The treatment of writer's cramp, a task-specific focal hand dystonia, needs new approaches. A deficiency of inhibition in the motor cortex might cause writer's cramp. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates cortical excitability and may provide a therapeutic alternative. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we investigated the efficacy of cathodal stimulation of th...

Rabbi Avraham Weiss begins his recent article, “Women and the Reading of the Megillah,” with the questions: “May women read the Megillah for other women, and for that matter, may women read the Megillah for men?” Rabbi Weiss devotes the great majority of his essay to the first issue, and while a number of points as well as the conclusion remain debatable, his essential arguments in favor of a w...

In this paper, kinematic characteristics of writing are compared in 5 patient with writer’s cramp who performed a set of standardized writing task. The kinematic characteristics thumb and forefinger force before and during cramp. The effect of writing on different inclined supporting surfaces is also investigated. Our results indicate that inclined surfaces aspects of writing discomfort in writ...

INTRODUCTION Writer's cramp is a specific focal hand dystonia causing abnormal posturing and tremor in the upper limb. The most popular medical intervention, botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) therapy, is variably effective for 50-70% of patients. BoNT-A non-responders undergo ineffective treatment and may experience significant side effects. Various assessments have been used to determine re...

Döring et al reveal how neutrophils promote atherosclerosis, and suggest a way to stop it. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with lipid accumulation in the vessel wall. Although the inflammation is known to be promoted, at least in part, by neutrophils, the precise mechanism by which these cells contribute to atherogenesis remains unclear. When activated, neutrophils...

Rationale: Neutrophils have been reported to contribute to early atherosclerotic lesion formation. Mechanisms of neutrophil-driven atherosclerosis remain unclear so far. Objective: Investigation of the role of the neutrophil granule protein cathelicidin (CRAMP in mouse, LL37 in human) in atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: Compared to Apoe / mice, Cramp / Apoe / mice exhibit reduced lesion si...

Rationale: Neutrophils have been reported to contribute to early atherosclerotic lesion formation. Mechanisms of neutrophil-driven atherosclerosis remain unclear so far. Objective: Investigation of the role of the neutrophil granule protein cathelicidin (CRAMP in mouse, LL37 in human) in atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: Compared to Apoe / mice, Cramp / Apoe / mice exhibit reduced lesion si...