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Abstract Details

Women in History: Neuromuscular Medicine
Research Methodology, 好色先生, and History
P4 - Poster Session 4 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)
4-045

To highlight the work of women in neuromuscular medicine from the 19th to mid-20th centuries.

 

While neuromuscular diseases have long been described, little is known about women’s historical contributions to this area.

Online search of women’s contributions to medicine and neurology.  Women who worked on neuromuscular syndromes or basic science relevant to neuromuscular medicine were included.

One woman was found in the 19th century; Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke described lower brachial plexus injuries in 1885.  We found more contributions during the 20th century. In 1923, Lucja Frey was the first to describe the auriculo-temporal syndrome with pathophysiologic descriptions. In 1926, Gabrielle Levy described individuals from the same family with ataxia, foot deformities, tremor, and areflexia. In 1934, Mary Walker discovered that physostigmine temporarily improves myasthenia gravis weakness. In 1935, she was the first to report the relationship between low potassium and attacks of periodic paralysis. Between 1942-1943, Gerty Cori and her husband published their discoveries on the catalytic conversion of glycogen, ultimately winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine. She then worked on glycogen storage diseases until her death. In 1942, Judith Graham developed an electrode to record the muscle fiber resting membrane potential. In 1943, Florence Dudley described a disorder with mental retardation, language dysfunction, and weakness (Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome). Lisa Welander described the distal myopathy in 1945, and in 1956, the type of SMA that bears her name.  In 1954, Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen isolated nerve growth factor for which they received the 1986 Nobel Prize. In 1959, Ingrid Gamstorp described a disorder with wasting and myotonia, which we now know is caused by HINT1 mutations.

Women have been contributing to the field of neuromuscular medicine since the late 19th century. Though some commonly used eponyms are named after women, many women in the field are unknown or have gone unrecognized.

Authors/Disclosures
Angela Aziz-Donnelly, MD (Neurological Care Center)
PRESENTER
No disclosure on file
Eleanor V. Thomas, MD, PhD (Emory University School of Medicine) Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose.
Rocio C. Garcia Santibanez, MD, FAAN Dr. Garcia Santibanez has nothing to disclose.