Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized crossover study of bee sting therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Bee sting therapy is increasingly used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the belief that it can stabilize or ameliorate the disease. However, there are no clinical studies to justify its use. ⋯ In this trial, treatment with bee venom in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis did not reduce disease activity, disability, or fatigue and did not improve quality of life.
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In 10 consecutive patients with footdrop due to common peroneal neuropathy without an obvious cause, MRI of the knee showed pathology at the fibular head in 6, including 5 patients with clinically unsuspected cysts of the tibiofibular joint. All 6 of the patients improved with surgery.
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A 24-hour hospitalization for TIA could be cost-effective simply by increasing the likelihood that patients will receive tissue plasminogen activator if a stroke occurs. The authors performed a cost-utility analysis of 24-hour hospitalization for patients diagnosed with recent TIA. The overall cost-effectiveness ratio was 55,044 dollars per quality-adjusted life-year, a value considered borderline cost-effective. For patients with higher risk of stroke, admission was cost-effective.