Neurologists and the Internet
Busis and Honig (SEE ARTICLE) provide a user-friendly list of World Wide Web sites of interest for the neurologist to obtain specific and directed information on clinical and basic neurological subjects. The neurological community will find this information of considerable interest and value.
Surgical Treatment for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Reviewed
Engel (SEE ARTICLE) provides us with a well-focused update on the value and limitations of surgical therapy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Randomized clinical trials, the timing of surgical intervention, considering surgical treatment as a last resort, and criteria for early surgical intervention are among the issues addressed. It is a timely and valuable analysis.
Morphometric Analysis in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
DiMario and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) provide a magnetic resonance imaging brain morphometric analysis to investigate relationships between brain- and skull-based growth in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. Specific and important features are described that have immediate clinical relevance. Gutmann (SEE ARTICLE) provides a thoughtful editorial to complement the discussion.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Creatine Kinase–BB Isoenzyme Activity in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Coplin et al (SEE ARTICLE) describe elevated cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase–BB activity in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can be highly useful in predicting neurological outcome. Bell and Khan (SEE ARTICLE) add their perspective in a timely accompanying editorial.
Bilateral Intracranial Vertebral Artery Disease
Shin and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) describe their experience as recorded in the New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Registry of patients with bilateral intracranial vertebral artery disease. Risk factors as well as short-term and long-term follow-up issues are comprehensively reviewed, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of this critical area of cerebral vascular disease. Kistler and Furie (SEE ARTICLE) add their perspective to this important area of clinical evaluation and care with a focused editorial.
Effect of Pallidotomy on Postural Control in Parkinson Disease
Melnick et al (SEE ARTICLE) describe their extensive experience with the effects of pallidotomy on postural reactions and other parkinsonian motor deficits. Specific improvements are described in this selected group of patients, which further emphasizes the value of this surgical therapy.
Community and Clinic Patients With Dementia
Massoud and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) find that the difference in sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease was not statistically significant between university clinic patients and multiethnic community patients. Dementia with cerebrovascular disease was more prevalent in the community sample. These considerations are important in evaluating and caring for patients with dementia.
Mutations Causal for Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy
Three unrelated Hispanic American families were identified with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy that was transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern. Expansion mutations characterized by a gain of 3 GCG repeats in the wild-type allele resulted in an abnormal repeat length of 9 GCG repeats in the PAPB2 gene. These data extend the previous clinical molecular correlation for this important type of muscular dystrophy, as reported by Grewal and colleagues. (SEE ARTICLE)
Amantadine for Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesias
Metman and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) provide a 1-year follow-up study of amantadine cotherapy for its antidyskinetic effect. The effect after initiation of amantadine cotherapy was similar in magnitude at 1 year compared with earlier time points. These beneficial effects of amantadine cotherapy on motor response will be of use for this subgroup of patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
Behavioral Responses to Cholinesterase Inhibitor Therapy for Alzheimer Disease
Mega and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) describe the psychotropic properties of donepezil, and they detail pretreatment behaviors that help predict which patients will respond to treatment with reduced behavioral symptoms. It is a unique and important study with clear clinical implications.
Event-Related Potentials Changes in Groups at Increased Risk for Alzheimer Disease
Green and Levey (SEE ARTICLE) describe event-related brain potentials occurring in patients with Alzheimer disease. The P3 and N2 components of the event-related potentials are described and may be highly useful as a diagnostic tool in the early phase of the disease.
