Latest News
News from the FDA/CDC
Office visits have a chronic problem
Adult visits are more often for long term problems, but pediatric visits tend to be for acute conditions.
Conference Coverage
High levels of neuroinflammatory markers may drive increased Alzheimer’s prevalence among blacks
NLRP3 is activated in 46% of African Americans, and once activated it leads to chronically increased levels of inflammatory cytokines.
From the Journals
Successive antiepileptic drug treatments offer diminished chances for seizure freedom
Probability of seizure freedom for 1 year or longer dropped to 12% with second antiepileptic drug regimen.
Feature
CMS launches advanced APM focused on bundled payments
The program “builds on the earlier success of bundled payment models and is an important step in the move away from fee for service.”
From the Journals
Mutations on LRRK2 gene modify risks for both Crohn’s and Parkinson’s
Allelic variants of the gene had either pathogenic or protective effects.
From the Journals
2017 update to McDonald criteria loosens MS diagnosis somewhat
Changes to the 2010 McDonald multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria aim to promote earlier diagnosis and discourage misdiagnosis.
From the Journals
Idalopirdine falls short in three phase 3 Alzheimer’s trials
Simultaneously, Axovant Life Sciences pulls plug on intepirdine, another 5-HT6 receptor drug, after failures in both AD and Lewy body dementia.
From the Journals
Two MS diagnostic criteria found to have similar accuracy
Retrospective study of 2010 McDonald and 2016 MAGNIMS criteria indicates a need for increased specificity for MS diagnosis.
From the Journals
Rituximab may outperform some other first-line multiple sclerosis treatments
Real-world effectiveness study in Sweden found rituximab had lowest discontinuation rate of all disease-modifying treatments studied.
FDA/CDC
FDA cites manufacturer of autologous stem cells for regulatory, manufacturing missteps
American CryoStem markets the product mainly for neurologic indications.
From the Journals
Low caffeine in blood could be marker of early Parkinson’s
Levels of caffeine and its metabolites have potential as a diagnostic screen for early Parkinson’s disease.