340 posts · 240,438 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 21, 2011
- 10:35 AM
- 1,017 views
Bachmann, Migraine and Work Impairment
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
There has been recent interest in the issue of migraine and work impairment related to Michele Bachmann, a candidate for the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election. Bachmann has acknowledged that she suffers from migraine headaches. The attending physician to Congress released a letter stating representative Bachmann's migraine headaches are infrequent, related to known triggers and managed on as needed medications including sumatriptan and ondansetron.This issue prompts ........ Read more »
Bigal, M., & Lipton, R. (2009) The Epidemiology, Burden, and Comorbidities of Migraine. Neurologic Clinics, 27(2), 321-334. DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2008.11.011
Buse, D., Rupnow, M., & Lipton, R. (2009) Assessing and Managing All Aspects of Migraine: Migraine Attacks, Migraine-Related Functional Impairment, Common Comorbidities, and Quality of Life. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 84(5), 422-435. DOI: 10.4065/84.5.422
- July 20, 2011
- 09:26 AM
- 949 views
Nuts, Booze, Soy and Cardiovascular Mortality
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
I have previously published several posts related to diet, cardiovascular mortality and cognitive function. A recent post looked at the relationship of fiber intake and mortality. Another post examined adherence to a Mediterranean style diet with reduced risk of cognitive decline. Now there is another important study published examining diet and risk of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Cardiovascular disease and mortality are important issues for many of t........ Read more »
Akbaraly TN, Ferrie JE, Berr C, Brunner EJ, Head J, Marmot MG, Singh-Manoux A, Ritchie K, Shipley MJ, & Kivimaki M. (2011) Alternative Healthy Eating Index and mortality over 18 y of follow-up: results from the Whitehall II cohort. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 94(1), 247-53. PMID: 21613557
- July 19, 2011
- 10:29 AM
- 1,055 views
Autism and MRI Physical Biomarkers
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) commonly occur in those with autism. I have previously published a post on a study outlining the type and prevalence of these anomalies in a series of case of autism and austim spectrum disorder.One of the MPAs noted in the 1970s in autism spectrum disorder is an increased intraorbital distance (distance between the eyes). This abnormality also noted as hypertelorism has been noted in a variety of brain developmental abnormalities as well as in some n........ Read more »
Cheung C, McAlonan GM, Fung YY, Fung G, Yu KK, Tai KS, Sham PC, & Chua SE. (2011) MRI study of minor physical anomaly in childhood autism implicates aberrant neurodevelopment in infancy. PloS one, 6(6). PMID: 21687660
- July 13, 2011
- 09:56 AM
- 1,170 views
Why Antidepressants Can Cause Gut Pain
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors frequently produce significant gastrointestinal side effects. Nausea was reported by up to 26% of subjects and diarrhea in up to 30% of subjects in a recent review of the new antidepressant vilazodone. Gastrointestinal side effects tend to be seen with the initiation of antidepressant drugs commonly followed by a period of improved tolerability.The mechanism for this gastrointestinal effect is poorly understood. The gut is known to have ........ Read more »
Janssen P, Vos R, & Tack J. (2010) The influence of citalopram on interdigestive gastrointestinal motility in man. Alimentary pharmacology , 32(2), 289-95. PMID: 20456311
- July 12, 2011
- 09:27 AM
- 1,096 views
New Exercise Guidelines Add Neuromotor Domain
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Article first published as New Exercise Guidelines Are Here on Technorati.The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently published an update on their recommendations for exercise. These guidelines follow an extensive review of the research literature and update guidelines that were previously published in 1998.The guidelines note four specific areas of exercise: cardiorespiratory fitness and reduction in risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, maintenance of muscul........ Read more »
Garber, C., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M., Franklin, B., Lamonte, M., Lee, I., Nieman, D., & Swain, D. (2011) Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults. Medicine , 43(7), 1334-1359. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb
- July 11, 2011
- 08:54 AM
- 944 views
Cannabis Use Declines with Aerobic Exercise
