Response to heat pain stimulation in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Background: Pain is a prominent nonmotor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) but has not been well studied.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess thermal experience and emotional content, as well as side-to-side sensory differences in PD "off" and "on" dopaminergic therapy following thermal cutaneous stimulation.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Dopamine transporter PET in normal aging: dopamine transporter decline and its possible role in preservation of motor function.

Objectives: To determine the impact of age-related decline in dopamine transporter (DAT) expression on motor function in the elderly.

Methods: About 33 normal individuals of a wide age range were scanned with PET employing d-threo-[(11)C]-methylphenidate (MP, a marker of DAT) and [(11)C]-dihydrotetrabenazine (DTBZ, that binds to the vesicular monoamine transporter Type 2). Motor function was assessed using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPB).

Dopamine transporter relation to dopamine turnover in Parkinson's disease: a positron emission tomography study.

Objective: To investigate the role of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in the regulation of synaptic dopamine (DA) levels in Parkinson's disease and its role in the preservation of DA in presynaptic terminals.

Methods: Ten Parkinson's disease patients (age, 62.9 +/- 9.

Bone marrow transplantation in patients with storage diseases: a developing country experience.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a therapeutic option for patients with genetic storage diseases. Between 1979 and 2002, eight patients, four females and four males (1 to 13 years old) were submitted to this procedure in our center. Six patients had mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS I in 3; MPS III in one and MPS VI in 2), one had adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and one had Gaucher disease.

Movement disorders in Latin America.

The authors review some particularities of movement disorders (MDs) in the ethnically diverse population of Latin America. Although idiopathic diseases are evenly prevalent, access to treatment encounters difficulties that are worth discussing. Infectious-parasitic diseases observed throughout the continent occasionally present as MDs, and will be individually reviewed.

Parkinson's disease: in vivo assessment of disease progression using positron emission tomography.

Over the past two decades, positron emission tomography (PET) has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of nigrostriatal degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Furthermore, it allows the in vivo assessment of disease progression and the evaluation of treatment interventions. In this review, we shall discuss some of the issues and concerns that arise with the use of PET as a surrogate marker of disease progression in Parkinson's disease.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy--case report and literature review.

Context: Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is an important cause of progressive painless visual loss among young male patients.

Objective: To report on a case of a young patient with a clinical and neurophysiological condition suggestive of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, confirmed by genetic testing.

Case Report: We describe a 17-year-old male with progressive bilateral visual loss.

Parkinsonism associated with neurocysticercosis.

We report two cases of brainstem cysticercotic ependymitis presenting with rigid-akinetic syndrome. There was a good response to levodopa therapy as well as cysticidal therapy with albendazole, allowing later reduction of levodopa dosage in one patient and complete withdrawal in the other.

Cerebellar hemorrhage as a complication of temporal lobectomy for refractory medial temporal epilepsy: report of three cases.

Cerebellar hemorrhage is listed among the potential complications following neurosurgical procedures. In this scenario it is usually reported as a rare condition. However, it seems that epilepsy surgery patients are somewhat more prone to this kind of complication, compared to other surgical groups.

Parkinson's disease and thyroid dysfunction.

Background: Although no causal linkage between hypothyroidism and Parkinson's disease (PD) has been demonstrated so far, both share common manifestations and coexistence can be a source of diagnostic delay and confusion.

Purpose: To assess thyroid function in patients with PD.

Scope: Ninety-five PD patients and 102 age-matched controls were assessed for hypothyroidism through clinical evaluation and laboratory screening.

Carotid transient ischemic attacks presenting as limb-shaking syndrome: report of two cases.

Limb shaking syndrome (LSS) is a rare presentation of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), usually secondary to a critical carotid stenosis compromising intracranial circulation, first described 40 years ago. Two additional cases are described herein, aiming to add on to previous descriptions, and to warn physicians about this potentially harming and rather uncommon condition.

[Clinical response to long action propranolol in 40 patients diagnosed with essential tremor with no previous treatment: an open, non-controlled study].

Unlabelled: Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder and betablockers are still considered the first line of treatment. The aim of our study is to report the clinical response to long action propranolol (LAP) of 40 patients diagnosed with essential tremor with no previous treatment.

Method: 40 patients with ET were evaluated with rating scales for severity of tremor and clinical classification of ET.

Flunarizine and cinnarizine-induced parkinsonism: a historical and clinical analysis.

Background: Drug-Induced Parkinsonism (DIP) represents the second leading cause of Parkinsonism (PK) in several countries. Flunarizine and cinnarizine are some of the most common drugs that cause DIP. This paper reviews the first description of Flunarizine and Cinnarizine-Induced Parkinsonism (FCIP), as well as the subsequent literature, emphasizing epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic aspects.

Botulinum toxin for treatment of Frey's syndrome: report of two cases.

Frey's syndrome is a phenomenon of hemifacial flushing and sweating after gustatory stimulus, usually secondary to surgical trauma over the parotid gland, although other injury mechanisms may be seen. It is accepted as a result of aberrant regeneration of facial autonomic nerve fibers. Treatment evolved from ineffective medical and surgical approaches to botulinum toxin.