HRT and CHD, Revisited
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Hormone replacement therapy’s effects on cardiovascular disease may depend on the timing of initiation.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
April 18, 2007
Covering:
Rossouw JE et al., JAMA 2007 Apr 4; 297:1465-77
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made on: The Case of Peduncular Hallucinosis
Neurology Summary and Comment
A description of five cases, and a discussion of pathogenesis
By David N. Levine, MD
April 17, 2007
Covering:
Benke T., J Neurol 2006 Dec; 253:1561-71
Can ECG Abnormalities Predict the Future?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Resting ECGs might be more predictive of future cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women than previously thought.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
April 12, 2007
Covering:
Denes P et al., JAMA 2007 Mar 7; 297:978-85
Worsening of Ipsilateral Hemiparesis After Recurrent Stroke
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Recurrent stroke in the opposite hemisphere from the first stroke can worsen the original hemiparesis, providing insights about poststroke brain reorganization.
By Tetsuro Ago, MD, PhD
April 10, 2007
Covering:
Yamamoto S et al., Cerebrovasc Dis 2007 Jan; 23:35-9
Serious Medical and Psychiatric Illnesses: How Often Are They Comorbid?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Risks for cardiovascular death are elevated among patients with serious psychiatric disorders in the U.K.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 9, 2007
Covering:
Osborn DPJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Feb; 64:242-9
PPA Is Not the Boogeyman
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
The conclusion that PPA is associated with hemorrhage risk appears to be overstated in this case-control study.
By Thomas M. Walshe III, MD
April 3, 2007
Covering:
Yoon BW et al. for the Acute Brain Bleeding Analysis (ABBA) Study Investigators., Neurology 2007 Jan 9; 68:146-9
Hereditary Small Vessel Diseases of the Brain
Neurology Summary and Comment
Comparison of an English and a Swedish family with similar disease features indicates that the Swedish SVD is novel.
By Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD
April 3, 2007
Covering:
Low WC et al., Brain 2007 Feb; 130:357-67
Errors in Acute-Stroke Care
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Preventable errors accounted for nearly half of adverse events in acute-stroke patients at a tertiary care academic hospital.
By Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM
March 30, 2007
Covering:
Holloway RG et al., Neurology 2007 Feb 20; 68:550-5
Unified Score Enhances Early Stroke Prediction After TIA
Neurology Summary and Comment
The ABCD2 score proved more predictive than either the California score or the ABCD score alone.
By Bruce Ovbiagele, MD
March 27, 2007
Covering:
Johnston SC et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:283-92
Is Depression an Independent Risk Factor for Stroke?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk for stroke or TIA — but only in people younger than 65.
By Rima M. Dafer, MD, MPH, FAHA, and José Biller, MD, FACP, FAAN, FAHA
March 27, 2007
Covering:
Salaycik KJ et al., Stroke 2007 Jan; 38:16-21
Carod-Artal FJ., Stroke 2007 Jan; 38:1-3
An EXCITE-ing Treatment for Post-Stroke Upper-Extremity Paresis
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Constraint-induced movement therapy was effective, but questions remain about optimal treatment intensity, duration, and timing.
By Joel Stein, MD
March 6, 2007
Covering:
Wolf SL et al., JAMA 2006 Nov 1; 296:2095-104
Does a Sympathetic Storm Contribute to Mortality from Stroke?
Neurology Summary and Comment
New evidence suggests that it may and that beta-blockers might reduce the risk.
By Martin A. Samuels, MD
March 6, 2007
Covering:
Chamorro A et al., J Neurol Sci 2007 Jan 15; 252:29-35
Dziedzic T et al., J Neurol Sci 2007 Jan 15; 252:53-6
Risks and Benefits of Combined Aspirin–Oral Anticoagulant Therapy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Dual therapy with aspirin plus oral anticoagulants should be reserved mainly for selected subsets of patients with prosthetic heart valves.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
February 27, 2007
Covering:
Dentali F et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:117-24
Focused Readings: Acute Stroke
Emergency Medicine Letter to Readers
Free
Recent studies address advances in acute stroke care.
By Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FACEP, FAAEM
February 23, 2007
Who’s at Risk for Stroke After TIA?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A risk-stratification system is effective for determining a patient’s risk for stroke within 2 days.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
February 23, 2007
Covering:
Johnston SC et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:283-92
Kernan WN., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:251-2
MRI Is Essential to Assess for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
MRI is much more sensitive than CT for this purpose.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
February 23, 2007
Covering:
Chalela JA et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:293-8
Donnan GA et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:252-4
Specialized Stroke Units May Improve Patient Outcomes
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients admitted to stroke units were less likely to die or to be disabled than were those admitted to conventional wards.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
February 23, 2007
Covering:
Candelise L et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:299-305
Rothwell PM., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:254-5
Fibrinolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Standard of Care?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
In actual community use, morbidity and mortality were lower than in pooled randomized studies.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
February 23, 2007
Covering:
Wahlgren N et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:275-82
Albers GW and Olivot J-M., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:249-50
Predicting Early Stroke After TIA
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A refined scoring tool makes it as easy as A–B–C–D–D.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Johnston SC et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:283-92
Kernan WN., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:251-2
Acute Stroke: MRI for Diagnosis, Stroke Units for Care
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two studies help to crystallize these standards of care in acute stroke.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Chalela JA et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:293-8
Candelise L et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:299-305
Donnan GA et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:252-4
Intravenous Alteplase Is Safe for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a mammoth observational study justify wider use of fibrinolysis.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Wahlgren N et al., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:275-82
Albers GW and Olivot J-M., Lancet 2007 Jan 27; 369:249-50
Warfarin-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A reminder about a serious potential complication of oral anticoagulation therapy
By Joel M. Gore, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Flaherty ML et al., Neurology 2007 Jan 9; 68:116-21
Anticoagulant-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
The incidence increased in greater Cincinnati during the 1990s, coinciding with increasing warfarin use in the community.
By Eric E. Smith, MD, MPH, FRCP(C)
February 20, 2007
Covering:
Flaherty ML et al., Neurology 2007 Jan 9; 68:116-21
Anosognosia: Definitions, Diagnosis, and Prognosis
Neurology Summary and Comment
Much remains to be learned about this post-stroke condition.
By Kenneth M. Heilman, MD
February 20, 2007
Covering:
Jehkonen M et al., Acta Neurol Scand 2006 Nov; 114:293-306
New Guidance on Antiplatelet Therapy After Stenting: Clinical Advisory
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
An expert panel recommends 12 months of therapy after placement of drug-eluting stents.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
February 15, 2007
Covering:
Grines CL et al., Circulation 2007 Feb 13; 115:813-8
