340 posts · 241,442 views
I am a physician interested in clinical neuroscience research. I will use this blog to post more detailed analysis of recent studies in addition to my @WRY999 Twitter scientific reading log. I will also post some of my wildlife/sports photography. Aim to educate and amuse. Not selling anything.
William Yates, M.D.
340 posts
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- July 17, 2012
- 11:37 AM
- 315 views
Sleep Problems Increased in Diabetes
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Diabetes affects an estimated 25.8 million individuals in the United States or approximately 8.3% of the total population. The risk of diabetes increases with age with a prevalence rate of 3.7% in the 20-44 year age group climbing to a prevalence rate of 26.9% of individuals 65 years of age or older.A recent study examined the prevalence of a variety of sleep problems in those with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Platinga and colleagues compared the rates of the followin........ Read more »
Plantinga L, Rao MN, & Schillinger D. (2012) Prevalence of self-reported sleep problems among people with diabetes in the United States, 2005-2008. Preventing chronic disease. PMID: 22440550
- July 16, 2012
- 11:38 AM
- 360 views
Autism Brain Deficits in Social Judgment
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Children and adults with autism show deficits in the ability to make correct judgment of social situations. Judging social settings accurately requires the integrating both verbal and non-verbal cues. Although children with autism appear to be able to accurately judge verbal and non-verbal cues, they show deficits in integrating both types of information in making a global judgement of social situations.An important research question is: Where are the brain structures and circ........ Read more »
Watanabe T, Yahata N, Abe O, Kuwabara H, Inoue H, Takano Y, Iwashiro N, Natsubori T, Aoki Y, Takao H.... (2012) Diminished Medial Prefrontal Activity behind Autistic Social Judgments of Incongruent Information. PloS one, 7(6). PMID: 22745788
- July 13, 2012
- 12:05 PM
- 312 views
Biomarkers in Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Precuneus Region in Teal Color in Posterior BrainThe timing and sequence of brain changes in Alzheimer's disease are important factors for improving early diagnosis and treatment. Key research tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide methods to better understand the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.The research design needed to optimally understand the development of Alzheimer's disease would be a large prospective longitudinal stu........ Read more »
Bateman RJ, Xiong C, Benzinger TL, Fagan AM, Goate A, Fox NC, Marcus DS, Cairns NJ, Xie X, Blazey TM.... (2012) Clinical and Biomarker Changes in Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Disease. The New England journal of medicine. PMID: 22784036
- July 12, 2012
- 11:38 AM
- 516 views
Depression and Brain White Matter Hyperintensities
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Magnetic resonance brain imaging (MRI) provides a powerful tool for studying brain structure. One specific clinical and research advance in MRI has been the recognition and understanding of what has been named white matter hyperintensities (WMHI). These types of age-related brain changes were less well identified by earlier computerized tomography brain imaging techniques.I have previously posted a study that examined the clinical significance of brain WMHI. This research meta-........ Read more »
Soennesyn H, Oppedal K, Greve OJ, Fritze F, Auestad BH, Nore SP, Beyer MK, Aarsland D. (2012) White Matter Hyperintensities and the Course of Depressive Symptoms in Elderly People with Mild Dementia . Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord Extra. DOI: 10.1159/000335497
Bohlega S, Al Shubili A, Edris A, Alreshaid A, Alkhairallah T, AlSous MW, Farah S, & Abu-Amero KK. (2007) CADASIL in Arabs: clinical and genetic findings. BMC medical genetics, 67. PMID: 17996090
- July 11, 2012
- 11:40 AM
- 319 views
Dogs and Childhood Health
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Pets in the home provide opportunities for a type of social interaction many humans find comforting. Additionally, there appear to be a variety of health benefits associated with dogs and other pets.I have previously posted on the association of regular dog walking with higher rates of meeting physical activity guidelines and lower rates of obesity.Now a recently published research study suggests the presence of a dog (or cat) in the home is associated with lower rates of respiratory illne........ Read more »