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Improvement in addiction treatment interventions in needed. Many substance dependence individuals end up with with a chronic illness with frequent relapse following periods of abstinence.Aerobic exercise appears to be a candidate for a treatment component in a variety of addictive disorders. Aerobic exercise may produce a variety of changes in the brain that may influence craving and drug use.Mechanisms induced by aerobic exercise that might influence drug craving and drug use includ........ Read more »
Buchowski MS, Meade NN, Charboneau E, Park S, Dietrich MS, Cowan RL, & Martin PR. (2011) Aerobic exercise training reduces cannabis craving and use in non-treatment seeking cannabis-dependent adults. PloS one, 6(3). PMID: 21408154
- July 7, 2011
- 11:08 AM
- 1,079 views
More Time In Bed Boosts Basketball Performance
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Looking for that extra edge on the basketball court? Want to increase your free throw percentage and gain an extra step in quickness? Is it a new performance enhancing drug or training technique? No, a new study suggests it may be as easy as spending a few extra hours in bed. Cheri Mah and colleagues from Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco recently published their research on sleep and athletic performance in the journal Sleep. They introd........ Read more »
Mah CD, Mah KE, Kezirian EJ, & Dement WC. (2011) The Effects of Sleep Extension on the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players. Sleep, 34(7), 943-950. PMID: 21731144
- July 6, 2011
- 09:34 AM
- 1,152 views
Autism Spectrum: Why Boys Are At Higher Risk
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
It is no secret gender plays a key role in the risk for a variety of childhood developmental disorders. Discussion of this issue is often difficult as biases in how boys and girls are raised and evaluated can contribute to confusion. Nevertheless, research progresses in explaining why boys are more likely to develop autism spectrum condition (ASC) and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities.Baron-Cohen and colleagues from the UK and US recently summarized some of the potential mechanisms for ma........ Read more »
Baron-Cohen S, Lombardo MV, Auyeung B, Ashwin E, Chakrabarti B, & Knickmeyer R. (2011) Why are autism spectrum conditions more prevalent in males?. PLoS biology, 9(6). PMID: 21695109
- June 29, 2011
- 11:15 AM
- 1,304 views
Vilazodone: A Novel Antidepressant
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Vilazodone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. earlier this year, but is just now becoming available in pharmacies for prescription use. The drug is marketed in the U.S. under the trade name Viibyd. It is novel in that it the only antidepressant that combines two mechanisms that can increase serotonin in the brain cortex: selective serotonin reuptake inhibition and partial agonism of the 5HT1A receptor. There are multiple selective serotonin reuptake in........ Read more »
Rickels K, Athanasiou M, Robinson DS, Gibertini M, Whalen H, & Reed CR. (2009) Evidence for efficacy and tolerability of vilazodone in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 70(3), 326-33. PMID: 19284933
Khan A, Cutler AJ, Kajdasz DK, Gallipoli S, Athanasiou M, Robinson DS, Whalen H, & Reed CR. (2011) A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week study of vilazodone, a serotonergic agent for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 72(4), 441-7. PMID: 21527122
- June 28, 2011
- 03:19 PM
- 1,032 views
Persistent Insomnia in Depression Responding to Antidepressants
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Sleep problems commonly occur as part of a problem with mood disorders including depression. Changes in sleep duration (insomnia or hypersomnia) are one of the criteria for the diagnosis of depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although not absolutely required for the diagnosis, insomnia is a complaint in the the majority of subjects presenting for clinical trials in the treatment of depression.The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SS........ Read more »
Gulec M, Selvi Y, Boysan M, Aydin A, Besiroglu L, & Agargun MY. (2011) Ongoing or re-emerging subjective insomnia symptoms after full/partial remission or recovery of major depressive disorder mainly with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of relapse or recurrence: A 52-week follow-up study. Journal of affective disorders. PMID: 21684011
Reynolds CF 3rd, Frank E, Houck PR, Mazumdar S, Dew MA, Cornes C, Buysse DJ, Begley A, & Kupfer DJ. (1997) Which elderly patients with remitted depression remain well with continued interpersonal psychotherapy after discontinuation of antidepressant medication?. The American journal of psychiatry, 154(7), 958-62. PMID: 9210746
