Acta neurologica Scandinavica
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · May 2007
Clinical TrialPregabalin in restless legs syndrome with and without neuropathic pain.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder complicated in many patients by augmentation to dopaminergic therapy or comorbidities such as neuropathic pain. ⋯ These data propose pregabalin as a new option in the treatment of secondary RLS for patients with neuropathic pain, which should be further investigated with randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · May 2007
Is improvement in impaired cognition and depressive symptoms in post-stroke patients associated with recovery in activities of daily living?
Depression and cognitive impairment after stroke are associated with physical functional outcomes, but there are limited data on whether depressive symptoms and cognitive status and improvements independently influence functional status and recovery. ⋯ These data suggest that improving depressive symptoms in stroke patients may accelerate functional recovery, but the level of physical functioning achieved post-stroke is determined by neurological and cognitive factors, consistent with the evidence that improvement of depressive symptoms through therapeutic intervention is limited by cognitive impairment.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · May 2007
ReviewThe P/Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channel: a therapeutic target in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6.
Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are heteromultimeric complexes that mediate calcium influx into cells; the alpha 1A subunit is the pore-forming subunit specific to the neuronal P/Q-type VDCCs. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA 6) is caused by an abnormal expansion of a CAG repeat in CACNA1A, which encodes the alpha 1A subunit. Heterologous expression of mutated alpha 1A subunits resulted in increased channel inactivation in electrophysiological tests. Gabapentin and pregabalin interact with the alpha 2 delta subunit of the VDCCs and improved ataxia in cases of cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA) and ataxia-telangiectasia. ⋯ On the basis of the neuropathological identity of SCA 6 with CCA, and of the effect of gabapentin and pregabalin on recombinant VDCCs the authors put forward the hypothesis that these drugs might prove beneficial in SCA 6, as the ataxia would be expected to improve. The authors hope that researchers working with this illness will be encouraged to undertake the appropriate clinical and experimental work.