Articles tagged with Paralysis
A pilot study suggests meditation-relaxation therapy can reduce the frequency and severity of sleep paralysis. Participants experienced a significant decrease in sleep paralysis episodes and hallucination disturbances after treatment.
Researchers have developed a fully implantable wireless medical device called stentrode that enables paralyzed patients to perform daily activities independently. The study showed significant improvement in motor functions, allowing patients to control devices and regain autonomy.
Researchers identified a novel sublineage of EV-A71-C4 isolates with two recombinants, showing greater virulence than the B5 subgenotype. The study suggests that C4 strains may be more deadly than B5 strains in northern Vietnam.
People with acquired facial paralysis experience higher rates of depression and anxiety due to stigma and loss of identity. Research suggests that greater protections against discrimination are needed to alleviate psychological distress.
A new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center suggests that the drug bortezomib may help re-balance disrupted muscle growth and prevent muscle contractures in children with brachial plexus injury or cerebral palsy. The treatment shows promise in preventing loss of elbow and shoulder motion and disrupting skeletal growth.
A genetic test can now be developed for the mutation discovered in the RAPGEF6 gene in miniature bull terriers. The study identifies an important role for RAPGEF6 in laryngeal nerve function, with carriers of the mutation having a 10- to 17-fold increased risk of laryngeal paralysis.
Scientists analyzed the virus' course of action and discovered how it captures host ribosomes using a structured RNA sequence called IRES. This finding advances research into feeding bees RNA molecules that interfere with the virus's RNA, potentially offering a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham will organize and implement an international, multi-site study to learn more about AFM incidence and progression. The study aims to better understand how the disease develops in children and identify potential risk factors.
A study found that four out of five people with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) experience lasting physical difficulties, with 80% still having symptoms in their arms and legs 14 years later. Doctors are urged to provide realistic prognoses and encourage targeted treatment for patients.
Acute flaccid myelitis, a devastating illness affecting mostly children, has seen breakthroughs in treatment through nerve transfer surgery. Dr. Scott Wolfe's pioneering work has restored arm movement and function in several young patients, providing new hope for those affected by this mysterious and debilitating condition.
A new neuroprosthetic device may provide a more natural approach to restoring facial movement in patients with hemifacial palsy. The device uses paired muscle contractions linked to electrical activity on the unaffected side to produce more natural, symmetrical movements.
Researchers have discovered that laryngeal symptoms such as hoarseness and dysphoric breathing can be caused by compression of cranial nerves 9 and 10 at the brain stem. Neurosurgical decompression has been shown to significantly improve quality of life for patients with these symptoms.
Researchers from the BrainGate consortium demonstrate a brain-computer interface that allows people with paralysis to navigate and interact with off-the-shelf tablet devices. Participants were able to perform various tasks, including messaging, browsing, and music playback, with accuracy and speed.
A new brain-computer interface (BCI) enables people with paralysis to directly operate an off-the-shelf tablet device by thinking about making cursor movements and clicks. The participants were able to navigate through various apps, browse music selections, search for videos on YouTube, and compose emails and chats with high accuracy.
Researchers at UNIGE have identified tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication, as a potential treatment for myotubular myopathy, a genetic disease that causes muscle paralysis and death before two years of age. The molecule greatly reduces the progression of the disease and boosts life expectancy in animal models by a factor of seven.
Scientists have discovered a compound that strongly inhibits botulinum neurotoxin, potentially reversing paralysis caused by the toxin. Nitrophenyl psoralen, identified through high-throughput screening of natural compounds, shows powerful anti-botulinum toxin activity with low toxicity to human cells.
A recent study found that sleep paralysis and dream-like hallucinations are prevalent in student athletes, with 18% and 24% of the sample reporting occasional experiences. These symptoms were independently associated with symptoms of depression, even after controlling for sleep duration and quality.
Researchers found that mutations create a hole in the voltage sensor of muscle cells, allowing sodium ions to leak and trigger muscle weakness. A new class of compounds may block this pore and prevent or treat hypokalemic periodic paralysis.
Researchers found that Heriaeus melloteei spider venom can block leakage currents through mutated ion channels, potentially treating hypokalemic periodic paralysis. The toxin fixes the voltage-sensing domain of the channel, preventing ions from leaking out and restoring normal muscle function.
A new study found that individuals with tetraplegia and sleep apnea have distinct responses to airway narrowing, leading to increased risk of sleep disruption. This knowledge can inform targeted therapies for those affected by the condition.
