bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain function in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Blake C. I. , Spitz E. , Leehey M. , Hoffer B. J. , Boyson S. J. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractReports on mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complex I (CI) dysfunction in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease (PD) support the oxidative stress hypothesis in the neuropathogenesis of PD. Studies in peripheral tissue have found variable decreased CI and occasionally other complex activity suggestive of systemic impairment of MRC function in PD; however, MRC activity may be influenced by numerous variables. We conducted spectrophotometric measurements of MRC function in platelet mitochondrial preparations in 13 individuals with PD and 9 age‐matched controls (CON) and have identified additional variables that may affect MRC activity. Mean CI, CIII, CIV, and citrate synthase (CS) activities were similar between PD and CON. CIII and CIV, specific and CS‐corrected, activities were significantly positively correlated with CI in combined and individual group data, with the exception of CIII CS‐corrected and CIV specific activities in CON and PD, respectively. CIII and CS specific activities were negatively correlated with age in CON, but varied randomly in PD. In PD, CIII specific activity was 1.4‐fold higher in those with a history of environmental risk factors for PD and CIV specific activity was lower in those with a positive family history of PD [8.34 ± 0.74 (n = 4) vs. 12.4 ± 1.1 (SEM) min−1 mg−1; p = 0.046]. Group heterogeneity, variables affecting enzyme activity, and intrinsic properties of cells may thus contribute to conflicting data in studies of MRC function in platelets and other tissues.
The characterization and outcome of stereotypic movements in nonautistic children
Authors: Tan Adrian , Salgado Miran , Fahn Stanley 
Published: May 2005

AbstractStereotypies are patterned, repetitive, purposeless movements that are performed the same way each time. They are commonly seen in individuals with autism, schizophrenia, or mental retardation, and also occur as a feature of tardive dyskinesia and as movements in those with akathisia. We studied 10 children who had stereotypies but were not autistic or mentally retarded. Although most had an uneventful delivery, seven had mild to moderately delayed developmental milestones. Five had hyperactive behavior or attention‐deficit problems. All appeared to be of normal intelligence. The median age of onset of stereotypies was 12 months. The stereotypies included arm flapping, arm and hand posturing, finger wiggling, body rocking, leg shaking, facial grimacing, involuntary noises, neck extension, and eye blinking. Of the 10 children, only two stopped having stereotypies eventually without medications.
Comparison of clinical rating scales in treatment of cervical dystonia with botulinum toxin
Authors: Tarsy Daniel 
Published: May 2005

AbstractSeventy‐six consecutive patients with cervical dystonia (CD) treated with botulinum toxin were assessed with the Tsui rating scale, the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), and a global scale of improvement. Tsui, TWSTRS, and TWSTRS subscale scores all showed significant improvement. Tsui and TWSTRS score reduction rates correlated significantly with each other, and each correlated with the global scale. Analysis of these scales and TWSTRS subscales indicates that an objective scale of severity such as either the Tsui rating scale or TWSTRS severity subscale used in conjunction with the TWSTRS pain subscale adequately assesses improvement of CD following treatment with botulinum toxin.
Reduced Gs protein function and Gαs levels in leukocytes of patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Avissar Sofia , Barki‐Harrington Liza , Herishanu Yuval , Schreiber Gabriel 
Published: May 2005

AbstractEarly events in signal information transduction beyond dopamine, β‐adrenergic, and muscarinic receptors, involving receptor‐coupled G‐protein function and Gα subunit immunoreactive levels were measured in mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) of 12 never‐treated patients with Parkinson's disease in comparison with 10 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control subjects. Both β‐adrenergic and dopamine receptor‐coupled Gs protein function as measured by cholera toxin‐sensitive, isoproterenol‐ and dopamine‐induced increases in Gpp(NH)p‐binding capacity, in MNLs of patients with Parkinson's disease were found to be significantly reduced in comparison with those in the control group. Muscarinic receptor‐coupled non‐Gs (Gi or Go) protein function: pertussis toxin‐sensitive, carbamylcholine‐induced increase in Gpp(NH)p‐binding capacity, was not found to be significantly different between patients with Parkinson's disease and control subjects. G protein α subunits were measured through immunobloting analyses with specific polyclonal antibodies against Gαs, Gαi, and Gαq subunits. MNL levels of the 45‐kDa species of Gαs were found to be significantly reduced in patients with Parkinson's disease in comparison with control subjects. Other non‐Gs proteins (Gi, Gq) did not show any significant quantitative differences between patients with Parkinson's disease and control subjects. The reductions in Gαs, levels in MNLs of patients with Parkinson's disease may explain the β‐adrenergic and dopamine receptor–coupled Gs, protein hypofunction detected in MNLs of these patients. As previous studies have failed to observe significant changes in receptor levels in MNLs of patients with Parkinson's disease, our findings of reduced dopa‐minergic and β‐adrenergic receptor–coupled Gs function and of Gαs immunoreactive levels in MNLs of Parkinson's patients point to alterations distal to these receptors at the level of the signal‐transducing Gs protein.
The effects of early selegiline therapy on long‐term levodopa treatment and parkinsonian disability: An interim analysis of a norwegian–danish 5‐year study
Authors: Larsen Jan P. , Boas Jette ,   Norwegian‐Danish Study Group
Published: May 2005

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effects of selegiline on levodopa treatment and parkinsonian disability over several years of treatment in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD). The 163 patients were randomized to receive either selegiline or placebo in addition to levodopa in a double‐blind, parallel‐group study design, and the patients were to be followed up until a defined termination point or for 5 years. All patients had previously either never (two thirds) or for <6 months (one third) received levodopa. After 1 year of treatment or at withdrawal from study or both, the patients were divided according to specified diagnostic criteria into groups of definite, probable, possible, or unlikely PD. The efficacy parameters were levodopa therapy, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) with subscales, and the time to develop wearing‐off fluctuations or reaching the termination point. Evaluation of efficacy was performed for all patients with PD and for patients with a definite and probable disease. The results of this study are based on an interim analysis when 80% of the 163 randomized patients had been followed up for ≥3 years. Nine patients were excluded from the study because of protocol violations or because the patients were diagnosed as unlikely PD. At the time of interim analysis, 39 patients had been withdrawn from the study because of adverse effects or their own wish. Eighteen patients had reached the termination point, and 97 patients (observation time, 30–54 months) were still in the study. Among the patients receiving selegiline, we found a rather stable daily levodopa dose during 54 months of therapy, compared with an anticipated increase among patients with levodopa monotherapy. Concurrently, patients in the selegiline group showed a trend to develop less severe parkinsonian disability and a lower frequency of motor fluctuations and need for additional antiparkinsonian medication. The results of this study indicate that early combination therapy of selegiline and levodopa compared with levodopa monotherapy has an increasingly favorable impact on the long‐term daily levodopa dose and may possibly delay the development of disability in PD.
Phenotypic heterogeneity and disease course in three murine strains with mutations in genes encoding for α1 and β glycine receptor subunits
Authors: Simon Ely S. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractImpaired glycinergic inhibition causes human hyperekplexia, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of movement disorders associated with uremia, spinal cord lesions, DDT poisoning, and tetanus. Three autosomal recessive mutant mouse strains with single‐gene mutations affecting either the α1 (spasmodic and oscillator) or β (spastic) subunits of the glycine receptor were studied. Serial videotaped examinations assessed the severity of hyperkinetic features. Homozygote oscillator mice appeared normal until postnatal day (P) 11–14, when decreased exploratory movements, spastic gait, stimulus‐induced myoclonic bouts, rigidity, and tremor were noticeable. All symptoms gradually worsened until death by P21–P23. In contrast, spastic and spasmodic mice were most severely affected by the 3rd–5th week of life and had a lessening of symptom severity in adulthood. Within each mutant strain, there was marked interanimal variation of severity of the other motor abnormalities, possibly because of stochastic variability in developmental processes. These mutants represent good animal models for elucidation of molecular and cellular issues regarding the glycine receptor and for the study of pathogenetic mechanisms of movement disorders.
