Neurology: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Subjectively Poor Sleep Correlates with Postpartum Depression

• November 3, 2009
• Brian J. Murray MD, FRCPC D, ABSM

In a questionnaire study, this association held true even after adjustments for other known risk factors for depression.

• Reviewing:
• Dørheim SK et al., Sleep 2009 Jul; 32:847

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Quality of Life with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

• November 3, 2009
• Gregory Fricchione, MD

Psychiatric symptoms affect quality of life more than seizure frequency does.

• Reviewing:
• LaFrance WC Jr and Syc S., Neurology 2009 Aug 4; 73:366

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Genetic Causes of Dopa-Responsive Dystonia

• November 3, 2009
• Nutan Sharma, MD, PhD

Parkinsonism is not the only clinical syndrome associated with abnormal dopamine levels.

• Reviewing:
• Clot F et al., Brain 2009 Jul; 132:1753

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Preventative Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms

• November 3, 2009
• Rose Du, MD, PhD

A new cost-effectiveness analysis addresses some clinically important questions.

• Reviewing:
• Greving JP et al., Neurology 2009 Jul 28; 73:258 Torner JC et al., Neurology 2009 Jul 28; 73:254

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Psychological Health in Central Hypersomnias: The French Harmony Study

• October 27, 2009
• Demetrios A. Julius, MD

An ambitious and impressive study of central hypersomnias — including cataplectic narcolepsy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and idiopathic hypersomnia — helps to clarify the associations of these entities with each other, with depressive symptomatology, and with treatment response.

• Reviewing:
• Dauvilliers Y et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009 Jun; 80:636

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

VECTORS Study: Are We Going in the Right Direction?

• October 27, 2009
• Joel Stein, MD

Contrary to expectation, high-intensity constraint-induced therapy produced worse outcomes than lower-intensity constraint-induced therapy or conventional therapy when used early after stroke.

• Reviewing:
• Dromerick AW et al., Neurology 2009 Jul 21; 73:195 Cramer SC., Neurology 2009 Jul 21; 73:170

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Neurological Comorbidity and Epilepsy Treatment

• October 20, 2009
• Andrew J. Cole, MD, FRCP(C)

A review highlights the dearth of class 1 evidence regarding optimal epilepsy treatment and drug–drug interactions in the setting of comorbid disease.

• Reviewing:
• Zaccara G., Acta Neurol Scand 2009 Jul; 120:1

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Link Found Between Sleep Loss and Colitis

• October 20, 2009
• Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, MMSc, MD

In mice, sleep deprivation worsens colonic inflammation.

• Reviewing:
• Tang Y et al., Sleep Med 2009 Jun; 10:597

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

FOUR Score Coma Scale in Medical Intensive CareFree

• October 20, 2009
• David M. Greer, MD, MA

This relatively new coma assessment scale performed well in predicting outcome in medical intensive care, but it needs further validation.

• Reviewing:
• Iyer VN et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2009 Aug; 84:694

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Patent Foramen Ovale and Risk for Stroke Recurrence

• October 13, 2009
• Julien Bogousslavsky, MD

A meta-analysis finds a low risk but does not provide a definitive answer on whether PFO closure can reduce the risk in selected patients.

• Reviewing:
• Almekhlafi MA et al., Neurology 2009 Jul 14; 73:89