Ex vivo expansion of dysfunctional regulatory T lymphocytes restores suppressive function in Parkinson's disease.

Inflammation is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Chronic pro-inflammatory responses contribute to the loss of neurons in the neurodegenerative process. The present study was undertaken to define the peripheral innate and adaptive immune contributions to inflammation in patients with PD.

Effect of subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus interna stimulation on oculomotor function in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of either the globus pallidus interna (GPi) or subthalamic nucleus (STN) is similarly effective for treating somatomotor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD), but differences in how stimulation of each target affects oculomotor function are poorly understood.

Objective: We sought to determine if stimulation of the STN, but not the GPi, affects oculomotor function in PD patients.

Methods: Nineteen PD patients with DBS implants (8 bilateral GPi, 9 bilateral STN and 2 unilateral STN) were studied.

Assessment of appropriate medication administration for hospitalized patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: For Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, adherence to a regular PD medication schedule is important in achieving optimal symptom control. There are few published studies quantifying PD medication administrations in hospitalized PD patients.

Methods: Hospitalization records for 100 veterans with idiopathic PD and admitted to our center were reviewed to determine the on time rate and contraindicated medication doses.

Five-year follow-up of unilateral posteroventral pallidotomy in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Neurocognitive outcome research of individuals with Parkinson's disease after unilateral pallidotomy is inconsistent. Although some studies reported few cognitive changes, other investigations have more consistently shown both transient and long-term cognitive decline postoperatively.

Methods: We report the long-term motor and neurocognitive outcome 5 years post surgery for 18 patients with Parkinson's disease (12 men and 6 woman; all right-handed) who underwent right or left unilateral posteroventral pallidotomy.

Pramipexole vs levodopa as initial treatment for Parkinson disease: a 4-year randomized controlled trial.

Background: The best way to initiate dopaminergic therapy for early Parkinson disease remains unclear.

Objective: To compare initial treatment with pramipexole vs levodopa in early Parkinson disease, followed by levodopa supplementation, with respect to the development of dopaminergic motor complications, other adverse events, and functional and quality-of-life outcomes.

Design: Multicenter, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.