The vexing question often posed of an unspepecting neurolgist is whether patients with a recent stroke, or risk of strokes, should fly. The answer is obvious, being “only with a safe airline:))”. However, all humour aside, this can be a difficult magaement questions. In this must read issue of JNNP, Reynolds and colleagues grapple with […]
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Another nail in the preverbial coffin for CCSVI theory?
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) was proposed as a potential pathogenic mechanism in MS. While pathological data to support such a theory were elusive, a world-wide craze was sett-off, mostly amongst patients, some vascular physicians and some (minority) of neurologist. It seamed appealing that a simple vascular problem was responsible for MS, but alas subsequent […]
The Sound of Music
My sister is doing a degree in music. I listen, fascinated, to her stories; music school isn’t like med school. Their days begin around noon, fellow students sport wild hair colours and outfits (tutus anyone?), and the last exam she sat was held upstairs in the local pub. Image credit: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/study-your-exam-and-have-a-beer–1/ Most people enjoy […]
Sleepy heads
It’s 1.30am, Friday morning. I’m struggling to keep awake on the first night shift of the year. One down (well half of it anyway), six more to go. I’m a light sleeper at the best of times, however, after a busy med reg night shift, it’s a different story. I’ve slept through our smoke alarm […]
What am I doing with my life?
There are moments in life for which most of us have shared a history – events that brought us together as a human collective: where were you when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon? Or when Elvis died? Or when you got that first glimpse of Borat’s electric lime mankini? With few exceptions, everyone would […]
What does Neurology have to do with a Mammoth Tusk?
I came across this article the other night, and wanted to share it. I enjoy art (probably like lots of us), and although I possess no talents in the field (possibly also like a lot of us), I always enjoy the chance to go look at it. I even did a ‘Diploma of Art’ while at […]
The New Wonder Drug
I’m currently working as a junior doctor in a subacute hospital, on the Neurology Ward. Our in-patients come in for symptom management, and sometimes end of life care. Conditions include motor neuron disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and the Parkinson Plus ‘three ugly sisters’ (although I’ve only seen MSA & PSP in my time here). […]
Feeling hot hot hot!
Happy new year! I’m typing this blog on the living room floor, under the air con. The south-east of Australia is in the middle of a heat wave; my home town had four consecutive days with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (that’s over 104 degrees Fahrenheit for those playing in other parts of the world). […]
Below the surface
Dr Susanna Park reviews the recent JNNP hits: Condensed in this word cloud is the year 2013……as seen in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. From the abstracts of original research papers and reviews from the Journal in 2013, the 150 most commonly used words are depicted graphically, with the most frequently […]
Non-contiguous propagation of ALS: River of hyperexcitability?
The site of disease onset in ALS remains enigmatic, and resolution of this quandary could shed light of ALS pathogenesis and may be of therapeutic significance. Previous studies suggested a contiguous spread of disease, implying a role for local (spinal) factors in ALS pathogenesis. In contrast, Sekiguchi and colleagues report non-contiguous spread, a well observed […]