Articles tagged with Paralysis
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.
A study by researchers in Hawaii and the UK reveals that Varroa mites facilitate the spread of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) among honey bees. The mite's presence increases DWV frequency from 10% to 100%, leading to massive colony losses and a single 'virulent' strain emerging.
Researchers have developed a neuroprosthesis that combines brain-computer interface and functional electrical stimulation to restore complex hand movements in paralyzed monkeys. The device bypasses the spinal cord, allowing intentional, brain-controlled muscle contractions.
A collaborative study by New Jersey stroke specialists has developed a bedside clinical evaluation to detect spatial neglect, a hidden disability that impedes recovery after stroke. The study found that psychometric assessments may be used to identify specific motor-exploratory deficits in spatial neglect.
Research found that women adapt their brain function to recover from facial paralysis better than men, with improved spontaneous smile recovery and longer functional recovery periods. The study, involving 114 patients, highlights the relevance of patient gender in planning facial paralysis reconstruction strategies.
Researchers found that sleep paralysis is more common in students and psychiatric patients, affecting nearly 28% of students and 32% of psychiatric patients. The study also identified three types of hallucinations experienced during sleep paralysis, including the presence of an intruder, pressure on the chest, and levitation.
A superior-inferior nerve identification technique during thyroid removal surgery significantly reduces complications, including paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and hypoparathyroidism. The study found fewer permanent cases of these conditions with this approach.
Researchers report successful outcomes from a surgical procedure to treat chronic neck stiffness and involuntary movement. The study found that removing part of the platysma muscle significantly improved patients' overall quality of life and reduced neck tension.
A surgical procedure involving muscle transfer from the thigh appears to improve smile function and overall quality of life in children with facial paralysis. Thirteen children experienced statistically significant QOL improvement after the free gracilis transfer surgery.
A recent study published in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery found that periocular treatment significantly improved overall quality of life for patients with facial paralysis. The treatment also reduced symptoms of dryness and irritation around the eyes.
A Virginia Tech researcher is working on a new device that uses electrical stimulation to help stroke patients regain their voice. The device, which is still in development, aims to improve the quality of life for patients with vocal paralysis and other neuromuscular disabilities.
A minimally invasive procedure has shown promise in reanimating lower facial movement after paralysis, with all patients achieving improved symmetry and voluntary motion of the oral commissure. Directed physical therapy is necessary to achieve the best outcome, as spontaneous controlled smile requires intensive neuromuscular retraining.
A new study estimates that the global polio eradication initiative could provide net economic benefits of at least US$40-50 billion if transmission of wild polioviruses is interrupted within the next five years. The study found that investments made since 1988 and anticipated through 2035 will prevent over 8 million cases of paralytic ...
Asymmetrical airflow affects vocal fold motion in individuals with paralysis, causing chaotic irregular vibrations and impaired intelligible speech. The discovery may lead to the development of implant materials that mimic voice apparatus properties to restore good vibrations.
Researchers at UCI, UCSD, and Harvard have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury. By deleting a cell growth inhibitor called PTEN, they achieved this breakthrough by turning back the developmental clock in a molecular pathway critical for the growth of corticospinal tr...
The Lancet series on health in the occupied Palestinian territory emphasizes that structural and political conditions are key determinants of population health. The series aims to focus international attention on health injustices faced by Palestinians, advocating for long-term solutions.
A randomized controlled trial of 48 patients found that botulinum toxin injections significantly reduced pain at rest and during maximum pinch, but resulted in a decline in maximum strength. Precise measurement of each patient's forearm length guided the injection site, providing effective management of chronic tennis elbow.
Researchers at UC Davis develop artificial muscles to restore eyelid blinking in patients with facial paralysis, a development that could benefit thousands of people. The technique uses electroactive polymer artificial muscles and may also be used to control other parts of the body.
Researchers have identified a gene, Kir2.6, underlying the rare genetic disease thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (TPP), which causes temporary muscle paralysis. The finding, published in the journal Cell, illustrates how investigations of rare genetic diseases can drive insights into more common ones.
Antiviral medications prescribed for Bell's palsy are no more effective than placebo, while corticosteroids offer significant benefits. The review suggests further research should focus on discovering alternative causes and treatments for the condition.
A recent study published in Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery found that babies with mild facial nerve paralysis caused by forceps during birth generally recover fully within 24 days. In most cases, no treatment was necessary or required.
Research reveals hypnosis induces disconnection of motor commands from normal voluntary processes through executive control and self-image circuits. The study used fMRI to test neural effects of hypnotic paralysis on brain activity, finding enhanced activation of the precuneus region involved in memory and self-imaging.
A meta-analysis of published studies on Bell's palsy found no improved recovery with corticosteroids and antiviral combination therapy. Facial motor function recovery was not significantly different between the two groups.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that can detect and decode brain signals associated with hand and arm movements on the same side of the body. This breakthrough may enable patients with partial paralysis to regain mobility in their limbs.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a monkey that can feed itself using only its brain signals. The advancement in brain-machine interface technology could lead to better prosthetics for people with spinal cord injuries and those with locked-in conditions.
