1. Development on novel methods of electrodiagnosis of neuromuscular disorders through the use of impedance technologies (electrical impedance myography). This work is multifaceted, and includes clinical human studies, rodent models, and electrical engineering components. Our focus in on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and inflammatory myopathies.
2. Temperature and nerve function in diabetic neuropathy. We are currently evaluating ambulatory foot temperature fluctuations as a measure of early diabetic neuropathy and assesesing the impact of cold exposure in the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy.
3. Drug trials in neuromuscular disease (a study of rituximab in inflammatory myopathy will be starting fall '05).
4. Development of an animal model of lumbosacral plexitis
Rutkove SB, Aaron R, Shiffman CA. Localized bioimpedance analysis in neuromuscular disease. Muscle Nerve 2002;25:390-397.
Rutkove SB, Zhang H, Schoenfeld DA, Raynor EM, Shefner JM, Cudkowicz ME, Chin AB, Aaron R, Shiffman CA. Electrical impedance myography to assess outcome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials. Clin Neurophysiol 2007;118(11):2413-8.
Kang PB, Hoffman SN, Krimitsos E, Rutkove SB. Ambulatory Foot Temperature Measurement: A New Technique in Polyneuropathy Evaluation. Muscle Nerve 2003;27:737-742.
Rutkove SB, Chapman KM, Acosta JA, Larrabee JE. Foot Temperature in Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Innocent Bystander or Unrecognized Accomplice? Diabetic Med 2005;22:231-238.
Garmirian LP, Chin AB, Rutkove SB. Discriminating Neurogenic from Myopathic Disease via Measurement of Muscle Anisotropy. Muscle Nerve (in press)
External Recognition:
Longwood Neurology Grand Rounds--June, 2005
American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine winner of Golseth award, September 2005
American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine--Presidential research initiative award
Multiple NIH study section assignments 2004-onward
Major Collaborative Activities:
Joel Dawson, PhD--Electrical engineering and computer science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ronald Aaron, PhD and Carl Shiffman, PhD--Department of Physics, Northeastern University.