Eija Bergroth, Sami Remes, Juha Pekkanen, Timo Kauppila, Gisela Büchele and Leea Keski-Nisula. (2012) Respiratory Tract Illnesses During the First Year of Life: Effect of Dog and Cat Contacts. Pediatrics. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2825
- July 10, 2012
- 10:59 AM
- 409 views
Alcohol Consumption and Bariatric Surgery
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The effects of bariatric (weight loss) surgery on physiology and metabolism is becoming more clear with well-designed clinical research. One potential adverse effect of bariatric surgery is alcohol use and abuse. A few small surveys of bariatric surgery following their operations noted alcohol-related problems in a small number of patients. This has prompted a larger study recently published in the journal JAMA that followed 2458 subjects from ten U.S. hospital bariatric surger progr........ Read more »
King WC, Chen JY, Mitchell JE, Kalarchian MA, Steffen KJ, Engel SG, Courcoulas AP, Pories WJ, & Yanovski SZ. (2012) Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders Before and After Bariatric SurgeryAlcohol Use Disorders and Bariatric Surgery. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, 1-10. PMID: 22710289
- July 9, 2012
- 10:31 AM
- 398 views
Best Diets for Weight Loss Maintenance
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Weight-loss maintenance presents a significant clinical challenge in the treatment of obesity. Up to 95% of individuals losing a significant amount of weight will be unable to maintain weight loss after one to two years of follow up.Changes in resting energy metabolism with weight loss appear to promote weight regain following weight loss. The body adapts to weight loss by ratcheting down daily resting energy (calorie) levels. The result is a lower daily caloric intake required........ Read more »
Ebbeling CB, Swain JF, Feldman HA, Wong WW, Hachey DL, Garcia-Lago E, & Ludwig DS. (2012) Effects of dietary composition on energy expenditure during weight-loss maintenance. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, 307(24), 2627-34. PMID: 22735432
- June 12, 2012
- 10:56 AM
- 371 views
Tinnitus Severity and Depression
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Tinnitus or persistent ringing in the ear is a common clinical neuroscience disorder. The prevalence of tinnitus in the general population approaches 25% with up to 8 to 10% reporting tinnitus severe enough to produce distress or impairment in daily activities.Individuals with severe tinnitus report higher levels of depression symptoms compared to those without tinnitus. It is unclear whether tinnitus precedes depression or vice versa. A better understanding of the relationship........ Read more »
Hébert, S., Canlon, B., Hasson, D., Magnusson Hanson, L., Westerlund, H., & Theorell, T. (2012) Tinnitus Severity Is Reduced with Reduction of Depressive Mood – a Prospective Population Study in Sweden. PLoS ONE, 7(5). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037733
- June 11, 2012
- 10:52 AM
- 1,231 views
Preterm Birth as a Risk Factor for Mental Disorders
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Identification of risk factors for mental disorders is a key step in prevention. Although genetic factors contribute significantly to risk of mental disorders, environmental factors are also important.Preterm birth appears to be an important risk factor for a variety of neurological and psychiatric mental disorders. Nosarti and colleagues from Sweden recently published a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry of preterm births and adult hospitalization rate for six categories.He........ Read more »
Reichenberg, A. (2012) Preterm Birth and Psychiatric Disorders in Young Adult LifePreterm Birth and Psychiatric Disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 610. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.1374
- June 6, 2012
- 12:54 PM
- 245 views
Telephone Cognitive Therapy in Depression
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively reduces symptoms in major depression and has become a key recommended component in many depression treatment guidelines.CBT in depression protocols typically outline a 12 to 18 session course of treatment with sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes each. Two significant problems in CBT are the limited access to qualified CBT therapists and the difficulty patients experience in adhering to recommended the complete course of therapy. Access to CBT is........ Read more »
Ho, J. (2012) Effect of Telephone-Administered vs Face-to-face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Adherence to Therapy and Depression Outcomes Among Primary Care PatientsA Randomized TrialTelephone vs In-Person Therapy for Depression. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(21), 2278. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.5588