Researchers found that West Nile virus can spread through nerve cells, breaking into the central nervous system and triggering acute flaccid paralysis. Injection of a therapeutic antibody blocked both encephalitis and paralysis in laboratory animals.
The innovative university-industry team will develop a microsystem-on-a-chip, a neural interface that records or stimulates neural activity wirelessly. The new system will be fully implantable and communicate through digital data streaming, allowing people with paralysis to control assistive devices.
A study found that persons with narcolepsy with cataplexy have significantly lower levels of CSF hypocretin-1 than those without cataplexy or other conditions. Patients with low hypocretin-1 values experienced more severe cataplectic attacks.
Researchers report successful outcomes for a surgical technique called temporalis tendon transfer, which helps reanimate facial paralysis with high patient satisfaction rates. The procedure resulted in improved form and function, with movement in mouth muscles identified in all patients after treatment.
A recent Comment in The Lancet highlights the pessimism among doctors regarding professionalism and their disconnection from debates on the subject. However, the Royal College of Physicians' two-year inquiry has started to provide valuable lessons that can shape systemic change.
Research suggests that out-of-body experiences can occur during both sleep-wake transitions and near-death experiences, possibly due to brain arousal system disturbances. The study found a strong association between sleep paralysis and out-of-body experiences in near-death experience subjects.
A joint project between Cyberkinetics, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland FES Center aims to develop a neuroprosthetic system capable of restoring partial arm and hand function. The proposed system combines limb movement technology with brain-interface technology to enable human users to control devices through thought ...
Researchers at Northwestern University are using regenerative medicine to help paralyzed people walk again and enable diabetic individuals to lead normal lives without daily treatments or organ donations. The team is focusing on synthetic scaffolds and their interactions with cells, a key component of regenerative medicine.
The Rochester center will focus on three uncommon neurological disorders: periodic paralysis, episodic ataxia, and nondystrophic myotonias. These disorders are caused by abnormal cell channels or gates that regulate crucial chemicals in our cells, leading to symptoms such as paralysis, muscle stiffness, and coordination loss.
Miguel Nicolelis and colleagues present results from long-term studies in monkeys, showing that the same set of brain cells can control two distinct movements using a brain-machine interface. This finding has important practical implications for spinal-cord patients, offering flexibility in introducing electrodes or functional enhancem...
Guideline suggests that early treatment with IVIg or plasma exchange can be beneficial for adults and children with severe, early Guillain-Barré syndrome. These treatments have been found to be equally effective in treating the condition.
Researchers found West Nile virus can cause muscle weakness, acute paralysis, and impaired breathing, leading to life-threatening symptoms. Four Mississippi patients who died after developing West Nile virus were examined and showed signs of viral infection in spinal cord autopsies.
Researchers at UF found that combining therapies with mild electrical stimulation and motion training to both arms improved motor recovery in people with chronic weakness and partial paralysis. Participants regained significantly more motion, reaction times, and sustained muscle contractions.
Researchers found that lipitor prevented both acute and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis-like disease in mice, reversing symptoms in those with chronic relapsing form. Lipitor also reduced CNS inflammation by inducing anti-inflammatory cytokines and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Researchers successfully implanted nerve cells in rats with partial hemisection spinal cord damage, showing partial recovery of walking abilities. In contrast, complete transection and ventral root avulsion models showed limited or no regrowth of damaged motor neurons.
Marie T. Filbin, a Hunter College neuroscience professor, has made groundbreaking discoveries related to the role of cyclic AMP in nerve regeneration after injury. Her work, conducted independently with Professor Mu-Ming Poo, could lead to novel therapies for those with spinal cord injuries.
A team of researchers has developed a novel treatment for spinal cord injuries using a plastic tube filled with chemicals that promote nerve growth. The tube, designed to mimic the flexibility of the spinal cord, provides a pathway for neurons to grow and potentially reconnect severed nerves.
Weizmann Institute scientists propose a novel vaccination method to prevent secondary degeneration after partial spinal cord injury, leading to significant recovery of movement in rats. The treatment protected nerve fibers and showed potential effectiveness in other central nervous system disorders.
Researchers are exploring postraumatic vaccination as a potential treatment for spinal cord injuries, showing promise in promoting neural regeneration and recovery. Early studies suggest that this approach may improve functional outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.
Researchers hope to achieve a treatment that prevents total paralysis after partial spinal cord injury by adding T-cells to the immune response. In laboratory animal tests, rats with partial spinal cord injuries regained motor activity in their paralyzed legs, while untreated rats developed increasing paralysis.
Researchers identified a critical two-week window for surgical decompression to improve facial function in patients at risk of permanent damage. Electrical testing and EMG analysis helped pinpoint the optimal patient population, revealing a 91% recovery rate through surgery within this timeframe.