NEURO

from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2Nql8O8

In April 2018, Harvard Medical School sponsored a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of that institution's landmark report in JAMA, which was highly influential in establishing brain death as a medical standard for determining human death. 1 Authorities presented papers summarizing the areas of consensus over the past 50 years and the remaining controversies. Given this recent status report on the consensus on best practices to determine brain death, and the generally uniform laws governing it in the United States, it is therefore ironic to learn that many physicians continue to conduct its determination incorrectly and with a high degree of variability. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2GIxXTz

Calcium is essential for cell-signaling, muscle contraction, and coagulation in addition to bone maintenance. 1 Given this critical role in multiple pathways potentially related to disease, a number of epidemiologic studies have been performed examining whether serum calcium is a factor in cardiovascular disease, returning associations between elevated serum calcium concentration and stroke. 2 Because calcium supplementation has been studied as an intervention for osteoporosis, there is also limited randomized controlled trial data supporting a possible link between calcium and stroke risk. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2NviOFz

Articles appearing in the September 2018 issue from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2GKNOkI

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) formed a work group to evaluate quality measures applicable to a general neurologist. Currently available general measurement options—such as smoking, immunization, and weight—although relevant to a wide patient population, do not, for the most part, reflect the practice of neurology. Rather than developing quality measures specific to one neurologic subspecialty, the goal of this project was to develop quality measures that are universally applicable to neurology. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2NA2K5P

Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed at CD20, a membrane glycosylated phosphoprotein found predominately on B-lymphocytes, but not plasma cells or neutrophils, which has shown efficacy in treatment of relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). In phase 3 clinical trials, infusion reactions, infections, and a small number of malignancies were found more frequently with ocrelizumab than placebo. IV administration results in rapid depletion of pre-B and mature B-lymphocytes. 1 Ocrelizumab, administered every 6 months, was approved for treatment of MS in the United States in March 2017, and is closely related in structure and mechanism of action to rituximab, used for many years in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. As of August 2018, the manufacturer reports >61,800 people have received ocrelizumab postmarketing, and >3,800 in clinical trials. from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2Nqcbof