The Mouse That Trolled: The Long and Tortuous History of a Gene Mutation Patent That Became an Expensive Impediment to Alzheimer's Research.

This case study presents the tale of the academic discovery of a rare mutation for early-onset Alzheimer's disease that was patented by a sole inventor and licensed to a non-practicing entity (NPE), the Alzheimer's Institute of America (AIA). Our aims are (1) to relate this story about patents, research tools, and impediments to medical progress, and (2) to inform ongoing debates about how patents affect research, disposition of university inventions, and the distribution of benefits from publicly funded research. We present an account of the hunt for Alzheimer's genes, their patenting, assignment, and enforcement based on literature, litigation records and judicial decisions.

Fascicular Involvement of the Posterior Tibial Nerve as a Result of Perineural Ganglion Cyst at the Posterior Tibial Nerve in the Calf: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

We report a 19-year-old woman with a 6-month history of nontraumatic left foot numbness associated with intermittent weakness. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography localized the lesion to the posterior tibial nerve, below the innervation to the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles. MRI of the left leg revealed a multiloculated cystic collection near the proximal tibiofibular joint.

Compression of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve in waitresses.

Objective: In a retrospective survey of our electrophysiology laboratory, we encountered 3 cases of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN) compression in waitresses and propose direct compression of LACN by carrying heavy trays on the lateral bicipital tendon. LACN, a branch of musculocutaneous nerve, provides sensory innervations to lateral forearm. Causes of LACN involvement include venipuncture, elbow surgery, and trauma.

Carotid-cavernous fistula as a mimicker of myasthenia gravis.

Background: A carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is an abnormal communication between the carotid arterial system and the cavernous sinus. Common symptoms of CCFs include proptosis and ophthalmoplegia, but fluctuating diplopia and presence of ptosis are not typical.

Case Description: We present an unusual case of CCF with fluctuating binocular diplopia and ptosis, mimicking myasthenia gravis.

Acute isolated suprascapular nerve palsy limited to the infraspinatus muscle: a case report.

Suprascapular nerve palsy resulting in isolated weakness of the infraspinatus muscle is subtle at its onset and must be differentiated from cervical radiculopathy or bone and joint diseases of the shoulder, especially in the presence of pain. The literature suggests an association of cumulative trauma with ganglionic cyst formation and entrapment neuropathy of the suprascapular nerve in the spinoglenoid notch. Here we present clinical, electrodiagnostic, and radiologic features in a young patient who presented with a 2-week history of isolated, painless weakness of the right shoulder.

Brainstem auditory evoked responses in infants and children with AIDS.

Brainstem auditory evoked responses were measured in 16 infants and children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in 9 normal infants and children. Two stimulation rates were used: a conventional rate of 10 Hz and a high rate of 50 Hz. Latencies of waves III, IV, and V on the left were significantly longer in the AIDS group when a stimulation rate of 10 Hz was used.

Reversible myeloneuropathy of nitrous oxide abuse: serial electrophysiological studies.

Detailed electrophysiological studies were performed in 4 patients with myeloneuropathy induced by abuse of nitrous oxide for 1 to 4 years. All presented with paresthesias, weakness, and Lhermitte's phenomena, and exhibited signs of sensorimotor polyneuropathy, ataxia, and arreflexia. Two had subnormal serum vitamin B12 levels.

L-tryptophan induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

We describe the spectrum of clinical and histologic abnormalities of 11 women with L-tryptophan induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. The illness is characterized by musculoskeletal symptoms including myalgias, arthralgias and paresthesias. The physical findings consist of muscle tenderness, neuropathies, rash, peripheral and periorbital edema.

Peripheral neuropathy in Crohn's disease patients treated with metronidazole.

Thirteen pediatric patients with Crohn's disease, aged 12-22 yr, were studied to assess the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy due to oral metronidazole. After 4-11 mo of therapy, 11 of 13 patients (85%) had a sensory peripheral neuropathy, determined by abnormal neurologic examinations or reduced nerve conduction velocities, or both. Only 6 of the 11 patients were symptomatic.