Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Experimental brush-evoked allodynia activates posterior parietal cortex.
To study the brain activation pattern of coexisting experimental ongoing pain and brush-evoked allodynia (pain evoked by innocuous brush) with the use of PET. ⋯ The specific activation of contralateral BA 5/7 indicates that this brain region is important to the processing of brush-evoked allodynia. The involvement of BA 5/7 in brush-evoked allodynia is claimed to reflect multisensory input to this region, its role in conscious pain perception, and its neuroplastic properties.
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To quantify the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of globus pallidus interna (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) on motor fluctuations and dyskinesia in PD and to determine how the response to levodopa was modified by DBS. ⋯ DBS objectively reduces motor fluctuations. This is achieved by reduction of drug-off disability and not by alterations in levodopa pharmacodynamics. This finding suggests alleviation of interdose trough disability as an alternative strategy to prolonging the effects of each dose of levodopa as a means to reduce motor fluctuations.
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Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is one of the most common vascular malformations of the CNS. Familial CCM are increasingly diagnosed, but little is known about their natural history, especially in asymptomatic patients. ⋯ This prospective study confirms the dynamic nature of CCM. The appearance of new lesions in 30% of patients has to be retained as a hallmark of the familial condition.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A phase III randomized efficacy trial of 2000 mg citicoline in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Citicoline may reduce CNS ischemic injury by stabilizing cell membranes and reducing free radical generation. Previous safety and efficacy trials in patients who have had acute strokes suggested that citicoline may improve neurologic outcome with minimal side effects. ⋯ Citicoline was safe but ineffective in improving the outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke as measured by the planned analyses. Post hoc analyses suggest that a modest treatment effect may have been seen if more traditional analyses had been used.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Double-blind, randomized trial of bupropion SR for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bupropion sustained-release (SR) for the treatment of neuropathic pain. ⋯ This placebo-controlled crossover trial showed that bupropion SR (150-300 mg daily) was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of neuropathic pain.