http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/ The latest news stories from Practical Neurology. en-us Tue, 7 Sep 2010 02:23:37 GMT Tue, 7 Sep 2010 02:23:37 GMT BMCToday http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/08/article.asp?f=dbs-safe-in-alzheimers A phase I safety trial of six Canadian patients using deep brain stimulation to treat early signs of Alzheimer disease, found the intervention is safe and may help improve memory, The research took place from 2005 to 2008 and all patients left the hospital within two to three days of surgery. "While the study was not looki... Mon, 2 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/08/article.asp?f=dbs-safe-in-alzheimers http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=aed-therapy-helps-contain-epilepsy-costs The expense of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and costs not associated with anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs) seem to account for the high costs of epilepsy care, according to a new study. Presented at the International Society of Pharmacoeconomic Outcomes Research (ISPOR) annual meeting in May, the data show that annual... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=aed-therapy-helps-contain-epilepsy-costs http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=racial-disparity-in-epilepsy-care The results of an alarming study published in the May issue of Archives of Neurology found racial disparities in the surgical management of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Researchers sought to determine whether, from 1988 through 2003, race and/or predictive factors for patients with TLE who receive ATL exist on a nati... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=racial-disparity-in-epilepsy-care http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=new-device-for-epilepsy A new investigational device that utilizes responsive brain neurostimulation significantly reduced the frequency of seizures among people who have a common form of epilepsy that is difficult to treat with medication, according to new information presented at the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) 63rd Annual Meeting. The RNS... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=new-device-for-epilepsy http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=database-for-ad-patient-studies The Alzheimer's Association has launched TrialMatch™—a confidential and free tool that provides clinical trial information and a trial matching service for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The program is a comprehensive, constantly updated database of institutional review board-approved Alzheimer's... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=database-for-ad-patient-studies http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=vimpat-successful-as-adjunct-for-up-to-five-years Vimpat provides sustained reduction in seizure frequency for up to five years when used as adjunctive treatment for uncontrolled partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy, according to a new analysis. The data, which were presented at the 9th European Congress on Epileptology, showed median percent reductions in seizur... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=vimpat-successful-as-adjunct-for-up-to-five-years http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=positive-results-for-inhaled-migraine-therapy Traditionally, migraine study has focused on the more common episodic form of the disorder, but recent clinical trials have started to concentrate on chronic daily headache. One post hoc analysis of a late-stage trial of the experimental drug Levadex (dihydroergotamine) demonstrated that the inhaled therapy was able to trea... Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/06/article.asp?f=positive-results-for-inhaled-migraine-therapy http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=healthcare-reform-holds-short--and-long-term-changes-for-neurologists For all the passion that has ignited around healthcare reform among those opposed and those in favor, one fact is curious: by and large, how the changes will effect the $2.5 trillion healthcare system in the US remains to be seen. Speculation (or in some minds, certainty) abounds, but the results of reform will likely... Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=healthcare-reform-holds-short--and-long-term-changes-for-neurologists http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=crest-data-reveal-similar-outcomes-for-surgery-and-stenting Long-awaited results from the CREST (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial) study, presented at the American Stroke Association's Annual International Stroke Conference 2010 (February 24-26, San Antonio) found the two procedures to be similar with regard to the study’s primary endpoint: over... Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=crest-data-reveal-similar-outcomes-for-surgery-and-stenting http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=updates-on-cardiovascular-research-and-neurologic-health Children suffering from insomnia and shorter sleep duration had impaired modulation of heart rhythm during sleep, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Insomnia symptoms were consistently associated with impaired heart variability measures in small children, and rese... Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=updates-on-cardiovascular-research-and-neurologic-health http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=boxed-warning-for-plavix-added The FDA added a boxed warning to the anti-blood clotting drug Plavix (clopidogrel, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals), “alerting patients and health care professionals that the drug can be less effective in people who cannot metabolize the drug to convert it to its active form.” The drug does not have it... Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=boxed-warning-for-plavix-added http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=new-approach-to-alzheimers-origins Researchers say a new method developed for studying brain synapses, “has yielded valuable information about the production of Amyloid-Beta oligomers known to play a key role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” according to a study published in the March 17 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. “It is crucial... Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/practicalneurology/2010/04/article.asp?f=new-approach-to-alzheimers-origins