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Randomized Trial of Cannabidiol for Medically Refractory Seizures in Dravet Syndrome

In a double-blind study, 120 children and young adults with the Dravet syndrome and medically refractory seizures were assigned randomly to receive either cannabidiol or placebo, as well as their usual antiepileptic drugs/therapies. The primary finding was a significant decrease in convulsive seizure frequency during the 14-week treatment period for patients receiving cannabidiol compared to those receiving placebo.

Consumption of Artificially Sweetened Beverages Increases Stroke Risk

Higher recent and higher cumulative intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. However, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was not associated with stroke or dementia.

Excellent Outcome 2 Years After Endovascular Mechanical Thrombectomy

The beneficial effects of endovascular treatments on functional outcome at two years in patients with acute ischemic stroke was similar to those reported at 90 days in the original trial.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Adult Cerebral X-linked ALD

Based on review of data from 14 patients with adult cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy who were treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the authors suggested that this might be an intervention that potentially could have long-term benefits and recommended further studies to evaluate this therapy.

Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain

Spinal manipulative therapy for acute low back pain may provide some benefit, but carries a significant risk of treatment-associated pain.

Vascular Risk Factors and Their Role in the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease

This study has found an association between mid-life, but not late-life, vascular risk factors and brain amyloid deposition as imaged on amyloid-labeled PET.

Serotonin Transporter Increases in Premotor Parkinson’s Disease

In a small cross-sectional study, increased serotonin transporter was detected using ¹¹C-DASB PET in striatum, hypothalamus, and brainstem in LRRK2 carriers who did not have clinical Parkinson’s disease. This contrasts with later decreases previously described and implies a likely early compensatory mechanism.

Autoimmune Antibodies in Patients with Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology

In this prospective study of patients with epilepsy of unknown origin (including new-onset and established epilepsy), more than 20% of patients were found to have neurological autoantibodies strongly suggesting autoimmune origin of their epilepsy.

A Novel Target for Migraine Prevention Through Modulation of Stress Receptors

Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) modulate response to stress, a common migraine trigger, so KOR blockade may be a novel preventive treatment for migraine as well as other stress-related diseases.

Outcomes After Surgical Treatment of Nonlesional Neocortical Epilepsy

In this study of 109 consecutive patients with medically refractory neocortical epilepsy without MRI-identifiable lesions who underwent focal resection at a single hospital from 1995 to 2005, almost 60% of patients achieved long-term seizure freedom, with anti-epileptic drugs being withdrawn successfully in about a third of these patients.