Archive for 'Neuro' Category

Propoxyphene (Darvocet) Withdrawn

Citing risk of serious or fatal arrhythmias, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked that propoxyphene, (brand names Darvon and Darvocet, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals) be removed from the US market. Propoxyphene is an opioid typically used to treat mild to moderate pain. It was first approved by the FDA in 1957. It is sold [...]

WashU Neuromuscular Disease Center – The Ultimate Online Neurological Disease Database

For thorough summaries of numerous neurological diseases, bookmark Washington University’s database on your mobile device before starting your neuro rotation/class. Disorders & syndromes are searchable categorically or alphabetically. The database is updated frequently; a detailed revision history is maintained on the database’s homepage. Neuromuscular Disease Center [Washington University]

Generic Versus Branded Drugs: Concerns Amidst Limited Evidence

Many physicians have found [the switch to generic drugs] particularly problematic in classes of drugs with a narrow therapeutic range, including antiepileptics, psychotropics, antiarrhythmics, and anticoagulants. although the generic’s mean maximal concentration and area under the concentration-time curve are typically within a few percentage points of the original’s — typically about 4% — the 90% [...]

Duty of Care – Ethics of Neurology

our attention was drawn to a colleague whose subtle neck and facial movements were accompanied by grunting noises while eating—phenomena indicative of complex motor tics… When he had left, the medical student attached to our team asked the obvious question: with the evidence staring us in the face, why did no one inform him of [...]

Huntington's Drug Approved

[Tetrabenazine / Xenazine] will not cure the condition and it has some potentially serious side effects, such as raising the risk of suicidal behavior. However, it does provide relief for a major disabling symptom of Huntington’s: chorea The drug works by reducing the amount of a chemical, dopamine, available at key junction sites in the [...]

Gender in Surgical Demographics

Women now account for more than 50% of American medical students, but only 10% of neurosurgery residents. part of the reason more women aren’t going into neurosurgery is because there aren’t more women in the field to serve as mentors and role models. Women account for less than 6% of the neurosurgery ranks. Women Remain [...]