Predictive value of rTMS in the identification of responders to epidural motor cortex stimulation therapy for pain.

Unlabelled: This study was designed to assess the value of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to predict the efficacy of epidural motor cortex stimulation (EMCS) to treat neuropathic pain. We have included 59 patients treated by EMCS for more than 1 year and in whom active and sham 10Hz-rTMS sessions were performed as preoperative tests, targeted over the cortical representation of the painful area. Analgesic effects were rated on a visual analogue scale.

Motor cortex rTMS reduces acute pain provoked by laser stimulation in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

Objective: To assess the modulation of acute provoked pain by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

Methods: In 32 patients with chronic neuropathic pain affecting one upper limb, laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) (N2 and P2 components) were recorded in response to laser stimulation of the painful or painless hand, before and after active or sham rTMS applied at 10Hz over the motor cortex corresponding to the painful hand. Laser-induced pain was scored on a visual analogue scale.

Outcome of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: correlation with intra-operative multi-unit recordings but not with the type of anaesthesia.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) gained general acceptance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: To study the clinical outcome and the predicting factors of efficacy of chronic STN stimulation, while DBS electrodes were implanted under local or general anaesthesia with intra-operative electrophysiological guidance based on multi-unit recordings.

Methods: We included a large single-centre cohort of 54 patients with advanced PD (mean age: 59 years; disease duration: 14 years).

Electrophysiological deterioration over time in patients with Huntington's disease.

In recent studies aimed at assessing the effects of original therapeutic strategies applied to patients with Huntington's disease (HD), we observed informative changes in electrophysiological results that recovered normal values in coherence with clinical improvement. However, longitudinal studies were lacking for determining whether electrophysiological test results evolve in parallel with clinical markers of the natural course of the disease and could consequently provide objective quantifiable markers of disease progression. For this purpose, electrophysiological testing was performed annually in a cohort of 20 patients with HD over a 2-year period (three examinations).

Improvement of motor performance and modulation of cortical excitability by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To assess the effects of focal motor cortex stimulation on motor performance and cortical excitability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was performed on the left motor cortical area corresponding to the right hand in 12 'off-drug' patients with PD. The effects of subthreshold rTMS applied at 0.