Neurology
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Approximately one-third of refugees worldwide live in refugee camps. Selected neurologic diseases are actively reported in some refugee camps. ⋯ Targeted programs addressing epilepsy and stroke among refugees in camps should become a priority and indicate that other chronic neurologic diseases that may be under- or misdiagnosed may also be common in refugee camps. Given that significant under-reporting is likely, our findings demonstrate the pressing need for coordinated preventive and interventional measures for epilepsy and stroke in refugee camps.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Tafamidis for transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy: a randomized, controlled trial.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 18 months of tafamidis treatment in patients with early-stage V30M transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP). ⋯ This study provides Class II evidence that 20 mg tafamidis QD was associated with no difference in clinical progression in patients with TTR-FAP, as measured by the NIS-LL and the Norfolk QOL-DN score. Secondary outcomes demonstrated a significant delay in peripheral neurologic impairment with tafamidis, which was well tolerated over 18 months.
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We studied the reciprocal effect of pregnancy and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease by analyzing the influence of pregnancy on VHL disease-related lesions and VHL disease on pregnancy outcome. ⋯ Pregnancy in patients with VHL disease induces cerebellar hemangioblastoma progression and causes a high VHL disease-related pregnancy complication rate. We recommend intensified surveillance of patients with VHL disease, especially of cerebellar hemangioblastomas during preconception care and pregnancy.