European journal of neurology : the official journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies
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An open trial was conducted to study the potential efficacy of lamotrigine, a novel antiepileptic agent that blocks voltage-sensitive sodium channels and inhibits the release of glutamate, in relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. Subsequent to a 1 week washout period from previous analgesics, lamotrigine was administered at a dose of 25 mg/day for 1 week. The dose was doubled on a weekly basis up to 400 mg/day over 6 weeks. ⋯ A long-term follow up showed that most patients were still using lamotrigine 6 months after the end of the study. The results of the study suggest that lamotrigine is potentially effective and safe in treating painful diabetic neuropathy. Copyright Rapid Science Ltd
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Previous studies of white matter signal hyperintensity (WMSH) on T2-weighted MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) have shown it to be related to decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, there have been few studies on the relationship of WMSH and the internal carotid blood flow (CaBF). Doppler ultrasound sonography is widely used for evaluation of CaBF. ⋯ There was a significant relationship between CBF and CaBF in the severe WMSH group, remaining significant after partialling out of the effects of the % stenosis. This indicated that an atherosclerotic change of the cerebral artery occurred in a way that carotid vascular resistence and cerebrovascular resistence were 'proportional'. Copyright Rapid Science Ltd