Viral infection and allergy status impact severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Although viral infection is known to be associated with asthma exacerbations, prior research has not identified reliable predictors of acute symptom severity in virus-related asthma exacerbations (VRAEs). OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of asthma control and viral infection on the severity of current illness and evaluate biomarkers related to acute symptoms during asthma exacerbations. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 120 children with physician-diagnosed asthma and current wheezing who presented to Arkansas Children's Hospital emergency department. The asthma control test (ACT) stratified controlled (ACT > 19) and uncontrolled (ACT ≤ 19) asthma, whereas pediatric respiratory symptom scores evaluated symptoms. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for viral analysis, and inflammatory mediators were evaluated by nasal filter paper and Luminex assays. RESULTS: There were 33 children with controlled asthma and 87 children with uncontrolled asthma. In those with uncontrolled asthma, 77% were infected with viruses during VRAE compared with 58% of those with controlled asthma. Uncontrolled subjects with VRAE had more acute symptoms compared with the controlled subjects with VRAE or uncontrolled subjects without a virus. The uncontrolled subjects with VRAE and allergy had the highest acute symptom scores (3.363 point pediatric respiratory symptom; P = .04). Children with asthma with higher symptom scores had more periostin (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Detection of respiratory viruses is frequent in those with uncontrolled asthma. Uncontrolled subjects with viruses have more acute symptoms during exacerbations, especially in those with allergy. Periostin was highest in subjects with the most acute symptoms, regardless of control status. Taken together, these data imply synergy between viral infection and allergy in subjects with uncontrolled asthma when considering acute asthma symptoms and nasal inflammation during an exacerbation of asthma.

Neuropathy symptom and change: Inotersen treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR) manifests as multisystem dysfunction, including progressive polyneuropathy. Inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, improved the course of neuropathic impairment in patients with hATTR in the pivotal NEURO-TTR study (NCT01737398). To determine inotersen's impact on symptoms and patients' neuropathy experience, we performed a post hoc analysis of the Neuropathy Symptoms and Change (NSC) score. METHODS: Stage 1 or 2 hATTR patients were randomized to receive weekly subcutaneous inotersen or placebo for 65 weeks. NSC score was assessed at baseline and 35 and 66 weeks. RESULTS: At 66 weeks, inotersen-treated patients had symptom stabilization as compared with worsening in patients receiving placebo, based on total NSC score. There were also improvements in the subdomains of muscle weakness, sensory, pain, and autonomic symptoms, and for various individual items. DISCUSSION: Inotersen treatment stabilized neuropathy symptoms, including autonomic symptoms, in patients with hATTR according to NSC score. Thus, the NSC may be an effective measure to assess neuropathy progression and patients' neuropathy experience in clinical practice.

mNIS+7 and lower limb function in inotersen treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis.

INTRODUCTION: Inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of transthyretin (TTR) protein production, demonstrated significant benefit versus placebo in the modified Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) +7 neurophysiologic tests (mNIS+7) in patients with hereditary TTR-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR) with polyneuropathy. This analysis assessed the mNIS+7 components by anatomic location and the lower limb function (LLF) test. METHODS: Adults with hATTR in the NEURO-TTR trial (NCT01737398) were randomly assigned to receive weekly doses of subcutaneous inotersen 300 mg or placebo for 65 weeks. The mNIS+7 and LLF were assessed at 35 and 66 weeks. RESULTS: All major mNIS+7 components (muscle weakness, muscle stretch reflexes, sensation) and the LLF showed significant efficacy in patients receiving inotersen versus placebo; however, NIS-reflexes (upper limb), touch pressure (upper and lower limbs), and heart rate during deep breathing did not show significant effects. DISCUSSION: The results of this analysis reinforce the beneficial effect of inotersen on slowing neuropathy progression in patients with hATTR polyneuropathy.

AANEM - IFCN glossary of terms in neuromuscular electrodiagnostic medicine and ultrasound.

Modern neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDX) and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) require a universal language for effective communication in clinical practice and research and, in particular, for teaching young colleagues. Therefore, the AANEM and the IFCN have decided to publish a joint glossary as they feel the need for an updated terminology to support educational activities in neuromuscular EDX and NMUS in all parts of the world. In addition NMUS has been rapidly progressing over the last years and is now widely used in the diagnosis of disorders of nerve and muscle in conjunction with EDX. This glossary has been developed by experts in the field of neuromuscular EDX and NMUS on behalf of the AANEM and the IFCN and has been agreed upon by electronic communication between January and November 2019. It is based on the glossaries of the AANEM from 2015 and of the IFCN from 1999. The EDX and NMUS terms and the explanatory illustrations have been updated and supplemented where necessary. The result is a comprehensive glossary of terms covering all fields of neuromuscular EDX and NMUS. It serves as a standard reference for clinical practice, education and research worldwide.

