High-Risk Foster Children Benefit from Adoption by Same-Sex Parents
Adoptive children of gay and lesbian parents had similar developmental outcomes as adoptive children of heterosexual parents.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
November 21, 2012
Covering:
Lavner JA et al., Am J Orthopsychiatry 2012 Oct; 82:465
AAP Policy Statement: Preventing Firearm-Related Injuries in the Pediatric Population
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Child health care practitioners should incorporate questions about availability of firearms in the patient history and counsel parents about the dangers of allowing access to guns.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
November 21, 2012
Covering:
Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention Executive Committee., Pediatrics 2012 Nov; 130:e1416
The Effect of HIV on Neurologic Disorders
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In a large cohort study, HIV-positive men developed neurologic disorders at an earlier age and more frequently than HIV-negative men.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
November 21, 2012
Covering:
Mateen FJ et al., Neurology 2012 Oct 30; 79:1873
Poor Physical Performance Associated with Dementia, Again
Neurology Summary and Comment
The "oldest old" are more likely to have dementia if they have physical impairments.
Genetic Predictor of the Placebo Response
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Perhaps it's (genetic) matter over mind.
New Benzodiazepine Use Is Associated with Risk for Dementia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk rose by about 60% among elders in whom treatment with these drugs was initiated.
Feeding Tubes in Patients with Advanced Dementia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Tube feedings did not extend life in a nursing home cohort.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 30, 2012
Covering:
Teno JM et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Oct; 60:1918
Extending or Restricting Sleep Affects Daytime Emotional Regulation
School-age children who modestly increased their sleep time had healthier daytime behaviors and less daytime sleepiness than children who modestly eliminated sleep time.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
October 31, 2012
Covering:
Gruber R et al., Pediatrics 2012 Nov; 130:e1155
Evidence of Autoimmunity in Movement and Psychiatric Disorders
Neurology Summary and Comment
An autoimmune basal ganglia encephalitis is identified that may be treatable with immune therapy.
By Jaime Toro, MD
October 30, 2012
Covering:
Dale RC et al., Brain 2012 Oct 11
Zonisamide Can Augment Weight Loss
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But in a randomized trial, incremental benefit was modest and adverse effects were common.
Self-Help Course Combats Insomnia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Detailed behavioral techniques improved sleep in older adults.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
October 25, 2012
Covering:
Morgan K et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Oct; 60:1803
Patient-Reported Stress Levels and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a prospective cohort study, both survival and health status markers were worse in patients with greater perceived stress than in those with less stress.
Literature Review Questions Antidepressant Use in Infertile Women
There is little evidence" that infertile women with depression benefit from SSRI therapy, "therefore they should be counseled appropriately about the risks and be advised...
Fewer Teenagers Are Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving among adolescents aged 16 and older fell by 54% during the last 20 years.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
October 24, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Oct 5; 61:796
Prenatal Mercury Exposure, Fish Consumption, and ADHD Symptoms
Prenatal mercury exposure increases risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children, while prenatal fish consumption decreases risk.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
October 24, 2012
Covering:
Sagiv SK et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Oct 8
Lanphear BP., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Oct 8
Brief Adolescent Suicide Screening Tool Requires Validation
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
A four-item tool had good performance among a relatively homogenous group of adolescents.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
October 19, 2012
Covering:
Horowitz LM et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Oct 1
Vitamin D and Cognition: Shedding Light on the Subject?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests an association between Alzheimer disease and Vitamin D levels.
Symptom-Triggered Dosing Is Better Than Fixed Dosing for Treating Alcohol Withdrawal
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Symptom-triggered dosing leads to lower total benzodiazepine dose and shorter hospital stay than fixed-tapered dosing.
FDA Warns That Opana Abusers Risk Blood Disorder
The extended-release formulation of the opioid Opana (oxymorphone) can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura if the pills are crushed and injected intravenously, the FDA warned...
Synthetic Cannabinoids ("Spice") — Relatively New Drugs of Abuse
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Researchers reviewed 1300 cases reported to poison control centers.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 11, 2012
Covering:
Hoyte CO et al., Ann Emerg Med 2012 Oct; 60:435
FDA Alert: Possible Heart Failure Risk with Pramipexole
Neurology News in Context
Limited data suggest a possible association of at least one dopamine agonist with heart failure.
Virus Sequestered in the CNS May Cause Substantial Damage
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
A small case series casts HIV as a central nervous system pathogen, even when plasma virus has disappeared.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 24, 2012
Covering:
Peluso MJ et al., AIDS 2012 Sep 10; 26:1765
Sleep and Working Memory in Parkinson Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Slow-wave sleep may be an important modulator of dopamine-related improvement in working memory among patients with PD.
By Jennifer Rose V. Molano, MD
September 25, 2012
Covering:
Scullin MK et al., Brain 2012 Sep; 135:2789
Version of Generic Wellbutrin Withdrawn from the Market
A generic version of bupropion, distributed by Teva Pharmaceuticals as Budeprion XL 300 mg, has been pulled from the market after an FDA analysis found...
Is Working Too Hard Really Bad for Your Heart?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A collaborative meta-analysis suggests that the effect is real but smaller than previously thought.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
September 19, 2012
Covering:
Kivimäki M et al., Lancet 2012 Sep 14
