Table of contents
February 2008 Volume 4 No 2
Editorial
Viewpoint
Psychosocial adjustment after deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease
58Subthalamic nucleus stimulation in individuals with Parkinson's disease can result in spectacular motor improvement, but many patients find it difficult to cope with this sudden change in their condition. In this Viewpoint, Schüpbach and Agid look at possible explanations for difficulties in social adjustment after surgery and suggest strategies to facilitate adaptation to a new lifestyle.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0714 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Research Highlights
Rationale for treating Huntington's with a sirolimus and lithium combination
60Sativex® improves pain control in patients with unresponsive and persistent neuropathic pain
60Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein—a diagnostic biomarker for glioblastoma multiforme
60A new MRI protocol for detection of high-risk aortic plaques in patients with stroke
61Study demonstrates axonal transport of West Nile virus in vivo
61Triptans and antidepressants are prescribed concomitantly despite FDA advisory
62New insights into the molecular mechanisms of Lafora disease
62Minocycline causes notable deterioration in patients with ALS
63New findings cast doubt on PrPSc as a diagnostic marker for TSE
63The role of microglia in the mechanism of neuropathic pain
63Heterogeneity in cortical surface shape of patients with autism spectrum disorders
64Can NSAIDs protect against Parkinson's disease in humans?
64Brain tissue loss in early-stage multiple sclerosis predicts future cognitive decline
65Practice Points
Temporal lobe resection—does the prospect of seizure freedom outweigh the cognitive risks?
66doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0657 | Full Text | PDF (123K)
NCI-CTC vs TNS: which tool is better for grading the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy?
68doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0740 | Full Text | PDF (123K)
Biomarker profile for the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
70doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0662 | Full Text | PDF (125K)
Which MRI sequences are best suited to the evaluation of patients with neurocysticercosis?
72doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0703 | Full Text | PDF (124K)
Amplitude-integrated EEG—useful for early outcome prediction after birth asphyxia?
74doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0710 | Full Text | PDF (126K)
Reviews
Training and exercise to drive poststroke recovery
76To devise therapeutic strategies for the rehabilitation of patients with hemiparetic stroke, it is important to understand the mechanisms that underlie the neuroplasticity induced by skills training and exercise programs. In this Review, Dobkin considers how basic neurobiological mechanisms might be exploited to enhance motor recovery after stroke, and to enable patients to participate more fully in activities of daily life.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0709 | Full Text | PDF (310K)
Drug Insight: antioxidant therapy in inherited ataxias
86Oxidative stress seems to be a common factor in the pathogenesis of inherited ataxias, prompting attempts to treat these conditions with antioxidants. In this Review, Massimo Pandolfo discusses the rationale for antioxidant treatment in inherited ataxias, and describes the results of the clinical trials conducted to date, focusing particularly on the use of coenzyme Q analogs to treat Friedreich ataxia.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0704 | Full Text | PDF (362K)
Drug Insight: steroids in CNS infectious diseases—new indications for an old therapy
97Inflammatory responses to CNS infections can cause severe disability or even death, and pharmacological treatments that dampen inflammation might, therefore, be beneficial adjunctive treatments in such cases. In this article, Fitch and van de Beek review the available evidence that steroids, administered in conjunction with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, can improve outcomes in patients with bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis or herpes simplex virus encephalitis.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0713 | Full Text | PDF (227K)
Case Study
Typical progression of myoclonic epilepsy of the Lafora type: a case report
106This Case Study describes in detail a case of Lafora disease, from its earliest stages through the clinical progression, including detailed neurophysiological studies, diagnostic biopsy and autopsy.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0706 | Full Text | PDF (760K)
Training Matters
Advocacy training in neurology: scope and impact
114In this Training Matters article, the authors highlight the need for neurologists to develop advocacy skills that they can use to promote high-priority issues facing the practice of neurology. The authors describe a training program that teaches participants to identify issues related to clinical practice, develop an action plan for dealing with these problems, and apply strategies to improve their communication skills.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0664 | Full Text | PDF (124K)