Johns Hopkins surgeons develop a modified muscle transplant operation that restores wide and even smiles to selected patients with one-sided facial muscle paralysis. The procedure, published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, shows improvements in smile function, gum exposure, and eye wrinkles.
A major review by UNSW medical researchers has identified Enterovirus D68 as the likely cause of a mystery polio-like illness that paralysed children in the affected regions. The study used Bradfield Hill criteria to determine causality and found strong evidence linking EV-D68 to acute flaccid myelitis.
A brain-machine interface combining brain stimulation and robotic control increases neural signal strength, potentially benefiting stroke patients with hand paralysis. This technique harnesses additional neurons to enhance motor function.
A Yale study finds that Zika infection triggers immune cells to attack neurons, causing paralysis and death in mice models lacking antiviral response. Suppressing the immune response might be an approach to treating Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition affecting some people infected with Zika.
Post-operative ileus or bowel paralysis occurs when intestinal contents pass slowly or not at all. New research shows that monocytes help restore bowel function, contrary to initial assumptions.
A simple copper complex has been found to shut down the deadly botulinum neurotoxin, which causes paralysis and death. The discovery was made by scientists at Scripps Research Institute using a triazole compound provided by Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless.
A novel neuro-prosthesis has restored brain-controlled reaching and grasping in a person with complete paralysis, enabling them to feed themselves and drink. The technology decodes brain signals and transmits them to sensors in the arm, allowing users to regain movement and independence.
Scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are developing intelligent neuroprosthetics that can decode brain signals and stimulate spinal cord muscles to facilitate walking movements. Clinical trials are currently underway to test the feasibility of these devices on patients with partial paralysis.
A Michigan State University research team discovered that Campylobacter jejuni in undercooked chicken triggers Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease causing paralysis. The study offers new information for a cure and suggests that treatment with some antibiotics could worsen the disease.
Researchers developed a brain-sensing technology that allows monkeys to transcribe passages at a rate of up to 12 words per minute. This breakthrough could provide a means for individuals with movement disorders to communicate their thoughts and emotions, overcoming limitations of existing approaches such as eye-tracking or muscle cont...
A new electrical stimulation therapy helped stroke survivors with hand weakness improve hand dexterity more than an existing technique. The therapy, which allows patients to control the stimulation through a wearable glove, showed greater improvement in hand function for those less than two years post-stroke.
Researchers found that corticosteroids worsened long-term recovery from facial paralysis in Lyme disease patients, recommending cautious use of corticosteroids and prompt antibiotic therapy instead. The study's findings suggest a clear association between corticosteroid use and worse facial function outcomes.
Research at SISSA reveals Botox-based aesthetic procedures can impair emotional processing, particularly in subtle situations. The study confirms the importance of embodied cognition in understanding emotions and highlights a potential risk for those undergoing these treatments.
A new electronic facial measurement scale called eFace was created to compare with the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (FGS) for patients with facial paralysis. The study found that both scales showed similar reliability in measuring facial function.
Researchers found a novel neuron regeneration pathway in C. elegans that could lead to treatments for human spinal cord injury and paralysis. The discovery sheds light on the adult human nervous system's ability to regenerate, which is essential for restoring health to people with permanent neurological damage.
A recent phase II clinical trial found that prucalopride significantly reduces the duration of intestinal paralysis after abdominal surgery. In the study, patients taking prucalopride experienced a reduced risk of prolonged ileus compared to those receiving a placebo.
A study in California has identified nearly 60 cases of acute flaccid myelitis, a rare syndrome similar to polio, between 2012 and 2015. The condition affects mostly children and young adults, with symptoms including respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, fever, and muscle pain.
Researchers developed a non-invasive strategy to deliver electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, enabling paralyzed individuals to move their legs voluntarily. The study shows significant progress towards developing a therapy for wide range of individuals with spinal cord injury.
Scientists at UCLA have made groundbreaking breakthroughs in treating paralysis by developing a non-invasive procedure that stimulates the spinal cord, enabling five men with complete paralysis to move their legs. The new approach has shown promising results, suggesting that patients may regain control of multiple body functions.
Researchers at UVA Health System have identified a new potential cause of the recent child paralysis outbreak, Enterovirus C105. While it is unclear if this virus is responsible for the outbreak, experts are cautioning against over-interpretation and emphasizing the need for further analysis.
