Environmental factors affecting the risk of generalization for ocular-onset myasthenia gravis: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The environmental effects on the prognosis of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) remain largely unexplored.

Aim: To investigate the association between specific environmental factors and the generalization of OMG.

Design: The cohort study was conducted in China based on a nationwide multicenter database.

Missense Mutations of Codon 116 in the Gene Cause Rapid Progressive Familial ALS and Predict Short Viability With PMA Phenotype.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease, characterized by a great variety of both clinical presentations and genetic causes. Previous studies had identified two different missense mutations in (p.R116C and p.

VNTR2/VNTR3 genotype in the gene is associated with reduced effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been commonly used to treat myasthenia gravis exacerbation, but is still ineffective in nearly 30% of patients. A variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the gene has been found to reduce the efficiency of IgG biologics. However, whether the polymorphism influences the efficacy of IVIG in generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with exacerbations remains unknown.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cerebellum improves ataxia and cerebello-fronto plasticity in multiple system atrophy: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled and TMS-EEG study.

Cerebellar ataxia is the predominant motor feature of multiple system atrophy cerebellar subtype (MSA-C). Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the cerebellum is growingly applied in MSA, the mechanism is unknown. We examined dynamic connectivity changes of 20 patients with MSA and 25 healthy controls using TMS combined with electroencephalography.

Presence of antibodies against low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 and impairment of neuromuscular junction in a Chinese cohort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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Oxymatrine attenuates diabetes-associated cognitive deficits in rats.

Aim: Oxymatrine (OMT) is the major quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the root of Sophora flavescens Ait (the Chinese herb Kushen) and exhibits diverse pharmacological actions. In this work we investigated the effects of OMT on diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) in a rat model of diabetes and explored the mechanisms of action.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, ip) once to induce diabetes.

[Association between dystrophin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in muscles of progressive muscular dystrophy].

Objective: To study the association between dystrophin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in muscles of progressive muscular dystrophy patients and the role of deficiency of nNOS in pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.

Methods: NADPH diaphorase enzyme histochemistry and anti-nNOS, anti-dystrophin, and anti-alpha, beta, gamma, delta-sarcoglycan antibody immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the muscle specimens from progressive muscular dystrophiy patients.

Results: Both nNOS and dystrophin were absent in the sarcolemma region of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients.