normal density and structure of large myelinated fibers, except very few fibers with thin myelin sheaths, which suggested very mild sensory nerve involvement. Eight different genes known to be associated with dHMN were identified in the patients by next-generation sequencing, pathogenic dHMN mutations were identified in three genes, and the detection rate of confirmed genetic diagnosis of dHMN was 37.5% (3/8). Whereas five variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were identified, among which two novel variants co-segregated the phenotype. CONCLUSION dHMN is a group of inherited peripheral neuropathies with great clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Next-generation sequencing is widely used to discover pathogenic genes in patients with dHMN, but more than half of the patients still remain genetically unknown.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy/genetics* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

High-quality clinical evidence, derived from well-designed and implemented clinical trials, serves to advance clinical care and to allow physicians to provide the most effective treatments to their patients. The field of ophthalmology, including the subspecialty of neuro-ophthalmology, abounds with such high-quality clinical trials that provide Level 1 clinical evidence. This review article summarizes the research design, key findings, and clinical relevance of select monumental clinical studies in neuro-ophthalmology with the primary goal of providing the readers with the rationale for current standard of care of various neuro-ophthalmic diseases. This includes the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial, Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial, Rescue of Hereditary Optic Disease Outpatient Study, and Controlled High-Risk Avonex® Multiple Sclerosis Study
Optic Neuritis ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Intracranial Hypertension

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a neuropathic pain caused by the entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). There have been reports of MP following various surgeries; however, it has not yet been reported after hemorrhoid surgery. We report a case of bilateral MP after hemorrhoid surgery in a jack-knife position. The patient presented with pain, tightness, and a tingling sensation in the anterolateral aspect of both thighs. Ultrasonography-guided LFCN block was used for diagnosis and treatment, along with conservative management for 20 days with oral medication. One month later, the patient's symptoms had resolved completely. MP due to the jack-knife position may occur postoperatively in patients with predisposing risk factors such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, despite adequate padding and a shorter operating time.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Femoral Neuropathy ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Neuralgia ; Obesity ; Prone Position ; Risk Factors ; Sensation ; Thigh

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

Anatomic variation of palmar digital nerve pathways were reported in several cases. Selective exploration of palmar digital nerves with a nerve conduction study has been challenging, because of technical issues. We report a patient who received bilateral carpal tunnel release operation, complaining of a tingling sensation, and hypoesthesia on the middle and ring fingers. An electrodiagnostic study revealed a sensory neuropathy of palmar digital nerve of the left median nerve, supplying the ulnar side of the middle finger, and radial side of the ring finger. She underwent re-operation of open left carpal tunnel release, and a branching site of common digital nerves of the median nerve was identified not at the palm, but at a far proximal site around the distal wrist crease. Usefulness of an orthodromic sensory conduction study was clarified to eliminate volume conducted response or co-activation of nearby nerves in the patient with selective involvement of palmar digital nerve.
Anatomic Variation ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Electrodiagnosis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Median Nerve ; Median Neuropathy ; Neural Conduction ; Sensation ; Wrist

PURPOSE: Cup-cage construct technique was developed to address the massive acetabular defects during revision hip arthroplasty. Indications have extended to complex acetabular fractures with pelvic discontinuity necessitating acute total hip arthroplasty. However, its use is constrained in low socioeconomic countries due to non-availability of the original cages from Trabecular Metal Acetabular Revision System and high cost. We used a novel technique using the less expensive Burch-Schneider (BS) cage and Trabecular Metal Revision Shell (TMRS) to address the problem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed a consecutive series of 8 cases of acetabular fractures reconstructed using a ‘cup-cage construct’ technique using a BS cage along with a TMRS. The mean age of the patients was 61.4 years. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 50.5 months (24 to 72 months). The patients were assessed clinically with Harris Hip Score and radiologically with serial X-rays. RESULTS: All the patients were available at the latest follow up. The mean Harris Hip Score was 87.2. There was no radiological evidence of failure. One patient had dislocation two months following the surgery, which was treated by closed reduction and hip abduction brace. One patient developed an infection at 3 weeks necessitating debridement. The same patient had sciatic nerve palsy that recovered after 4 months. CONCLUSION: This novel technique of the cup-cage construct seems to provide a stable construct at short to midterm follow-up. However, a long-term follow up would be required.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Braces ; Debridement ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Sciatic Neuropathy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report the relative incidence of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) associated with giant-cell arteritis (GCA) in a single-center and evaluate the clinical features of AAION in Korean patients. METHODS: The medical records of patients with presumed AION who visited our hospital from January 2013 to August 2018 were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: AAION associated with GCA, and non AION (NAION). We additionally reviewed the literature and identified all cases of AAION in Korean and Caucasian patients. We evaluated the clinical data including the initial and final best-corrected visual acuities, fundus photographs, visual field tests, fluorescein angiography, and contrast-enhanced MRI, and compared the data with those for Caucasian patients in the literature. RESULTS: Of the 142 patients with presumed AION, 3 (2.1%) were diagnosed with AAION and 139 (97.9%) were diagnosed with NAION. Seven Korean patients with AAION associated with GCA were identified in our data and the literature review. We found no difference in any clinical features other than laterality: four of the seven Korean patients had bilateral involvement. Moreover, the optic nerve sheath was enhanced in two of our Korean patients. CONCLUSIONS: AAION associated with GCA is a very rare condition compared to NAION in Korea. However, GCA should be considered in all cases of ischemic optic neuropathy because AAION is associated with poor visual outcome, and sometimes presents bilaterally.
Arteritis ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests