Rhode Island Neurological Society
Rhode Island Neurological Society
Meeting minutes 3/22/2017
Meeting attendees: Drs. Berger, Cahill, Chang, Lim, Mohler, Gasper, Roth, Lussier, Mernoff, Friedman, D’Abreu, Burke
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Dr.Bergerconvened the meeting at 6:30pm.
Dr. Silver has left his position at Rhode Island Hospital and with RINS to become the Vice Chair of Neurology at UMass. With Dr. Silver’s departure, Dr. Berger has assumed the Presidency of RINS. The executive committee includes Drs. Cahill and Chang as well. We are looking to make RINS relevant and fun for both academic and community based neurologists. One of the first things we plan to focus on is a revamping of the website (rins.aan.com). Anyone with ideas for future meetings is invited to bring them forward.
Dr. Julie Roth has agreed to serve as Vice President. She was unanimously elected. Welcome and thank you.
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Dr. Changgave the treasurer’s report.
There is $3053.98 in the bank. There are 19-20 active paying members. We are accepting 2017 dues ($150 for regular membership, $75 for PA/NP members or retired neurologists)
By Paypal on our website --
By check made out to Rhode Island Neurological Society, sent to Dr. Chang at:
Dr. Victoria Chang
Butler Hospital – Weld Building
345 Blackstone Blvd. Providence, RI 02906
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A series of rapid fire updates in neurology.
Huntington’s Disease (Dr. D’Abreu)
- reviewed the pathophysiology of Huntingotn’s Disease
- reviewed potential strategies to reduce the mutated huntingtin protein
- highlighted a clinical trial for HD, using a mechanism similar to the drug currently available for SMA
Neuro-oncology (Dr. Mohler)
- discussed the Optune device, an electrical device worn on the head which creates electrical fields that interfere with cell division
- used in GBM patients, worn approx. 18 hrs a day, requires patient to shave his/her head
- in trials, use of this device led to 4.8 months of additional survival compared to standard therapy with resection, temozolamide, and radiation
- being evaluated in other cancers
- also discussed other potential therapies in neuro-oncology including immunotherapies, vaccine therapies
Multiple sclerosis (Dr. Cahill)
- discussed the pending FDA approval of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) which will become the fifteenth medication approved for relapsing MS and the first approved for primary progressive MS
- in a clinical trial of PPMS, ocrelizumab had a modest but significant effect on disability progression
- in two trials of RRMS, ocrelizumab seemed very effective, likely as effective as the drugs with best efficacy on the market
- the drug, an antibody against CD20 (B cells) is administered IV once every six months (the first dose is split in to two doses)
- finally, discussed the ever increasing cost of MS drugs – drugs that came on the market in the early 90’s for 8k to 11k annually now cost on average 70k annually
Epilepsy (Dr. Roth)
- several new antiepileptics have come to market in the past few years: lacosamide (Vimpat), eslicarbazepine (Aptiom), perampamel (Fycompa), clobezam (Onfi), retigabine (Trobalt)
- epileptologists are excited about other thigns too:
- responsiveneurostimulation (e.g. Neuropace)
- laser interstitial thermal ablation (e.g. Visualase)
- trials (including at RIH) looking at three different drugs (fosphenytoin, valproate, levetiracetam) for the treatment of status epielpticus
- Epidiolex (a derivative of canabidiol) for treatment of Lenox Gasteau Syndrome
- IV progesterone derivatives for treatment of refractory status epilepticus
Headache (Dr. Roth)
- there are also new medications on the horizon for migraine including three different CGRP antiobodies in phase 3 trials
- these could become the first drugs designed to prevent migraine (as opposed to being repurposed anti-depressants, antiepileptics, and antihypertensives)
- discussed the Cephaly device for migraine and others shared their experiences with it
- the Women’s Health and Migraine (WHAM) trial just concluded here locally. The weight loss group was equivalent to the control group in terms of migraine reduction (notably the control group included intensive migraine education)
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Other discussion
The future of RINS. We continue to look for ways to make RINS relevant and fun for both academic and community based neurologists. We had a discussion of several meeting topic ideas. Dr. Burke remembered in years past that RINS would host social events for neurologists and their families as well as the evening business meetings. The idea of a summer time picnic, perhaps somewhere like Colt State Park, was suggested. We could potentially move the May meeting date a little later in the year to make this happen if people would be interested in doing that.
Dr. Friedman is looking for a neurologist to volunteer time at the RI Free Clinic. The Clinic runs about three hours on Monday evenings, once a month. The Clinic is located on Broad Street in Providence. Please contact Dr. Friedman if you are interested in volunteering.
Brown Neurology will be hosting an alumni reception at the AAN meeting in Boston. All current and former Brown faculty, residents, and fellows should have received an email invitation. The reception is on Tuesday, April 25th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Casa De Pedro, a conveniently located restaurant near the Boston Convention Center. You can RSVP to: .
2017 Meeting dates: May 31 (may change), September 20, Novemeber 29
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Dr. Berger adjourned the meeting at 8:30pm.
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Submitted 4/6/17– Jon Cahill, secretary