Neurology Alert – December 1, 2003
December 1, 2003
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Nuclear Transfer Stem Cells for Parkinson’s Disease: What’s All the Fuss?
This is the first study to examine whether nuclear transfer stem cells are effective in an animal model of Parkinsons disease. Nuclear transfer is a means of creating stem cells that are genetically identical to the donor. -
Thalamic Stimulation for Essential Tremor
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus is an effective procedure that markedly improves quality of life in patients with medication-refractory essential tremor. An initial wave of enthusiasm greeted the approval of DBS, but concerns have been raised about its long-term efficacy and the risks of hardware failure and infection. To address these questions, a consortium of neurologists set out to enroll patients in a longitudinal clinical trial with long-term follow-up. -
A Prospective Study of Anticoagulation Intensities in Patients With APA Syndrome
Crowther and associates reported the results of a prospective, randomized, controlled study of the use of 2 intensities of warfarin anticoagulation for prevention of thrombosis in patients with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome who had previous thrombosis. -
Blood Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke: When More May Indeed Be More
The management of blood pressure in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is not well understood. In fact, it has been advocated by some that the pharmacologic elevation of blood pressure may augment perfusion to the ischemic penumbra and improve stroke outcome. -
Polio and West Nile Virus
West Nile virus may present as meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalomyelitis, and Guillain Barré syndrome. Poliomyelitis, as 2 well-documented cases demonstrate, must also be added to the list. -
Glia Cells Enter Stage Right: Pain Gets Some New Players
Neuropathic pain, specifically allodynia following peripheral nerve injury, is a poorly understood phenomenon that challenges clinicians and patients. Tsuda and associates report on animal data that may reveal insights into the underlying mechanism of tactile allodynia. -
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: ‘I’m Losing My Mind’
Helmstaedter and colleagues addressed the question of whether temporal lobe epilepsy may be associated with cognitive decline. -
Objective Diagnosis of Upper Motor Neuron Disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinical diagnosis made with a high degree of accuracy (> 90%) by physicians familiar with the disease. No test is diagnostic for ALS. -
Clinical Alerts
Practice Parameter for Guillain Barré Syndrome; Symposium on Dementia -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement
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Pharmacology Watch: Eplerenone Cleared for CHF Patients with Sustained MI
The FDA has approved Pfizer's eplerenone (Inspra) for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients who have sustained a myocardial infarction.