E-Book Content
This week in Neurology® Highlights of the January 6 issue
A CSF biomarker panel for identification of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis The paper identifies the sensitive and specific CSF biomarkers panel for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This will permit earlier and more accurate diagnosis in patients with ALS and will facilitate monitoring of disease progression. See p. 14; Editorial, p. 11
A novel Refsum-like disorder that maps to chromosome 20 The identification of new genes leads to greater understanding of disease mechanisms that in turn provides a platform for developing treatments. The authors describe a new disorder that shares similarities with Refsum disease and show that the gene responsible is located on chromosome 20. See p. 20; Editorial, p. 13
Long-term trends in carpal tunnel syndrome Understanding the epidemiology and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome has significant health policy implications. This article examines the changes in incidence, surgical treatment, and work-related lost time, and potential reasons for these, over a 25-year period.
Longitudinal prognostic value of serum “free” copper in patients with Alzheimer disease The study shows an association between copper deregulation and unfavorable evolution of cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer disease. It demonstrates that “free” copper—i.e., serum copper not bound to ceruloplasmin— can predict the annual change in MMSE, identifying those patients at higher risk for a more severe decline. See p. 50
Smoking and family history and risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage An interaction between smoking and family history markedly increases the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This paper suggests that smoking history be considered when counseling family members on the risk of SAH and in determining whether asymptomatic family members might benefit from screening. See p. 69
See p. 33
Frontal FDG-PET activity correlates with cognitive outcome after STN-DBS in Parkinson disease Cognitive changes after STN-DBS in advanced Parkinson disease are closely linked to alterations of FDG-PET activity in multiple brain regions including associative and limbic frontal basal ganglia projection sites and in the left Broca area. This paper examines the underlying mechanisms for these observations. See p. 42
Oral fingolimod (FTY720) in multiple sclerosis: Two-year results of a phase II extension study This study demonstrated that oral fingolimod, a sphingosine-1phosphate receptor modulator currently in phase III trials, provides sustained improvements in MRI and clinical measures of multiple sclerosis disease activity. See p. 73
VIEWS & REVIEWS
Delusional misidentifications and duplications: Right brain lesions, left brain delusions Defining the anatomical lesions and behavioral deficits that underlie delusions can help to identify at-risk patients. This paper provides a brain-behavior understanding for the genesis of misidentification-reduplication delusions. See p. 80
Podcasts can be accessed at www.neurology.org
Copyright © 2009 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO REVIEWERS
John H. Noseworthy, MD Editor-in-Chief Robert A. Gross, MD, PhD Deputy Editor Andrew G. Engel, MD Karen C. Johnston, MD, MSc David S. Knopman, MD Jonathan W. Mink, MD, PhD Richard M. Ransohoff, MD Ryan J. Uitti, MD Bradford B. Worrall, MD Associate Editors
Message from the Editors to our US and International Reviewers
Neurology® received 2,018 new and 539 revised manuscripts (including about 52 new and 15 revised fulllength articles per week) from April 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008. During this period, a total of 3,803 reviews were received. Reviewers are returning papers in an average of 8 days; the average time f