An evaluation of Tourette Syndrome and medication use in Canada

Self-report data were gathered from a national sample of over 200 Canadian Tourette Syndrome (TS) patients. Information regarding symptom severity both on and off medication was gathered along with an analysis of different medications in use, and patient ratings of effectiveness of those medications. Patients also rated their own mental health. Results indicated that approximately 60% of TS patients take some form of medication for relief from their symptoms. Of these, over 80% reported that symptoms are less severe when medicated. The most commonly prescribed medications in order of popularity are haloperidol, pimozide, clonidine and benztropine mesylate (Cogentin). Patient ratings of effectiveness of these medications places haloperidol first, pimozide second and clonidine third although all were found to be "somewhat" to "very" effective. Of those TS patients on medications, 50% rated their own mental health as good to excellent and 50% rated it as fair to poor.     

Results of endovascular treatment of middle cerebral artery aneurysms after first giving consideration to clipping

Background

Middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are among the more challenging aneurysms for endovascular treatment. We report a contemporary 5-year experience with endovascular therapy for MCA aneurysms at a high-volume neurovascular center.

Methods

Review of prospectively maintained intracranial aneurysm database.

Results

Between 2005 and 2009, 148 patients underwent treatment of 149 MCA aneurysms at our hospital, of which 33 patients with 34 aneurysms underwent endovascular therapy. Among these 33 patients, 14 presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Eleven patients were treated with stent-assisted coiling, 1 with balloon-assisted coiling, and the remainder with coiling alone. Three patients required repeat endovascular treatment. There were 7 periprocedural complications, including intraprocedural aneurysm rupture resulting in death in 2 patients. Two patients died at later dates from remote aneurysm rehemorrhage. Average follow-up of remaining patients was 17.1 months radiographically, and 20.3 months clinically. Average modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at last follow up was 2.09, with 17 patients with mRS 0/1 and 5 patients with mRS 2. Fifteen patients showed evidence of radiographic residual at last follow up: 13 were simple neck residuals. Unruptured status and saccular aneurysms were associated with mRS 0/1 outcome (each p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

At our hospital, MCA aneurysms are being treated with endovascular techniques, but in a minority of patients. Despite the rate of residual neck remnants, few retreatments were necessary and few rehemorrhages occurred. The periprocedural complication rate was not insignificant; therefore, in more recent years and at present, most MCA aneurysms are considered for clipping first at our center.     

Refractory sickle cell leg ulcer: is heparan sulphate a new hope?

Patients with sickle cell disease are known to have recurrent lower extremity ulcers that have a high pain score and are resistant to conventional means of wound therapy. This study reports the successful use of synthetic heparan sulphate (Cacipliq20^®, OTR3, Paris, France) in the treatment of a sickle cell ulcer that had failed to respond to several other means of treatment. Therapeutic success was assessed by complete wound coverage and vast improvement in pain score. This is the first study to report use of heparan sulphate in sickle cell ulcers.     

11条不可信的减肥谣言

正1.蛋想白要是减减肥肥的餐人大的多王热者衷?于脱脂餐,所以煎蛋卷只吃蛋白不要蛋黄。营养师Anne Mauney指出蛋黄含有丰富的营养,对于一整个鸡蛋来说,蛋黄含有40%以上的蛋白质和90%以上的钙、铁和维生素B。另外,她还补充到,只有吃整个鸡蛋的时候,我们才能补充到所有健康的脂溶性维生素A、D、E、K。2.麦片酸奶是早餐明智之选?Mauney说:"很多时候,麦片和酸奶只