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Post-Traumatic Epilepsy and the Risk of Dementia
A subset of people with head injury will develop post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). This prospective cohort study demonstrated a 4.5-fold increased risk of dementia in those with PTE compared to people without head trauma or epilepsy, and that this risk exceeds that observed in people with head trauma or epilepsy alone.
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Omalizumab Injection (Xolair)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first medication to help reduce allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur after accidental exposure to multiple foods. Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG1k monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to immunoglobulin E (IgE) lowering free serum IgE levels.
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Is Cannabis Abuse During Pregnancy Associated with Poor Neonatal Outcomes?
Cannabis use disorder is associated with small but significant increased risks measured in multiple neonatal outcomes.
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Neuropeptides in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome
The diurnal onset of restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been replicated in a mouse model using central instillation of the main melanocortin agonist, α-MSH, which stimulates excessive locomotion and grooming in rodents as well as a state of hyperalgesia. The actions of β-endorphin (β-EDP) oppose those of α-MSH, since β-EDP promotes passivity and analgesia. In this study, these prohormones were measured in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with RLS and compared to controls. Patients with RLS had elevated levels of α-MSH and lower levels of β-EDP compared to the control group.
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Effect of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation on Psychological Well-Being
A randomized trial of catheter ablation vs. medical therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients has shown that anxiety and depression scores are significantly reduced by catheter ablation and are associated with decreases in AF burden and improved physical symptoms.
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Identifying Risk Factors for Young-Onset Dementia
In this large, population-based prospective cohort study, the investigators identified 15 risk factors that have strong associations with young-onset dementia. Modifications of these risk factors might delay the onset of, or prevent the development of, young-onset dementia.
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How Safe Is Cannabis for the Heart?
A nationwide Danish study of new prescriptions for medical cannabis for chronic pain compared to control patients has found that the 180-day incidence of atrial fibrillation/flutter is two-fold higher, but the absolute number of arrhythmias is small.
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Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement After 10 Years
A multicenter randomized trial of transcatheter compared to surgical aortic valve replacement in low-risk older adult patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis has shown that major clinical outcomes and prosthetic valve failure were not different at 10 years of follow-up.
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FDA Approves Coronary Drug-Coated Balloon Specifically for In-Stent Restenosis
This trial randomized 600 U.S. patients with restenosis of a previously placed stent 2:1 to treatment with the AGENT drug-coated balloon or with regular balloon angioplasty. Target lesion failure at one year was significantly lower with the drug-coated balloon, as were target vessel myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis.
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Can Bariatric Surgery Control Blood Pressure Long-Term?
A randomized trial comparing bariatric surgery to medical therapy in hypertensive obese patients has shown that bariatric surgery effectively lowers blood pressure over five years of follow-up.