Literature review shows no benefit for use of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, at least in chronic low-back pain, but good evidence data were found to support its use in diabetic neuropathy.
Medscape Medical News
Parallel NINDS studies indicate that small changes in protein chemistry play a major role in Huntington's disease, and the modification of these changes can prevent disease onset in animal models.
Medscape Medical News
Lead and mercury are highly toxic metals that can still weigh heavily on our children's future.
Medscape Pediatrics
Dr. Andrew Wilner discusses the FDA's approval of vigabatrin (Sabril®) and the drug surveillance program necessary to prescribe the drug.
Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery
To compare long-interval T2-weighted subtraction (T2w-Sub) imaging with monthly gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (Gd-T1w) imaging for (1) detection of active lesions, (2) assessment of treatment efficacy, and (3) statistical power, in a multiple sclerosis (MS), phase 2, clinical trial setting.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data over 9 months from 120 patients (61 treatment, 59 placebo) from the oral temsirolimus trial were used. T2w-Sub images were scored for active lesions, independent of the original reading of the monthly Gd-T1w images. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test, and parametric negative binomial (NB)-regression and power calculations were conducted.Datasets from 116 patients (58 treatment, 58 placebo) were evaluated. The mean number of T2w-Sub lesions in the treatment group was 3.0 (±4.6) versus 5.9 (±8.8) for placebo; the mean cumulative number of new Gd-T1w lesions in the treatment group was 5.5(±9.1) versus 9.1(±17.2) for placebo. T2w-Sub imaging showed increased power to assess treatment efficacy compared with Gd-T1w imaging, when evaluated by Mann-Whitney U test (p = 0.017 vs p = 0.177), or NB-regression without (p = 0.011 vs p = 0.092) or with baseline adjustment (p < 0.001 vs p = 0.002). Depending on the magnitude of the simulated treatment effect, sample size calculations showed reductions of 22 to 34% in the number of patients (translating into reductions of 81-83% in the number of MRI scans) needed to detect a significant treatment effect in favor of T2w-Sub imaging.Compared with monthly Gd-T1w imaging, long-interval T2w-Sub MRI exhibited increased power to assess treatment efficacy, and could greatly increase the cost-effectiveness of phase 2 MS trials by limiting the number of patients, contrast injections, and MRI scans needed. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:667-675
New data from the GEM study show no suggestion of benefit over placebo for ginkgo supplements in either those with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment.
Medscape Medical News
Expert Mark Alberts, MD, discusses alternatives to warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery
Should parents have the right to know what treatment their adolescent is receiving from his or her physician?
Medscape Family Medicine