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Neurofilament Light Chain: Differentiating bvFTD from Psychiatric Disorders

Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) can be difficult to distinguish from a primary mood disorder at the early stages of disease. Biological markers, such as serum or cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain, can help to make a distinction between the disorders, but the test carries a high false-negative rate.

Oligoclonal Bands: What Utility Do They Have Beyond Multiple Sclerosis?

This retrospective study found that while oligoclonal bands (OCB) remain a highly sensitive and specific marker for multiple sclerosis (MS), they have limited diagnostic utility for other autoimmune central nervous system disorders. The findings underscore that OCB testing should be reserved for suspected MS and interpreted cautiously outside the MS context.

Proton Craniospinal Irradiation for Leptomeningeal Metastasis

Proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) demonstrated better overall survival and progression-free survival outcomes compared to involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) for the treatment of leptomeningeal metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer.

Acupuncture to Treat Low Back Pain in Older Adults

A multisite, three-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial of older adults in the United States with chronic low back pain found improvement in both pain and disability with the addition of acupuncture treatment compared to usual medical care alone.

Preventing Ventricular Arrhythmias with Potassium

A Danish randomized trial of augmenting serum potassium by diet or medications compared to usual care in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has shown that modest increases in potassium resulted in a reduction in the composite endpoint of appropriate ICD therapy or hospitalizations for arrhythmias or heart failure, or death.

Is Anticoagulation Necessary in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?

A large French national registry observational study of the use of anticoagulants in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension of diverse etiologies enrolled over 11 years, and a meta-analysis of this study and four other national registry studies, showed that there was no association between anticoagulant use and survival.

Efficacy of Adding Aspirin to OACs for CAD Patients

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adding aspirin to oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with chronic coronary artery disease at high risk of atherothrombotic complications and major bleeding was stopped early because aspirin increased the risk of all-cause mortality. In addition, aspirin was associated with an increase in atherothrombotic complications and major bleeding.

Mechanical Aspiration for RSIE: Finally, Some Data to Inform a Growing Practice

In this registry of patients undergoing mechanical aspiration for right-sided infective endocarditis, technical success rates were high, with a modest but significant rate of procedural complications. Further research with randomized trials will be needed to better define proper patient selection.

The Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Hypertension Link in Menopausal Women

In a large study, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors in menopausal women was associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension.

Comparison of the Mini and Standard Copper IUD

This Phase III randomized clinical trial demonstrated a three-year cumulative pregnancy rate of 4.8% (95% confidence interval, 2.75 to 6.86) for the NTCu380 mini intrauterine device (IUD), with similar discontinuation rates between the mini copper IUD and the TCu380A standard copper IUD (51.3% vs. 57.3%, P = 0.07), but fewer discontinuations for bleeding and pain for the mini copper IUD (14.5% vs. 27.3%, P < 0.001).