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Clinical Neurology News1553-321262February 2010 © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700212/abstract?rss=yesThe Food and Drug Administration's approval of a sustained-release formulation of the potassium channel blocker dalfampridine in January marked the first multiple sclerosis drug that has been specifically indicated for improving walking.MS Patients Have New Option to Improve Walking: Patients treated with extended-release dalfampridine had faster walking speeds than those on placebo.ELIZABETH MECHCATIE10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70021-2Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News11http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700224/abstract?rss=yesBOSTON — A variety of central nervous system-related comorbidities occur significantly more often among people with self-reported epilepsy than in the general population, according to a large survey of U.S. households.CNS Comorbidities Often Occur in Epilepsy: In some studies, the prevalence of depression was higher even before the first seizure occured.DIANA MAHONEY10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70022-4Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News11http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700236/abstract?rss=yes DR. CASELLI, medical editor of CLINICAL NEUROLOGY NEWS, is a professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and the outgoing chair of neurology at the Mayo Clinic Arizona. He is a research collaborator with Dr. Roses on a follow-up study of TOMM40 and APOE, but he has no financial interest in the discovery.Searching for the Payoff In Health Care, ResearchRICHARD J. CASELLI10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70023-6Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Evoked Potentials22http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700248/abstract?rss=yesVital Signs: U.S. Health Care Spending Growth Continues to Decelerate10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70024-8Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News22http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS155332121070025X/abstract?rss=yesCLINICAL NEUROLOGY NEWS is pleased to welcome 6 new members to our editorial advisory board, which now totals 16. The new members are Dr. Jonathan L. Carter, Dr. Joseph F. Drazkowski, Dr. Elaine C. Jones, Dr. Katherine H. Noe, Dr. Benn E. Smith, and Dr. Richard S. Zimmerman. Here are short bios of the entire board:Editorial Advisory Board Adds Six Members10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70025-XClinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News33http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700261/abstract?rss=yesNew Jersey recently became the 14th state in the nation to allow the medical use of marijuana, though its law is the country's most restrictive. Outgoing Gov. Jon S. Corzine (D) signed the “Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act” (A804/S119) into law on Jan. 18, soon before leaving office. The new law will remove legal penalties for the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes. Under the law, the drug must be recommended by a licensed state physician for a qualifying medical condition such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Crohn's disease.New Jersey Law Allows Limited Use of Medical MarijuanaMARY ELLEN SCHNEIDER10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70026-1Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News44http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700273/abstract?rss=yesThe affiliations of CLINICAL NEUROLOGY NEWS' editorial advisory board members Dr. Stuart B. Black and Dr. Thomas P. Bleck were incorrect in the January 2010 issue. Dr. Black is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, and Dr. Bleck is affiliated with Rush Medical College, Chicago.Correction10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70027-3Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9News44http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700285/abstract?rss=yes DR. FEERO is special adviser to the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. Clinical translational research seeks the answer to the fundamental question health care providers ask themselves daily: “If I use this (test, drug, device), will my patient's health improve?” Multiple evidence reviews have shown that the answer to this question is too often that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against use of X in the management of condition Y.Translational Efforts Make Genetic Studies UsefulGREG FEERO10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70028-5Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Editorial55http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700297/abstract?rss=yes DR. YAZICI is an assistant professor of medicine at New York University and is the director of the Seligman Center for Advanced Therapeutics at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. He disclosed a financial relationship with Centocor Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Celgene Corp., Genentech Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche, and UCB Inc.Informed Consent: One Size Does Not Fit AllYUSUF YAZICI10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70029-7Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Editorial55http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700303/abstract?rss=yesMIAMI BEACH — Changes in brain volume and networks could someday predict which patients with Parkinson's disease are at highest risk to develop dementia, according to recent studies.Imaging Reveals Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson'sDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70030-3Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Movement Disorders66http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700315/abstract?rss=yesMIAMI BEACH — Widespread screening for early Parkinson's disease with olfactory testing followed by neurologic imaging holds promise but is not yet practical, based on studies that have revealed the limitations of each method.Optimal Screening Strategy for Early PD Remains ElusiveDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70031-5Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Movement Disorders66http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700327/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: Patients with Parkinson's disease who received early treatment with pramipexole had a mean UPDRS score only 0.4 points different from patients who initiated treatment 6-9 months later.PD Outcomes No Better With Early TreatmentDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70032-7Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Movement Disorders77http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700339/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: Functional magnetic resonance imaging correlated with EEG in children with absence epilepsy and matched healthy controls.Dysfunctional Brain Areas May Fuel Inattention in Absence EpilepsyDIANA MAHONEY10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70033-9Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Epilepsy and Spells88http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700340/abstract?rss=yesBOSTON — Children with benign focal epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes had a higher incidence of psychiatric illnesses, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental delay compared with the estimated incidence in the general population, based on a retrospective study of electroencephalogram findings.Childhood Epilepsy Is Tied To Psychiatric DisordersDIANA MAHONEY10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70034-0Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Epilepsy and Spells88http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700352/abstract?rss=yesEpilepsy: Open Interventional Phase III Studies in the United States*10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70035-2Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Clinical Trials Update99http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700364/abstract?rss=yes Clinical perspective by DR. CASELLI, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and the outgoing chair of neurology at the Mayo Clinic Arizona. Dr. Caselli collaborated with Dr. Roses on a follow-up study exploring the relative contributions of APOE and TOMM40 to AD age of onset, but he has no financial interest in the discovery.Polymorphism Predicts Age of Late-Onset ADRICHARD J. CASELLI10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70036-4Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Neuroscience Today, Neurology Tomorrow1010http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700376/abstract?rss=yesORLANDO — High blood levels of a brain natriuretic peptide were associated with poor cognitive function in a study of 950 community-dwelling, healthy, elderly adults. “This is the first time this [association] has been shown,” Dr. Lori B. Daniels said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.Natriuretic Peptide Linked to Cognitive Deficits in ElderlyMITCHEL L. ZOLER10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70037-6Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Behavioral Neurology1010http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700388/abstract?rss=yesThe best way to raise standards and quality for continuing health education would be for the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public-private institution, according to a report issued by the Institute of Medicine.IOM Calls for Continuing Health Education BodyJOYCE FRIEDEN10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70038-8Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Practice Trends1212http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS155332121070039X/abstract?rss=yesFunding of U.S. biomedical research, which enjoyed a “boom” in 1994-2003, has since declined substantially, according to investigators who tracked funding from four major sponsors of such research.Biomedical Research Funding in Steep Decline Since 2003MARY ANN MOON10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70039-XClinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Practice Trends1212http://www.clinicalneurologynews.com/article/PIIS1553321210700406/abstract?rss=yesNew York–based Project A.L.S. has partnered with the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins University on a new research initiative designed to rapidly advance the science behind ALS. The 3-year, $15 million project will bring together leading researchers in genetics, stem cell reprogramming, and glial-neuron signaling to get a better handle on the key genetic, biochemical, and cellular pathways that lead to ALS. The researchers will also focus on defining the primary molecular targets for the development of new ALS treatments.Policy & Practice: Want more health reform news? Subscribe to our podcast — search ‘Policy & Practice’ in the iTunes storeMary Ellen Schneider10.1016/S1553-3212(10)70040-6Clinical Neurology News 6, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Neurology News2010-02-0162S1553-3212(10)X7002-9Practice Trends1313