to report four novel TUBB4A mutations leading to laryngeal and cervical dystonia with frequent generalization.

DYT-TUBB4A, formerly known as DYT4, has only been described in one large family and two individual cases. The clinical picture highlighted in the original family comprises laryngeal and cervical dystonia extending to generalized dystonia, plus a “hobby horse” gait disorder. The variant identified as causative in the original family was a heterozygous missense mutation R2G in exon 1 of the TUBB4A gene.

we screened four families including a total of eleven definitely affected members with a clinical picture resembling the original description.

four novel variants in the TUBB4A gene have been identified D295N, R46M, Q424H, R121W . In silico modeling showed that all variants have similar characteristics to R2G. The variants segregate with the disease in three of the families with evidence of incomplete penetrance in two of them. All four variants would be classified as likely pathogenic. The clinical picture particularly included laryngeal dystonia (often the site of onset), associated with cervical and upper limb dystonia and frequent generalization. Laryngeal dystonia was extremely prevalent (>90%) both in the original cases and in this case series. The “hobby horse” gait was evident in only one patient in this case series.

laryngeal involvement is a hallmark feature of DYT-TUBB4A. Nevertheless, TUBB4A mutations remain an exceedingly rare cause of laryngeal or other isolated dystonia.

laryngeal involvement is a hallmark feature of DYT-TUBB4A. Nevertheless, TUBB4A mutations remain an exceedingly rare cause of laryngeal or other isolated dystonia.

To investigate the epidemiology and prognosis of Unverricht-Lundborg disease (EPM1) in a nationwide, population-based setting.

Data from multiple registries were combined and analyzed. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. All patients treated for EPM1 in Finland between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2016 were included.

A total of 135 persons with EPM1 (54% women) were identified and 105 were alive on December 31, 2016 (point prevalence 1.91/100,000 persons). The age-standardized (European Standard Population 2013) prevalence was 1.53/100,000 persons. Annual incidence during the study period was 0.022/100,000 person-years, with a mean age at onset of 9.4 ± 2.3 years (range 7.0-14.6 years, no sex difference). MD-224 The median age at death (n = 34) was 53.9 years (interquartile range 46.4, 60.3; range 23.2-63.8), with no sex differences. The immediate cause of death was a lower respiratory tract infection in 56% of deaths. The survival rates of the patients were comparable to matched controls up to 40 years of age, but poorer during long-term follow-up (cumulative survival 26.4% vs 78.0%), with a hazard ratio (HR) for death of 4.61. The risk of death decreased with increasing age at onset (HR 0.76 per year, 95% confidence interval 0.65-0.89). In approximately 10% of all cases, the disease progression appeared very mild; some patients retained functional independence for decades.

Unverricht-Lundborg disease is rare in Finland but still more common than anywhere else in the world. The disease course appears somewhat more severe than elsewhere, disability mounts early, and death occurs prematurely.

Unverricht-Lundborg disease is rare in Finland but still more common than anywhere else in the world. The disease course appears somewhat more severe than elsewhere, disability mounts early, and death occurs prematurely.

To perform a simultaneous evaluation of potential risk/protective factors of Parkinson disease (PD) to identify independent risk/protective factors, to assess interaction among factors, and to determine whether identified risk factors predict etiologic subtypes of PD.

We designed a large case-control study assessing 31 protective/risk factors of PD, including environmental and lifestyle factors, comorbid conditions, and drugs. The study enrolled 694 patients with PD and 640 healthy controls from 6 neurologic centers. Data were analyzed by logistic regression models, additive interaction models, and cluster analysis.

The simultaneous assessment of 31 putative risk/protective factors of PD showed that only coffee consumption (odds ratio [OR] 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4-0.9), smoking (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9), physical activity (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), family history of PD (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.2-4.8), dyspepsia (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.4), and exposure to pesticides (OR 2.3, 95% CI1.3-4.2), oils (OR 5.ing with others. Our study suggests the need for future preventive strategies aimed at reducing the coexistence of different risk factors within the same participant.

To determine public health and cost consequences of time delays to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients, health care systems, and society, we estimated quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of EVT-treated patients and associated costs based on times to treatment.

The Markov model analysis was performed from US health care and societal perspectives over a lifetime horizon. Contemporary data from 7 trials within the Highly Effective Reperfusion Evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials (HERMES) collaboration served as data source. Aside from cumulative lifetime costs, we calculated the net monetary benefit (NMB) to determine the economic value of care. We used a contemporary willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY for NMB calculations.

Every 10 minutes of earlier treatment resulted in an average gain of 39 days (95% prediction interval 23-53 days) of disability-free life. Overall, the cumulative lifetime costs for patients with earlier or later treatment were similar. Patients with later treatment had higher morbidity-related costs but over a shorter time span due to their shorter life expectancy, resulting in similar lifetime costs as in patients with early treatment. Regarding the economic value of care, every 10 minutes of earlier treatment increased the NMB by $10,593 (95% prediction interval $5,549-$14,847) and by $10,915 (95% prediction interval $5,928-$15,356) taking health care and societal perspectives, respectively.

Any time delay to EVT reduces QALYs and decreases the economic value of care provided by this intervention. Health care policies to implement efficient prehospital triage and to accelerate in-hospital workflow are urgently needed.

Any time delay to EVT reduces QALYs and decreases the economic value of care provided by this intervention. Health care policies to implement efficient prehospital triage and to accelerate in-hospital workflow are urgently needed.