High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency across the board in neuromuscular disease
More credence has been added to a growing awareness of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in neuromuscular disease by newly presented research. Vitamin D supplementation has been suggested to improve function in frail elderly patients at risk for falls, as well as individuals with myasthenia gravis and Parkinson's. The impact of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation on function in other neurologic conditions has yet to be explored. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - October 31, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Efficacy of potential therapy for autoimmune disorder of muscle weakness
(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Researchers have made a fast-acting 'vaccine' that can reverse the course of myasthenia gravis, a non-inherited autoimmune form of muscle weakness, in an animal model of the disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - October 7, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Amy Guy can't move facial muscles due to incurable condition that's killing her muscles
Amy Guy, 34, from Southampton, has Myasthenia gravis. The condition causes certain muscles - including those that control facial expression - to become weak. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - October 3, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Alexion receives orphan drug designation for Soliris in Europe
The European Commission has granted orphan drug designation to Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ Soliris (eculizumab), a terminal complement inhibitor, to treat patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)
Source: Pharmaceutical Technology - August 4, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
European Commission Grants Orphan Drug Designation to Soliris(R) (eculizumab) for the Treatment of Patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
CHESHIRE, Conn.--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)--Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) today announced that the European Commission has granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to Soliris® (eculizumab) for the treatment of patients with Myasthenia Gravis... Biopharmaceuticals, RegulatoryAlexion Pharmaceuticals, Soliris, eculizumab, Myasthenia Gravis (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - August 1, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Therapeutic Options for Juvenile Myasthenia GravisTherapeutic Options for Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis
The outcomes with plasmapheresis and IVIG as maintenance therapies are compared in a 33-year retrospective analysis. Medscape Neurology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - July 2, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery Viewpoint Source Type: news
Mitochondrial Mutation Linked to Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome
Although significant progress has been made over the last 25 years to identify genetic abnormalities associated with congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), many patients remain genetically undiagnosed. A report now identifies a gene defect in mitochondria, specifically the citrate carrier SLC25A1, that may underlie deficits in neuromuscular transmission seen in two siblings. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - June 20, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Researchers identify mitochondrial mutation linked to congenital myasthenic syndrome
(IOS Press) Although significant progress has been made over the last 25 years to identify genetic abnormalities associated with congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), many patients remain genetically undiagnosed. A report in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases identifies a gene defect in mitochondria, specifically the citrate carrier SLC25A1, that may underlie deficits in neuromuscular transmission seen in two siblings. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 20, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
. Visit the Myasthenia gravis topic page, which includes an interactive tutorial. (Source: What's New on MedlinePlus)
Source: What's New on MedlinePlus - June 18, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
2 Cases of Myasthenia Gravis Seen With Ipilimumab2 Cases of Myasthenia Gravis Seen With Ipilimumab
The autoimmune neuromuscular disorder is now associated with this new treatment for metastatic melanoma. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines - May 1, 2014 Category: Dermatology Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news
Two Cases of Myasthenia Gravis Seen With IpilimumabTwo Cases of Myasthenia Gravis Seen With Ipilimumab
The autoimmune neuromuscular disorder is now associated with this new treatment for metastatic melanoma. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Dermatology Headlines - April 29, 2014 Category: Dermatology Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news
Catalyst closes patient enrolment in Phase III LEMS trial
US-based Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners has completed patient enrolment in a Phase III trial assessing the safety and efficacy of Firdapse for the symptomatic treatment of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). (Source: Drug Development Technology)
Source: Drug Development Technology - April 3, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Expands Executive Leadership Team to Support the Commercialization of Firdapse(TM)
Barrett S. McGrath Named as Chief Commercial Officer
CORAL GABLES, Fla., March 28, 2014 -- (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) -- Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (CPRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effecti... Biopharmaceuticals, Neurology, PersonnelCatalyst Pharmaceutical, Firdapse, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - March 28, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
PLEX and IVIG Effective Maintenance Options in Juvenile MGPLEX and IVIG Effective Maintenance Options in Juvenile MG
Plasmapheresis (PLEX) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are both "reasonable" maintenance therapy options for juvenile myasthenia gravis, although responses may be more consistent with PLEX. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - March 6, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
What Causes Muscle Weakness?
Discussion
Muscle tone is the slight tension that is felt in a muscle when it is voluntarily relaxed. It can be assessed by asking the patient to relax and then taking the muscles through a range of motion such as moving the wrists, forearm and upper arm. Muscle strength is the muscle’s force against active resistance. Impaired strength is called weakness or paresis. There are 5 levels of muscle strength.
0 = No muscle contraction detected
1 = Barely detected flicker of contraction
2 = Active movement with gravity eliminated
3 = Active movement against gravity
4 = Active movement against gravity and some resistance
...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - December 9, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
