Neurology Alert articles from October 2003

Neurology Alert archives from October 2003

A new genetic cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.( )(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... THE CAUSE OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) IS STILL an enigma. Nevertheless, genetic investigations have made considerable progress in identifying mutations associated with familial ALS (FALS). The identification of genetic alterations in...

Predictive accuracy of MRI prognosticators in the early detection of malignant MCA infarcts.(middle cerebral artery infarct)(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... PATIENTS WITH MASSIVE INFARCTS IN THE MIDDLE Cerebral artery (MCA) territory may develop brain edema leading to midline shift, raised intracranial pressure, and downward herniation. Their clinical course is characterized first by a...

Stroke risk of inherited thrombophilia is low.(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... THE TERM "THROMBOPHILIA" IS COMMONLY USED TO describe disorders of the hemostatic mechanisms that are likely to predispose to thrombosis. Examples of inherited factors are deficiency of protein C, protein S, or antithrombin; activated protein C...

Unraveling cryptogenic stroke.( )(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... STROKE WITH NO DETERMINED CAUSE, OR CRYPTOGENIC stroke [CS], accounts for nearly 40% of all ischemic strokes, a staggering percentage given the resources and technologies used as part of stroke evaluation. Traditionally, it has been held that...

When can people with epilepsy drive?(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... WHEN IS IT SAFE TO SIT BEHIND THE WHEEL IF you've just had a seizure? Specific seizure-free intervals vary from state to state. In this time-trend study, an analysis was undertaken to determine if lowering the interval from 12 months to 3, as...

IVIG pre-thymectomy.(intravenous immunoglobulin infusion )(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... SIX CONSECUTIVE MYASTHENIA GRAVIS PATIENTS, ONE man and 5 women, aged 21-68, underwent intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion in preparation for thymectomy. The purpose was to determine, in this unblinded trial, whether IVIG was beneficial...

Eletriptan vs sumatriptan: let's get ready to rumble?(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... THE TRIPTAN WARS ARE HEATING UP WITH 7 COMPETITORS now on the market all backed by the heaviest of the pharma heavyweights. Unfortunately, the overall migraine market has not expanded--meaning far too few migraine patients are being diagnosed...

Will sage oil make you wiser?( )(Author Abstract)
October 1, 2003... IN 1597, THE HERBALIST JOHN GERARD REPORTED THAT an extract of the sage plant, "is singularly good for the head and brain and quickeneth the nerves and memory." More than 400 year later, British investigators have put Gerard's observation to...

Seasonale: a revolutionary contraceptive.(Audio Conference)
October 1, 2003... EXTENDED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION IS DRAWING dramatic attention due to the desire of many women to reduce or eliminate the number of withdrawal bleeds associated with current birth control methods. The first extended-use oral contraceptive,...

CME Questions.(continuing medical education)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... 13. All of the following features correlate with the development of MMI in acute stroke patients except: a. high NIH Stroke Scale score. b. occlusion of the MCA mainstem. c. early nausea and vomiting. d. coma on admission. ...