AANEM - IFCN Glossary of Terms in Neuromuscular Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Ultrasound.

Modern neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDX) and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) require a universal language for effective communication in clinical practice and research and, in particular, for teaching young colleagues. Therefore, the AANEM and the IFCN have decided to publish a joint glossary as they feel the need for an updated terminology to support educational activities in neuromuscular EDX and NMUS in all parts of the world. In addition NMUS has been rapidly progressing over the last years and is now widely used in the diagnosis of disorders of nerve and muscle in conjunction with EDX. This glossary has been developed by experts in the field of neuromuscular EDX and NMUS on behalf of the AANEM and the IFCN and has been agreed upon by electronic communication between January and November 2019. It is based on the glossaries of the AANEM from 2015 and of the IFCN from 1999. The EDX and NMUS terms and the explanatory illustrations have been updated and supplemented where necessary. The result is a comprehensive glossary of terms covering all fields of neuromuscular EDX and NMUS. It serves as a standard reference for clinical practice, education and research worldwide. HIGHLIGHTS: Optimal terminology in neuromuscular electrodiagnosis and ultrasound has been revisited. A team of international experts have revised and expanded a standardized glossary. This list of terms serves as standard reference for clinical practice, education and research.

Upper extremity neuropathies.

This chapter covers the electrodiagnostic (EDX) evaluation of upper extremity nerves and the brachial plexus. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve disorder of the upper extremity. A number of techniques are used but there is no gold standard approach for its diagnosis. Needle EMG aids in the differentiation of proximal and distal median neuropathies. Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and ulnar neuropathy at or distal to the wrist can be distinguished by EDX techniques. Radial neuropathy at the spiral groove has a specific EDX pattern. EDX assessment of proximal upper extremity nerve lesions such as brachial plexopathy is a valuable tool for exploring the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this complex disorder.

Complete Genome Sequences of Four Novel Human Coronavirus OC43 Isolates Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection.

We report here the complete genome sequences of four human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43 isolates generated using targeted viral nucleic acid capture and next-generation sequencing; the isolates were collected in New Mexico and Arkansas, USA, in February (HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_0070/2016) and March (HCoV-OC43/USA/ACRI_0052/2016) 2016 and January 2017 (HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_00204/2017 and HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_00212/2017).

Neurophysiologic Studies in the Evaluation of Polyneuropathy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides core information on the clinical neurophysiology techniques available for the investigation of disorders of the peripheral nervous system. RECENT FINDINGS: The role of small fiber dysfunction in some types of polyneuropathy is being increasingly appreciated, and neurophysiologic techniques for evaluating the autonomic components of peripheral axons have enhanced our understanding of small fiber dysfunction. SUMMARY: The principles of nerve conduction studies and needle EMG are presented in this article, along with the patterns of abnormality encountered in patients with polyneuropathy due to large and small fiber involvement.

The role of next generation sequencing in infection prevention in human parainfluenza virus 3 infections in immunocompromised patients.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral infections are a significant problem in patients with hematologic malignancies. We report a cluster of HPIV 3 infections in our myeloma patients, and describe the utility of next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify transmission linkages which can assist in infection prevention. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utility of NGS to track respiratory viral infection outbreaks and delineate between community acquired and nosocomial infections in our cancer units. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review conducted at a single site. All patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma who developed symptoms suggestive of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) along with a respiratory viral panel (RVP) test positive for HPIV 3 between April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016, were included. Sequencing was performed on the Illumina MiSeq™. To gain understanding regarding community strains of HPIV 3 during the same season, we also performed NGS on HPIV3 strains isolated from pediatric cases. RESULTS: We saw a cluster of 13 cases of HPIV3 infections in the myeloma unit. Using standard epidemiologic criteria, 3 cases were considered community acquired, 7 cases developed infection during treatment in the cancer infusion center, while an additional 3 developed infections during hospital stay. Seven patients required hospitalization for a median duration of 20days. NGS enabled sensitive discrimination of the relatedness of the isolates obtained during the outbreak and provided evidence for source of transmission. Two hospital onset infections could be tracked to an index case; the genome sequences of HPIV 3 strains from these 3 patients only differed by a single nucleotide. CONCLUSIONS: NGS offers a significantly higher discriminatory value as an epidemiologic tool, and can be used to gather real-time information and identification of transmission linkages to assist in infection prevention in immunocompromised patients.

Assessing mNIS+7Ionis and international neurologists' proficiency in a familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy trial.

