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Predictors of dyskinesia: STRIDE-PD analysis

September 14, 2011

REPORT FROM THE 15^TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND MOVEMENT DISORDERS, TORONTO, JUNE 5-9, 2011 – A number of clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of entacapone, a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, in combination with levodopa-carbidopa in PD patients with motor fluctuations (Parkinson Study Group. Ann Neurol 1997; 42: 747-755; Rinne et al. Neurology 1998; 51: 186-189).

The combination of levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone (LCE) was also shown to provide modest improvements in motor and ADL scores in non-fluctuating PD patients in the Celomen study (Poewe et al. Acta Neurol Scand 2002; 105: 245-255). A pooled analysis subsequently reported that the early addition of entacapone to the levodopa/carbidopa regimen could lead to better long-term outcomes compared to delayed introduction of the drug (Nissinen et al. Eur J Neurol 2009; 16: 1305-1311).

Psychiatry and 9/11 – Ten Years After

September 9, 2011

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. and the deaths of 3,000 civilians, police officers, firefighters and medical personnel. Despite the widespread media coverage of the event, the vital work of volunteer psychiatrists acting as first responders and in researching the aftermath of the tragedy is frequently overlooked.

Several recent publications have highlighted the role of psychiatrists in providing acute care in the disaster setting, the challenges they faced, and the psychiatric sequelae for victims, first responders and the population at large.

Beta-IFN injections in the morning may improve flu-like symptoms

September 7, 2011

MS patients treated with a beta-interferon are often advised to self-inject before going to bed to improve the tolerability of flu-like symptoms. But a study in France has found that patients with intolerable side effects may benefit from a switch to morning injections (Nadjar et al. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2011; 113: 316-322).

Little evidence to support non-antiepileptic drug in trigeminal neuralgia

September 7, 2011

A systematic review concludes that there is insufficient evidence demonstrating significant benefit from non-antiepileptic drugs in trigeminal neuralgia despite their widespread use since the 1970s (Yang et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011, Jan 19;1:CD004029).

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