Medscape Medical News - Neurology

Will Healthcare Reform Increase Medicaid Pay as Well as Enrollment?

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:37:11 EDT

A proposed pay hike could persuade more physicians to see Medicaid patients, but this good intention, like others, has a big price tag.

Smoking Magnifies Genetic Risk for Intracranial Aneurysm

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:21:22 EDT

A new analysis from the Familial Intracranial Aneurysm cohort shows increased rupture risk with certain genetic variants and a strong interaction of this genetic risk with smoking.

Cerebral Protection Device Helps Prevent Strokes During Carotid Artery Stenting

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:50:25 EDT

A new proximal cerebral protection device can prevent strokes during carotid stenting procedures.

Teleflex Recalls IV Tubing Sets and Embolectomy Catheters

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:35:40 EDT

Pin holes discovered in the product's packaging could compromise sterility.

New Gene Test Better at Detecting Autism Than Standard Genetic Testing

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:13:32 EDT

Chromosomal microarray analysis is more effective at identifying genetic abnormalities in ASD than other genetic tests and should be considered first-tier in initial evaluation of ASD.

Vertebroplasty Provides Immediate Sustained Pain Relief for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:51:29 EDT

Contrary to recent studies, vertebroplasty significantly and immediately relieves pain from osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Duration of Smoking, Not Intensity, Associated With Reduced Parkinson's Risk

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:50:59 EST

Researchers are reporting a new clue to the puzzling relationship between smoking and a reduced risk for Parkinson's, with results showing that long-term smoking rather than smoking intensity is more important in the link.

Clopidogrel Receives Boxed Warning for Reduced Benefit in Poor Metabolizers

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:44:21 EST

The warning will inform clinicians that tests are available to predict whether a patient will convert the drug to its active form, based on the genetic profile of a key liver enzyme.

Whole Genome Sequencing Hits the Clinic for Diagnosis in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:17:15 EST

Novel variants identified in a family with inherited neuropathy that previously screened negative for Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome.

Dimebon Disappoints: Is There Hope for Novel Alzheimer's Agent?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:35:28 EST

The great hope for serendipitous transformation of a shelved antihistamine into an Alzheimer's treatment has been dashed by negative results in phase 3 trials. Medscape Neurology polls experts on what went wrong.

Democrats Will Use Budget Reconciliation to Pass Healthcare Reform Legislation

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:26:44 EST

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the announcement on Thursday; Republican senators vow to block improper use of this parliamentary procedure.

Multiple Deployments in Soldiers Linked to Increased Risk for PTSD During Active Duty

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:32:17 EST

The first study to look at the prevalence of anxiety disorders, including PTSD, in active duty military personnel suggests that those at greatest risk are soldiers who have been deployed multiple times.

Barbiturates Still Drugs of Choice in Geriatric Suicide

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:11:34 EST

Despite a significant decrease in their use during the past 20 years, barbiturates are still the drugs of first choice among older individuals who commit suicide by overdose.

Severe Behavioral Problems in Childhood Predict Chronic Pain in Later Life

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:58:06 EST

Children with persistent, severe behavior problems are at increased risk for chronic widespread pain as adults.

DASH Diet Plus Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Sedentary Obese Patients

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:11:05 EST

The beneficial effects of this diet combined with aerobic exercise were more pronounced among sedentary, obese patients with higher carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Combination Therapy in Alzheimer's Patients Significantly Eases Caregiver Distress

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:26:07 EST

Caregiver distress is significantly attenuated when Alzheimer's disease patients are treated with a combination of memantine plus a cholinesterase inhibitor vs cholinesterase inhibitor monotherapy.

Quetiapine Linked to More Rapid Onset of Metabolic Disturbances in Elderly Patients

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:13:19 EST

The use of quetiapine is associated with more rapid onset of metabolic disturbances than other antipsychotics in elderly patients.

Senate Delays Medicare Pay Cut Until October 1

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:36:57 EST

If the House concurs and President Obama signs the measure into law, it will be the third time in 4 months that lawmakers have postponed the reduction.

Medicare Part D Has Not Improved Access to Medication Among Beneficiaries With Depression

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:16:50 EST

Access to medication has not improved among Medicare beneficiaries with depressive symptoms despite efforts to do with the introduction of Medicare Part D.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Pain of Migraine With Aura

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:49:59 EST

Electrical field could reduce corticol spreading depression involved in migraine with aura.