The Impact of COVID-19 on Migraine: The Patients' Perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global health phenomenon that will sadly remain part of our history. It had innumerable consequences for society and people's lives. With different mechanisms, COVID-19 has been pointed out as a factor in the pathophysiology of several secondary disorders or the deterioration of pre-existing conditions.

The Role of Brain Plasticity in Neuromuscular Disorders: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects.

: Increasing evidence shows an involvement of brain plasticity mechanisms in both motor and central manifestations of neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). These mechanisms could be specifically addressed with neuromodulation or rehabilitation protocols. The aim of this scoping review is to summarise the evidence on plasticity mechanisms' involvement in NMDs to encourage future research.

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of the 2010 European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society and American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine diagnostic criteria for multifocal motor neuropathy.

Background And Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the 2010 European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) diagnostic criteria for multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) with those of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AAEM).

Methods: Sensitivity and specificity of the two sets of criteria were retrospectively evaluated in 53 patients with MMN and 280 controls with axonal peripheral neuropathy, inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Comparison of the utility of nerve conduction studies with different numbers of nerves examined was also assessed.

Safety and efficacy of vaccinations in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.

Objective: The study aims to show the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of vaccinations in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Materials And Methods: This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration and the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE).

Results: At the end of the review process, 133 studies were included; the bibliographic search was conducted on PubMed/Medline and Scopus, combining free text and words.

Left Ventricular Deformation and Myocardial Work Parameters in Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Treated with Patisiran: A Single-Center Study.

In recent years, many advances have been made in the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv). Patisiran is a small-interfering RNA used to treat ATTRv with only polyneuropathy or polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of patisiran on cardiac function in ATTRv patients using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis.

Effectiveness and Safety of Mycophenolate Mophetil in Myasthenia Gravis: A Real-Life Multicenter Experience.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness due to autoantibodies targeting neuromuscular junction proteins. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive therapy, has shown potential for managing MG with fewer side effects compared to other treatments. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of MMF in MG patients in a real-life multicenter setting.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation can modulate the blink reflex excitability. Effects of a 10- and 20-Hz tACS session on the blink reflex recovery cycle in healthy subjects.

Background: The blink reflex excitability, assessed through paired electrical stimuli responses, has been modulated using traditional non-invasive neurostimulation techniques. Recently, transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) emerged as a tool to modulate brain oscillations implicated in various motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions. This study aims to investigate the influence of 20-Hz and 10-Hz tACS sessions on the primary motor cortex and their impact on blink reflex excitability.

A real-life experience with eculizumab and efgartigimod in generalized myasthenia gravis patients.

Introduction: Eculizumab, a complement active antibody, and efgartigimod, an Fc fragment that blocks neonatal Fc receptor, are both approved to treat generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) patients. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical response to both treatments in a real-life setting.

Methods: We collected baseline and follow-up clinical data using the Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL), and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG).

Efficacy and Safety of Rescue Treatment with Plasma Exchange in Patients with Acute Inflammatory Neurological Disorders: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a highly effective rescue treatment for patients with acute exacerbation of neuroimmunological disease that removes circulating autoantibodies and inflammatory components from the bloodstream. The aims of this study are to explore the safety and the effectiveness of TPE in patients with autoimmune neurological disorders.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the frequency of adverse events (AEs) and the effectiveness of TPE using the modified Ranking Scale (mRS) in patients with acute neurological flares who underwent TPE at the University Hospital of Palermo.

AChR-seropositive myasthenia gravis in muscular dystrophy: diagnostic pitfalls and clinical management challenges.

The co-occurrence of genetic myopathies with myasthenia gravis (MG) is extremely rare, however a few studies have been reported. We aim to explore the link between genetically inherited muscle disorders and immune-mediated neuromuscular junction conditions, taking into account the diagnostic and therapeutic implications posed by these combined conditions. We searched all English medical papers registered in Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct between January 1987 concerning the association between muscular dystrophies (MD) and MG, also adding three new cases to the series reported so far.

Successful Treatment with Patisiran in Amyloid Polyneuropathy Harboring His90Asn Mutation in the Gene.

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a multisystemic, rare, inherited, progressive and adult-onset disease, affecting the sensory-motor nerves, heart, autonomic function, and other organs. There are over 130 mutations known in the gene. The His90Asn mutation has been previously reported in several reports, but its pathogenetic role is still debated.

Beyond Pain: The Effects of OnabotulinumtoxinA Therapy on Sensitization and Interictal Symptoms in Chronic Migraine.

