Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34464652›Full record

ArticleExperimental neurology2021

Neuropathology of blepharospasm.

Maggie Fagan, Laura Scorr, Doug Bernhardt, Ellen J Hess, Joel S Perlmutter, Carlos A Pardo, H A Jinnah

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Experimental neurology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Distinct Roles of Cerebellar Afferent and Efferent Fiber Tracts in Craniocervical Dystonia.Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. The pathogenesis of blepharospasm.Frontiers in neurology · 2023
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Maggie FaganDepartment of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Laura ScorrDepartment of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Doug BernhardtDepartment of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Ellen J HessDepartments of Pharmacology and Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Joel S PerlmutterDepartments of Neurology, Radiology, Neuroscience, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, United States of America.
Carlos A PardoDepartments of Neurology and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
H A JinnahDepartments of Neurology, Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America. Electronic address: hjinnah@emory.edu.
Emory University · USJohns Hopkins University · USWashington University in St. Louis · US

Funding

INVESTIGATIONS OF DEMENTIA IN PARKINSON DISEASER01NS075321 · NINDS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI CAMPBELL, MEGHAN C, PERLMUTTER, JOEL SYNES · 2011 to 2021
$8.2M
Dystonia Coalition- Pilot ProjectU54NS116025 · NINDS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI JINNAH, HYDER A · 2019 to 2023
$7.1M
Dystonia CoalitionU54NS065701 · NINDS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI JINNAH, HYDER A · 2009 to 2014
$7.0M
Dystonia CoalitionU54TR001456 · NCATS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI JINNAH, HYDER A · 2015 to 2016
$2.5M
Investigations of Dementia in Parkinson DiseaseRF1NS075321 · NINDS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI CAMPBELL, MEGHAN C, PERLMUTTER, JOEL SYNES · 2023 to 2023
$2.3M
NCATS NIH HHS U54 TR001456NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS075321NINDS NIH HHS RF1 NS075321NINDS NIH HHS U54 NS065701NINDS NIH HHS U54 NS116025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe dystonias are a group of disorders characterized by excessive muscle contractions leading to abnormal repetitive movements or postures. In blepharospasm, the face is affected, leading to excessive eye blinking and spasms of muscles around the eyes. The pathogenesis of blepharospasm is not well understood, but several imaging studies have implied subtle structural defects in several brain regions, including the cerebellum.

objectiveTo delineate cerebellar pathology in brains collected at autopsy from 7 human subjects with blepharospasm and 9 matched controls.

methodsSections from 3 cerebellar regions were sampled and processed using Nissl and silver impregnation stains. Purkinje neurons were the focus of the evaluation, along with as several other subtle pathological features of cerebellar dysfunction such as Purkinje neuron axonal swellings (torpedo bodies), proliferation of basket cell processes around Purkinje neurons (hairy baskets), empty baskets (missing Purkinje neurons), and displacement of cell soma from their usual location (ectopic Purkinje neurons).

resultsThe results revealed a significant reduction in Purkinje neuron and torpedo body density, but no changes in any of the other measures.

conclusionsThese findings demonstrate subtle neuropathological changes similar to those reported for subjects with cervical dystonia. These findings may underly some of the subtle imaging changes reported for blepharospasm.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overBlepharospasmCerebellumFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPurkinje Cells

Identifiers

PMID34464652
PMCPMC8490317
OpenAlexW3197735536

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.