- May 31, 2012
- 10:58 AM
- 432 views
ADHD, IQ and Brain Development
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs in low-IQ, average-IQ and high-IQ children and adolescents.Studies of IQ in children with ADHD show that as a group they tend to have a somewhat lower mean IQ than those without ADHD. This group difference has been estimated to be about 9 IQ points.IQ is important in ADHD as ADHD treatment response and outcome is reduced in those with lower IQ.Brain imaging studies in ADHD have noted different patterns of brain development compared to ........ Read more »
de Zeeuw, P., Schnack, H., van Belle, J., Weusten, J., van Dijk, S., Langen, M., Brouwer, R., van Engeland, H., & Durston, S. (2012) Differential Brain Development with Low and High IQ in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. PLoS ONE, 7(4). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035770
- May 30, 2012
- 12:23 PM
- 301 views
Topiramate and Alcohol Dependence
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Adjunctive pharmacologic treatment appears improve the outcome of alcohol dependence in some individuals. A recent treatment guideline published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) summarized the current state of drug treatment in alcohol dependence.These guidelines noted drug intervention is typically reserved for individuals with moderate to severe alcohol dependence. After successful alcohol withdrawal, guideline-compliant options for drug treatment include naltrexo........ Read more »
Paparrigopoulos, T., Tzavellas, E., Karaiskos, D., Kourlaba, G., & Liappas, I. (2011) Treatment of alcohol dependence with low-dose topiramate: an open-label controlled study. BMC Psychiatry, 11(1), 41. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-11-41
Pilling S, Yesufu-Udechuku A, Taylor C, Drummond C, & Guideline Development Group. (2011) Diagnosis, assessment, and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). PMID: 21345905
- May 29, 2012
- 11:52 AM
- 426 views
Duloxetine and Ecstasy (MDMA) Abuse
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) common known as "Ecstasy" is a amphetamine derivative drug of abuse. There are few studies of potential pharmacological strategies to reduce the effects of MDMA in human subjects.Hysek and colleagues from Switzerland recently published a study of the effect of duloxetine on MDMA effects. Duloxetine is an antidepressant drug that modulates the effect of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.The subjective effects of MD........ Read more »
Hysek, C., Simmler, L., Nicola, V., Vischer, N., Donzelli, M., Krähenbühl, S., Grouzmann, E., Huwyler, J., Hoener, M., & Liechti, M. (2012) Duloxetine Inhibits Effects of MDMA (“Ecstasy") In Vitro and in Humans in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Laboratory Study. PLoS ONE, 7(5). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036476
- May 25, 2012
- 11:51 AM
- 407 views
Brain Connectivity Alterations in OCD
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts interfering with everyday activities. The prevalence of OCD is estimated to be between 1 to 2 percent of the population. Despite several approved drug treatments and the availability of behavioral therapy, many individuals with OCD find their symptoms resistant to treatment. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of OCD is needed for the development of more effective treat........ Read more »
Stern, E., Fitzgerald, K., Welsh, R., Abelson, J., & Taylor, S. (2012) Resting-State Functional Connectivity between Fronto-Parietal and Default Mode Networks in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. PLoS ONE, 7(5). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036356
- May 22, 2012
- 12:27 PM
- 401 views
Exercise in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Regular exercise appears to moderate the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms. However there are few studies that examine the effectiveness of community-based exercise intervention programs for anxiety and depression.One of the largest research studies of this type was recently published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. This study from Wales examined the effect of an exercise program intervention in a group of inactive community subjects with coronary heart........ Read more »
Murphy, S., Edwards, R., Williams, N., Raisanen, L., Moore, G., Linck, P., Hounsome, N., Din, N., & Moore, L. (2012) An evaluation of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the National Exercise Referral Scheme in Wales, UK: a randomised controlled trial of a public health policy initiative. Journal of Epidemiology . DOI: 10.1136/jech-2011-200689
