Paper of the Month

For June 2016 we have selected: Safety and efficacy of repeated injections of botulinum toxin A in peripheral neuropathic pain (BOTNEP): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Attal N, et al. Lancet Neurol 2016;15:555-565. The treatment of neuropathic pain is very challenging for neurologists and pain specialists since pain medications often have important adverse events or are partially effective. Botulinum toxin type A has been successfully used for many years to treat dystonia, spasticity, and other disorders with muscle hyperactivity.

For May 2016 we have selected: Meinzer M, Darkow R, Lindenberg R, Flöel A. Electrical stimulation of the motor cortex enhances treatment outcome in post-stroke aphasia. Brain 2016:139;1152-1163. Language deficits after a stroke can be devastating and have a remarkable impact on the quality of life. Rehabilitation strategies can improve aphasia also in the chronic phases, but there is the overall need of more efficacious and focused treatment strategies. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to change cortical excitability and induce synaptic plasticity without side effects.

or April 2016 we have selected: Lublin F, Miller DH, Freedman MS, et al., on behalf of the INFORMS study investigators. Oral fingolimod in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (INFORMS): a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol, 27 Jan 2016; pii: S0140-6736(15)01314-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01314-8. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) represents around 10-15% of the clinical forms of MS. Several characteristics differentiate PPMS from the relapse-onset MS, the classical more frequent form: older age at onset, equal prevalence between sexes, less inflammatory component at the MRI, and quicker progression of disability.