Extended-Release Naltrexone Lowers Relapse Risk After Opioid Detoxification
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But this study did not use an active comparator and did not report posttreatment risks.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
May 31, 2011
Covering:
Krupitsky E et al., Lancet 2011 Apr 30; 377:1506
Wolfe D et al., Lancet 2011 Apr 30; 377:1468
Serum Levels of Folate and Vitamin B12 in Users of AEDs
Neurology Summary and Comment
Use of common antiepileptic drugs was associated with reduced serum levels of folate and, to a lesser extent, vitamin B12 .
Genetic Screening for Carbamazepine Reactions
Neurology Summary and Comment
Screening for the HLA-B*1502 and HLA-A*3101 alleles in patients of Chinese and European descent, respectively, may help prevent carbamazepine-induced toxicity.
By Jaime Toro, MD
March 23, 2011
Covering:
Chen P et al. for the Taiwan SJS Consortium., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 24; 364:1126
McCormack M et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 24; 364:1134
What Causes Errors in Distinguishing AD from FTLD on Functional Images?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Both patients with Alzheimer disease and those with frontotemporal lobar degeneration can have temporoparietal hypometabolism on brain scans, leading to diagnostic errors.
Emotional Distress Does Not Seem to Affect Chances of Pregnancy with IVF
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Pretreatment worry, tension, and depression were not associated with in vitro fertilization outcomes.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for Menopausal Hot Flashes: How Effective?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Escitalopram was modestly more effective than placebo.
Behavioral Therapy Alleviates Chronic Insomnia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Behavioral therapy is effective but not widely available.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
CBT focused on alleviating stress and hostility and was associated with significantly fewer second events.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
February 8, 2011
Covering:
Gulliksson M et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Jan 24; 171:134
HPV Vaccine Prevents Genital Warts in Men
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Its efficacy against human papillomavirus–related malignancies in men is presumed but not proven yet.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 8, 2011
Covering:
Giuliano AR et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Feb 3; 364:401
Long-Term Opioids for Nonmalignant Pain
The dilemma: Undertreating patients with pain or overprescribing opioids?
Varenicline Helps Smokeless Tobacco Users to Quit
General Medicine Summary and Comment
More than half of varenicline recipients were abstinent at 12 weeks.
Medicare Costs of Advanced Dementia
Neurology Summary and Comment
Hospitalizations and hospice care drive Medicare expenditures for nursing home residents with advanced dementia.
By Liana S. Rosenthal, MD, and E. Ray Dorsey, MD, MBA
February 1, 2011
Covering:
Goldfeld KS et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Jan 10
Plasma Amyloid-Beta Levels and Cognitive Decline
Neurology Summary and Comment
Among community-dwelling elders without dementia, lower plasma amyloid-beta 42/40 levels were associated with greater cognitive decline, and "cognitive reserve" modified the association.
Point of View: Do We Need More Vitamin D?
An expert weighs in on the new Institute of Medicine recommendations.
By Russell W. Chesney, MD
January 5, 2011
New Institute of Medicine Recommendations on Vitamin D
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Evidence is lacking for extraskeletal health benefits of vitamin D; most people in the U.S. and Canada have adequate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
December 17, 2010
Covering:
Ross AC et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010 Nov 29
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Stroke Recovery
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Fluoxetine may improve motor outcome after ischemic stroke.
By Gary Abrams, MD
February 1, 2011
Covering:
Chollet F et al., Lancet Neurol 2011 Feb; 10:123
DHA Supplementation in Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
A negative trial raises questions.
By Martha Clare Morris, ScD
December 14, 2010
Covering:
Quinn JF et al., JAMA 2010 Nov 3; 304:1903
Memantine for Parkinson Disease Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia
Neurology Summary and Comment
A randomized trial shows a marginal benefit for LBD and has no effect for PDD.
By Andrew Siderowf, MD
October 19, 2010
Covering:
Emre M et al., Lancet Neurol 2010 Oct; 9:969
Dads Get Sad Too
Rates of paternal depression are lower than those of maternal depression, but both peak in the first year after the birth of a child.
By Robin Drucker, MD
December 15, 2010
Covering:
Davé S et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010 Nov; 164:1038
Biologically Active Vitamin B12, Homocysteine, and Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Baseline serum levels of homocysteine correlated positively and holotranscobalamin levels correlated negatively with AD risk in a population-based, 7-year cohort study.
Dementia Associated with Heavy Smoking in Midlife
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Midlife cigarette smoking of two packs per day or more portends an elevated risk for overall dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia in later life.
Cognitive Decline After Sepsis Hospitalization
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Older patients hospitalized with severe sepsis are at increased risk for new cognitive deficits and functional impairment, highlighting their need for subacute and chronic follow-up.
Social Factors Predict Excess Risk for Antenatal Depression
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Intimate partner violence, chronic medical conditions, and black race or Latina ethnicity confer the greatest risks for antenatal depression, which affects 10% of women.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
November 18, 2010
Covering:
Melville JL et al., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Nov; 116:1064
SSRIs as a Treatment for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A pilot study of sertraline supports further investigation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for PNES.
Tricyclics Lighten Headache Burden in Patients with Migraine and Tension Headaches
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Tricyclics are more effective than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