INTRODUCTION: Polyneuropathy signs (Neuropathy Impairment Score, NIS), neurophysiologic tests (m+7Ionis ), disability, and health scores were assessed in baseline evaluations of 100 patients entered into an oligonucleotide familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) trial. METHODS: We assessed: (1) Proficiency of grading neurologic signs and correlation with neurophysiologic tests, and (2) clinometric performance of modified NIS+7 neurophysiologic tests (mNIS+7Ionis ) and its subscores and correlation with disability and health scores. RESULTS: The mNIS+7Ionis sensitively detected, characterized, and broadly scaled diverse polyneuropathy impairments. Polyneuropathy signs (NIS and subscores) correlated with neurophysiology tests, disability, and health scores. Smart Somatotopic Quantitative Sensation Testing of heat as pain 5 provided a needed measure of small fiber involvement not adequately assessed by other tests. CONCLUSIONS: Specially trained neurologists accurately assessed neuropathy signs as compared to referenced neurophysiologic tests. The score, mNIS+7Ionis , broadly detected, characterized, and scaled polyneuropathy abnormality in FAP, which correlated with disability and health scores. Muscle Nerve 56: 901-911, 2017.

Simultaneous noninvasive recording of skin sympathetic nerve activity and electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic nerve activity is important to cardiac arrhythmogenesis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for simultaneous noninvasive recording of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) and electrocardiogram (ECG) using conventional ECG electrodes. This method (neuECG) can be used to adequately estimate sympathetic tone. METHODS: We recorded neuECG signals from the skin of 56 human subjects. The signals were low-pass filtered to show the ECG and high-pass filtered to show nerve activity. Protocol 1 included 12 healthy volunteers who underwent cold water pressor test and Valsalva maneuver. Protocol 2 included 19 inpatients with epilepsy but without known heart diseases monitored for 24 hours. Protocol 3 included 22 patients admitted with electrical storm and monitored for 39.0 ± 28.2 hours. Protocol 4 included 3 patients who underwent bilateral stellate ganglion blockade with lidocaine injection. RESULTS: In patients without heart diseases, spontaneous nerve discharges were frequently observed at baseline and were associated with heart rate acceleration. SKNA recorded from chest leads (V1-V6) during cold water pressor test and Valsalva maneuver (protocol 1) was invariably higher than during baseline and recovery periods (P < .001). In protocol 2, the average SKNA correlated with heart rate acceleration (r = 0.73 ± 0.14, P < .05) and shortening of QT interval (P < .001). Among 146 spontaneous ventricular tachycardia episodes recorded in 9 patients of protocol 3, 106 episodes (73%) were preceded by SKNA within 30 seconds of onset. Protocol 4 showed that bilateral stellate ganglia blockade by lidocaine inhibited SKNA. CONCLUSION: SKNA is detectable using conventional ECG electrodes in humans and may be useful in estimating sympathetic tone.

The interarytenoid spatial relationship: accuracy and interrater reliability for determining sidedness in cases of unilateral adductor paresis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: When adductor vocal fold paresis manifests without obvious motion impairment, identifying the paretic side can be challenging. Although increased vocal fold waveform amplitude ("floppiness") on videostroboscopy may be helpful, it has been shown to have low interrater reliability. We have found that the interarytenoid spatial relationship (IASR) can often accurately be used to predict the sidedness of electromyography (EMG)-determined unilateral adductor (thyroarytenoid/lateral cricoarytenoid [TA/LCA]) paresis. The goal of this study was to determine if a series of otolaryngology residents could learn to assess the IASR on videostroboscopy and use the IASR to identify the side of EMG-documented adductor paresis with high accuracy and interrater reliability. STUDY DESIGN: Otolaryngology resident population surveys. METHODS: Ten residents were given videostroboscopy images on abduction/adduction from 10 consecutive patients with EMG-documented unilateral TA/LCA paresis and asked to identify the paretic side in a pretest. The IASR was then conceptually introduced to the otolaryngology residents in a brief presentation. Posttesting was then performed and used to assess EMG-based accuracy and interrater reliability. RESULTS: Before the IASR presentation, otolaryngology residents accurately identified the paretic side in 63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56-70%) of cases. In the posttest session, the residents accurately identified the paretic side in 93% (95% CI: 87-99%) of cases, and interrater reliability was 0.873. CONCLUSIONS: The IASR may be useful in determining sidedness in cases of unilateral TA/LCA paresis. Further studies are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the IASR for determining sidedness of unilateral TA/LCA paresis with intact mobility.

Tibial motor nerve conduction studies: an investigation into the mechanism for amplitude drop of the proximal evoked response.

INTRODUCTION: The amplitude of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of abductor hallucis (AH) shows the largest drop with proximal stimulation of any routinely studied motor nerves. The cause has not been established. METHODS: Four experiments of tibial motor nerve conduction in several healthy control subjects were performed using far-field recordings, collision, H-reflex, and intramuscular recordings of foot muscles. RESULTS: The proximal CMAP showed a mean peak-peak amplitude of 66% (range 57-79%) compared with the distal response. Collision and H-reflex recordings in AH did not show evidence of a contribution from the tibial-innervated calf muscle. Needle electrode recordings of CMAPs showed consistently different latencies between different foot muscles. CONCLUSION: Our experiments indicate that temporal dispersion and phase cancellation between the distal tibial-innervated foot muscles recorded by the E2 (i.e., reference) electrode can explain the drop in amplitude between the proximal and distal tibial evoked CMAP.