Motor fluctuations during continuous levodopa infusions in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Nutt John G. , Carter Julie H. , Lea Eric S. , Woodward William R. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe cause of motor fluctuations occurring during constant‐rate levodopa infusions is unknown. We examined whether known pharmacokinetic factors could explain the fluctuations and looked for clues to pharmacodynamic causes. Eleven subjects with stage III–V Parkinson's disease (PD) and a fluctuating response to levodopa underwent constant‐rate infusions for 36–110 h. Levodopa, 3‐O‐methyldopa (3‐OMD), and plasma large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) were measured at 2‐ to 6‐h intervals and PD was monitored hourly from 07:00 to 22:00 h with tapping speed. Ten subjects had motor fluctuations during the infusions. Zero to 68% of the variability of tapping speed could be explained by variation in plasma LNAA concentrations in individual subjects. Flutuations occurred more commonly later in the day, which may be related to the tendencey fo LNAAs to increase during the day. Motor fluctuations were not associated with minor variations in levodopa or 3‐OMD concentrations. Fluctuations during constant infusions were more marked in patients using larger daily doses of oral levodopa; severity of PD did not predict fluctuations during the infusions. There was no trend for fluctuations or dyskinesia to decrease or increase during several days of constant‐rate levodopa infusion. A portion of motor fluctuations occurring during constant levodopa infusions can be explained by peripheral pharmacokinetic mechanisms. Fluctuations are more prominent in subjects who have taken larger daily doses of levodopa, implicating pharmacodynamic factors as well.
Movement disorders cochrane collaborative review group
Authors: Clarke C. E. , Sampaio C. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractEvidence‐based medicine is the process of sytematically finding, appraising, and applying contemporaneous research findings as the basis for clinical decisions. The individual clinician is too busy to perform this long and arduous task across the whole of their specialty, so they must rely on the highest quality reviews available in the literature. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international network of individuals preparing, maintaining, and disseminating systematic reviews of trials of all health care interventions. We examine the work of the Collaboration and the major method it uses to dissmisnate systematic reviews through the Cochrane Libray. The rationale for the Cochrane Movement Disorders Group is discussed, and its management structure outlined.
Perception of spatial orientation in spasmodic torticollis part I: The postural vertical
Authors: Anastasopoulos D. , Bhatia K. , Bisdorff A. , Bronstein A. M. , Gresty M. A. , Marsden C. D. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractEstimates of points of entering and exiting from upright posture were obtained from 25 seated, restrained patients with idiopathic spasmodic torticollis (ST) and matched normal subjects exposed to cycles of 1.5°/s tilts in a flight simulator. Estimates were obtained for displacements in roll and pitch about upright and for yaw tilts about a rostrocaudal, “barbecue,” axis with the subjects supinated. For both pitch and roll, normal subjects estimated entering upright when they were still ∼1° from machine upright and perceived themselves to be upright through a mean arc of 6°. In barbecue tilt, entering upright was estimated at 0.2° for an arc of 6°. Patients estimated entering upright at 2.8° in roll and 3° in pitch but estimated exiting upright at the same tilt as normal subjects; that is, they were less specific in detecting verticality. Patients were normal in barbecue tilt. No relationship between tilt estimates and head deviation was found. There were no differences between normal subjects when tested with their head in normal posture and with an assumed tilt of 20°. Normal subjects probably based their estimates on combined vestibularsomatosensory signals, whereas torticollis patients appeared to derive more from a vestibular signal. However, patients referred the vestibular signals to the trunk long axis when asked to indicate the whole‐body vertical. The findings suggest disruption of the normal combined vestibuloproprioceptive mechanism for detecting body uprightness in ST.
Is levodopa toxic to human substantia nigra?
