Headaches Are Common in Children with Tourette Syndrome
At Cleveland Clinic, 17% of children with TS reported having a migraine headache during the previous 6 months.
First Complex Febrile Seizure Portends Low Risk for Intracranial Pathology
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Fewer than 1% of children with first complex febrile seizure and a normal neurological examination have clinically important intracranial pathology.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
April 13, 2012
Covering:
Kimia AA et al., Pediatr Emerg Care 2012 Apr; 28:316
Isolated Severe Injury Mechanism Predicts Low Risk for Pediatric Intracranial Injury
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Children with severe injury mechanism as the only one of the six risk factors included in the PECARN head injury prediction rule were at very low risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
April 13, 2012
Covering:
Nigrovic LE et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Apr; 166:356
In Alzheimer Disease, Antioxidants Hurt
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Antioxidants do not improve AD biomarkers and adversely affect cognition.
Geriatric Depression as a Harbinger of Dementia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Similar white-matter findings in remitted geriatric depression and mild cognitive impairment suggest that they may progress similarly to Alzheimer disease.
A New Potential Therapeutic Pathway for Alzheimer Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
High levels of histone deacetylase 2 in animals and humans are associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment.
Thrombolysis for Stroke Is Safe in Younger Patients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Outcomes were better among patients aged 18 to 50 than among those aged 51 to 80.
Cervical MRI in Obtunded Trauma Patients Does Not Change Management After Normal CT
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
No injuries detected on magnetic resonance imaging were deemed unstable or required surgical intervention.
Antidepressants in Dementia: To Stop or Not?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Some patients have increased symptoms after SSRI discontinuation, but most do well.
Alzheimer Disease and Cancer: An Inverse Relation?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Framingham data support this biologically plausible phenomenon.
Does Guillain-Barré Syndrome Recur After Flu Vaccination?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
It's a question that resists an answer.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 20, 2012
Covering:
Baxter R et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:800
Managing Drug Therapies as Alzheimer Disease Progresses
General Medicine Summary and Comment
After several years of donepezil therapy, donepezil (but not memantine) conferred modest benefits.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 20, 2012
Covering:
Howard R et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Mar 8; 366:893
Long-Term Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Are Not So Mild
Children with mild TBI can experience physical and cognitive symptoms and impaired function for many months.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
March 21, 2012
Covering:
Yeates KO et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Mar 5
Rivara FP., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Mar 5
Childhood Craniopharyngiomas: Presenting Features and Long-Term Morbidities
A craniopharyngioma that is diagnosed before age 10 years has unique and unfortunate sequelae, according to a retrospective analysis from France.
White-Matter Findings in Infants at High Risk for Autism
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Among infants at high risk for autism, development in white-matter tracts differs between those who were and those who were not diagnosed with autism at 24 months.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 27, 2012
Covering:
Wolff JJ et al., Am J Psychiatry 2012 Feb 17
Distinguishing FTD from Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A specific neuropsychological assessment shows promise.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 26, 2012
Covering:
Bertoux M et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2012 Apr; 83:411
A New Quick Way to Assess Alzheimer Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A neuropsychological test captures the episodic memory deficit associated with AD, even early in the disease process.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 26, 2012
Covering:
Wagner M et al., Neurology 2012 Feb 7; 78:379
Swerdlow RH and Jicha GA., Neurology 2012 Feb 7; 78:374
Decline in Guillain-Barré Syndrome Linked to Control of Campylobacteriosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In New Zealand, campylobacteriosis incidence dropped by about 50% — and GBS incidence fell by 13% — after institution of measures to control poultry contamination.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
February 22, 2012
Covering:
Baker MG et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2012 Feb; 18:226
Clinical Features Associated with PANDAS
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Remission of symptoms and evidence of streptococcal infections were more likely in children with PANDAS than in those with OCD or tics but not PANDAS.
Stem Cells Helpful for Studying Alzheimer Disease Pathology
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Using induced pluripotent stem cells allows a closer look at phenotypes in familial and sporadic AD.
Another Screening Test for Dementia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A simple "visual association" test was quite sensitive and specific.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 9, 2012
Covering:
Fuchs A et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jan; 60:130
Neuroprotective Benefits of Neonatal Caffeine Wane by Age 5 Years
But this finding does not refute the benefits of caffeine during the neonatal period.
By William P. Kanto, Jr., MD
February 8, 2012
Covering:
Schmidt B et al., JAMA 2012 Jan 18; 307:275
Maitre NL and Stark AR., JAMA 2012 Jan 18; 307:304
Chronic Headache After Traumatic Brain Injury Is Common in Children
The prevalence of headache 3 months after mild TBI is highest in adolescents and girls.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
February 15, 2012
Covering:
Blume HK et al., Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129:e31
Which Came First, the Seizure or the Psychiatric Disorder?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Because the timing can go either way, a common mechanism might underlie both.
Canadian CT Head Rule Is Superior to New Orleans Criteria in Minor Head Injury
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 15, both decision rules had 100% sensitivity for identifying significant intracranial injuries, but the Canadian CT Head Rule had higher specificity.
