Muscle & nerve
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Regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (RPNIs) transduce neural signals to provide high-fidelity control of neuroprosthetic devices. Traditionally, rat RPNIs are constructed with ~150 mg of free skeletal muscle grafts. It is unknown whether larger free muscle grafts allow RPNIs to transduce greater signal. ⋯ Electrical signaling and tissue viability are optimal in smaller as opposed to larger RPNI constructs in a rat model.
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We aimed at evaluating the differential involvement of large myelinated Aβ-, small myelinated Aδ-, and unmyelinated C-fibers in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and how they contribute to neuropathic pain. ⋯ Diabetic polyneuropathy mainly manifests as a mixed-fiber polyneuropathy, simultaneously involving Aβ-, Aδ-, and C-fibers. In most patients, neuropathic pain is distinctly associated with small-fiber damage. The evidence that the frequency of neuropathic pain does not differ across pure large-, pure small-, and mixed-fiber polyneuropathy, raises the possibility that in patients with pure large-fiber polyneuropathy nociceptive nerve terminal involvement might be undetected by standard diagnostic techniques.
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Data on combining molecular therapies that increase survival motor neuron protein for spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) is lacking. ⋯ Combination molecular therapy is tolerated in SMA1 patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether there are circumstances in which combination therapy would be more efficacious than either monotherapy. Prolonged corticosteroid use and liver toxicity monitoring may be necessary with onasemnogene therapy.