Can J Neurol Sci
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Pilot Placebo Controlled Randomized Trial of Dexamethasone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.
Current opinions regarding the use of dexamethasone in the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) are only based on observational studies. Moreover, the use of corticosteroids in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patient with this condition remains controversial. Here, we present data from a prospective randomized pilot study of CSDH patients treated with dexamethasone or placebo. ⋯ Given the small sample size, these preliminary results have not shown a clear beneficial effect of dexamethasone against placebo in our patients. However, the number of secondary effects reported was much greater for corticosteroids, and dexamethasone treatment was responsible for significant complications.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Motor Cortex Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Cross-over Trial.
Chronic motor cortex stimulation (MCS) has been used to treat medically refractory neuropathic pain over the past 20 years. We investigated this procedure using a prospective multicentre randomized blinded crossover trial. ⋯ We failed to show that MCS is an effective treatment for refractory upper extremity neuropathic pain and suggest that previous studies may have been skewed by placebo effects, or ours by nocebo. We suggest that a healthy degree of skepticism is warranted when considering this invasive therapy for upper extremity pain syndromes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Music is Beneficial for Awake Craniotomy Patients: A Qualitative Study.
Patients undergoing awake craniotomy may experience high levels of stress. Minimizing anxiety benefits patients and surgeons. Music has many therapeutic effects in altering human mood and emotion. Tonality of music as conveyed by composition in major or minor keys can have an impact on patients' emotions and thoughts. Assessing the effects of listening to major and minor key musical pieces on patients undergoing awake craniotiomy could help in the design of interventions to alleviate anxiety, stress and tension. ⋯ Overall, listening to music selections was beneficial for the patients. Future work should further investigate the effects of audio interventions in awake surgery through narrative means.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pregabalin for the management of cervicogenic headache: a double blind study.
The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of pregabalin relative to placebo in patients with chronic unilateral cervicogenic headache. Primary and secondary end points: To assess the change from baseline in the frequency of cervicogenic headache days per 28-day period between placebo and treatment group. To assess the change from baseline in the intensity of headache, and health outcome measures. ⋯ In this study, primary objectives were achieved with a statistically significant change of ten days in frequency of headache days; with minor side effects that were well tolerated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of rivastigmine on memory and cognition in multiple sclerosis.
Cognitive dysfunction is one of the common clinical symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), but there is no effective treatment for it. ⋯ No significant differences were seen between rivastigmine and placebo on the mean (SD) WMS general memory score. A larger multicenter study of rivastigmine in MS is warranted in order to more definitely assess the efficacy of this intervention.