Rate of progression of transthyretin amyloidosis.

Hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is an adult-onset disease characterized mainly by peripheral neuropathy and cardiomyopathy. Although disease progression is usually 5 to 15 years from time of diagnosis to death, no specific measurements of disease progression have been identified. The present study was designed to identify objective parameters to measure progression of hereditary TTR amyloidosis and determine if these parameters would show significant change within 1 year. Nine patients with biopsy-proved TTR amyloidosis and evidence of cardiac involvement were studied at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. Neurologic impairment score and electromyogram were determined at baseline and 12 months. Left ventricular mass determined by MRI and echocardiogram showed significant change at 12-month examination (p = 0.005 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Electrocardiogram and neurologic impairment score did not show significant change at 12 months. Measurement of left ventricular mass by MRI and echocardiographic techniques showed significant change in hereditary TTR cardiac amyloidosis within 1 year. In conclusion, these methods provide a means to clinically monitor progression of hereditary TTR amyloidosis and determine efficacy of therapeutic interventions.

Local neurotoxins for prevention of laryngeal synkinesis after recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

OBJECTIVES: Persistent vocal fold motion impairment after recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is not characteristically due to absent reinnervation, but often results from spontaneous aberrant reinnervation (synkinesis). We administered local neurotoxins to selected laryngeal muscles after RLN injury to determine whether aberrant reinnervation could be selectively inhibited. METHODS: Unilateral RLN transection was performed in 24 male rats. Three weeks later, the denervated laryngeal adductor complex was injected with phenol, high- or low-dose vincristine sulfate (VNC), or saline solution. One month later, rat larynges were evaluated via videolaryngoscopy and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). Larynges from euthanized animals were analyzed via immunofluorescent staining for the presence of reinnervation. RESULTS: One animal that received phenol and 3 animals that received high-dose VNC died of toxicity-related complications. In the surviving neurotoxin-treated animals, videolaryngoscopy showed increased lateralization of the immobile vocal fold. Only 1 phenol-injected rat had adductor complex motor recruitment (score of 3+) with LEMG. The other neurotoxin-treated animals demonstrated an absence of adductor complex reinnervation, with only insertional activity and fibrillations (no motor units/recruitment). Spontaneous ipsilateral abductor reinnervation was not affected by the adductor injections. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose VNC injections appear to be relatively safe and effective in selectively inhibiting spontaneous aberrant reinnervation after RLN injury in an animal model.

West nile poliomyelitis in a 7-year-old child.

West Nile poliomyelitis is a well-described neurologic manifestation of West Nile viral infection in adults. However, few reports have described this manifestation in children infected with West Nile virus. We describe a 7-year-old boy who developed West Nile poliomyelitis with flaccid paralysis of his left leg. Electrodiagnostic testing and radiologic imaging confirmed anterior horn cell injury. We report on his course clinically and electrodiagnostically over 20 months.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and sudden death in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

BACKGROUND: Sudden death can occur as a consequence of cardiac-conduction abnormalities in the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy type 1. The determinants of the risk of sudden death remain imprecise. METHODS: We assessed whether the electrocardiogram (ECG) was useful in predicting sudden death in 406 adult patients with genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1. A patient was characterized as having a severe abnormality if the ECG had at least one of the following features: rhythm other than sinus, PR interval of 240 msec or more, QRS duration of 120 msec or more, or second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular block. RESULTS: Patients with severe abnormalities according to the entry ECG were older than patients without severe abnormalities, had more severe skeletal-muscle impairment, and were more likely to have heart failure, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, or atrial tachyarrhythmia. Such patients were more likely to receive a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator during the follow-up period. During a mean follow-up period of 5.7 years, 81 patients died; there were 27 sudden deaths, 32 deaths from progressive neuromuscular respiratory failure, 5 nonsudden deaths from cardiac causes, and 17 deaths from other causes. Among the 17 patients who died suddenly in whom postcollapse rhythm was evaluated, a ventricular tachyarrhythmia was observed in 9. A severe ECG abnormality (relative risk, 3.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24 to 8.78) and a clinical diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmia (relative risk, 5.18; 95% CI, 2.28 to 11.77) were independent risk factors for sudden death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with adult myotonic dystrophy type 1 are at high risk for arrhythmias and sudden death. A severe abnormality on the ECG and a diagnosis of an atrial tachyarrhythmia predict sudden death. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00622453.)