Clinical Features of Essential Voice Tremor and Associations with Tremor Severity and Response to Octanoic Acid Treatment.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical features, tremor variability, and factors related to octanoic acid (OA) treatment response in essential voice tremor (EVT).

Study Design: Prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with secondary analysis.

Methods: Clinical tremor features in 16 individuals with EVT were comprehensively assessed, and correlations with acoustic tremor severity were determined.

Coagulation disorders in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may contribute to a more effective management of patients with COVID-19. Coagulation dysfunction is a key pathogenetic element of this disease as well as a challenge for practitioners. Marked inflammatory process found in severe forms of COVID-19, the complement activation, the cytokine storm, and disruption of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are involved in the onset of thrombotic microangiopathy and large vessel coagulopathy.

The oral microbiome of early stage Parkinson's disease and its relationship with functional measures of motor and non-motor function.

Changes in the function and microbiome of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract have been documented in Parkinson's disease (PD), although most studies have examined merely fecal microbiome profiles and patients with advanced disease states. In the present study we sought to identify sensitive and specific biomarkers of changes in the oral microbiome of early stage PD through shotgun metatranscriptomic profiling. We recruited 48 PD subjects and 36 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

The Effect of Octanoic Acid on Essential Voice Tremor: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of octanoic acid on acoustic, perceptual, and functional aspects of essential voice tremor (EVT).

Study Design: Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Methods: Sixteen participants with a diagnosis of EVT were randomized to a 3-week dosing condition of octanoic acid or placebo, followed by a 2-week washout period and crossover to the other condition for an additional 3 weeks.

The effect of anchors on reliability of endoscopic tremor ratings.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of anchors and training on intrarater and inter-rater reliability for visual-perceptual, endoscopic tremor ratings.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Nasoendoscopy recordings of 10 participants with a diagnosis of essential voice tremor were evaluated by five voice specialists using the Vocal Tremor Scoring System.

Assessment of disease progression and functional benefit in neurodegenerative disease: can we tell the difference?

Therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases include modalities intended to modulate disease progression as well as those whose intent is to improve or maintain functional capacity. As the search for pharmacodynamic markers has proved elusive, treatment outcomes most commonly reflect patient function. As a result, even when clinical trials show a beneficial effect, the underlying etiology of that benefit can be difficult to determine.

A randomized clinical trial of high-dosage coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: no evidence of benefit.

Importance: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant that supports mitochondrial function, has been shown in preclinical Parkinson disease (PD) models to reduce the loss of dopamine neurons, and was safe and well tolerated in early-phase human studies. A previous phase II study suggested possible clinical benefit.

Objective: To examine whether CoQ10 could slow disease progression in early PD.