Neurology Alert articles from August 2004

Neurology Alert archives from August 2004

Parkinson's disease--a new mutation leads to potential new insights into disease pathogenesis.(Abstract & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: The findings also support further investigations with agents, which may modify mitochondrial function, and exert antioxidative effects such as coenzyme Q10. Source: Valente EM, et al. Hereditary Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease...

What's the cause of normal aging?--Part 2.(Abstract & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: These findings are amongst the most direct data to date that oxidative damage plays a critical role in normal human aging. Source: Lu T, et al. Gene Regulation and DNA Damage in the Aging Haman Brain. Nature....

US map of deaths from stroke in children similar to that seen for adults.(Abstract & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: In the case of this paper, the impact reaches beyond pediatrics, and makes implications about potential contributing factors to adult stroke mortality as well. Source: Fullerton HJ, et al. Pediatric Stroke Belt: Geographic...

New concern about old drugs.(Abstracts & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: These papers and the accompanying editorial by Rascol bring attention to a known but under-recognized complication of ergot derivatives. Sources: Rascol O, et al.New Concerns About Old Drugs: Valvular Heart Disease On Ergot...

Stroke prevention strategies are successful.(Abstracts & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: The good news from OXVS is that community-wide risk factor modifications and preventive treatment are worth the effort, and that further redactions in stroke incidence are possible with more widespread stroke prevention programs. ...

Transient global amnesia: unlocking an ischemic etiology.(Abstract & Commentary)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: Treatment of TGA patients with antiplatelet treatment is likely warranted, particularly if there are underlying vascular risk factors. Source: Sedlaczek O, et al. Detection of Delayed Focal MR Changes in the Lateral Hippocampus...

Lidocaine patch for diabetic neuropathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: Evidence suggests that Erythropoietin acts by stimulating neuroprotective pathways, including the protein kinase B cascade and the transcription factor nuclear factor-[kappa]B pathway, to activate antiapoptotic and antioxidant...

Leflunomide peripheral neuropathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
August 1, 2004... Synopsis: Leflunomide's immunomodulatory activity derives from its action as a competitive inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme necessary for pyrimidine synthesis. Source: Bonnel RA, et al. Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients Treated With...

CME questions.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... 6. Side effects of the new anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug, leflunomide, include a. weight loss and diarrhea b. hypertension c. pancytopenia d. peripheral neuropathy e. All the above 7. The Oxford Vascular Study...

Glucose metabolism and coronary heart disease in patients with normal glucose tolerance.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Sasso FC, et al. JAMA. 2004;291:1857-1863. THERE IS A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED relationship between frank diabetes (DM) and increased vascular risk, especially coronary heart disease. Whether more modest perturbations in glucose...

Evidence of airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Yu ITS, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1731-1739. FOR THE MOMENTS, THE IMMEDIATE threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS) appears to have passed in the United States. The serious morbidity and mortality of the virus...

Alcohol intake and risk of incident gout in men.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Choi HK, et al. Lancet. 2004; 363:1277-1281. THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GOUT AND alcohol consumption has been oft quoted, though never previously established by a prospective trial. It has been confirmed that alcohol loading acutely...

Prevention of strokes by successful carotid endarterectomy in patients without recent neurological symptoms.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: MRC Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial Collaborative Group. Lancet. 2004;363:1491-502 CLEAR-CUT BENEFIT FROM CAROTID endarterectomy for secondary prevention of stroke amongst persons with carotid stenosis who have suffered a...

Cox-2 inhibitors vs nonselective NSAIDs and CHF outcomes in elderly patients.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Mamdani M, et al Lancet. 2004;363:1751-1756. USE OF NON-SELECTIVE NSAIDS CAN induce retention of Na+, K+, and water. Whether selective Cox-2 inhibitors (COXIBs) are fraught with an equally daunting likelihood of potential for fluid...

Interventions for the prevention of falls in older adults.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Source: Chang JT, et al BMJ USA. 2004;4:223-226. ONE-THIRD OF PERSONS OLDER THAN age 65, and one-half of those older than 80 sustain a fall annually, many of which result in hospital admission, impairment of mobility, or even death. A...

The importance of publishing negative clinical studies.
August 1, 2004... Sources of funding for pharmaceutical research has come under scrutiny in the last decade as academic and government sources of funding have become increasingly scarce and the pharmaceutical industry has become the main source of research...