Yield of EEG in an Inpatient Setting
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Seven percent of general medical inpatients had seizures on electroencephalography.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 9, 2013
Covering:
Betjemann JP et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2013 Apr; 88:326
Sweetening the Brain: Higher Fasting Glucose Levels and Alzheimer-Like Abnormalities
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A study in cognitively healthy, nondiabetic individuals with family histories of dementia
Memory Lagging? Get Some Rest
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Appropriate cues during slow-wave sleep may improve memory.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
May 6, 2013
Covering:
Oudiette D et al., J Neurosci 2013 Apr 10; 33:6672
Exercise as Treatment for Postconcussive Symptoms
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Progressive aerobic exercise results in imaging changes and symptomatic improvement — at least for relatively uncomplicated concussions.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Leddy JJ et al., J Head Trauma Rehabil 2012 Dec 15
Disseminating Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This therapy, delivered by telephone, is more effective than an informational pamphlet.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
April 1, 2013
Covering:
Arnedt JT et al., Sleep 2013 Mar 1; 36:353
Sivertsen B et al., Sleep 2013 Mar 1; 36:303
Fragile X Syndrome: Rx Minocycline?
This widely available medication was associated with modest behavioral improvements in children with FXS.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 1, 2013
Covering:
Leigh MJS et al., J Dev Behav Pediatr 2013 Apr; 34:147
The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Bacterial Meningitis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Adult survivors of childhood bacterial meningitis have lower educational achievement and a lower likelihood of economic self-sufficiency than matched healthy controls.
Another Herpesvirus Causing Encephalitis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Human herpesvirus 6 can cause encephalitis early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
New Neurosurgical Guidelines Warn of Harm from Steroids in Acute Spinal Injury
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Comprehensive consensus guidelines contain 112 evidence-based recommendations, including that methylprednisolone should not be used for treatment of acute spinal cord injury.
HIV-Mediated CD8 Encephalitis: Adding Fuel to the Immune-Dysregulation Fire
Clinicians describe a CNS inflammatory complication in HIV-infected patients on long-term antiretroviral therapy whose outcomes ranged from death to total recovery with adjunctive glucocorticoids.
By Jennifer L. Lyons, MD, and Paul E. Sax, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Lescure F-X et al., Clin Inf Dis 2013 Apr 15
Implications of Latent HIV Infection in the Brain
Increased BCL11B (a chromatin modifier) in latently infected brain tissue was associated with increased levels of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative markers.
By Jennifer L. Lyons, MD, and Paul E. Sax, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Desplats P et al., Neurology 2013 Mar 13
Wiley CA and Cysique LA.,
BRAF Inhibitors and Bell Palsy
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Neurologic defects associated with vemurafenib use appear to be reversible with treatment.
Botulism Associated with Commercially Canned Food
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Eight cases of botulism in three states were linked to commercially canned hot dog chili sauce; a single manufacturing plant was implicated.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 20, 2013
Covering:
Juliao PC et al., Clin Infect Dis 2013 Feb 1; 56:376
Itch Gets Its Own Voice
Dermatology Summary and Comment
MrgprA3-expressing neurons, which mediate itch but not pain, may represent a promising target for itch relief.
By Kenneth Y. Tsai, MD, PhD
February 22, 2013
Covering:
Han L et al., Nat Neurosci 2013 Feb; 16:174
Namer B and Reeh P., Nat Neurosci 2013 Feb; 16:117
Some Emergency Department Patients with Headache Have Abnormal Fundi on Photographic Exam
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Yet most emergency physicians in this study did not perform a direct exam.
Sorry, Can't Stop Doing Lumbar Puncture to Rule Out Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A clinical decision rule performed well, but CT within 6 hours missed 20% of cases.
Promoting Use of Magnesium Sulfate to Prevent Cerebral Palsy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Implementation of guidelines for magnesium sulfate infusion in preterm deliveries effectively escalated its use in one large tertiary center.
More Forgetful as You Get Older? Get Better (Slow-Wave) Sleep
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Atrophy of the medial prefrontal cortex, reduced slow-wave sleep, and impaired long-term episodic memory are linked.
Who Is at Higher Risk of Stroke with Antipsychotic Drugs?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Risk is associated with new use of antipsychotics, dementia, old age, high doses, and antipsychotics with high affinity to certain receptors.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 4, 2013
Covering:
Wu C-S et al., Biol Psychiatry 2013 Mar 1; 73:414
Is Schizophrenia a Neuroinflammatory Disorder?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Ten percent of acutely ill schizophrenia patients have antibodies against NMDA glutamate receptors, compared with 3% of depression patients and no patients with borderline personality disorder.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 11, 2013
Covering:
Steiner J et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Jan 23
Intranasal Ketamine for a Neuropsychiatric Condition
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
It decreases severity of migraine aura — could this formulation also be used for depression?
Impulsive Behaviors in Parkinson Disease: CBT May Work
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This controlled, open study provides preliminary evidence of efficacy.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 11, 2013
Covering:
Okai D et al., Neurology 2013 Jan 16
Macphee GJA and Carson A., Neurology 2013 Jan 16
Use of rtPA for Acute Ischemic Stroke Within 3 to 4.5 Hours Is Cost Effective in Most Instances
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
. . . but may not be for patients with diabetes or atrial fibrillation.
Subclinical Cerebral Embolization During Carotid Revascularization
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This complication might cause subtle cognitive impairment.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 8, 2013
Covering:
Tulip HH et al., J Vasc Surg 2012 Dec; 56:1579
Zhou W et al., J Vasc Surg 2012 Dec; 56:1571
Effect of Vaccination Against Tick-Borne Encephalitis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Mass vaccination in Austria decreased the incidence of infection by about 84%, compared with the prevaccination era.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
January 16, 2013
Covering:
Heinz FX et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2013 Jan; 19:69
