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
Several Autism Genes Identified
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Three teams independently found very strong evidence for mutations in at least three specific genes.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
April 17, 2012
Covering:
Sanders SJ et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
O'Roak BJ et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
Neale BM et al., Nature 2012 Apr 4
Aseptic Meningitis an Adverse Effect of Lamotrigine
Neurology Summary and Comment
An analysis of FDA data suggests that aseptic meningitis may be associated with lamotrigine.
By Jaime Toro, MD
April 3, 2012
Covering:
Simms KM et al., Neurology 2012 Mar 20; 78:921
Exposure to Alcohol Use by Parents and in Movies Correlates with Onset of Adolescent Drinking
But only exposure in movies predicts transition to binge drinking.
The Pleasure of Scratching an Itch: A Love–Hate Relationship
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Itch is miserable, and scratching it can be incredibly satisfying and pleasurable. Is scratching an itch more pleasurable in some anatomic sites than in others? . . .
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
March 9, 2012
Covering:
bin Saif GA et al., Br J Dermatol 2012 Jan 13
Ten Percent of U.S. Children Live with a Parent with Alcohol Use Disorder
This translates to 7.5 million children at increased risk for mental health problems, parental neglect and abuse, and development of a problem with alcohol use themselves.
Which Comes First: Depression or Risk Behaviors?
Depressive symptoms precede increases in adolescent use of tobacco, marijuana, and hard drugs but not alcohol.
Add Extended-Release Guanfacine to a Stimulant for ADHD?
Extended-release guanfacine can be a safe and effective add-on for a child with ADHD who adheres to a maximum-dose stimulant regimen and responds suboptimally.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
February 29, 2012
Covering:
Wilens TE et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012 Jan; 51:74
Insomnia Drugs Linked to Increased Mortality
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But confounding could partly explain the findings in this observational study.
Timing of Biomarker Changes in Alzheimer Disease Process
Neurology Summary and Comment
Abnormal amyloid biomarker levels may be seen before abnormal tau biomarker levels in patients progressing toward Alzheimer disease.
By Jennifer Rose V. Molano, MD
February 14, 2012
Covering:
Jack CR Jr et al., Arch Neurol 2011 Dec; 68:1526
Cognitive Decline Begins in Middle Age
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The decline accelerated as years advanced.
Nicotine for MCI?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A small study of a nicotine patch in patients with mild cognitive impairment showed some benefit on a reaction-time test but no effect according to clinicians' judgment.
By David S. Knopman, MD
February 7, 2012
Covering:
Newhouse P et al., Neurology 2012 Jan 10; 78:91
Computerized Neurocognitive Testing in U.S. High Schools
Neurology Summary and Comment
Researchers report the prevalence of computerized neurocognitive testing in a subset of schools but do not provide useful data on clinical outcomes.
By Jeffrey Kutcher, MD
January 10, 2012
Covering:
Meehan WP III et al., Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129:38
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
Sexual Activity After Menopause
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Most WHI participants reported being satisfied with their sexual activity.
Good and Bad News About Adolescent Substance Use
Declines in adolescents' use of alcohol and tobacco are offset by a continuing rise in use of marijuana.
Behavioral Techniques to Address Overactive Bladder in Men
General Medicine Summary and Comment
These techniques worked just as well as anticholinergic drugs.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 19, 2012
Covering:
Burgio KL et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Dec; 59:2209
The Menstrual Cycle and Mood: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Prospective mood tracking helps establish diagnoses; treatments include antidepressants and oral contraceptives.
By Marlene P. Freeman, MD
December 21, 2011
Antidepressants and Fetal Risk: A New Look at SSRIs During Pregnancy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during late pregnancy raised risk for neonatal pulmonary hypertension, but individual risk-benefit profiles should be evaluated.
By Allison Bryant, MD, MPH
January 19, 2012
Covering:
Kieler H et al., BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d8012
Koren G and Nordeng H., BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d7642
Is Preventing Transmission of Mental Illness from Parent to Child Possible?
Interventions for parents decreased risk for childhood psychiatric diagnosis by 40%.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
February 1, 2012
Covering:
Siegenthaler E et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012 Jan; 51:8
No Excess Risk for Cardiac Events with ADHD Medications in Adults
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results support the FDA decision against a black box warning on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 10, 2012
Covering:
Habel LA et al., JAMA 2011 Dec 28; 306:2673
Shaw P., JAMA 2011 Dec 28; 306:2723
Exercise Referral Schemes Have Marginal Benefits for Sedentary Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients exercised more, but body-mass index, blood pressure, and lipid levels remained unchanged.
Gestational Exposure to BPA Linked with Behavioral Effects
High levels of urinary bisphenol A measured during gestation were associated with anxious and depressed behavior and poorer emotional control in children at age 3 years.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
November 23, 2011
Covering:
Braun JM et al., Pediatrics 2011 Nov; 128:873
Social Phobia Is Distinct from Shyness
Teens who met criteria for social phobia reported greater impairment and were more likely to have psychiatric comorbidities than youth who rated themselves as shy.
Specific Genes Mediate Stimulant Response Variability in Children with ADHD
Two genetic polymorphisms were associated with individual variability in methylphenidate dose-response among school-age children with ADHD.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
November 9, 2011
Covering:
Froehlich TE et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 Nov; 50:1129
