Pathologic findings in retinal pigment epithelial cell implantation for Parkinson disease.

Background: Attempts at cell-based dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson disease (PD) have included surgical implantation of adrenal medullary, fetal mesencephalic, and cultured human mesencephalic tissue grafts. Trials involving putamenal implantation of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in PD have also been performed. Neuropathologic findings in humans undergoing RPE cell implantation have not heretofore been reported.

Comorbidity in dementia: an autopsy study.

Context: There is a paucity of accurate postmortem data pertinent to comorbid medical conditions in patients with dementia, including Alzheimer disease.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (a) to examine general autopsy findings in patients with a dementia syndrome and (b) to establish patterns of central nervous system comorbidity in these patients.

Design: Review of autopsy reports and selected case material from 202 demented patients who had "brain-only" autopsies during a 17-year period (1984-2000) and from 52 demented patients who had general autopsies during a 6-year period (1995-2000).