Qualitative Evaluation of the Personal KinetiGraphTM Movement Recording System in a Parkinson's Clinic.

Background: Wearable sensors provide accurate, continuous objective measurements, quantifying the variable motor states of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in real time.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of using continuous objective measurement using the Personal KinetiGraph™ (PKG®) Movement Recording System in the routine clinical care of patients with PD (PwP).

Methods: Physicians employed the use of the PKG in patients for whom they were seeking objective measurement.

Exploring the electrocardiogram as a potential tool to screen for premotor Parkinson's disease.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with REM sleep behavior disorder, many of whom will develop Parkinson's disease (PD) or a related synucleinopathy, will demonstrate decreased heart rate variability (HRV) compared with a group of age-matched controls as measured by an electrocardiogram during wakefulness. We compared HRV in 11 untreated idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder patients (9 men and 2 women; mean age, 63.3 years; SD, 7.

Diminished tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the cardiac conduction system and myocardium in Parkinson's disease: an anatomical study.

Clinical and autopsy studies have consistently reported cardiac sympathetic dysfunction in the left ventricular wall in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether the nerve fibers of the cardiac conduction system or the atrial walls are equally affected in this disease process has not yet been well documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate sympathetic nerves in the cardiac conduction system as well as in the walls of all four heart chambers in patients with PD, in incidental Lewy body disease (iLBD), and in controls.

Meeting report: consensus statement-Parkinson's disease and the environment: collaborative on health and the environment and Parkinson's Action Network (CHE PAN) conference 26-28 June 2007.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. People with PD, their families, scientists, health care providers, and the general public are increasingly interested in identifying environmental contributors to PD risk.

Methods: In June 2007, a multidisciplinary group of experts gathered in Sunnyvale, California, USA, to assess what is known about the contribution of environmental factors to PD.

High throughput automated allele frequency estimation by pyrosequencing.

Pyrosequencing is a DNA sequencing method based on the principle of sequencing-by-synthesis and pyrophosphate detection through a series of enzymatic reactions. This bioluminometric, real-time DNA sequencing technique offers unique applications that are cost-effective and user-friendly. In this study, we have combined a number of methods to develop an accurate, robust and cost efficient method to determine allele frequencies in large populations for association studies.

Chemical genomic profiling for identifying intracellular targets of toxicants producing Parkinson's disease.

The yeast deletion collection includes approximately 4700 strains deleted for both copies of every nonessential gene. This collection is a powerful resource for identifying the cellular pathways that functionally interact with drugs. In the present study, the complete pool of approximately 4700 barcoded homozygous deletion strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were surveyed to identify genes/pathways interacting with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) and N,N-dimethyl-4-4-bipiridinium (paraquat), neurotoxicants that can produce Parkinson's disease.

A quantitative MR imaging assessment of leukoencephalopathy in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia without irradiation.

Purpose: Intravenous methotrexate (IV-MTX), an effective treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), has a significant toxic effect on the central nervous system, with leukoencephalopathy (LE) being the most common form. The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging to prospectively assess the temporal evolution of LE extent and intensity.

Methods: Forty-five children (low-risk, 10 mol/L/12F; mean age, 5.

Prevalence of leukoencephalopathy in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with high-dose methotrexate.

Background And Purpose: An effective treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), intravenous (IV) methotrexate (MTX) has a notable toxic effect on the CNS, with leukoencephalopathy (LE) being the most common form. The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging to prospectively assess potential risk factors on the temporal evolution of LE in patients treated for ALL.

Methods: We evaluated the longitudinal prevalence of LE in 45 children treated for ALL in a single institutional protocol including seven courses of IV MTX and no cranial irradiation.

Atypical white matter volume development in children following craniospinal irradiation.

Most children with medulloblastoma (MB), the second most common pediatric brain tumor, have a 70% probability of survival. However, survivors who receive aggressive therapy are at significant risk of cognitive deficits that have been associated with lower volumes of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). We hypothesized that cranial irradiation inhibited normal brain volume development in these survivors.

BOLD responses to visual stimulation in survivors of childhood cancer.

Children surviving certain cancers have a high incidence of cognitive deficits caused by central nervous system (CNS) disease or treatments directed at the CNS. To establish the feasibility of using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study cognitive deficits in survivors of childhood cancer, we tested the hypothesis that this population has the same BOLD response to visual stimulation as healthy subjects. We used BOLD fMRI to measure spatial and temporal patterns of brain activity after brief visual stimulation in 16 survivors of childhood cancer, 11 age-similar healthy siblings of survivors, and 16 healthy adults.

White matter lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging after radiotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy in children with medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Purpose: White matter lesions (WMLs) have been described as a delayed effect of cranial irradiation in children with brain tumors, or a transient subacute effect characterized by an intralesional or perilesional reaction. We report the occurrence of subacute WMLs detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children treated for medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and document the associated clinical, radiologic, and neurocognitive findings.

Patients And Methods: Among 134 patients with medulloblastoma or supratentorial PNET treated prospectively with risk-adjusted craniospinal irradiation and conformal boost to the tumor bed, followed by four high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) cycles with stem-cell rescue, 22 developed WMLs on T1-weighted imaging with and without contrast and/or T2-weighted imaging on MRI.

Brain injury in children with sickle cell disease: prevalence and etiology.

Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and vasculopathy by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in children with hemoglobin SS, the most serious form of sickle cell disease. We reviewed imaging for all 146 SS patients imaged at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital since 1993.

Prospective brain imaging evaluation of children with sickle cell trait: initial observations.

Purpose: To determine whether sickle cell trait (hemoglobin AS) is associated with abnormalities in the brain of asymptomatic children.

Materials And Methods: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography were performed prospectively in 26 siblings (eight girls, 18 boys; mean age, 10.5 years) of patients with sickle cell disease.

Survival and functional outcome of children with hypothalamic/chiasmatic tumors.

Background: The management of children with hypothalamic (H) and/or chiasmatic (C) tumors remains controversial. We evaluated the impact of clinical and neuroimaging parameters and primary therapy on overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival and on neuroendocrine and neurocognitive outcome in children with H and/or C tumors.

Methods: Records were reviewed for 73 children with H and/or C tumors treated at St.

Medulloblastoma metastatic to the suprasellar region at diagnosis: a report of six cases with clinicopathologic correlation.

The presence of metastatic disease in patients newly diagnosed with medulloblastoma remains one of the most important prognostic factors that determines event-free survival. In the present study, anatomic distribution and the signal characteristics and enhancement patterns of subtle anterior third ventricular recess metastases were compared with those of the original tumor; medical records were reviewed for clinical presentation, surgical stage, treatment and long-term outcomes. All foci were clinically occult; 5 out of 6 had negative cerebrospinal fluid cytology, and in 4 out of 6, the only evidence of metastatic disease was documented suprasellar disease that resolved or significantly improved following irradiation and chemotherapy.

Quantitative MRI assessment of leukoencephalopathy.

Quantitative MRI assessment of leukoencephalopathy is difficult because the MRI properties of leukoencephalopathy significantly overlap those of normal tissue. This report describes the use of an automated procedure for longitudinal measurement of tissue volume and relaxation times to quantify leukoencephalopathy. Images derived by using this procedure in patients undergoing therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are presented.