Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a sensorineural peripheral polyneuropathy. The association between Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome and cardiac involvement is controversial. Although patients with this disease may have cardiac conduction abnormalities, such abnormalities are often not recognized. Increasing numbers of case reports attest to the association between CMT and cardiac problems. We discuss the current understanding of the relationship between Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and cardiac irregularities.

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Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine report that they have successfully used gene therapy to block the pain response in an animal model of neuropathic pain, a type of chronic pain in people for which there are few effective treatments. These findings are being presented at the 10th annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy, being held May 30 to June 3 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle.

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