Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for December 2016. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
No Effect for BUP TAP Catheter on Chronic Pain After Breast Recon
FRIDAY, Dec. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction, the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) does not differ for patients receiving transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheters delivering bupivacaine or saline bolus, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in Pain Practice.
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Iron Deficiency Anemia Ups Risk of Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults
THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among U.S. adults, hearing loss is associated with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), according to a study published online Dec. 29 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Case Report: Adoptive T-Cell Tx Shows Promise in Glioblastoma
THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13Rα2) is associated with tumor regression in recurrent multifocal glioblastoma, according to a case report published in the Dec. 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Selumetinib Active in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1
THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The oral selective inhibitor of MAPK kinase 1 and 2, selumetinib, is active in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas, according to a study published in the Dec. 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Post-Lunch Napping Tied to Better Cognition in Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Moderate post-lunch napping is tied to better cognition in older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Bell’s Palsy Tied to Quadrivalent Meningococcal Vaccine
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Bell’s palsy is the only prespecified adverse event associated with the MenACWY-CRM quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in Pediatrics.
Opicapone As Levodopa Adjunct Cuts Motor Fluctuations in PD
TUESDAY, Dec. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) receiving levodopa therapy and experiencing end-of-dose motor fluctuations, treatment with 50-mg/day opicapone is associated with a reduction in mean daily off-time, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Neurology.
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Personal Health Care Spending Continues to Soar in the U.S.
TUESDAY, Dec. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — From 1996 to 2013 there were considerable increases in personal health care spending in the United States, with the highest amounts for diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and low back and neck pain, according to a study published in the Dec. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Is Dementia in Older Women Tied to 20-Year Rate of Weight Loss?
TUESDAY, Dec. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women surviving into late life, the rate of weight loss over 20 years is associated with development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Research for Post-Craniotomy Analgesia Uneven in Quality
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Studies reporting pharmacological and adjuvant analgesic modalities for post-craniotomy pain control have significant divergence in their research methods, according to a review published online Dec. 20 in Pain Practice.
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Induced Hypothermia Futile in Convulsive Status Epilepticus
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For critically ill patients with convulsive status epilepticus, hypothermia added to standard care is not associated with a significant improvement in good functional outcome at 90 days, according to a study published in the Dec. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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VA ECHO Program Feasible for Management of Sleep Disorders
THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (VA-ECHO) program is feasible for increasing comfort in managing common sleep complaints, according to research published online Dec. 15 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Ocrelizumab Targets Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis
THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Ocrelizumab, a new and fully humanized monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody that causes B-cell depletion, is associated with lower relapse rate and lower rates of progression among patients with relapsing or primary progressive multiple sclerosis, respectively, according to research published online Dec. 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Risk of Postconcussive Symptoms Down With Early Exercise
TUESDAY, Dec. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Participation in physical activity within seven days after injury is associated with reduced rates of persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS), according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Health Care Provider Burnout Negatively Affects Quality, Safety
TUESDAY, Dec. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Health care provider burnout is negatively associated with quality and safety of health care, according to a meta-analysis published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Therapeutic Hypothermia Benefits Adults With TBI
TUESDAY, Dec. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For adults, but not children, with traumatic brain injuries, therapeutic hypothermia is beneficial, according to a meta-analysis published online Dec. 9 in Critical Care Medicine.
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DEA Announces Critical Changes in Registration Renewal Process
MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced critical changes in its registration renewal process, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Noncardiovascular Cause of Death More Common in CHD Patients
MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), mortality is more often due to noncardiovascular causes, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Dysglycemia Affects Brain Structure, Cognition in Seniors
MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In older adults, dysglycemia is associated with brain structure and cognition, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Ischemic Stroke Risk Up for Eight Weeks After PCI
FRIDAY, Dec. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The risk of ischemic stroke is highest during the first two days after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and decreases gradually, but stays elevated for eight weeks, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Integrated Neurology in Medical Home Cuts Health Care Use
FRIDAY, Dec. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A model of a neurologist integrated and co-located in primary care, leveraging curbside, electronic, and traditional consultations, can reduce unnecessary health care use, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
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MRI Ups Diagnostic Accuracy of Fetal Brain Abnormalities
FRIDAY, Dec. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after a mid-pregnancy ultrasound could help improve diagnosis of possible fetal brain abnormalities, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in The Lancet.
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Zika-Related Birth Defects More Extensive Than Thought
THURSDAY, Dec. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Zika’s ability to damage the infant brain may be even more far-reaching and insidious than previously thought, two new studies suggest.
