ObjectiveTo evaluate the analgesic effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) on patients with spinal cord injury‐associated neuropathic pain.MethodsThe effect of BTX‐A on 40 patients with spinal cord injury‐associated neuropathic pain was investigated using a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled design. A 1‐time subcutaneous BTX‐A (200U) injection was administered to the painful area. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (0–100mm), the Korean version of the short‐form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization WHOQOL‐BREF quality of life assessment were evaluated prior to treatment and at 4 and 8 weeks after the injection.ResultsAt 4 and 8 weeks after injection, the VAS score for pain was significantly reduced by 18.6 ± 16.8 and 21.3 ± 26.8, respectively, in the BTX‐A group, whereas it was reduced by 2.6 ± 14.6 and 0.3 ± 19.5, respectively, in the placebo group. The pain relief was associated with preservation of motor or sensory function below the neurological level of injury. Among the responders in the BTX‐A group, 55% and 45% reported pain relief of 20% or greater at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, after the injection, whereas only 15% and 10% of the responders in the placebo group reported a similar level of pain relief. Improvements in the score for the physical health domain of the WHOQOL‐BREF in the BTX‐A group showed a marginal trend toward significance (p = 0.0521) at 4 weeks after the injection.InterpretationThese results indicate that BTX‐A may reduce intractable chronic neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury. Ann Neurol 2016;79:569–578

This study shows that dysphagia is closely related to gross motor function in children with CP. Silent aspiration was observed in the moderate to severe CP groups. Aspiration is an important cause of medical problems such as acute and chronic lung disease, and associated respiratory complications contribute significantly in increasing morbidity and mortality in these patient groups. Therefore, the authors suggest that early dysphagia evaluation including videofluoroscopic swallow study is necessary in managing feeding problems and may prevent chronic aspiration, malnutrition, and infections.

Two biflavonoids, ginkgetin (1) and sciadopitysin (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the young branches of Taxus cuspidata, which inhibited phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) with IC50 values of 25.8 and 46.2 microM, respectively. This is the first report on PRL-3 inhibitors, isolated from natural sources.

Terpenes U 0200 Antitumor Abietane Diterpenes from the Cones of Sequoia sempervirens -[isolation, structure elucidation and antitumor activity of the new abietane diterpene 20-hydroxyferruginol (I) and four known diterpenes]. -(SON, K.-H.; OH, H.-M.; CHOI, S.-K.; HAN, D. C.; KWON*, B.-M.; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 15 (2005) 8,

MT10107 is botulinum neurotoxin type A derived drug which utilizes the 150 kDa portion without complexing proteins and human serum albumin contents. To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of MT10107, it was compared with onabotulinumtoxinA in this double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Twenty-five healthy males received a randomly selected dose of MT10107 into the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle of one foot, and an equivalent dose of onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX) was injected into the contralateral EDB muscle. While efficacy of the administered substance was determined by measuring paretic effects on the EDB, the local spread of toxin effects was evaluated by the paretic effects on the nearby abductor hallucis (AH) and abductor digiti quinti (ADQ) muscles. Paretic effects were defined as the percentage of reduction of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes, measured at 14, 30, 90 days after the injection, compared to the baseline value. Intergroup (MT10107 and onabotulinumtoxinA) differences were not significant in the percentage reduction of the amplitudes in the EDB muscles. In this study, there was no significant difference in efficacy and safety between the two test drugs. MT10107 may be effective and safe as much as onabotulinumtoxinA to produce the desired paretic effect.

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Schwannoma is an encapsulated nerve sheath tumor that is distinct from neurofibromatosis. It is defined as the occurrence of multiple schwannomas without any bilateral vestibular schwannomas. A 46-year-old man with multiple schwannomas involving peripheral nerves of the ipsilateral lower extremity presented with neurologic symptoms. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed multiple mononeuropathies involving the left sciatic, common peroneal, tibial, femoral and superior gluteal nerves. Histologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. We reported this rare case of segmental schwannomatosis that presented with neurologic symptoms including motor weakness, which was confirmed as multiple mononeuropathies by electrodiagnostic studies.