The threshold tracking nerve conduction study technique: Experience of clinical users unfamiliar with a research-grade neuronal excitability system.

C E McIlduff, B J Wainger, R L Freeman, S Samaan, I Yator, H Gutierrez, S Verga, S B Rutkove

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Clinical neurophysiology practice, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Bringing nerve excitability out of the research laboratory into the clinic.Clinical neurophysiology practice · 2022
Article

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

8 authors.

C E McIlduffDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

B J WaingerDepartment of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

R L FreemanCenter for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

S SamaanDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

I YatorDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

H GutierrezDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

S VergaDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

S B RutkoveDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To 1) explore if clinical electrophysiologists with different degrees of experience performing standard nerve conduction studies could run a threshold tracking nerve conduction study (TTNCS) protocol and 2) learn how clinical users view a research-grade TTNCSs neuronal excitability system. Methods: Five clinical electrophysiologists conducted a TTNCS session using QTracS and then completed a questionnaire describing their impressions. Results: All of the electrophysiologists completed the QTracS protocol on an initial attempt. Perceived strengths comprised the ease of preparatory steps and quick protocol speed. Identified drawbacks included an unwieldly user-interface. The electrophysiologists indicated that knowledge of TTNCS principles and applications would be critical for incorporation of the method into clinical use. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that clinical electrophysiologists can carry out TTNCSs with a research-grade system. The development of a more user-friendly program, along with dedicated education and training, could lead to wider application of the TTNCS technique. Significance: Considered together with clinical presentation and other biomarkers, increased use of TTNCSs could provide improved assessment of neuromuscular disease and treatment response.

Indexed as

Axonal excitabilityBiomarkerClinical electrophysiologyNerve conduction studiesNeuromuscular disordersThreshold tracking

Identifiers

PMID36353647

DOI10.1016/j.cnp.2022.08.003

PMCPMC9637722

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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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.