- June 23, 2011
- 08:41 AM
- 1,088 views
Brain Basis for Emotion Recognition Deficits in Depression
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
There is a emerging understanding of the role of social perception problems in depression and anxiety disorders. Depression appears to effect the cognitive ability to judge the facial expression of others. This impairment poses a challenge for interpersonal function and social relationships. Research is now pinning down the neural basis for this deficit and to determine it’s persistence and the effect of depression remission on this social cognition function.van Winge........ Read more »
van Wingen, G., van Eijndhoven, P., Tendolkar, I., Buitelaar, J., Verkes, R., & Fernández, G. (2010) Neural basis of emotion recognition deficits in first-episode major depression. Psychological Medicine, 41(07), 1397-1405. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291710002084
- June 21, 2011
- 09:33 AM
- 986 views
Limiting Debt May Be Good For Your Mental Health
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The relationship between financial status and risk for medical and mental disorders is complex. Premorbid functioning (level of function prior to the onset of a condition) may influence cognitive performance, motivation and the social interaction skills necessary for gaining employment and career success. Failure to obtain (or maintain) a rewarding job can contribute to increased stress and possible reduced access to treatment for medical or mental health conditions. Two recent studies examin........ Read more »
Jenkins R, Bhugra D, Bebbington P, Brugha T, Farrell M, Coid J, Fryers T, Weich S, Singleton N, & Meltzer H. (2008) Debt, income and mental disorder in the general population. Psychological medicine, 38(10), 1485-93. PMID: 18184442
Lang, I., Llewellyn, D., Hubbard, R., Langa, K., & Melzer, D. (2010) Income and the midlife peak in common mental disorder prevalence. Psychological Medicine, 41(07), 1365-1372. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291710002060
- June 15, 2011
- 09:34 AM
- 1,190 views
ADHD and the Athlete
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Athletes are not spared from the risk of developmental disorders like learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Once an athlete is diagnosed with ADHD, the effect of this disorder and it's treatment on athletic performance becomes important. Dr. J. W. Parr recently published a comprehensive review of recent research and understanding of ADHD in the athlete. The review includes a look at diagnostic issues as well as a summary of the neurobi........ Read more »
Parr JW. (2011) Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and the athlete: new advances and understanding. Clinics in sports medicine, 30(3), 591-610. PMID: 21658550
- June 14, 2011
- 09:01 AM
- 1,190 views
Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly individuals is often a clinical challenge of uncertainly prognostic value. Defined as cognitive function below the normal range but insufficient for a diagnosis of dementia, MCI is receiving increased research attention. This week in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Ronald Petersen, a neurologist from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota highlighted what is known about MCI. His review summarizes some of........ Read more »
Petersen, RC. (2011) Mild Cognitive Impairment. New Engl J Med, 2227-2234. info:/
- June 9, 2011
- 09:32 AM
- 866 views
Smokers Display Abnormal Amygdala Responses to Fear
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Mechanisms underlying the risk for developing and maintaining an addiction continue to be poorly understood. Nicotine dependence appears to share many of the characteristics of other drugs of addiction. Heavy smokers are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs. They are also more likely to have a parent with an alcohol or drug abuse diagnosis. Understanding the mechanisms of nicotine dependence may provide insight into other drugs of abuse.A study from Oezuer Onur fr........ Read more »
Onur OA, Patin A, Mihov Y, Buecher B, Stoffel-Wagner B, Schlaepfer TE, Walter H, Maier W, & Hurlemann R. (2011) Overnight deprivation from smoking disrupts amygdala responses to fear. Human brain mapping. PMID: 21618661
- June 2, 2011
- 09:03 AM
- 964 views
Bupropion Fails to Aid Hospitalized Smokers with Heart Disease
