ObjectiveTo retrospectively investigate safety and efficacy of nusinersen in a large cohort of adult Italian patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).MethodsInclusion criteria were: (1) clinical and molecular diagnosis of SMA2 or SMA3; (2) nusinersen treatment started in adult age (>18 years); (3) clinical data available at least at baseline (T0-beginning of treatment) and 6 months (T6).ResultsWe included 116 patients (13 SMA2 and 103 SMA3) with median age at first administration of 34 years (range 18–72). The Hammersmith Functional Rating Scale Expanded (HFMSE) in patients with SMA3 increased significantly from baseline to T6 (median change +1 point, p<0.0001), T10 (+2, p<0.0001) and T14 (+3, p<0.0001). HFMSE changes were independently significant in SMA3 sitter and walker subgroups. The Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) in SMA3 significantly improved between T0 and T14 (median +0.5, p=0.012), with most of the benefit observed in sitters (+2, p=0.018). Conversely, patients with SMA2 had no significant changes of median HFMSE and RULM between T0 and the following time points, although a trend for improvement of RULM was observed in those with some residual baseline function. The rate of patients showing clinically meaningful improvements (as defined during clinical trials) increased from 53% to 69% from T6 to T14.ConclusionsOur data provide further evidence of nusinersen safety and efficacy in adult SMA2 and SMA3, with the latter appearing to be cumulative over time. In patients with extremely advanced disease, effects on residual motor function are less clear.

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The clinical spectrum of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) encompasses manifestations related to the involvement of thinly myelinated A‐delta and unmyelinated C fibers, including not only the classical distal phenotype, but also a non–length‐dependent (NLD) presentation that can be patchy, asymmetrical, upper limb‐predominant, or diffuse. This narrative review is focused on NLD‐SFN. The diagnosis of NLD‐SFN can be problematic, due to its varied and often atypical presentation, and diagnostic criteria developed for distal SFN are not suitable for NLD‐SFN. The topographic pattern of NLD‐SFN is likely related to ganglionopathy restricted to the small neurons of dorsal root ganglia. It is often associated with systemic diseases, but about half the time is idiopathic. In comparison with distal SFN, immune‐mediated diseases are more common than dysmetabolic conditions. Treatment is usually based on the management of neuropathic pain. Disease‐modifying therapy, including immunotherapy, may be effective in patients with identified causes. Future research on NLD‐SFN is expected to further clarify the interconnected aspects of phenotypic characterization, diagnostic criteria, and pathophysiology.

BackgroundNatural history of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in adult age has not been fully elucidated yet, including factors predicting disease progression and response to treatments. Aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study, is to investigate motor function across different ages, disease patterns and gender in adult SMA untreated patients.MethodsInclusion criteria were as follows: (1) clinical and molecular diagnosis of SMA2, SMA3 or SMA4 and (2) clinical assessments performed in adult age (>18 years).ResultsWe included 64 (38.8%) females and 101 (61.2%) males (p=0.0025), among which 21 (12.7%) SMA2, 141 (85.5%) SMA3 and 3 (1.8%) SMA4. Ratio of sitters/walkers within the SMA3 subgroup was significantly (p=0.016) higher in males (46/38) than in females (19/38). Median age at onset was significantly (p=0.0071) earlier in females (3 years; range 0–16) than in males (4 years; range 0.3–28), especially in patients carrying 4 SMN2 copies. Median Hammersmith Functional Rating Scale Expanded scores were significantly (p=0.0040) lower in males (16, range 0–64) than in females (40, range 0–62); median revised upper limb module scores were not significantly (p=0.059) different between males (24, 0-38) and females (33, range 0–38), although a trend towards worse performance in males was observed. In SMA3 patients carrying three or four SMN2 copies, an effect of female sex in prolonging ambulation was statistically significant (p=0.034).ConclusionsOur data showed a relevant gender effect on SMA motor function with higher disease severity in males especially in the young adult age and in SMA3 patients.

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We investigated the pattern of volitional facial motor deficits in acute stroke patients. We assessed the strength of single facial movements and correlated it to the site of infarct classified on computed tomography scans. Exclusion criteria were previous stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, and subcortical stroke. Results showed that weakness in eyelid closure was associated with anterior cerebral artery (ACA) stroke. Weakness in lip opening was associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. We suggest that sparing of upper facial movements in MCA stroke is due to the presence of an upper face motor representation in both the MCA and ACA territories.

Background and Trial Objectives: A new propylene glycol (PG)-free 5% minoxidil (Mnx) (PG-Free-Mnx) lotion has been recently commercialized. Clinical efficacy and local tolerability have been, so far, documented in a limited number of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy, cosmetic acceptability, and local tolerability of 6-month application of this new PG-Free Mnx lotion in a real-life situation. Materials and Methods: The NOMINAL (NO-PG MINoxidil reAL life study) trial was performed in 22 out-patients Italian dermatology clinics. A total of 196 subjects of both sexes with a diagnosis of androgenic alopecia (AGA) and female androgenic alopecia (FAGA) were enrolled in the trial, after their written informed consent. PG-Free-Mnx lotion was applied 1 ml twice daily for 6 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in an open fashion in all the enrolled subjects with a 5-grade scale score (from-2: severe worsening, to +2: very good improvement in comparison with baseline condition). In a subgroup of subjects (n=60) an assessor-blinded clinical efficacy evaluation has been also performed using high definition standardized and coded scalp global pictures at baseline, and after 6 months by an assessor unaware of the temporal sequence using a 3-grade score (from 0: no improvement to 3: very high improvement). Cosmetic acceptability evaluation was assessed using a 7-item questionnaire using a 10-point scale score, with score 1 meaning not at all and score 10 meaning the worst possible condition. Cosmetic acceptability and clinical efficacy were evaluated after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Global tolerability, assessed at week 24, was evaluated with a 4-grade scale score (from -1: very low tolerability to +2: very good tolerability). Results: All but seven (3.6%) subjects concluded the study. Clinical efficacy scores (open evaluation) were 0.8±0.7 and 1.0±0.7 at week 12 and 24, respectively. Good or very good clinical response (score +1 or +2) at week 12 and week 24 was observed in 64% and 74% respectively of the subjects with a similar response in women (75%) and men (73%). Baseline severity of AGA/FAGA was inversely correlated with the clinical response with a better outcome in subjects with AGA type II in comparison with subjects with types III/IV AGA. The clinical efficacy was confirmed by the assessor-blinded evaluation of the subgroup of 60 subjects’ pictures at baseline (clinical score at baseline: 0.2±0.4 vs. 1.8±0.7 after 6 months; p=0.0001; absolute mean difference: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.0). Cosmetic acceptability score mean values were always <2 at each time-point evaluation, demonstrating good or very good acceptability. Global Tolerability score mean±SD value was 1.7±0.4 with 94% of the subjects reporting good or very good tolerability with no differences between men and women. No subjects reported severe or very severe (Tolerability score >7) burning, itching or redness sensations. Conclusions: This new PG-free lotion shows, in real-life conditions, a very good cosmetic acceptability and tolerability profile. Clinical efficacy, evaluated both in open and assessor-blinded fashions, was also documented, and it was in line with the available data of traditional Mnx formulations with propylene glycol.