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In this randomized controlled trial, patients with asymmetric Parkinson’s disease were assigned to noninvasive, focused ultrasound-mediated subthalamotomy or sham procedure. The authors reported improved motor function in the focused ultrasound group, with adverse events including weakness, dyskinesia, and gait disturbances.
In subjects with a syndrome associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, gamma aminobutyric acid and glutamate deficiency in the right inferior frontal gyrus was associated with greater degrees of impulsivity.
Individuals with Parkinson’s disease dementia and orthostatic hypotension (OH) have more robust cognitive improvement from rivastigmine compared to those without OH. This greater response possibly is mediated by the anti-OH effect of rivastigmine.
Prednisone, given at 100 mg for five days and then tapering by 20 mg every three days, is a safe and effective short-term prevention for episodic cluster headaches while waiting for longer-acting preventive agents to be initiated.
Sarcoglycanopathies, caused by various genetic mutations, may cause limb-girdle forms of muscular dystrophy early in life. Although there are no specific treatments for these disorders at this time, the clinical and genetic characterizations will assist in more precise diagnosis that will be critical to develop new molecular-based therapies.
Financial Disclosure: Dr. Kaplitt, author, reports he receives grant support from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. Dr. Rubin, author, reports he is a consultant for Merck Sharpe & Dohme Corp. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. None of the remaining authors or planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
