Muscle & nerve
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Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have high symptom burdens, including pain, fatigue, dyspnea, and sialorrhea, and they must make difficult decisions about the use of life-prolonging therapies, such as long-term mechanical ventilation. The impact of ALS is also felt by family caregivers who often struggle to meet the heavy physical, financial, and emotional demands associated with the illness. ⋯ However, although advances have been made in the treatment of some symptoms, others, including pain management, remain poorly studied. Involvement of palliative care specialists as part of the ALS multidisciplinary team is recommended, as we continue to work toward improving the quality of life for patients and their families.
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Needle electromyography (NEE) would be more valuable if it could predict outcomes after lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESIs) in lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR). ⋯ NEE is an independent predictor of long-term pain relief after LESI for LSR. Abnormal NEE is predictive of better outcome than normal NEE. A regression equation including NEE and other independent predictors was predictive of pain and functional outcomes.
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In this investigation we assessed the spectrum of creatine kinase (CK) responses in military recruits undergoing basic training. ⋯ CK elevations and muscle pain are common during basic training. Widely accepted laboratory diagnostic values for ER are routinely exceeded in this military recruits, suggesting that CK levels >50 times the upper limit of normal are more specific. The findings support using CK as a marker for ER. Normal laboratory reference ranges for CK should be published by ethnicity.