Annual epilepsy reviews can provide substantial benefits for people living with epilepsy, and practice nurses are ideally placed to undertake them. Pamela Mantri explains how a review can be undertaken and signposts useful resources for more information. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
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Open access. The aims of this study were twofold: first, to develop and validate a timed test of unimanual and bimanual dexterity suitable for those with disability affecting hand function; second, to explore relationships between unimanual and bimanual completion times.
The neurodegenerative syndrome amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by increased cortical excitability, thought to reflect pathological changes in the balance of local excitatory and inhibitory neuronal influences. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been shown to modulate cortical activity, with some protocols showing effects that outlast the stimulation by months. NIBS has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for disorders associated with changes in cortical neurophysiology, including ALS. This article reviews NIBS methodology, rationale for its application to ALS and progress to date.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Experts from 13 national bodies, including seven Royal Colleges, have joined forces to launch new practical guidance to support doctors and other health professionals around valproate use in women and girls in their reproductive years.
Open access. The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry brought together a panel of experts on World MS Day 2017 to discuss the importance of time in MS—timing of initiation and withdrawal of disease-modifying treatment, time to consider contributory factors such as vascular disease, and the time and cost burden of MS. This paper, which originated in the round table discussion, reviews the following: latest thinking in timing of disease management; how treatment and prevention of vascular injury may buy additional time for people with MS; new data about the true economic and social burden of the disease for people with MS and their carers.
Open access. The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry brought together a panel of experts on World MS Day 2017 to discuss the importance of time in MS—timing of initiation and withdrawal of disease-modifying treatment, time to consider contributory factors such as vascular disease, and the time and cost burden of MS. This paper, which originated in the round table discussion, reviews the following:
latest thinking in timing of disease management; how treatment and prevention of vascular injury may buy additional time for people with MS; new data about the true economic and social burden of the disease for people with MS and their carers.
Editorial. Status epilepticus (SE) is a very common neurological emergency in children.1,2 Refractory convulsive SE (RCSE) is characterized by the persistence of convulsive seizures or evolution of the convulsive seizure to nonconvulsive seizures event after initial antiseizure treatment.3 Children presenting in RCSE account for a high percentage of morbidity and mortality.3-5 In one study, the mortality was 32% for children with RCSE.4. . Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Several oral β-blockers are US Food and Drug Administration–approved for migraine prophylaxis, but their gradual absorption and modification by first-pass metabolism delays effective plasma levels for hours to days, limiting their use in acute migraines.1 Timolol eyedrops provide a rapid route of delivery with the maximum plasma concentration achieved within 15 minutes of administration.2,3 This pharmacokinetic advantage supports a potential role for timolol eyedrops in managing acute migraine.4,5. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
There are few reports on the tolerability and efficacy of perampanel, a new antiepileptic drug with a novel mechanism of action, in children and adolescents. We aimed to describe our experience with perampanel add-on and mono-therapy in children with refractory epilepsy. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Tourette syndrome is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder of juvenile onset, characterised by motor and phonic tics. It is associated with a number of comorbid psychiatric conditions and a reduced quality of life in the young person and with parenting stress, caregiver burden and psychopathology in the parents. The global prevalence (about 1%) is higher than previously thought, with a strong male preponderance. Evidence is emerging that Tourette syndrome is not a unified disorder; rather, it encompasses a number of subtypes, characterised by complexity of tics and the simultaneous presence of other behaviours or disorders. This article discusses the aetiology of the syndrome, and examines its clinical features and comorbid psychiatric conditions and psychopathologies. Assessment and diagnosis are also discussed. Psychoeducation is a cornerstone of management, augmented with behavioural and/or pharmacological treatments. Newer therapies, such as deep brain stimulation, offer tantalising possibilities, but further research is still needed. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - request a copy of the article from the library - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
In this prospective, longitudinal, multiparametric MRI study, we investigated clinical as well as brain grey matter and white matter (WM) regional changes in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson’s syndrome (PSP-RS).. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute polyradiculoneuropathy with a highly variable clinical course and outcome. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasma exchange are proven effective treatments, but the efficacy has been demonstrated mainly on motor improvement in adults with a typical and severe form of GBS. In clinical practice, treatment dilemmas may occur in patients with a relatively mild presentation, variant forms of GBS, or when the onset of weakness was more than 2 weeks ago. Other therapeutic dilemmas may arise in patients who do not improve or even progress after initial treatment. We provide an overview of the current literature about therapeutic options in these situations, and additionally give our personal view that may serve as a basis for therapeutic decision-making. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Letter. . SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Essential tremor is the most common cause of tremor involving upper limbs, head and voice. The first line of treatment for limb tremor is pharmacotherapy with propranolol or primidone. However, these two drugs reduce the tremor severity by only half. In medication refractory and functionally disabling tremor, alternative forms of therapy need to be considered. Botulinum toxin injections are likely efficacious for limb, voice and head tremor but are associated with side effects. Surgical interventions include deep brain stimulation; magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound and thalamotomy for unilateral and deep brain stimulation for bilateral procedures. Recent consensus classification for essential tremor has included a new subgroup, ‘Essential tremor plus’, who have associated subtle neurological ‘soft signs’, such as dystonic posturing of limbs and may require a different treatment approach. In this review, we have addressed the current management of essential tremor with regard to different anatomical locations of tremor as well as different modalities of treatment.... To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
A study published in 2000 showed that more than one-third of adults with epilepsy have inadequate control of seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). This study evaluates overall treatment outcomes in light of the introduction of more than 1 dozen new AEDs in the past 2 decades.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Despite the success of epilepsy surgery, recent reports suggest a decline in surgical numbers. We tested these trends in our cohort to elucidate potential reasons. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.