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FDA Issues New Safety Info on Use of Anesthesia
THURSDAY, Dec. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Repeated or lengthy use — longer than three hours — of general anesthetic and sedation drugs may harm the developing brains of fetuses and children younger than 3 years old, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.
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Stroke, A-Fib Recurrence Low at One Year After AF Ablation
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence are low one year after AF ablation, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
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Outcomes-Based Pricing Suggested for New, Costly Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Outcomes-based pricing for novel and expensive biopharmaceuticals is supported in an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Dec. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Catheter Ablation of A-Fib Linked to More Strokes in Elderly
TUESDAY, Dec. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with more strokes in patients who are at least 75 years old but is not associated with other complications, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
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β-Blockers May Not Be Appropriate for Dementia Patients
TUESDAY, Dec. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — β-blockers may not be the medicine of choice for nursing home residents with dementia, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Risk of Ischemic, Hemorrhagic Stroke Up With Type 1 Diabetes
TUESDAY, Dec. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are increased with type 1 diabetes, with incrementally increasing risks with increasing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Effect of Statins on Alzheimer’s May Depend on Gender, Race
MONDAY, Dec. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Effectiveness of statin use in Alzheimer’s prevention may depend on the specific statin, and the gender and race or ethnicity of the patient, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in JAMA Neurology.
CDC: Colombia Sees Increase in Zika-Related Microcephaly
MONDAY, Dec. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Colombia is now experiencing a sharp increase in cases of infant microcephaly, according to research published in the Dec. 9 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Prefrontal Brain Activity May Predict Risk of Falls in Elderly
THURSDAY, Dec. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Measurements of healthy older adults’ brain activity may help determine their future risk of falls, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in Neurology.
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Higher NT-proBNP Tied to Lower Brain Volume in Older Adults
THURSDAY, Dec. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For older adults without dementia, higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is associated with lower total brain volume, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in Radiology.
Nusinersen Shows Promise in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
THURSDAY, Dec. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An experimental drug for infants with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 appears to be effective, according to research published online Dec. 5 in The Lancet.
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Readings Taken in Clinic May Underestimate Ambulatory BP
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Ambulatory blood pressure may be a better indicator of health risks than clinic blood pressure, according to a new report published online Dec. 6 in Circulation.
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Prevalence of Disability 2.7 Percent at U.S. Medical Schools
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of disability is 2.7 percent among medical students at U.S. allopathic medical schools, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue of medical education.
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Learning Interventions Can Improve Med Student Well-Being
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Specific learning interventions may improve emotional well-being among medical students, according to a review published in the Dec. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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Patient Mortality Up With End-of-Rotation Team Transition
TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized patients who are handed off by their original medical team to a new set of caregivers may ultimately face a higher risk of early mortality, according to research published in the Dec. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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Depression, Suicide Ideation Prevalent in Medical Students
TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The prevalences of depression or depressive symptoms and suicide ideation are 27.2 and 11.1 percent, respectively, among medical students, according to a review published in the Dec. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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Potentially Unsafe Med Scripts Up for Dual Users With Dementia
TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For veterans with dementia, Veterans Affairs (VA)-Medicare Part D (dual-system) users have increased rates of potentially unsafe medication (PUM) prescribing, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Colonic Diverticular Disease May Increase Dementia Risk
TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with colonic diverticular disease may be at an increased risk for dementia, according to a study published Nov. 23 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Many With Postconcussion Syndrome Don’t Recover
MONDAY, Dec. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A minority of patients with postconcussion syndrome (PCS) recover, with two-thirds of those who recover doing so within one year, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
Augmented Reality, Gaming May Help Relieve Phantom Limb Pain
FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Amputees who experience phantom limb pain may benefit from playing a virtual reality game that simulates the movement of missing limbs, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in The Lancet.
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Vitamin D in Pregnancy Might Help Prevent MS in Offspring
FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Newborns with low levels of vitamin D may have higher odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in Neurology.
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CSF RT-QuIC Has High Diagnostic Specificity, Sensitivity for Prions
FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) has high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity for prion diseases, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in the Annals of Neurology.
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Dabigatran May Be Better Than Warfarin After Bleeding Episode
FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Dabigatran is less likely than warfarin to cause recurrent bleeding in atrial fibrillation patients who have experienced a major bleeding event, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Stroke.
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CDC: Fewer U.S. Families Struggling to Pay Medical Bills
THURSDAY, Dec. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The number of people in families having problems paying medical bills fell by nearly 13 million from 2011 through the first six months of 2016, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
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