Exclusion of older patients from randomized clinical trials in Parkinson's disease.

Prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) increases with age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the eligibility criteria in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in PD, especially those limiting the enrollment of older adults. We examined RCTs of pharmacological and non-pharmacological anti-parkinsonian interventions registered with ClinicalTrials.

Inflammation in multiple system atrophy.

Misfolding protein aggregation inside or outside cells is the major pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Among proteinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases with atypical Parkinsonism and an accumulation of insoluble fibrillary alpha-synuclein (synucleinopathies) or hyperphosphorylated tau protein fragments (tauopathies). As there are no therapies available to slow or halt the progression of these disea ses, targeting the inflammatory process is a promising approach.

Mobile Single-Lead Electrocardiogram Technology for Atrial Fibrillation Detection in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

(1) Background: AliveCor KardiaMobile (KM) is a portable electrocardiography recorder for detection of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the study was to define the group of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who can use the KM device and assess the diagnostic test accuracy. (2) Methods: the AIS patients were recruited to the study.

Biochemical aspirin resistance in acute stroke patients and its association with clinical factors: a prospective pilot study.

Introduction: Aspirin is still widely used in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. To predict which patients cannot benefit from aspirin due to aspirin resistance remains a great clinical challenge.

Material And Methods: Fifty one acute stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients (ASG) with a history of regular aspirin intake for the previous 7 days or more were included to the study within 24 hours of symptoms onset.

Validation of the Polish version of the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS).

Background: In 2008, the Movement Disorders Society published the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS). This has become the established tool for assessing the severity and disability associated with dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We translated and validated the Polish version of the UDysRS, explored its dimensionality, and compared it to the Spanish version, which is the Reference Standard for UDysRS translations.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness in adults receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition.

Background And Aims: Nutrition regimen in parenteral nutrition (PN) patients allows for a control of diet components. This may affect the process of lipid deposition in the vascular wall and change the risk of atherosclerosis. This study aims to examine the effect of long-term PN in adults on carotid intima-media thickness.

Changes in the metabolic profiles of the serum and putamen in Parkinson's disease patients - In vitro and in vivo NMR spectroscopy studies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum metabolomic biomarkers and brain in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as well as to investigate compound concentration changes by comparing the results with healthy control subjects. Univariate statistical analysis of the serum showed significant differences in the levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, lysine, glutamine, glutamate, acetone, acetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and 1-monoacylglycerol (1-MAG) between the PD patient group and the control group. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis showed significantly different compound concentrations of acetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glutamine, tyrosine, 1-MAG and testosterone.

Validation of the Polish version of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).

Background: In 2008, the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) published a new Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) as the official benchmark scale for Parkinson's Disease (PD). We have translated and validated the Polish version of the MDS-UPDRS, explored its dimensionality, and compared it to the original English one.

Methods: The MDS-UPDRS was translated into Polish by a team of Polish investigators led by JS and GO.

Pentosidine, advanced glycation end product, in acute ischaemic stroke patients with and without atrial rhythm disturbances.

Unlabelled: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atherosclerotic disease are independent risk factors for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The optimal biological marker which could allow differentiation between AF and non-AF AIS patients is still not available.

Aim Of The Study: Aim of the present study was to investigate the role of pentosidine as a potential biological marker for AF in an AIS patient group.

Assessments of plasma acyl-ghrelin levels in Parkinson's disease patients treated with deep brain stimulation.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is the most common non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) with rates rising as the disease progresses. Deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) improves motor functions in advanced PD. However, the effect of STN DBS on ghrelin concentration and consequently on motility disturbances as well as body weight is unclear.

Gene polymorphisms and motor levodopa-induced complications in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of individual and combined single-nucleotide polymorphisms in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine transporter (DAT), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes with the occurrence of motor levodopa-induced complications (MLIC) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Materials And Methods: We studied 76 patients with PD (MLIC occurred in 56.6%) and 60 controls.

Deep brain stimulation failure due to external cardioversion in a patient with Parkinson's disease.

We report a case of deep brain stimulation (DBS) hardware failure due to emergently performed subcutaneous coronary angioplasties complicated by cardioversion for rapid worsening of angina pectoris and some trouble shooting problems emerged after invasive cardiovascular procedures. The patient with prior implantation of permanent pacemaker due to vasovagal syndrome underwent successful left-sided unilateral electrode implantation into the subthalamic nucleus. During 21 months follow-up period the patient experienced 2 times episodes of aggravation of unstable angina pectoris 15 and 21 months respectively, which necessities emergent coronary angioplasties.

