Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder that is difficult to distinguish from other diseases with similar clinical symptoms in its early stages. This article analyzes and summarizes the diagnostic process of a family affected by adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis caused by CLN6 gene mutation. We collected clinical data from a 48-year-old female patient with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis who visited Nanjing Brain Hospital in March 2024. She has presented with corresponding symptoms since 2020. The patient underwent whole exome sequencing (WES) and other examinations. WES showed that both the patient and her elder brother, who exhibited similar symptoms of walking instability, were homozygous for a mutation in the CLN6 gene. This variant (c.856C > T: p.Leu286Phe) has not been previously reported and is classified as a Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) based on current American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology(ACMG/AMP) guidelines. Both of the patient's parents displayed normal phenotypes but were found to have heterozygous mutations in the CLN6 gene. Additionally, no nuclear inclusion bodies were found in the patient's skin tissue.
Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by abnormal contraction of the muscles innervated by the seventh cranial nerve. It is usually benign and diagnosed clinically. The effectiveness of botulinum toxin (BoNT) for its treatment has been well demonstrated. However, adverse events (AEs) resulting from its administration remain a concern, and some patients express reluctance to be treated by resident physicians, even when under expert supervision.
Objective: To determine the association between the level of expertise of the neurology professional and the presence of AEs following BoNT administration in patients with HFS.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical phase conducted at Hospital Occidente de Kennedy (Bogotá, Colombia). Out of 88 medical records reviewed, 73 met all inclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22.
Results: A predominance of female patients was observed, accounting for 74 % of the study population. The mean age of symptom onset was 54.5 ± 12.7 years, with a median symptom duration of 9 years. In most cases, the left side was affected (53.4 %). The average number of botulinum toxin applications per patient was 2.6 during the study period. Adverse events occurred in 12.6 % of cases, primarily mild facial paresis (7.9 %), hematoma (2.6 %), and eyelid ptosis (2.1 %).
Conclusions: The results did not show a statistically significant association between the level of expertise and the occurrence of adverse events. The frequency of observed adverse events was similar between the groups. This suggests that the occurrence of adverse events following BoNT administration was comparable regardless of whether the procedure was performed by a neurologist or a resident under supervision.
Introduction: Essential tremor (ET) is a common neurological disorder characterized by involuntary rhythmic oscillations. Emerging evidence suggests that gabapentinoids, including gabapentin and pregabalin, may be effective in managing ET. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of gabapentinoids in treating ET by analyzing data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods: A systematic search was conducted across various databases to identify relevant RCTs utilizing gabapentin or pregabalin. Tremor severity was evaluated using the total tremor score (TTS) and accelerometry.
Results: In a between-group meta-analysis of seven RCTs (N = 235), gabapentinoids did not significantly outperform placebo in reducing TTS or its subscales. Accelerometry data suggested a non-significant trend favoring gabapentinoids.However, within-group analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in TTS from baseline with gabapentinoids overall (P = 0.016), an effect driven by gabapentin (P = 0.021) but not pregabalin. No significant within-group improvements were observed for TTS subscales or accelerometry measures post-treatment.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis found no significant advantage of gabapentinoids over placebo in ET. However, within-group analyses demonstrated that gabapentin-but not pregabalin-significantly reduced tremor severity from baseline, suggesting a potential therapeutic signal that warrants further investigation. Larger, standardized trials are needed to identify which patient subgroups, if any, may benefit from gabapentin therapy.

