Neurology Alert articles from January 2005

Neurology Alert archives from January 2005

Natalizumab receives accelerated FDA approval for MS.(Special Update)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: Natilizumab will become an important option for newly diagnosed MS patients starting treatment, or for patients currently on interferon beta-1a or glatiramer acetate with refractory breakthrough disease. ********** BIOGEN...

Cloning of PARK8: LRRK2 in autosomal, dominant late-onset Parkinson's disease.(Abstracts & Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: LRRK2 may be central to the pathogenesis of several major neurodegenerative disorders associated with Parkinsonism. Sources: Paisan-Ruiz C, et al. Cloning of the Gene Containing Mutations that Cause PARK8-Linked Parkinson's...

A new approach preventing amyloid aggregation may result in novel therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.(Abstract And Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: This strategy yields potent inhibitors of A-beta aggregation and could lead to therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration. Source: Gestwicki J, et al. Harnessing Chaperones to Generate...

Intermediate filament diseases.(Abstract & Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: Further research will be required to understand the pathogenesis of these disorders. Source: Omary MB, et al. Intermediate Filaments Proteins and Their Associated Diseases. N Engl J Med. 2004;351: 2087-2100. ********** ...

TBI: CRASH kills corticosteroids.(Abstract & Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: There is an increase in mortality with methylprednisolone in the 2 weeks after head injury. The cause of the rise in risk of death within 2 weeks is unclear. Source: Roberts I, et al. Effect of Intravenous Corticosteroids on...

Sensory polyradiculopathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: This condition preferentially affects large myelinated fibers of the posterior roots, may respond favorably to treatment, and may be a restricted form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Source:...

A new genetic defect in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease links it to mitochondrial dysfunction.(Abstract & Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Synopsis: The present findings raise the possibility that new effective therapies may be developed for CMT2A, which target the underlying pathophysiology. Source: Zuchner S, et al. Mutations in the Mitochondrial GTPase Mitofusin 2 Cause...

CME questions.
January 1, 2005... 1. Intermediate filaments include: a. keratins. b. vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and peripherin. c. neurofilament subunits, nestin, syncoilin, and alpha-internexin. d. lamin A, lamin C, lamin B1 and lamin...

Hypertension: therapy vs calcium channel antagonists.
January 1, 2005... Pharmacotherapy of hypertension has been much in the news in the last 2 months. Standard therapies such as atenolol have been challenged, while calcium channel antagonists may be making a comeback. Researchers from Sweden performed a...

Incidence of diabetes in middle-aged men is related to sleep disturbances.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Nillson PM, et al. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(10):2464-2469. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION, as measured in otherwise healthy men, include elevations of sympathetic activity, increased levels of cortisol, and altered glucose...

Renal dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Anavekar NG, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:1285-1295. ALTHOUGH MARKED ALTERATION IN renal function can be anticipated to compromise lifespan, whether less substantial decrements in renal function are associated with adverse...

Topical treatments for psoriasis.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Mikhail M, Scheinfeld N. Adv Stud Med. 2004;4(8):420-429. THE PREVALENCE OF PSORIASIS (PSR) in the US adult population is as high as 3%, usually beginning during adolescence. Although there is no available cure for PSR, most...

Induction of long-term glycemic control in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients is associated with improvement of beta-cell function.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Li Y, et al. Diabetes Care. 2004;27:2597-2602. TYPE 2 DIABETES (DM2) IS CHARACTERIZED by insulin resistance accompanied by a progressive decline in beta cell function (BCF). Sustained supra-normal glucose levels appear to further...

Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Rietveld RP, et al. BMJ USA. 2004;4:511-514. ONLY ABOUT HALF OF ACUTE CONJUNCTIVITIS cases are bacterial. At presentation, it is often unclear whether patients are suffering acute bacterial conjunctivitis (ABC), or acute viral...

Angiotensin-receptor blockade vs converting-enzyme inhibition in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Source: Barnett AH, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:1952-1961. THE MOST COMMON ETIOLOGY OF END-STAGE renal disease remains type 2 diabetes (DM2). Since it is possible to reverse (in the case of diabetic microalbuminutia) or delay (in the case...