Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel for advanced Parkinson's disease: Impact of LRRK2 and GBA1 mutations.

Background: Advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) can be treated with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel (LCIG).

Objective: To compare descriptive data of LCIG treatment in GBA1-PD and LRRK2-PD.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study compared clinical data obtained from electronic medical records of PD patients treated with LCIG.

Predictors and Pathophysiology of Axial Postural Abnormalities in Parkinsonism: A Scoping Review.

Background: Postural abnormalities involving the trunk are referred to as axial postural abnormalities and can be observed in over 20% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in atypical parkinsonism. These symptoms are highly disabling and frequently associated with back pain and a worse quality of life in PD. Despite their frequency, little is known about the pathophysiology of these symptoms and scant data are reported about their clinical predictors, making it difficult to prompt prevention strategies.

Oculometric measures as a tool for assessment of clinical symptoms and severity of Parkinson's disease.

Abnormalities of oculometric measures (OM) are widely described in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, knowledge of correlations between abnormal OM, disease severity and clinical assessment in PD patients is still lacking. To evaluate these correlations, PD patients (215 patients, mean age 69 ± 9.

Management of advanced Parkinson's disease in Israel: Clinicians viewpoint and action items.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is taking a staggering toll on healthcare systems worldwide, with the bulk of the expenditures invested in the late stages of the disease. Considering the rising life expectancy and the increasing prevalence of PD across the globe, a clear understanding of the early signs and treatment options available for advanced PD (APD), will facilitate tailoring management programs and support services. This task is complicated by the lack of both global consensus in defining APD and standardized care guidelines.

Levodopa responsiveness in Parkinson's disease: harnessing real-life experience with machine-learning analysis.

Responsiveness to levodopa varies greatly among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The factors that affect it are ill defined. The aim of the study was to identify factors predictive of long-term response to levodopa.

CSF-derived extracellular vesicles from patients with Parkinson's disease induce symptoms and pathology.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the gradual appearance of intraneuronal inclusions that are primarily composed of misfolded α-synuclein protein, leading to cytotoxicity and neural death. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that misfolded α-synuclein may spread transcellularly in a prion-like manner, inducing pathological aggregates in healthy neurons, and is disseminated via secretion of extracellular vesicles. Accordingly, extracellular vesicles derived from brain lysates and CSF of patients with Parkinson's disease were shown to facilitate α-synuclein aggregation in healthy cells.

Task Force Consensus on Nosology and Cut-Off Values for Axial Postural Abnormalities in Parkinsonism.

Background: There is no consensus with regard to the nosology and cut-off values for postural abnormalities in parkinsonism.

Objective: To reach a consensus regarding the nosology and cut-off values.

Methods: Using a modified Delphi panel method, multiple rounds of questionnaires were conducted by movement disorder experts to define nosology and cut-offs of postural abnormalities.

ND0612 (levodopa/carbidopa for subcutaneous infusion) in patients with Parkinson's disease and motor response fluctuations: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study.

Introduction: ND0612 is a continuous, subcutaneous levodopa/carbidopa delivery system under development for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor fluctuations.

Methods: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2-period study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of ND0612 in PD patients on an optimized oral levodopa regimen and experiencing ≥2 h/day of OFF time. During Period-1, patients received their current standard of care (SoC) levodopa/carbidopa and were randomized (2:1) to 14 days treatment with adjunct ND0612 (daily levodopa/carbidopa dose of 270/63 mg) or placebo infusion +SoC.

High Glucosylceramides and Low Anandamide Contribute to Sensory Loss and Pain in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) causes chronic pain in two-thirds of patients, in part originating from sensory neuropathies. The aim of the present study was to describe the phenotype of PD-associated sensory neuropathy and to evaluate its associations with lipid allostasis, the latter motivated by recent genetic studies associating mutations of glucocerebrosidase with PD onset and severity. Glucocerebrosidase catalyzes the metabolism of glucosylceramides.

Effect of Repeated Intravenous Amantadine Infusions in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: An Open-Label Pilot Study.