A cosmetic surgery procedure that enhances lip appearance could also ease facial paralysis symptoms, according to a small study. Researchers found significant improvements in patients with facial paralysis and muscular dystrophy after receiving hyaluronic acid injections.
Researchers found that nearly one in five college students experience 'exploding head syndrome,' a condition characterized by loud, non-existent noises. The study also discovered a link between exploding head syndrome and isolated sleep paralysis, affecting over one-third of those affected.
Botulinum toxin A injections significantly improve lower lip symmetry in children with facial paralysis. The treatment is safe and has the potential to restore permanent symmetry.
A recent study from Oregon State University found that providing education about facial paralysis can help correct misperceptions and reduce stigma. The research showed that education efforts can improve relationships between people with facial paralysis and healthcare workers, educators, and others who encounter them regularly.
Researchers found a class of compounds that could be effective in combating infections caused by enterovirus D68, which has been linked to polio-like symptoms. The study used X-ray crystallography to learn the structure of the virus and an anti-viral compound called pleconaril.
A new study published in Neurology found that people with migraines are twice as likely to develop Bell's palsy, a condition that causes facial paralysis. The study suggests that these two conditions may share a common underlying link.
A study from Oregon State University psychology professor Kathleen Bogart found that people with facial paralysis are perceived as less happy and sad because they can't communicate through facial expressions. The research highlights the importance of facial movement in everyday communication.
A combination treatment of gene inhibitor AAVshPTEN and salmon fibrin injections restored voluntary motor function impaired by spinal cord injury in rodents. This breakthrough expands on previous research at UCI and provides a novel scaffold for neuronal axons to grow and link up again.
The first Canadian guideline for managing and treating Bell palsy has been published, emphasizing the use of corticosteroids to reduce involuntary facial spasms. The guideline also recommends a combined approach with antivirals for patients with severe paralysis, while cautioning against unnecessary antiviral treatment alone.
Researchers have tested a nasally administered antiparalytic drug, neostigmine, on mice injected with high doses of Indian cobra venom and found that 10 out of 15 mice survived treatment within 10 minutes. The study's results support the idea that fast and accessible treatment can increase survival rates in snakebite victims.
A groundbreaking study has enabled four paraplegic men to regain voluntary movement in their legs through epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. The therapy, which mimics brain signals to initiate movement, demonstrates the potential for functional recovery even years after severe spinal cord injuries.
Researchers identified a polio-like syndrome in five California children over a year, highlighting the possibility of an emerging infectious polio-like syndrome. The children experienced paralysis affecting one or more limbs with abnormal MRI scans, and two tested positive for enterovirus-68.
Researchers found that a virtual sailing simulator improved quality of life, self-confidence, and overall well-being for participants with chronic spinal cord injuries. The study showed rapid improvement in sailing skills and successful completion of sailing lessons on the water.
A recent case series of serious injuries at the Tough Mudder event highlights the risks associated with extreme sports events. Participants experienced a range of severe injuries, including multiple electrical burns, seizure-induced Todd's paralysis, and face and head trauma.
The BrainGate team has developed a revolutionary brain-computer interface that allows people with severe paralysis to control robotic arms and interact with the world around them. The $1M B.R.A.I.N. Prize award recognizes their groundbreaking work in advancing technology for the betterment of humanity.
Researchers at the University of Toronto discovered that a dysfunctional relationship between the noradrenaline and hypocretin systems is responsible for cataplexy in narcolepsy. By activating noradrenaline receptors, they reduced cataplexy incidence by 90% and found that restoring noradrenaline levels prevented paralysis during episodes.
A novel approach to treating venomous snakebites involves administering antiparalytics topically via a nasal spray, which has been shown to counteract paralysis in minutes. The treatment has the potential to dramatically reduce global snakebite fatalities, currently estimated at 125,000 per year.
A study of 43,979 patient records found that emergency physicians correctly identified nearly all patients with Bell's palsy. The majority of patients with life-threatening alternative diagnoses were accurately diagnosed without advanced diagnostic tests.
Researchers found that fear, threat, and assault during sleep paralysis episodes were associated with increased post-episode distress. Cognitive styles, distress sensitivity, and supernatural beliefs also played a role in predicting distress levels.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine discovered that A-beta, a molecule linked to Alzheimer's disease, reverses paralysis and inflammation in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. The findings suggest potential new treatments for the autoimmune disease.