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Nerve-muscle co-cultures from five Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and one Becker (BMD) patient, were studied by immunocytochemistry with antibodies against different portions of dystrophin. Four DMD patients had a deletion in the dystrophin gene. Some dystrophin-positive myotubes were detected in a few samples of all DMD cases. PCR amplification of exon 8 of the dystrophin gene ruled out a contamination from rat spinal cord during innervation. Our results in three DMD cases, may be explained by a clonal selection of dystrophin-positive fibers observed in muscle biopsies, while in the other two cases, a “frame-restoring” mutation might account for the presence of dystrophin-positive myotubes. The possible expression of “dystrophin-related protein” or dystrophin immature isoform was considered. In the BMD case an abnormal truncated dystrophin was found in innervated muscle cultures, as well as in muscle biopsy.

We report a case of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, associated at its presentation with thrombocytopenia, in a 50-year-old woman. She was treated with immunoglobulin, and short-term corticosteroids for thrombocytopenia. In spite of the severe presentation we observed a very good and rapid recovery, which could have been determined by the therapeutic association. The incidence of thrombocytopenia in GBS patients could be underestimated, and should be kept in mind in order to avoid hemorrhagic complications.

The European Union has funded the development of a new disease registry for McArdle disease and other rare glyco (geno) lytic disorders presenting with exercise intolerance. The aim of the project is to identify as many patients as possible across all European countries and to collect important natural history and epidemiological data. Clinicians working in the European Union (EU) and patients with McArdle disease or other rare glyco (geno) lytic disorders presenting with exercise intolerance from the EU are able to participate in this project. Registration is via a secure web platform accessed through the EUROMAC website http://euromacregistry.eu/ . Both patients and doctors will need to supply epidemiological and clinical information. Data will be anonymised to ensure participants’ protection. We hope to create the largest international cohort of people with such rare conditions. Data on epidemiology and natural history will be generated, supporting knowledge about these rare disorders. We hope to increase awareness of these disorders and the website will signpost patients and clinicians to diagnostic and clinical centres of excellence across Europe. We plan to develop standards of care which will be posted on the website and we hope that the registry will be the gateway to future large scale multi-centre clinial trials. The EUROMAC is an international registry for patients with McArdle disease and other rare glyco (geno) lytic disorders presenting with exercise intolerance and it is open to all EU residents. Further information is presented online in the EUROMAC website http://euromacregistry.eu/ . We seek to recruit as many European partners as possible and welcome collaborators and volunteers both from health services and patient support organisations.