- May 21, 2012
- 11:52 AM
- 341 views
First Panic Attack and Agoraphobia
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Panic disorder commonly presents acutely with a first severe panic attack. Many patients can distinctly remember their first attack even years after the onset of the disorder.Agoraphobia may complicate panic disorder. The word agoraphobia stems from the Greek word "agora" meaning gathering place. The Greek agora was the common area for public assembly. People with agoraphobia commonly fear situations where they may be in a crowd of people. They often fear that in such sit........ Read more »
Hara N, Nishimura Y, Yokoyama C, Inoue K, Nishida A, Tanii H, Okada M, Kaiya H, & Okazaki Y. (2012) The development of agoraphobia is associated with the symptoms and location of a patient's first panic attack. BioPsychoSocial medicine, 6(1), 12. PMID: 22494552
- May 17, 2012
- 11:33 AM
- 358 views
Modafinil for Shift Work Sleep Disorder
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
In a recent post, I reviewed a summary of the research status of jet lag and shift work sleep disorder. Shift work sleep disorder may affect up to 20% of U.S. workers and few FDA-approved medications target this problem.Modafinil and its derivative armodafinil are two stimulant compounds that have FDA approval for shift work sleep disorders. These compounds are also approved for the treatment of narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea.A recent study from India compares the efficacy o........ Read more »
Tembe, D., Dhavale, A., Desai, H., Mane, D., Raut, S., Dhingra, G., Sardesai, U., Saoji, S., Rohra, M., Shinde, V.... (2011) Armodafinil versus Modafinil in Patients of Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Shift Work Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double Blind Multicentric Clinical Trial. Neurology Research International, 1-6. DOI: 10.1155/2011/514351
- May 16, 2012
- 12:37 PM
- 368 views
Jet Lag and Shift Work Sleep Disorder
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Transcontinental air travel and shifting work cycles present two of the most common challenges to circadian rhythm and sleep adjustment. For individuals who travel frequently or have many shifts in their work schedule, adjusting sleep patterns effectively can increase alertness and work performance.Kolla and Auger from the Mayo Clinic recently published an excellent review of the current knowledge of jet lag and shift work disorders. Here are some of the key findings and recommendat........ Read more »
KOLLA, B., & AUGER, R. (2011) Jet lag and shift work sleep disorders: How to help reset the internal clock. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 78(10), 675-684. DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.78a.10083
- May 15, 2012
- 12:16 PM
- 373 views
Doxepin For Chronic Primary Insomnia
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
I have previously posted a summary and commentary on the use of low-dose doxepin in the treatment of insomnia. The first post summarized the results of two studies supporting the safety and efficacy of this compound including it's efficacy in elderly individuals.In a second post a randomized placebo controlled trial demonstrated safety and efficacy in a group of elderly subjects over a 12-week period.Another study of the efficacy and safety of doxepin has been recently published. &nbs........ Read more »
Krystal, A., Lankford, A., Durrence, H., Ludington, E., Jochelson, P., Rogowski, R., & Roth, T. (2011) Efficacy and Safety of Doxepin 3 and 6 mg in a 35-day Sleep Laboratory Trial in Adults with Chronic Primary Insomnia. SLEEP. DOI: 10.5665/SLEEP.1294
- May 4, 2012
- 11:50 AM
- 508 views
Naltrexone Implants for Polydrug Dependence
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
One of the challenges in the treatment of drug dependence is the common clinical feature of polydrug dependence. Those with serious drug dependence problems typically use multiple substances including alcohol.Pharmacological interventions that address one specific drug may not influence craving or use of another substance. For example, methadone clinics for heroin dependence commonly find continued use of cocaine and other stimulants despite significant reduction in heroin use. Obvio........ Read more »
Tiihonen, J. (2012) Naltrexone Implant for the Treatment of Polydrug Dependence: A Randomized Controlled Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11071121
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