Neurology Alert articles from October 2004

Neurology Alert archives from October 2004

Will prevention of A[beta] prevent neurofibrillary tangle generation in Alzheimer's Disease?(Abstract and Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: These findings provide compelling evidence in favor of the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which suggests that A[beta] leads to the development of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates within neurons. Source: Oddo, et al. A[beta]...

Will CT or MR angiography become the standard for evaluation of carotid stenosis?(Abstracts and Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: CT angiography has high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for carotid disease. Sources: Josephson, et al. Evaluation of Carotid Stenosis Using CT Angiography in the Initial Evaluation of Stroke and TIA. Neurology....

Homocysteine, vitamins, and cerebral veins.(Abstract & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: In this population, deficient nutritional status may contribute to its relatively high incidence of CVT. Sources: Cantu C, et al. Hyperhomocysteinemia, Low Folate and Vit B12 Concentrations, and Methylene Tetrahydrofolate...

Treatment for painful diabetic neuropathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: Pregabalin appears to be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Source: Rosenstock J, et al. Pregabalin for the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: A Double-Blind,...

The diagnostic yield of a standardized approach to idiopathic sensory-predominant neuropathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: Patients with sensory-predominant neuropathy should be tested for glucose tolerance and vitamin [B.sup.12] concentration. Source: Smith AG, et al. Arch of Intern Med. 2004;164: 1021-1025. SMITH AND COLLEAGUES REPORT THAT 61%...

Understanding immune regulation in multiple sclerosis.(Abstract & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: NK cells may regulate activation of auto-immune memory T cells in an antigen non-specific fashion to maintain the clinical remission in "CD95(+) NK-high' multiple sclerosis patients. Sources: Takahashi K, et al. The Regulatory...

Lumbar synovial cysts.(Abstracts & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: Those patients undergoing decompression alone may postoperatively develop progression or the new appearance of olisthy, while those primarily fused rarely show further increase or a new onset of slip. Source: Epstein NE. Lumbar...

Hyperexcitability of the dendritic arbor as a basis for epileptogenesis.(Abstract & Commentary)
October 1, 2004... Synopsis: Such acquired channelopathy is likely to amplify neuronal activity and may contribute to the initiation and/or propagation of seizures in TLE. Sources: Bernard, C., et al. Acquired Dendritic Channelopathy in Temporal Lobe...

CME questions.
October 1, 2004... 4. In the study of Cantu et al, all of the following were associated with an increased risk of CVT except: a. hyper-tHcy. b. low plasma folate level. c. low plasma [B.sup.12]. d. MTHFR gene mutation and low folate levels. ...

Folate therapy and in-stent restenosis and coronary stenting.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Source: Lange H, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:2673-2681. OBSERVATIONAL DATA HAVE SUPported (HCS) as a cause of or contributor atherosclcrosis. Randomized trials of interventions to reduce HCS have provided conflicting results, although...

Quinapril reduces markers of oxidative stress in the metabolic syndrome.
October 1, 2004... Source: Khan B, et al. Diabetes Care. 2004;27:1712-1715. THE METABOLIC SYNDROME (MILS) MAY be defined as 3 or more of: increased waist circumference (men > 40 inches, women > 35 inches), triglycerides > 150, reduced HDL (men 130/85, and...

Donepezil in patients with Alzheimer's.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Source: AD2000 Collaborative Group Lancet. 2004;363:2105-2115. BECAUSE USE OF CHOLINESTERASE inhibitors is neither inexpensive nor without significant potential adverse effects, their long-term impact on patients with dementing disorders...

Effect of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet and reduced sodium intake on blood pressure control.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Source: Svetkey LP, et al. J Clin Hypertens. 2004;6:373-381. THE DIETARY APPROACHES TO STOP Hypertension (DASH) diet, which suggests high intake of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat diary products, has been shown to favorably affect blood...

Methylprednisolone, valacyclovir, or the combination for vestibular neuritis.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Source: Strupp M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:354-361. VESTIBULAR NEURITIS (VN) IS characterized by acute onset of vertigo, a positive Romberg's sign, nystagmus, and nausea. It is second only to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo as a...

Improved plasma glucose control, whole-body glucose utilizations, and lipid profile on a low-glycemic index diet in type 2 diabetic men.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Source: Rizkalla SW, et al. Diabetes Care. 2004;27:1866-1872. AT THE SAME LEVEL OF GRAMS OF Carbohydrate, different foods vary in their rate of rise of plasma glucose, and in the subsequent amount and timing of insulin response they elicit....

Linking COX-2 inhibitors and cardiovascular event risk.
October 1, 2004... A new, and as of yet unpublished study, has raised increased concern about the relationship between rofecoxib (Vioxx), Merck's blockbuster COX-2 inhibitor, and cardiovascular events. The study, which was presented at a meeting in Bordeaux...

Viagra: maximum capacity at high-altitudes?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... High-altitude hikers may soon be requesting sildenafil (Viagra) prescriptions based on the results of a new study. The drug, which is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, is known to cause pulmonary vasodilation. German researchers postulated that...

FDA actions.
October 1, 2004... Eli Lilly has received FDA approval to market duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the treatment of major depression. The drug is a serotonin and nore-pinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), similar to venlafaxine (Effexor-Wyeth). The drug is also being...