Can Serum Magnesium Level and Visual Evoked Potentials (P100) be a Predictive in Migraineurs?: Evidence Based Study.

Background and Objective: Few dating back, the role of visual evoked potentials changes and reduced level of intracellular magnesium have appeared in migraine patients both throughout the attacks and in the interictal periods. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence regarding the correlation between magnesium levels and visual evoked potentials. To assess the changes in the levels of magnesium in migraineurs compared to a healthy control group is our prime intention. Also, to correlate serum magnesium levels with visual evoked potentials changes within the migraineurs is a secondary part of the study. Materials and Methods: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria as per the study protocol, in total, 80 subjects were enrolled in the study. Of which 40 were migraineurs diagnosed as per the International Headache Society criteria for severe migraine headache. Rest of 40 was nonmigraineurs served as a control group of the study. All included patient was submitted to demographic profile, previous history of the disease and drug intake, thorough clinical investigation and baseline laboratory parameters. Apart from this, the measurement of visual evoked potentials changes (4th block) and magnesium levels were done as per our standard operating procedures. Results: In migraineurs, serum total Mg level was considerably lower compared to the control group (1.79 ± 0.14 mg/dl versus 2.10 ± 0.17 mg/dl, P < 0.0001) and amplitude of P100 (P < 0.0001) was negatively correlated to reduced serum Mg level (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: As expected, both elevated visual evoked potential amplitude and reduced level of brain magnesium can be a demonstration of neuronal hyperexcitability of the optic pathways associated with a dropped threshold for migraine attacks.

Core Stability Exercises Yield Multiple Benefits for Patients With Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of core stability exercises on trunk control, core muscle strength, standing weight-bearing symmetry, and balance confidence of people with chronic stroke. DESIGN: This was an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 84 ambulatory patients with middle cerebral artery stroke, randomly assigned to three training groups. Two experimental groups practiced core stability exercises either on stable or on unstable support surfaces. In contrast, the control group received standard physiotherapy. All the participants underwent an hour-long training session a day, thrice a week over a 6-wk duration, and followed-up after 12 mos. Trunk Impairment Scale, core muscle strength, weight-bearing asymmetry in standing, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale were the outcome measures. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the two experimental groups demonstrated a significant improvement on all the outcome measures from baseline to posttraining and from baseline to 12-mo follow-up (P < 0.001). The two experimental groups demonstrated no significant difference between them on all the measures (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Core stability exercises on stable and unstable support surfaces are equally beneficial in improving trunk control, core muscle strength, standing weight-bearing symmetry, and balance confidence of ambulatory patients with chronic stroke than the standard physiotherapy.

Short-term response to phenytoin sodium in Andersen-Tawil syndrome-1 with a cardiac-dominant phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is a rare familial periodic paralysis that typically also affects the heart and skeletal system. Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are profound and difficult to control, but minimally symptomatic. In this report, we describe an atypical phenotype of ATS in two related families. We also report our experience with phenytoin sodium for the control of resistant VAs in these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2018, seven siblings were diagnosed with ATS on the basis of cardiac arrhythmias and genetic evaluation. Heterozygous mutation with c.431G > C (p.G144A) in exon 2 of KCNJ2 gene was observed in all patients. Characteristic cardiac manifestations were noted in all patients but periodic paralysis or objective neurological involvement was distinctly absent. Phenytoin was considered for control of symptomatic VA in three patients. Intake of oral phenytoin (5 mg/kg/day) for 1 month completely suppressed VA (<1% in 24-h Holter monitoring) in two patients, and significantly in the third (8% per 24 h) patient. Phenytoin was well-tolerated in all three patients. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a cardiac-predominant phenotype in ATS. ATS should be suspected in patients with typical cardiac manifestations even in the absence of periodic paralysis. Our initial experience with short-term use of phenytoin for control of resistant VAs is encouraging.

Eclectic/mixed model method for upper extremity functional recovery in stroke rehabilitation: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Eclectic treatment method is a flexible approach that uses techniques drawn from various schools of thought involving several treatment methods and allows the therapist to adapt to each client's individual needs. Wider application for eclectic approach is however limited in stroke rehabilitation. AIM: The objective is to find out whether eclectic approach improves upper extremity (UE) functional recovery in acute stroke rehabilitation. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-five postacute unilateral supratentorial stroke subjects recruited from tertiary care hospitals recovered with Stage 2-5 in Brunnstorm stage of UE motor recovery (BRS-UE) underwent 45 min of eclectic approach for UE every day involving seven different treatment methods (5 min for each method) for 6 days consecutively. The outcome was UE subscale of the Fugl-Meyer Motor test (UE-FM), UE subscale of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (UE-STREAM), Wolf Motor Function test (WMFT-FAS), and Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16) was collected at the end of the sixth session. RESULTS: All the participants showed significant improvement in all the outcome measures. The Stage 2 and 3 subjects showed UE-STREAM (P = 0.007) WMFT-FAS (P < 0.001), SIS (P = 0.023) respectively and for Stage 4 and 5 the subjects have shown UE FM (P < 0.001), WMFT-FAS (P < 0.001), SIS (P = 0.004) with large magnitude of treatment effect for all stages of BRS-UE. CONCLUSION: Our study findings are in favor of integrating eclectic approach than single intervention/approach in clinical practice to improve the UE functional recovery for motor rehabilitation when the stroke occurs.

Motor Imagery Training on Muscle Strength and Gait Performance in Ambulant Stroke Subjects-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The ultimate goal of physiotherapy in stroke rehabilitation is focused towards physical independence and to restore their functional ability during activities of daily living (ADLs). Motor imagery (MI) is an active process during which a specific action is reproduced within working memory without any actual movements. MI training enhances motor learning, neural reorganization and cortical activation in stroke. The efficacy of MI training involving lower extremity mobility tasks need to be assessed. AIM: To evaluate the effects of combining motor imagery with physical practice in paretic Lower Extremity Muscles Strength and Gait Performance in Ambulant Stroke subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Randomized Clinical Trial was conducted in Department of Physical Therapy, Tertiary Care Hospitals, Mangalore, India which includes 40 hemi paretic subjects (>3 months post-stroke) who were ambulant with good imagery ability in both KVIQ-20 ≥ 60 and Time dependent MI screening test were recruited and randomly allocated into task-oriented training group (n=20) and task-oriented training group plus MI group (n=20). Subjects in both groups underwent task orientated training for lower extremity 45-60 minutes, 4 days per week for 3 weeks. In addition, the experimental group received 30 minutes of audio-based lower extremity mobility tasks for MI practice. Isometric muscle strength of Hip, Knee and Ankle using a hand-held dynamometer and self-selected 10 m gait speed were assessed before and after 3 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Both the groups had found a significant change for all the outcome measures following 3 weeks of interventions with p <.05. The experimental group had shown a significant improvement in paretic hip muscles (both flexors and extensors), knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors and gait speed compare to control group with p < .05 between group analyses. CONCLUSION: Additional task specific MI training improves paretic muscle strength and gait performance in ambulant stroke patients.