Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
tDCS in patients with disorders of consciousness: sham-controlled randomized double-blind study.
We assessed the effects of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex transcranial direct current stimulation (DLPF-tDCS) on Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scores in severely brain-damaged patients with disorders of consciousness. ⋯ This study provides Class II evidence that short-duration tDCS of the left DLPF cortex transiently improves consciousness as measured by CRS-R assessment in patients with MCS.
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Comparative Study
A decade of racial and ethnic stroke disparities in the United States.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Stroke incidence and prevalence is not uniform. It occurs more frequently in some geographical areas of the United States and the rates are higher in minority groups.(1,2) Some proposed causes for these disparities include increased rate of vascular risk factors that disproportionally affect some minority groups, differential effect of hypertension on stroke risk across racial groups, lack of access to health care and other social determinants of health, suboptimal control of risk factors, and although lacking substantive data to date, an inherited predisposition to stroke associated with genetic differences. The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) investigators found that the rate of suboptimal control of vascular risk factors and unhealthy lifestyles were significantly greater in African Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW).(2) Moreover, regarding high blood pressure (BP), a triple threat has been described: blacks are not only more likely to have high BP, they are less likely, once diagnosed, to have their high BP controlled, and this suboptimal control has been shown to confer a stroke risk that is 3 times higher among blacks compared to whites for every 10-mm Hg increase in systolic BP (SBP).(3.)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Randomized trial of IV valproate vs metoclopramide vs ketorolac for acute migraine.
We compared the efficacy of IV valproate with metoclopramide and with ketorolac in patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) with acute migraine. ⋯ This study provides Class I evidence that in ED patients with acute migraine, IV valproate is inferior to metoclopramide or ketorolac in improving headache outcomes.