Neuromuscul Disord
November 2024
Axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT2) and distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) are associated with a heterogeneous group of genes encoding proteins that are involved in axonal transport, control of RNA metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics and DNA repair. VRK1 (vaccinia-related kinase 1) is a serine/threonine kinase which is widely expressed in human tissue and plays a role in RNA maturation and processing and in DNA damage response. Variants of VRK1 have been associated with neurodevelopmental and neuromuscular disorders including pontocerebellar hypoplasia, motor neuron disorders and distal hereditary motor neuropathy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpilepsy, characterized by recurrent seizures, impacts 70-80% of patients, leading to cognitive deficits. The intricate relationship between seizure control and cognitive impairment remains complex. Epileptic encephalopathy (EE), an intensified form often rooted in genetic factors, is detectable through next-generation sequencing, aiding in precise diagnoses, family counseling, and potential treatment strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHTLV-1 is a retrovirus virus that infects CD4+ T cells. Most people with HTLV-1 infection remain asymptomatic but some may develop conditions such as HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) or adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. HAM/TSP is characterized by progressive spasticity and weakness of the lower extremities, as well as loss of bladder control and sensory disturbances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Neuromuscul Dis
March 2024
Hereditary neuropathies are typically associated with an early onset of symptoms, but same types of neuropathies may also manifest late, after the age 50 years. A 62-year-old African American woman presented with a 6-year history of gait unsteadiness and has been using a walker since the age 57 years after an unwitnessed fall. Gradual worsening of walking difficulties was later followed by decreased dexterity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are limited data on first seizure (FS) among adults in low and middle-income countries. We describe findings from a prospective cohort study involving 180 adults presenting with seizures in emergency departments in five Latin American countries. Overall, 102 participants (56.
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