Table of contents
March 2008 Volume 4 No 3
Editorial
Viewpoints
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a view from the USA
118The conceptualization of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been the subject of some controversy. In this article, two US-based academic child psychiatrists discuss the prevailing approach to diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in the USA and suggest potential reasons for the variability in prevalence estimates between the USA and Europe.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a UK perspective
120Despite much research, it has been difficult to gain professional agreement on what attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is and how it should be treated. In this Viewpoint, Peter Hill—who has been running treatment and consultative services for ADHD at a national level in the UK for over 20 years—offers his observations on how the disorder is handled in the UK.
Research Highlights
Antihypertensive drug could protect neurons from damage in multiple sclerosis
122Administration of heat shock protein 70 delays disease progression in model of ALS
122Impaired odor identification might help predict onset of Parkinson's disease
122Lipids in the brain turn 'inert' amyloid plaques into neurotoxic protofibrils
123Exercise-regulated neurotrophic signaling cascade: a potential target for antidepressants
123Somatosensory cortex thickening in patients with migraine
124Plasticity of propriospinal relays facilitates spontaneous recovery from spinal cord injury
124Cholinesterase inhibitors are not beneficial in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment
125Ketogenic diet decreases pediatric seizure frequency within 2 months
125Optical coherence tomography could quantify subclinical axonal loss in multiple sclerosis
125Doxycycline and interferon 
1a therapy in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis
126Pregabalin provides effective pain relief for patients with trigeminal neuralgia
126Preimplantation identification of myotonic dystrophy type 1 in embryos
127Practice Points
EEG-fMRI in the presurgical work-up of patients with partial epilepsy and unclear seizure focus
128doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0738 | Full Text | PDF (100K)
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
130doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0729 | Full Text | PDF (103K)
Single-question screen for restless legs syndrome
132Fractionated radiotherapy versus stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas
134doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0711 | Full Text | PDF (102K)
Simplified MRI prediction of clinically definite multiple sclerosis: a stepping stone towards treatment criteria?
136doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0730 | Full Text | PDF (100K)
Reviews
Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in the first 3 years of life
138Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by qualitative impairments in the development of social and communication skills, often accompanied by stereotyped and restricted patterns of interests and behaviors. ASDs are usually diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 6 years, but, as Rebecca Landa discusses in this Review, there is increasing evidence that a diagnosis can be made in the second year of life in some children. She argues that early diagnosis and intervention are likely to lead to improved outcomes in children with ASDs.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0731 | Full Text | PDF (179K)
Technology Insight: therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—an opportunity for personalized medicine?
149Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked recessively inherited disorder of skeletal and cardiac muscle that is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. In this article, Lim and Rando describe new mutation-specific therapeutic strategies that use nonviral agents to target nonsense point mutations or frameshift deletions at the dystrophin locus, with the ultimate aim of developing 'personalized' gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0737 | Full Text | PDF (456K)
Mechanisms of Disease: sodium channels and neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis—current status
159Axon degeneration is a major contributor to disability in multiple sclerosis, and sodium channels have been shown to have a crucial role in this process. In this article, Waxman reviews the development of the concept of sodium channel blockers as neuroprotectants in multiple sclerosis, and discusses recent attempts to translate this approach from the laboratory to the clinic.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0735 | Full Text | PDF (504K)
Case Study
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome variant in a patient receiving donepezil and olanzapine
170This Case Study describes a 78-year-old man with a pre-existing parkinsonian syndrome who experienced an adverse drug reaction following administration of an antipsychotic in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor. The patient was diagnosed with a variant of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0728 | Full Text | PDF (163K)
