Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Jul 2021
Clinical TrialLaser-Evoked Potentials to Pudendal Stimulation in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study.
Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) are useful neurophysiological tools for investigating the A-delta sensory peripheral fibers and the central nociceptive pathway. The current investigation aims to obtain normative values of LEPs via pudendal nerve stimulation in healthy adult volunteers. ⋯ This study provides normative data on pudendal LEPs versus hand and foot LEPs. Incorporation of pudendal LEPs into clinical practice could provide a valuable neurophysiological tool for the study of pelvic pain syndromes.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · May 2021
Latency of Multifocal Visual Evoked Potential in Multiple Sclerosis: A Visual Pathway Biomarker for Clinical Trials of Remyelinating Therapies.
Acute focal demyelination is the characteristic feature of multiple sclerosis, with the majority of damaged axons undergoing limited remyelination and forming chronic lesions. Potential remyelinating agents are currently under development and there is therefore an urgent need for reliable in vivo biomarkers of remyelination. This study aimed to investigate potential changes in multifocal visual evoked potentials' (mfVEPs) latency in a cohort of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. The potential sample size required for a remyelination-based clinical trial using different treatment effect sizes and the mfVEP latency as an outcome measure was also estimated. ⋯ Given its known sensitivity for latency changes and the stability found in this RRMS population, the mfVEP represents an ideal biomarker to assess the degree of latency recovery that may be achieved by remyelination in multiple sclerosis.
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Evidence for continuous EEG monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is increasing. However, 24/7 access to EEG is not routinely available in most centers, and clinical management is often informed by more limited EEG resources. The experience of EEG was reviewed in a tertiary PICU where 24/7 EEG cover is unavailable. ⋯ EEG provides important diagnostic information in a large proportion of PICU patients. In the absence of 24/7 EEG availability, empirical antiepileptic drug utilization is high.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Sep 2020
Gender Disparity and Potential Strategies for Improvement in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology.
Discrimination in the workplace when documented is illegal but is seen to still exist in some forms whether based on culture, race, or gender. Each of these disparities warrants further discussion and study because of their significant impacts on hiring decisions, career advancement, and compensation. In this article, the authors have focused their attention on gender disparity in the fields of neurology and clinical neurophysiology and shared the data currently available to them. ⋯ For neurologists, data indicate that the latest gender pay gap is $56,000 (24%), increased from $37,000 in 2015, and is one of the largest pay gaps in any medical specialty. One third of the top 12 medical schools in the United States require that maternity leave be taken through disability coverage and/or sick benefits, and most family leave policies constrain benefits to the discretion of departmental leadership. The authors recommend strategies to improve gender disparity include institutional training to Identify and overcome biases, changes to professional organizations and national scientific meeting structure, transparency in academic hiring, promotion and compensation, and mentorship and sponsorship programs.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Jan 2020
ReviewCannabinoids as an Emerging Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a leading psychiatric disorder that mainly affects military and veteran populations but can occur in anyone affected by trauma. PTSD treatment remains difficult for physicians because most patients with PTSD do not respond to current pharmacological treatment. Psychotherapy is effective, but time consuming and expensive. ⋯ Cannabis has recently received widespread attention for the potential to help many patient populations. Cannabis has been reported as a coping tool for patients with PTSD and preliminary legalization data indicate Cannabis use may reduce the use of more harmful drugs, such as opioids. Rigorous clinical studies of Cannabis could establish whether Cannabis-based medicines can be integrated into treatment regimens for both PTSD and substance use disorder patients.