What's in the Literature?

In this issue, we review the question of geographic location and head trauma as a contributing factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also discuss the utility of ganglioside antibody testing and present new insights on respiratory function obtained from recording from stimulating electrodes implanted in the diaphragm for the intervention of diaphragm pacing. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is one of the few treatable chronic neuropathies. Judging when to change treatment is difficult, and retrospective analyses of the utility of a number of clinical and electrodiagnostic tests for the following treatment responses is discussed. CIDP occurs in the setting of diabetic neuropathy, and a new diagnostic approach for distinguishing these patients is reviewed. Outcomes in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on long-term corticosteroids, who have undergone thymectomy, who present with purely ocular symptoms, and risk factors for the development of exacerbations are discussed. A recent genome-wide association study and implications for treatment in MG is reviewed. Articles evaluating the epidemiology, characteristics (including patient demographics, histopathology, and associated antibodies), and functional status of patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis are discussed. Finally, studies addressing immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy and centronuclear myopathy are reviewed.