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Smoking and nicotine dependence increase rates for heart disease in the general population. Among those with heart disease, continued smoking increases mortality rates. Targeting smoking cessation efforts at those with heart disease (secondary prevention)is an important clinical challenge. Most of the research data related to drugs for smoking cessation come from subjects recruited from the general population. Both bupropion (Zyban)and varenicline (Chantix)are FDA-approved drugs for smokin........ Read more »
Planer, D., Lev, I., Elitzur, Y., Sharon, N., Ouzan, E., Pugatsch, T., Chasid, M., Rom, M., & Lotan, C. (2011) Bupropion for Smoking Cessation in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome. Archives of Internal Medicine. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.72
- June 1, 2011
- 08:51 AM
- 1,037 views
Fiber Up! Dietary Fiber and Mortality Risk
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
We hear quite a bit in the lay press about the potential benefits of dietary fiber including eating multiple daily servings whole grains, fruits and vegetables. I tend to be skeptical of many of these recommendations. But after following some of the research related to the Mediterranean Diet, I at least have my antenna (and my Google Reader) up on this issue. The Google Reader recently retrieved an online first article from the Archives of Internal Medicine by Dr. P........ Read more »
Park, Y., Subar, A., Hollenbeck, A., & Schatzkin, A. (2011) Dietary Fiber Intake and Mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Archives of Internal Medicine. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.18
- May 31, 2011
- 07:49 AM
- 2,204 views
Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Older Adults
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Insomnia is a common complaint in the general population and among patients treated by primary care physicians. This is particularly true for older adults who experience physiological changes in sleep with aging. Clinicians commonly prescribe hypnotics for insomnia and the use of these types of drugs is increasing in the United States and elsewhere. Behavioral and psychological interventions may be overlooked or bypassed in the sequencing of interventions for complaints of inso........ Read more »
Buysse, D., Germain, A., Moul, D., Franzen, P., Brar, L., Fletcher, M., Begley, A., Houck, P., Mazumdar, S., Reynolds, C.... (2011) Efficacy of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Chronic Insomnia in Older Adults. Archives of Internal Medicine, 171(10), 887-895. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.535
- May 27, 2011
- 02:06 PM
- 1,202 views
Advances in Treatment of Tinnitus (Ear Ringing)
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Tinnitus is a common neurological condition affecting up to 10% or more of elderly individuals. Variable it severity, in it's most serious form it can be disabling and quite distressful. Due to the chronic nature of the disorder, many patients with tinnitus develop depression. Suicide rates have been estimated to be increased in those with tinnitus-related. Althought the exact cause is unknown for tinnitus, abnormalities in spontaneous neural activity in the auditory brai........ Read more »
Piccirillo JF, Garcia KS, Nicklaus J, Pierce K, Burton H, Vlassenko AG, Mintun M, Duddy D, Kallogjeri D, & Spitznagel EL Jr. (2011) Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the temporoparietal junction for tinnitus. Archives of otolaryngology--head , 137(3), 221-8. PMID: 21422304
Parazzini M, Del Bo L, Jastreboff M, Tognola G, & Ravazzani P. (2011) Open ear hearing aids in tinnitus therapy: An efficacy comparison with sound generators. International journal of audiology. PMID: 21595527
- May 25, 2011
- 10:04 AM
- 1,101 views
Attention Training in ADHD
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The relative merits of medication versus behavioral treatment of ADHD continues to be an focus of concern for parents and researchers. It has been nearly 12 years since the publication of the classic study titled: Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA). This study compared children with ADHD assigned randomly to one of four treatment arms:stimulant drug treatment alone (titrated to response),intensive behavioral treatment alone, combined stimulant and behavioral ........ Read more »
[No authors listed]. (1999) A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The MTA Cooperative Group. Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD. Archives of general psychiatry, 56(12), 1073-86. PMID: 10591283
Tucha O, Tucha L, Kaumann G, König S, Lange KM, Stasik D, Streather Z, Engelschalk T, & Lange KW. (2011) Training of attention functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. PMID: 21597880
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