Pain

The analgesic effect of crossing the arms Gallace, A. et al. Pain doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.02.029

Identifying the position in space of a stimulus plays a key part in our interaction with the external environment. In this study, Gallace et al. showed that interfering with this process by crossing the arms over the midline reduced the intensity of pain evoked by a noxious stimulus to the hand. These effects were associated with changes in multimodal—but not somatosensory-specific—cortical processing. The findings highlight a potential new approach to the treatment of pain.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mitoxantrone prior to interferon beta-1b in aggressive relapsing multiple sclerosis: a 3-year randomised trial Edan, G. et al. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry doi:10.1136/jnnp.2010.229724

Short-term immunosuppression with mitoxantrone (MITOX) might improve the long-term effect of interferon β1b (IFN-β1b) therapy in patients with aggressive relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, according to a study involving 109 patients. In patients who received MITOX for 6 months before starting IFN-β1b treatment (n = 54), the 3-year risk of worsening disability was reduced by 65% compared with patients who received IFN-β1b alone (n = 55).

Alzheimer disease

The acetylation of tau inhibits its function and promotes pathological tau aggregation Cohen, T. J. et al. Nat. Commun. 2, 252 (2011)

Acetylation of tau, like the better-known phosphorylation, could impair microtubule stabilization and promote the formation of tau aggregates in Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a recent study. Biochemical assays on brains from mouse models and patients with AD revealed acetylation of a key target residue of tau (Lys280, located in the microtubule-binding domain) that is associated with tau aggregation and AD pathology.

Stroke

Influence of continuous positive airway pressure on outcomes of rehabilitation in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea Ryan, C. M. et al. Stroke 42, 1062–1067 (2011)

Preventing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can improve some aspects of functional recovery after stroke, according to an open-label trial in Canada involving 44 patients. Patients who received CPAP experienced improvements in one of the study's primary outcomes—the Canadian Neurological Scale—as well as in secondary motor and affective outcomes.