Amantadine is an antiviral drug available in oral and intravenous forms. Oral amantadine is used to treat the motor symptoms of early Parkinson's disease (PD) and to ameliorate dyskinesia in late-stage disease. However, the long-term influence of intravenous amantadine on motor symptoms and dyskinesias in PD has not been investigated.

Familial early onset Parkinson's disease caused by a homozygous frameshift variant in PARK7: Clinical features and literature update.

Background: Bi-allelic mutations in PARK7 are a rare cause of autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson's disease (EO-PD). To date, 30 individuals harbouring 20 unique causative variants have been described. Understanding of the spectrum of clinical features and natural history of PARK7 mediated EO-PD remain limited.

The role of exposure to pesticides in the etiology of Parkinson's disease: a F-DOPA positron emission tomography study.

Susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD) is believed to involve an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The role of pesticides as a risk factor of PD and neurodegeneration remains controversial. An asymmetric decrease in ligand uptake on F-DOPA positron emission tomography (PET), especially in the dorsal putamen, is a sensitive marker of PD.

Axial motor clues to identify atypical parkinsonism: A multicentre European cohort study.

Objective: Differentiating Parkinson's disease (PD) from atypical parkinsonian disorders (APD) such as Multiple System Atrophy, parkinsonian type (MSA-p) or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP-RS) can be challenging. Early signs of postural Instability and gait disability (PIGD) are considered clues that may signal presence of APD. However, it remains unknown which PIGD test - or combination of tests - can best distinguish PD from APD.

Consensus for the measurement of the camptocormia angle in the standing patient.

Introduction: Camptocormia is characterized by a pathological forward flexion of the trunk, which is reversible when lying and worsened by standing and walking. So far there is no consensus on how to measure the angle of flexion, and studies therefore give differing results. Harmonization is needed for both research and clinical practice.

Can early dopamine transporter imaging serve as a predictor of Parkinson's disease progression and late motor complications?

Background: The role of nuclear imaging in predicting Parkinson's disease (PD) progression is unclear. This study investigated whether the degree of reduced striatal dopamine transporter binding at diagnosis of PD predicts later motor complications and time to disease progression.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 41 patients with early PD who underwent I-FP-CIT SPECT and were followed thereafter with a mean disease duration of 9.

Medical Cannabis in Parkinson Disease: Real-Life Patients' Experience.

Background: The use of medical cannabis (MC) is controversial. Support for its benefits is based on small clinical series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the results of a standardized interview study that retrospectively assessed the effects of MC on symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) and its adverse effects in patients treated for at least 3 months.

Critical appraisal of clinical trials in multiple system atrophy: Toward better quality.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease of undetermined cause. Although many clinical trials have been conducted, there is still no treatment that cures the disease or slows its progression. We sought to assess the clinical trials, methodology, and quality of reporting of clinical trails conducted in MSA patients.

Motor dysfunction and touch-slang in user interface data.

The recent proliferation in mobile touch-based devices paves the way for increasingly efficient, easy to use natural user interfaces (NUI). Unfortunately, touch-based NUIs might prove difficult, or even impossible to operate, in certain conditions e.g.

Anti-Yo, chorea and hemiballismus: A case report.

68-year-old female presented with involuntary movements. MRI was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal.

Progression of postural changes in Parkinson's disease: quantitative assessment.

Previous studies of posture in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients focused on the pathophysiology of severe deformities, using mainly subjective estimations or goniometric measures. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with flexed posture in PD and their effects on the course of posture variations. One hundred-ninety patients with definite PD were prospectively evaluated for angles of spinal inclination in upright position, extension, and flexion using a mechanical computer-assisted, hand-held device (SpinalMouse).

Effect of medical cannabis on thermal quantitative measurements of pain in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Cannabis can alleviate pain of various etiologies. This study assessed the effect of cannabis on motor symptoms and pain parameters in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Twenty patients with PD who were licensed to use cannabis underwent evaluation before and 30 min after cannabis consumption and again after long-term use.