REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING, SAN DIEGO, CA, MARCH 16-23, 2013 -High sodium chloride levels promote the differentiation of proinflammatory Th17 cells that are highly pathogenic, according to the preliminary results of an in vitro study in naïve human CD4+ cells (Kleinewietfeld et al. AAN 2013; abstract S11.004).
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Application to FDA for first-line natalizumab
March 13, 2013Biogen Idec has applied to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to extend the indication for Tysabri (natalizumab) to include first-line use in MS. The first-line indication would be for patients with relapsing MS who had tested negative for JC virus antibodies. At present, the indication for use of natalizumab is as a second-line treatment option for patients who fail prior therapy or have rapidly evolving MS.
Tremor- vs. non-tremor-dominant PD: fMRI findings
March 13, 2013Patients with non-tremor-dominant PD demonstrate reduced brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and globus pallidus compared to tremor-dominant PD and healthy controls, according to the results of a functional MRI study (Prodoehl et al. JAMA Neurol 2013;70:100-106).
Drinking water may improve chronic headache
March 13, 2013A randomized trial has found that increased water intake appears to improve QOL scores in patients with chronic headache (Spigt et al. Fam Pract 2012;29:370-375). A total of 102 patients with chronic headache (>2 moderately intense headaches or >5 mildly intense headaches per month) received usual care (stress reduction, sleep improvement strategies) with or without instructions to drink 1.5 L/day. The primary outcome was change in Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQOL).