Neurology Alert – February 1, 2017
February 1, 2017
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Polyneuropathy in the Metabolic Syndrome
The metabolic syndrome, independent of the diagnosis of diabetes, is associated with the development of polyneuropathy.
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Imaging of Glial Cell Activation in the Brains of Professional Football Players
In this case-controlled study, PET scanning reflective of microglial activation and diffusion-tensor imaging assessing white matter integrity was performed on 14 National Football League players (four current, 10 retired) and compared to 16 matched controls, suggesting significant ongoing localized brain injury and repair along with subtle white matter changes in professional football players.
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Does Therapeutic Hypothermia Improve Functional Outcomes After Convulsive Status Epilepticus?
In a multicenter trial in France, patients admitted to the ICU from 2011-2015 for convulsive status epilepticus were randomly assigned to receive standard therapy (control group) or hypothermia plus standard therapy (treatment group). The primary outcome measure was an absence of functional impairment at 90 days after seizure onset, as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (score of 5). There was no significant difference in outcomes between the two groups.
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Ambulatory Autonomic Testing in Multiple System Atrophy and Parkinson’s Disease
A comparison of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with tilt-table testing in 23 patients with multiple system atrophy, 18 with Parkinson’s disease and autonomic dysfunction, and 33 with Parkinson’s disease alone demonstrated 82% sensitivity and 100% specificity in detecting orthostatic hypotension. This suggests ambulatory monitoring provides valuable information on these patients’ function.
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Migraine: Differences Between Males and Females
Hormonal and genetic differences factor into a greater prevalence and disability burden of migraine in teenaged girls and women; however, migraine is underdiagnosed and inadequately treated in boys and men.