Levodopa-carbidopa intrajejunal gel in advanced Parkinson disease with "on" freezing of gait.

Freezing of gait is a common and disabling disorder in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The relationship with dopaminergic medication is complex and often non-linear, thus freezing may occur even when the core parkinsonian features (tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia) appear optimally controlled. We evaluated the effect of Levodopa-carbidopa intrajejunal gel in a group of seven non-demented PD patients with prominent episodes of freezing refractory to adjustments of oral therapy.

Anatomical correlates of cognitive functions in early Parkinson's disease patients.

Background: Cognitive deficits may occur early in Parkinson's disease (PD) but the extent of cortical involvement associated with cognitive dysfunction needs additional investigations. The aim of our study is to identify the anatomical pattern of cortical thickness alterations in patients with early stage PD and its relationship with cognitive disability.

Methods: We recruited 29 PD patients and 21 healthy controls.

A prospective cohort study on patients treated with anticoagulants for cerebral vein thrombosis.

Objectives: Cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) is a potentially fatal disorder for which treatment guidelines are scanty. To assess the short- and long-term benefit of anticoagulant therapy, we performed a prospective cohort study on CVT patients.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive CVT patients received conventional anticoagulation with heparin followed by warfarin for at least 3 months.

Anti-heparan sulphate antibodies and homocysteine in dementia: markers of vascular pathology?

Increasing evidence supports a pathogenic role of heparan sulphate (HS) in the development of dementia. Since HS proteoglycans are present in the endothelial cells and perivascular basement membrane, we wanted to assess blood titres of HS antibodies (Abs) in patients with vascular dementia (VD) and in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) [mixed dementia (MixD)]. Moreover, plasma levels of homocysteine, an independent risk factor for the development of dementia as well as for CVD, were also determined.