Neurology Alert articles from September 2004

Neurology Alert archives from September 2004

Resolution of the prion debate?(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: The means by which prions cause neuropathologic damage remains to be established. ********** THE CAUSE OF DISEASES SUCH AS JAKOB-CREUTZFELDT AND MAD cow disease is of great interest. These illnesses were initially designated...

A new treatment for vestibular neuritis.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: Methylprednisolone significantly improves the recovery of peripheral vestibular function in patients with vestibular neuritis, whereas valacyclovir does not. ********** THE PRESENT PAPER STUDIED THE TREATMENT OF vestibular...

Steroids for neuromuscular disease: what's proven, what's not?(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: Absence of evidence-based medicine is both humbling, as well as a reminder of how substantial a role the art and oral tradition of medicine plays in the care of neurologic patients. ********** CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY...

Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: predictors of postpartum-relapse.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: These studies provide additional data about the higher risk of relapse, and the greater potential for progression of disability following childbirth. ********** VUKUSIC AND COLLEAGUES PROSPECTIVELY STUDIED 227 patients who...

Antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention: MATCH trial results.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: The MATCH data provide quite strong evidence that the clopidogrel-aspirin combination is a less favorable option than previously thought, but its use may not be completely contraindicated. ********** ASPIRIN IS THE MAINSTAY...

Melatonin is effective for sleep disorders in young people with developmental delays, but has variable effects on seizures.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: It seems prudent to strongly consider use of melatonin in our cognitively delayed patients with disordered sleep, but to monitor those with epilepsy very closely for exacerbation, and withdraw the drug. ********** SLEEP...

Highlights of the 9th ICADRD meeting.(Abstract & Commentary)(INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON ALZHEIMER'S Disease and Associated Disorders)
September 1, 2004... Synopsis: The hundreds of presentations at this meeting provided encouraging evidence that existing Alzheimer's therapies may have greater benefits than first realized, and that a new generation of potential disease-modifying therapies for AD...

CME questions.
September 1, 2004... 9. Which of the following agents is a small molecule inhibitor of beta amyloid fibrillogeneis? a. Donepezil b. Rivastigmine c. Alzhemied d. AN-1792 10. Which of the following is based on uncontested, double-blind...

Prostate cancer among men with a prostate-specific antigen level < 4.0 ng/mL.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... THE PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION trial enrolled 18,882 men to evaluate whether an alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, could prevent incident prostate cancer in men with normal PSA levels( The end-of-study prostate biopsy identified prostate...

Mirtazapine for reducing nocturnal itch in patients with chronic pruritus.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... PRURITUS IS A COMMONPLACE COMPlaint of persons with dermatological disorders like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic urticaria. Nocturnal itch interrupts sleep and compromises quality of life. Traditional antihistamines offer some...

Interventions for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... AS MANY AS I OUT OF 3 POST-SURGIcal patients suffer nausea and vomiting (N&V), unless prophylaxed with antiemetic pharmacotherapy. Worldwide, 75 million persons per year undergo a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia, hence optimizing N&V...

Multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... THE GREATEST BURDEN OF THE HIV epidemic resides outside the United States. Especially in economically lesser-privileged nations, not all individuals who might benefit from antiretroviral (ARV) treatment can obtain it. Observational studies have...

The long-term outcomes of sibutramine effectiveness on weight (lose weight) study.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... CLINICAL TRIALS IN RESEARCH SETtings may not reflect accurately what clinicians in a non-academic milieu may anticipate, despite using the same fundamental pharmacologic tools. Drug efficacy is sometimes distinguished from drug effectiveness by...

Trial of atorvastatin in rheumatoid arthritis (TARA).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... MODULATION OF LIPID LEVELS appears to be the primary mechanism for beneficial effects of statins upon cardiovascular disease. At the same time, statins have been demonstrated in-vitro to impact on numerous aspects of inflammatory pathways, such...

New clinical guidelines on cholesterol management.
September 1, 2004... The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), a product of a collaboration of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association, has updated its clinical practice...

Hypothyroidism and pregnancy.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A new study clarifies thyroid replacement therapy during pregnancy. Researchers at Harvard followed 19 women with hypothyroidism through 20 pregnancies, of which 17 resulted in full-term births. Thyroid function, HCG levels, and estradiol were...

Anti-depressants and the risk of suicide.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The risk of suicidal behavior is relatively high after starting anti-depressants, however, there is no statistical difference between anti-depressants used, according to a new study. Researchers reviewed data from the UK General Practice...

FDA actions.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The FDA has approved acamprosate (Campral-Merck) for the maintenance of abstinence in patients in alcohol recovery programs. The drug, which has been available in Europe for several years, may not work if patients are still drinking or abusing...

Brief notes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The over-the-counter cough medications, dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine, are no better than placebo in suppressing cough in children (Pediatrics. 2004;114:e85-e90). Many women are turning to phytoestrogens in lieu of hormone...