Differentiating Stroke and Seizure in Acute Setting-Perfusion Computed Tomography?

Background: Perfusion computed tomography (PCT) is part of acute stroke protocol in many hospitals; however, its clinical utility is still being disputed. Beyond its use in core and penumbra estimation, there is also a question about PCT role in stroke mimics diagnosis. Case series or small, retrospective studies showed equivocal results.

[Motor levodopa-induced complications in Parkinson's disease].

Unlabelled: Chronic treatment with levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the risk of development of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, i.e. motor levodopa-induced complications (MLIC).

[Evaluation of heart rate and blood pressure variability in Parkinson's disease patients after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation].

Introduction: Autonomic dysfunctions are the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and often precede the motor symptoms of the disease. Autonomic dysfunction may be a dominant symptom of the advanced stages of PD as well as a major cause of patient disability. Despite the wide use of neurostimulation in clinical practice, the effect of deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) on autonomic symptoms of PD still remains only partially understood.

The Impact of Risk Burden Differences between Men and Women on the Clinical Course of Ischemic Stroke.

Backgound: Our objective is to assess the impact of varying risk profiles in men and women on the clinical picture of ischemic stroke.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 185 patients, 100 women and 85 men. We assessed the patients' neurological status upon admission, 1 and 2 weeks following stroke onset, using the Scandinavian Stroke Scale and the Barthel Index; stroke syndromes according to the Oxfordshire Classification; their etiology and pathogenesis according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment; and the prevalence of vascular risk factors.

[Difficulties in the diagnosis of the first symptoms of brain tumors prehospital delay diagnosis].

Unlabelled: The nervous system tumors pose a current challenge to modern medicine. Diagnosis, established at an early stage of tumor development, increases the chance of the use of radical therapeutic methods, which is associated with better prognosis. The preferred method of treatment of brain tumors is the surgical treatment.

Syncope and autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction in Parkinson disease.

Background And Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between syncope or presyncope occurrence and dysfunction of the cardiovascular autonomic system in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Material And Methods: Twenty-four PD patients were studied, including 10 subjects with syncope/presyncope and 14 con-trols without those symptoms. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), Holter electrocardiographic monitoring, carotid sinus massage, tilt test, and cardiac scintigraphy with 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) were performed.

[The case of arteriovenous malformation in midbrain in patient with vision disorders].

The authors present a case of 39 years old male who was admitted to the hospital with non-specific vision disorders. The clinical features and radiological examination have led to the diagnosis of arteriovenosum malformation in midbrain. In case of that patient it is worth noticing the difference between the size and location of malformation and its clinical symptoms.

Psychogenic axial myoclonus: report on two cases.

Axial myoclonus (AM) is characterized by sudden muscle jerks involving axial and proximal muscles. It includes propriospinal myoclonus (PSM) which consists of trunk flexion or extension jerking with activity arising in axial muscles and spreading to caudal and rostral muscles at low velocity along propriospinal pathways. We report on two patients displaying flexion AM jerks in the absence of structural lesion of the central nervous system or electrophysiological evidence of organic origin.

Leptin and ghrelin concentrations and weight loss in Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: To investigate the role of leptin, ghrelin, GH and IGF-1 in energy balance disturbances in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine patients were included: 11 PD patients with unintentional weight loss, 16 PD patients without weight loss and 12 controls. UPDRS, MMSE, MADRS, appetite scale, BMI, adipose tissue content, plasma leptin and active ghrelin concentrations and serum GH, IGF-1, TSH, T3 and T4, concentrations were evaluated.

[Adverse effects of dopamine agonists].

Application of dopamine agonists in the therapy of Parkinson's disease constitutes significant progress. The adverse effects of dopamine agonists in the treatment of this disease are caused by various action mechanisms and depend upon the composition and pharmacological characteristics of the drug, its impact upon the dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic receptors, as well as dosage and duration of treatment. The most important ones include: nausea and vomiting, orthostatic hypotonia, psychiatric syndromes, sleep disturbances, pleuropulmonary and retroperitoneal fibrosis, vasoconstrictive properties, oedema, hormonal disturbances, as well as dyskinesias.