Browse Clinical Publication Articles by Topic

Repeated Head Impacts Are Associated with Tau Astrogliopathy

This study demonstrates that both traumatic brain injury and participation in contact sports are independently associated with increased tau astrogliopathy, particularly thorn-shaped astrocytes, even when cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change are excluded.

Intracranial EEG Activity and Consciousness in Frontal Lobe Seizures

Frontal seizures were classified as focal preserved consciousness (FPC), focal impaired consciousness (FIC), or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic (FBTC). Intracranial electroencephalogram (icEEG) recording was analyzed in those seizures. FPC seizures showed significant icEEG power increases in the seizure-onset region across frequency ranges, with smaller increases in other regions. FIC seizures demonstrated a significant increase in icEEG power not only within the seizure-onset zone but also across distal cortical regions. Widespread power increases also were noted in FBTC seizures. In addition, the power increase in FBTC is much greater compared to FIC seizures.

Increased Treatment Opportunities for Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) include cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continua, short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with cranial autonomic symptoms. They are female-predominant primary headache disorders that coexist with migraines and mood disorders. Indomethacin is underused in those TACs that are specifically indomethacin responsive. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for TACs is well-tolerated and more effective for prevention than as an acute treatment.

Oral Health for the PCP: A Collaborative Approach to Patient Care

Primary care physicians play a critical role in recognizing oral health as a sign of systemic disease. Common oral conditions can have diagnostic and preventive implications for broader health, including cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disorders. By conducting oral examinations, identifying red flags that require referral, and counseling patients on preventive care, physicians can integrate oral health awareness into comprehensive patient care.

What Are Hyperacute T-Waves and What Do They Mean?

A retrospective study of emergency department patients suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome has shown that a computer system for determining a new quantitative high-amplitude electrocardiogram (ECG) T-wave score has a high specificity and reasonable sensitivity for identifying patients with acute coronary occlusion that performs as well as ECG ST-elevation myocardial infarction criteria.

Statins for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

An analysis of two large, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening populations from Denmark has shown that high-dose statin therapy reduces the rate of AAA growth, the need for repair, and adverse outcomes, such as rupture and death.

Withdrawing Heart Failure Medications After Restoring Sinus Rhythm in AF Cardiomyopathy Patients

A small trial of withdrawing guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for reduced ejection fraction (EF) heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation in whom EF recovered after restoration of normal sinus rhythm has shown that withdrawal of GDMT was not associated with a decline in EF over 12 months in most patients.

Beta-Blocker Interruption Post-MI

An analysis of the secondary outcomes in the French multicentered study of beta-blocker withdrawal in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction after one year led to increases in heart rate and blood pressure with potentially deleterious outcomes, especially in patients with a history of hypertension.

Routine CCTA Imaging of Left Main PCI Patients Falls Short in Randomized Trial

In this randomized trial of patients undergoing left main percutaneous coronary intervention, routine surveillance coronary computed tomography angiography six months after intervention did not reduce the composite endpoint of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, or stent thrombosis at 18 months, but was associated with fewer spontaneous MIs and more imaging-triggered revascularization procedures.

Treated as Aberrant SVT

I was given this electrocardiogram without knowing details of the history beyond that the patient was an older man who was hemodynamically stable. He was being treated on the assumption that the rhythm was a supraventricular tachycardia with QRS widening because of aberrant conduction. Do you agree with this assumption? How certain are you of your answer