Authors: Rajput A. H. , Fenton M. E. , Birdi S. , Macaulay R. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractLevodopa (LD) is the most effective drug for symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease, but has been suspected to be toxic to substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic neurons. Tissue culture and animal studies of LD toxicity have produced contradictory evidence, and one study reported that a human subject exposed to a large cumulative dose (ed) of LD over 4 years had no evidence of SN damage. We reprot the cases of five patients, each of whom received a large cd of LD over a long period. Fluorodopa positron‐emission tomography performed in one case indicated parkinsonism. Autopsies in two cases indicated a normal SN in one and a hypopigmented SN with normal cell complement in the other. Three patients had essential tremor, one had nonprogressive parkinsonism, and one had dopa‐responsive dystonia. LD (without decarboxylase inhibitor) was administered over 21 years (cd = 21.99 kg), 9 years (cd = 6.6 kg), 26 years (cd = 18.7 kg), 11 years (cd = 3 kg), and 26 years (cd = 23.93 kg), respectively. None of the patients with essential tremor developed clinical features of parkinsonism that indicated significant SN damage, and one had a normal SN at autopsy. The parkinsonian patient displayed no detectable acceleration of disease process, and the patient with dopa‐responsive dystonia had a normal complement of SN neurons at autopsy. We conclude that LD, administered at a dose commonly used for treating Parkinson's disease, was not toxic to SN neurons in these cases.
Decreased habituation of midlatency auditory evoked responses in parkinson's disease
Authors: Teo Charles , Rasco Lisa , Al‐Mefty Kynda , Skinner Robert D. , Boop Frederick A. , Garcia‐Rill Edgar 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe PI midlatency auditory evoked potential was studied in patients with Parkinson's disease and compared to that in age‐matched controls. Habituation of the potential was determined by using a two‐click stimulus paradigm in which the stimuli were presented at 250‐, 500‐, and 1,000‐ms inter‐stimulus intervals. Results showed that habituation of the PI potential had a statistically significant decrease at the 250‐ms and 500‐ms interstimulus intervals in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to normal controls. The degree of decreased habituation was found to increase with severity of the disease such that stage 5 patients showed greater decreases in habituation compared to stage 4, as did stage 4 compared to stage 3. These findings may be explained by the presence of a dysregulation of sensory processing, possibly by elements of the reticular activating system, including the pedunculopontine nucleus, in Parkinson's disease.
Control of repetitive lip and finger movements in parkinson's disease: Influence of external timing signals and simultaneous execution on motor performance
Authors: Konczak Jürgen , Ackermann Hermann , Hertrich Ingo , Spieker Sybille , Dichgans Johannes 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThis study addresses the question of whether external timing signals and/or simultaneous rhythmic movements of other limbs can alleviate sequencing motor deficits associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects performed rhythmic lip and finger movements simultaneously or in isolation. In addition, they had to self‐pace their movements or match them to an external signal. Our results are summarized as follows: (a) Seven of 12 patients had adequate mean repetition rates; that is, they fulfilled the task requirements on a global scale. The remaining five patients had various degrees of hastened responses and were not fully able to synchronize their movements to an external pacing signal. (b) PD patients exhibited hypometria in their finger tapping, but not in their lip movements. Their movements were not abnormally slowed, but peakvelocity was appropriately scaled, even to reduced movement amplitudes. (c) Mean repetition rates, stability of frequency response, and kinematics did not differ between conditions of external and internal stimulation within the PD group, but were different from the control group performance. (d) Kinematic measures were not improved during dual‐task execution. PD patients were not able to maintain a 1:1 rhythm between effectors. The incidence of hastening increased during simultaneous motor execution. We conclude that the use of external pacing signals might aid movement initiation of PD patients, but does not improve their temporal or spatial coordination when generating repetitive movements. Simultaneous execution does not necessarily enhance motor performance, but might actually have detrimental effects in patients prone to hastening.
