The role of ghrelin, neuropeptide Y and leptin peptides in weight gain after deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

Background: The exact mechanism of weight gain (WG) after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease remains unknown.

Objectives: To investigate a possible involvement of ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin in WG after DBS.

Methods: Twenty-three Parkinson patients were submitted for body composition measurements and blood sampling 3 days before, and 3 and 6 months after STN DBS.

Regional cerebral blood flow changes induced by deep brain stimulation in secondary dystonia.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in cases of secondary dystonia as well as to correlate the rCBF changes with clinical outcomes.

Methods: Six patients with medically intractable secondary dystonia who underwent DBS surgery were included in this study. Burke-Fahn-Mardsen Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) was used for the assessment of dystonia, before and after surgery.

Meige's syndrome: A cranial dystonia treated with bilateral pallidal deep brain stimulation.

Background: Meige's syndrome is a rare form of segmental dystonia characterized by blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia. Medical treatment including botulinum toxin injections usually present disappointing results. The experience on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of Meige's syndrome and other segmental dystonias is still limited.

Effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on sweating function in Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: To assess the impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on the sweating function in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Nineteen patients with idiopathic PD (mean age+/-SD, 61.58+/-9.

Dopamine transporter SPECT/CT and perfusion brain SPECT imaging in idiopathic basal ganglia calcinosis.

A case of idiopathic basal ganglia calcification in a 56-year-old woman with parkinsonism and cognitive impairment is described. The nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway and regional cerebral blood flow were evaluated using dopamine transporter (DAT) brain single photon emission tomography combined with a low-dose x-ray computerized tomography transmission (hybrid SPECT/CT) and Tc-99m HMPAO brain perfusion SPECT study, respectively. DAT SPECT/CT imaging revealed a reduction in DAT binding in both striatum regions coinciding with bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia.

Avoiding abducens nerve palsy during the percutaneous balloon compression procedure.

Aims: The main purpose of this study is to underline the factors which are likely to increase the risk of a sixth nerve injury after percutaneous balloon compression of the gasserian ganglion.

Methods: Medical records and intraoperative radiological images of 79 consecutive patients, who underwent percutaneous balloon compression for treating drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia, were analyzed.

Results: Post-operatively, transient palsy of the sixth nerve developed in 2 patients.