Neurology: Archives

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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Review of Associations Between Sleepiness and Depression

• October 13, 2009
• Quentin Regestein, MD

Sleep and depression are so complex that a review article can only describe, not answer, specific questions about their interaction.

• Reviewing:
• Chellappa SL et al., Sleep Med 2009 May; 10:505

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Neuroimaging with Pittsburgh Compound B in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

• October 13, 2009
• Rawan Tarawneh, MD, and John C. Morris, MD

MCI patients with amyloid retention identified by PiB most likely have very early AD.

• Reviewing:
• Wolk DA et al., Ann Neurol 2009 May; 65:557

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Effect of Statins on Responses to Interferon Beta-1a

• October 6, 2009
• Hillel Panitch, MD

A retrospective study suggests that statins do not interfere with the therapeutic effects of IFNβ-1a in multiple sclerosis, but methodologic problems render the issue unresolved.

• Reviewing:
• Rudick RA et al., Neurology 2009 Jun 9; 72:1989

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Expanding the Window for Acute Stroke Treatment

• October 6, 2009
• James S. McKinney, MD

New recommendations from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association on using t-PA between 3 and 4.5 hours after stroke onset

• Reviewing:
• del Zoppo GJ et al., Stroke 2009 Aug; 40:2945

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Maintaining Mental Fitness in Old Age

• September 29, 2009
• Kirk R. Daffner, MD

What factors affect maintenance of cognitive function or contribute to cognitive decline?

• Reviewing:
• Yaffe K et al., Neurology 2009 Jun 9; 72:2029