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In this paper, Oral and colleagues compared 2 current ablation techniques in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
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A United Kingdom survey of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in 32 victims aged 4-64 with normal hearts at autopsy and a negative toxicologic screening test evaluated first-degree relatives of these victims.
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Although beta-blockers are known to reduce the sensitivity of exercise and dobutamine sestamibi SPECT imaging for the detection of coronary artery disease, little is known about their effects on vasodilator stress scintigraphy. Thus, Taillefer and colleagues studied 21 patients with catheter proven coronary artery disease during 3 different treatments on different days assigned in a random fashion.
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The availability of comprehensive records of public health in Scandinavian countries is a major advantage in working out epidemiological studies. The present study of Swedish twins including many older than 80 now suggests that the genetic component of AD may be less than previously thought.
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The prospects for therapy in Huntingtons disease are rapidly improving. Another potential treatment is to use striatal neural grafts.
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This report described the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of flupirtine maleate (FLU), a triaminopyridine compound in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The patients with flupirtine showed significantly less deterioration in the dementia tests than the patients treated with placebo.
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Men and women with restless legs syndrome (RLS), aged 18-79 years, were included in this randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted at 43 centers in 10 European countries, designed to assess the efficacy of ropinirole, a dopamine agonist, in the treatment of RLS. Ropinirole significantly improved IRLSSG score at 12 weeks compared to placebo, with benefit evident even at week 1.
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Non-pharmacologic treatment options for patients of epilepsy include resective epilepsy surgery, vagal nerve stimulation, the ketogenic diet, and experimental protocols. Of these, epilepsy surgery offers the greatest chance of curing the patients epilepsy. To achieve this degree of success, it is critical to localize the epileptogenic zone as accurately as possible. Pataraia et al estimates that MEG provides additional localizing information in 40% of their patients.
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In contrast to arterial thrombo-embolic ischemic stroke, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is unique in its clinical presentation and treatment algorithm. As reported by Ferro and associates on behalf of the multicenter international ISCVT study, venous stroke, typically treated with heparin, has a good outcome in the vast majority of cases.
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Economy class syndrome (ECS) refers to venous thromboembolic episodes among airline passengers who have remained immobile for long periods in cramped seating that impairs their circulation. Economy class passengers with little leg space are more likely to suffer such events than passengers in roomy first-class seats.
