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Stroke Alert

Carotid MRI scanning was performed in 1414 stroke-free participants, older than the age of 45 years, to assess the morphology of any atherosclerotic plaques, specifically to look at the presence of a lipid core, intraplaque hemorrhage, calcification, or fibrous tissue in each carotid artery.

DaTSCAN to Distinguish Parkinson’s Disease from Secondary Parkinsonism

DaTSCAN imaging makes use of the dopamine transporter (DAT) ligand [123I]FP-CIT used with SPECT to provide a means to visualize the integrity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. DaTSCAN has been approved in the United States to aid in evaluation of patients in whom Parkinsons disease (PD) and certain other related neurodegenerative disorders are suspected.

Utility of Anti-JC Virus Antibody Index to Assess the Risk of PML in Natalizumab-Treated MS Patients

Natalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that is FDA-approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Among the available options to treat MS, it is one of the most effective.

Intravenous Calcitonin Gene-Related Antibodies for the Prevention of Migraine

In a Phase 2 trial, antibodies to calcitonin gene-related peptide resulted in a significant decrease in migraine days measured from baseline to weeks 5 to 8 after one intravenous infusion of the medication, as compared to a placebo infusion. But the high-rate of placebo response (50%) warrants caution in the interpretation of the study results and requires more investigation.

The Photosensitive Patient

A 65-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of a severe rash. The rash has been present for two weeks on her arms, neck, and scalp. It began while she was sitting on her porch one afternoon. She denies any associated fevers, chills, headache, or muscle ache. She denies any exposure to pets, new soaps, detergents, or lotions, and she denies recent travel.

Pediatric Myocarditis

Myocarditis can at times be asymptomatic and has a varied presentation; consequentially, it often goes undiagnosed and its true incidence is unknown

Hyperbaric Oxygen for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The value of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of CO-poisoned patients, and its ability to prevent long-term cognitive sequelae, has been debated for years among toxicology and hyperbaric experts. This study from the University of Utah addressed this difficult issue.

Oral Vitamin K Lowers INR Faster than Subcutaneous Vitamin K

Crowther and associates tested the hypothesis that oral vitamin K would reduce high international normalized ratio values faster than subcutaneous vitamin K.

Special Feature: Metabolic Alkalosis

A systematic approach with an understanding of the pathophysiology can help the clinician correctly diagnose and treat metabolic alkalosis, a condition that carries a high morbidity and mortality rate.

Fibrinolysis in Acute MI and Hospital Revascularization Capability

In this retrospective study of the GUSTO-1 database, investigators compared clinical outcomes of more than 25,000 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated with fibrinolytic therapy in U.S. hospitals with and without coronary revascularization capability for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting.