Machine learning analysis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified biomarkers for the identification of several neurological diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG), as published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. The researchers identified a number of predictors of disease as well as genetic predispositions for the different neurological diseases including MG, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and motor…
The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest specific 5 (GAS5) can regulate the balance of T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells in myasthenia gravis by targeting miR-23a expression, according to a new study published in the Journal of International Medical Research. This finding provides a scientific basis for the development of clinical therapeutics for…
Routine physical therapy (PT) improved motor skills by almost 4-fold when combined with nusinersen treatment compared to nusinersen treatment alone in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to findings published in Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition). SMA causes the deterioration of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness and decreased functional movement. In 2016, the…
Researchers confirmed that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their caregivers remains worryingly high, as published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. One of the major shifts that have taken place in CF care is the slow transition of the disease from one that is severely time-limiting to…
Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is not well tolerated by lung transplant recipients and offers only modest benefits, according to a study published in Pharmacotherapy. The researchers also found a 50% decline in tacrolimus dose requirements in the study group. The research team reviewed data on 13 lung transplant recipients with CF…
Several factors were found to be associated with a higher likelihood of minimal symptom expression in myasthenia gravis (MG) at 12 months based on a study published in Muscle & Nerve. Minimal symptom expression in the study was defined as an MG Activity of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score of 0 or 1. The factors were…
Eculizumab treatment leads to clinical improvements in most patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a new study published in Muscle and Nerve. Moreover, the treatment had a favorable safety profile even when combined with other immunosuppressants. Because the safety of eculizumab in patients with generalized MG in clinical practice is limited and because…
A higher number of antibiotic treatments increased the risk of developing drug hypersensitivity responses in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), although anaphylaxis was rare, according to findings published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Researchers in Stockholm, Sweden conducted a 20-year retrospective study of 226 patients with CF with data listed in the Swedish…
Sinonasal function and quality of life may be improved in children and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) following the combination therapy of ivacaftor, tezacaftor, and elexacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA; brand name, Trikafta®), according to a study published in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. After an average of 521 days of treatment with ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy,…
Patients with asthma who are cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation carriers are more likely to experience recurrent neutrophilic bronchitis and eosinophilic bronchitis, according to a new study published in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. The researchers also reported that hypertonic saline was effective in reducing exacerbations and was well-tolerated by patients. “One potential…
