New treatment options for pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. While oral medications from 2 different drug classes appear effective, injection of botulinum toxin does not. More »

In my January column (“Fishing Expeditions and Autism: A Big Catch for Genetic Research?” Psychiatric Times, January 2009, page 12), I described the great difficulties research­ers face characterizing the genetic basis of the disease. Complexities range from trying to establish a stable diagnostic... More »

An 8-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by her mother with a complaint of 5 days of worsening constipation and rectal bleeding. For the past week, the girl has had small stools 3 or 4 times a day and crampy abdominal pain. Yesterday, her stools were streaked with a small amount of... More »

There is no alternative to being eternally suspicious of underlying problems in the patient with erratically controlled diabetes. Glucose control in those with known diabetes may unravel for a number of reasons, including overeating, inadequate exercise, overinsulinization (typically in patients... More »

The temporary withdrawal of natalizumab (Tysabri) from the market in February 2005 in response to 3 cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) among clinical trial participants was a wake-up call for the neurology community about the risks of therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS).... More »

A scaly, erysipeloid rash had erupted in the axillae of an 8-year-old boy and spread to the buttocks and thighs within 2 days. The child complained only of pruritus. The rash had worsened despite treatment with clindamycin for 4 days. More »

For years, a 46-year-old African American woman had had progressive weight gain (despite a low-calorie diet), fatigue, and severe muscle cramps. On examination, Mandeep Hundal, MD, Rashid Khan, MD, Rajeev Garg, MD, and Niraj Mehta, MD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,... More »

GI disorders,colonic varices,GI bleeding,cardiovascular disorders More »

Evidence showing the effectiveness of psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic management of functional gastrointestinal disorders over standard medical treatment is increasing. More »

ABSTRACT: Ruling out coronary artery disease (CAD) is the first step in assessing chest pain. If initial findings make you strongly suspect myocardial infarction/ ischemia, proceed to coronary angiography and appropriate treatment (surgical or medical) as indicated. If you are only moderately... More »