• Ropinirole improves nocturnal symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease
• Published on Jul 15, 2009

New data presented at the 13th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in June show that ropinirole prolonged release tablets improve nocturnal symptoms experienced by patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). The data showed that patients with more significant nocturnal symptoms had a greater improvement with prolonged release ropinirole, when used as an adjunct to levodopa (L-dopa), versus placebo.

• Use of amphetamines in ADHD
• Published on Jul 13, 2009

The results of a meta-analysis examining the effect of amphetamines and methylphenidate in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were announced at the International ADHD Congress in Vienna in May.

• New UK multicentre study into childhood MS
• Published on Apr 24, 2009

Action Medical Research and the MS Society are jointly funding what is said to be the first major UK scientific study into multiple sclerosis (MS) in children. The paediatric MS study is being led by Birmingham Children’s Hospital and will follow a group of children for five years at a cost of around £400 000. Other centres involved are Oxford, Bristol, Nottingham, Evelina (London) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (London).  

• Polypharmacy in depressed children
• Published on Mar 09, 2009

US psychiatrists were prescribing fewer antidepressants for children even before recent regulatory warnings about their safety and efficacy but polypharmacy was becoming more prevalent (J Clin Psychiatry 2009; pii: ej08m04212).    

• Natalizumab for paediatric MS
• Published on Jan 13, 2009

Neurologists in Germany have reported success using natalizumab to treat refractory relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in three children (Arch Neurol 2008;65:1655-58).