Neurology Alert – December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
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DaTSCAN to Distinguish Parkinson’s Disease from Secondary Parkinsonism
DaTSCAN imaging makes use of the dopamine transporter (DAT) ligand [123I]FP-CIT used with SPECT to provide a means to visualize the integrity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. DaTSCAN has been approved in the United States to aid in evaluation of patients in whom Parkinsons disease (PD) and certain other related neurodegenerative disorders are suspected. -
Hypoperfusion Response During Cortical Spreading Depolariz
This study examines and describes the occurrence of an inverse neurovascular coupling response in peri-contusional brain tissue as a potential and novel mechanism for secondary brain injury. -
Utility of Anti-JC Virus Antibody Index to Assess the Risk of PML in Natalizumab-Treated MS Patients
Natalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that is FDA-approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Among the available options to treat MS, it is one of the most effective. -
Anti-Titin Antibodies in Myasthenia Gravis
In addition to autoantibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AchR) and the receptor-associated protein muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) demonstrate a host of other antibodies. -
Intravenous Calcitonin Gene-Related Antibodies for the Prevention of Migraine
In a Phase 2 trial, antibodies to calcitonin gene-related peptide resulted in a significant decrease in migraine days measured from baseline to weeks 5 to 8 after one intravenous infusion of the medication, as compared to a placebo infusion. But the high-rate of placebo response (50%) warrants caution in the interpretation of the study results and requires more investigation. -
Stroke Alert
Carotid MRI scanning was performed in 1414 stroke-free participants, older than the age of 45 years, to assess the morphology of any atherosclerotic plaques, specifically to look at the presence of a lipid core, intraplaque hemorrhage, calcification, or fibrous tissue in each carotid artery.