Chronic migraine is a disease with a high burden on patients from both a working and quality of life point of view. The pathophysiology of this subtype of migraine is due to several factors, such as medication overuse. Nevertheless, the detrimental recurring of headache attacks with central and peripheral sensitization plays a central role and explains some additional symptoms complained about by these patients even in the interictal phase.

Telecoaching: a potential new training model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients: a systematic review.

Introduction: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is an inherited neuropathy that affects the sensory and motor nerves. It can be considered the most common neuromuscular disease, with a prevalence of 1/2500.

Methods: Considering the absence of a specific medical treatment and the benefits shown by physical activity in this population, a systematic review was completed using several search engines (Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) to analyze the use, effectiveness, and safety of a training program performed in telecoaching (TC).

Pediatric Migraine and Visual Cortical Excitability: A Prospective Observational Study with Sound-Induced Flash Illusions.

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying migraine are more difficult to investigate in children than in the adult population. Abnormal cortical excitability turns out to be one of the most peculiar aspects of migraine, accounting for the manifestations of migraine attacks. Recently, visual cortical excitability has been explored effectively in adult migraineurs with a technique based on cross-modal audio-visual illusions (with sound-induced flash illusions (SIFIs) being reduced in migraineurs compared to non-migraineur subjects).

Spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing and quality of sleep in adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Sleep-disordered breathing is common among children with spinal muscular atrophy, but has been hardly studied among adult subjects. Little is known about sleep quality in spinal muscular atrophy. The aims of this study were to evaluate occurrence and characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing and subjective sleep quality among adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 or 3.

Autoimmune Neuromuscular Disorders: Emerging Insights and Future Frontiers.

In recent years, our knowledge rapidly increased with respect to the immunology and immunological aspects of neuromuscular disorders [...

Effects of prophylactic drug therapies and anti-calcitonin peptide-related monoclonal antibodies on subjective sleep quality: An Italian multicenter study.

Objective/background: sleep alterations strongly influence migraine severity. Prophylactic therapies have a major impact on migraine frequency and associated symptoms. The study purpose was to compare the impact of oral drug therapies or gene-related anti-calcitonin monoclonal antibodies (anti-CGRP mAbs) on sleep alterations.

Insomnia and Migraine: A Missed Call?

Migraine is one of the most prevalent and disabling neurological conditions, presenting episodes of throbbing headache that limit activities of daily living. Several factors may influence migraine frequency, such as lifestyle or alcohol consumption. Among the most recognised ones, sleep plays a biunivocal role, since poor sleep quality may worsen migraine frequency, and a high migraine frequency may affect sleep quality.

Comorbidity in myasthenia gravis: multicentric, hospital-based, and controlled study of 178 Italian patients.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder with fluctuating weakness that causes significant disability and morbidity. Comorbidities may influence the course of MG, particularly in specific subgroups. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of comorbidities in MG patients compared to healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate their distribution according to age at disease onset, sex, and disease severity.

Assessment of diagnostic criteria for multifocal motor neuropathy in patients included in the Italian database.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic criteria, ancillary investigations and treatment response using real-life data in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) patients.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data were collected from 110 patients enrolled in the Italian MMN database through a structured questionnaire. Twenty-six patients were excluded due to the unavailability of nerve conduction studies or the presence of clinical signs and symptoms and electrodiagnostic abnormalities inconsistent with the MMN diagnosis.

Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency: A Genetic Screening in Sicilian Patients with Neurological Disorders.

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADCd) is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder caused by AADC deficiency, an enzyme encoded by the gene. Since the enzyme is involved in the biosynthesis of serotonin and dopamine, its deficiency determines the lack of these neurotransmitters, but also of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Onset is early and the key signs are hypotonia, movement disorders (oculogyric crises, dystonia and hypokinesia), developmental delay and autonomic dysfunction.

The Clinical Relevance of Artificial Intelligence in Migraine.

Migraine is a burdensome neurological disorder that still lacks clear and easily accessible diagnostic biomarkers. Furthermore, a straightforward pathway is hard to find for migraineurs' management, so the search for response predictors has become urgent. Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) has pervaded almost every aspect of our lives, and medicine has not been missed.

Physical Activity in Patients with Neuromuscular Disease Three Years after COVID-19, a Longitudinal Survey: The After-Effects of the Quarantine and the Benefits of a Return to a Healthier Life-Style.

Background: Quarantine was one of the strategies adopted by governments against the spread of COVID-19. This restriction has caused an increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA), with a consequent negative impact on lifestyle both in healthy people and in those who need constant practice of PA to combat diseases, such as patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Hence, this study aimed to compare PA levels among patients with NMD during and after quarantine.