Inhibition of voluntary activity by thalamic stimulation in humans: Relevance for the control of tremor
Authors: Strafella Antonio , Ashby Peter , Munz Michael , Dostrovsky John O. , Lozano Andres M. , Lang Anthony E. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe motor effects of stimuli delivered through four‐channel, quadripolar macroelectrodes chronically implanted in the ventrolateral thalamus were studied in 20 awake cooperating human subjects. Single stimuli could inhibit voluntary contraction of the contralateral first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) for up to 200 ms. The inhibition was often followed by a rebound facilitation or by oscillatory activity. This inhibition appeared to arise from the ventrolateral thalamus and could not be obtained in other patients by stimulation of the periventricular grey matter (PVG), the globus pallidus internus (GPI), or the subthalamic nucleus (STN). The neural elements activated by the stimulus had a short chronaxie and a short refractory period, implying that they were large‐diameter axons. Similar effects were obtained from each of the four electrodes in the row, suggesting that this fiber system lay parallel rather than perpendicular to the implanted macroelectrode. The inhibition resulting from a single stimulus was diminished by a prior stimulus or train of stimuli. A continuous train of stimuli produced inhibition for only the first 200 ms. We propose that the thalamic stimulus activates a neural network which includes thalamic relay cells and neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus and that the inhibition of thalamic relay cells habituates with repeated stimuli. It has been suggested that parkinsonian rest tremor results from synchronization of the oscillatory activity of this network. If this is the case, continuous thalamic stimulation might disrupt this oscillation by diminishing the inhibitory phase.
Sertraline for the treatment of depression in parkinson's disease
Authors: Hauser Robert A. , Zesiewicz Theresa A. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAlthough antidepressant medications are commonly used to treat depression in Parkinson's disease (PD), little information is available regarding their safety and efficacy in this condition. Sertraline is a relatively selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with some dopamine reuptake inhibitor activity. It has a favorable tolerability profile, especially in the elderly. We undertook an open‐label pilot evaluation of the safety and efficacy of sertraline to treat depression in PD. A total of 15 patients with PD and depression participated in the study. Sertraline was introduced at a daily dose of 25 mg for 1 week and then increased to 50 mg/day. Patients underwent evaluation at baseline and at a final visit ˜7 weeks later. Sertraline was generally well tolerated, but five patients experienced side effects, and two discontinued medication. Patients taking selegiline experienced more adverse effects. Beck Depression Inventory scores improved significantly (mean plusmn; SE = 16.0 plusmn; 2.0 vs 11.7 plusmn; 1.9, p = 0.03), and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and energy‐level scores were unchanged. These results suggest that sertraline may be a useful treatment for depression in PD. As substantial placebo effects can occur in studies of PD and depression, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind studies are warranted.
Action palatal tremor in a patient with primary intestinal lymphoma
Authors: Gambardella Antonio , Zappia Mario , Valentino Paola , Aguglia Umberto , Fera Francesco , Pardatscher Kurt , Quattrone Aldo 
Published: May 2005

AbstractWe report the case of a 59‐year‐old man with primary intestinal T‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed abnormal facial twitching synchronous with small palatal movements induced by attempts at speaking or swallowing. At rest, the electromyogram (EMG) showed no spontaneous muscular activity. Phonation triggered trains of synchronous, rhythmic EMG bursts at a frequency of 3–4 Hz lasting 10–20 s, with an average burst of 150 ms, which simultaneously involved palatal, facial, and neck muscles bilaterally with left‐sided predominance. An enhanced blink reflex recovery curve was observed after stimulation of either side. Backaveraging electroencephalographic study revealed no activity that was time locked with the jerks. Axial T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed an increased signal intensity and bilateral enlargement of the inferior olives. No antineuronal‐specific antibodies were found in the blood or in the cerebrospinal fluid. All of these clinical findings were consistent with a symptomatic palatal tremor (PT). Because it was triggered by activation of cranial muscles, we termed this movement disorder action PT. To our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic PT displaying these features.
Validity of long‐term electromyography in the quantification of tremor
Authors: Spieker Sybille , Ströle Verena , Sailer Alexandra , Boose Anders , Dichgans Johannes 
Published: May 2005

AbstractWe previously developed a method of tremor quantification using long‐term electromyography registration of antagonistic forearm muscles that is reliable, sensitive, and specific for pathologic tremors. The present study demonstrates that tremor occurrence as measured by this method correlates well with clinical parameters of tremor in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) (subscores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for PD, tremor rating according to Bain et al. ET). We conclude that the method is a valid and objective means of tremor quantification in PD and ET.