Neurology Alert articles from May 2003

Neurology Alert archives from May 2003

A novel treatment for Parkinson's disease with remarkable results.(neurotrophic factor infused into the brain)(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Gill SS, et al. Direct brain infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in Parkinson disease. Nature Medicine advance online publication. www.nature.com. A NUMBER OF NEUROTROPHIC FACTORS HAVE GREAT PROMISE for the...

Memantine for advanced Alzheimer's disease.(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Reisberg B, et al. Memantine for advanced Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:1333-1341. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO MEDICATIONS SPECIFICALLY approved in the United States for treatment of the advanced stages of Alzheimer's...

Predictors of disability in MS.(multiple sclerosis)(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Confavreux C, et al. Early clinical predictors and progression of irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis: An amnesic process. Brain. 2003;126:770-782. CONFAVREUX AND COLLEAGUES STUDIED 1844 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients...

A negative trial of creatine in ALS. .(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Jan Groeneveld G, et al. A randomized sequential trial of creatine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2003;53:437-445. THIS IS THE FIRST REPORTED CLINICAL TRIAL OF THE effects of creatine in sporadic ALS patients. The...

Silent strokes predispose to dementia.(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Vermeer SE, et al. Silent brain infarcts and the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. N Engl J Med. 2003;348: 1215-1222. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT CEREBROVASCULAR disease is a major contributor to cognitive decline in the...

Perioperative ulnar neuropathy: fact or fiction? .(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Source: Stewart JD, Shantz SH. Perioperative ulnar neuropathies: A medicolegal review. Can J Neurol Sci. 2003;30:15-19. CONSIDER THIS ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR SCENARIO. PATIENT X awakens from otherwise uneventful abdominal surgery and complains of...

NSAIDS: not associated with cerebral hemorrhage but not protective vs Ischemic stroke.(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)(Abstract)
May 1, 2003... Sources: Bak S, et al. Risk of stroke associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Strohe. 2003;34:379-386; Johnsen SP, et al. Nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of hospitalization for intracerebral hemorrhage....

Use of hip protectors in nursing homes. (Primary Care).(for the prevention of hip fractures)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: Meyer G, et al. BMJ. 2003; 326:76-78. DESPITE THE FACT THAT USE OF HIP protectors (HIP) has demonstrated excellent outcomes reduction when used among elderly persons ie, as much as a 50% reduced incidence of hip fractures, actual...

Disclosing unanticipated outcomes and medical errors. (Primary Care).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: O'Connell D, et al. J Clin Outcomes Man. 2003;10(1):25-29. ACCORDING TO THE 1999 INSTITUTE OF Medicine report, medical errors are important cause of loss of life, resulting in as many as 98,000 deaths annually in the United States....

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of COPD. (Primary Care).(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: Lightowler JV, et al. BMJ. 2003;326:185-187. When THE TRADITIONAL INTERventions (eg, bronchodilators, steroids, antibiotics, oxygen) for COPD exacerbation are insufficient to reverse clinical deterioration, clinicians typically...

Effect of Ibuprofen on cardioprotective effect of aspirin. (Primary Care).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: MacDonald TM, Wei L. Lancet. 2003;361:573-574. SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF LITERAture supports the efficacy of aspirin .(ASA) for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The benefits of aspirin for reduction of...

Antidepressant drug treatment in depressive disorders. (Primary Care).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: Geddes JR, et al. Lancet. 2003;361:653-361. PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR DEPRESSION IS generally recognized to be effective to produce remission in the majority of sufferers. The recommended duration of treatment of depression has undergone...

Adverse drug events among the elderly in the ambulatory setting. (Primary Care).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Source: Gurwitz JH, et al. JAMA. 2003;289:1107-1116. WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT MORE than 90% of persons older than age 65 use at least 1 medication per week, and that more than 40% of these individuals use 5 or more medications per week, it...

Counterfeit Procrit uncovered by FDA surveillance. (Pharmacology Watch).
May 1, 2003... In one of the more bizarre stories of the year, the FDA has uncovered files of counterfeit Procrit (epoetin alfa--Johnson & Johnson) in routine surveillance. To make matters worse, the fake vials have been contaminated with bacteria and many...