Negative influence of L-dopa on subjectively assessed sleep but not on nocturnal polysomnography in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Sleep disorders are highly prevalent among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Chronic medication with L-dopa may be one of the factors that contributes to poor sleep quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of long term use of L-dopa on objective and subjective measures of sleep quality in PD patients.

Impairment of the peripheral nervous system in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Background: The clinical manifestations of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) primarily reflect involvement of the central nervous system. The coexistence of CJD with peripheral nervous system involvement has also been reported.

Objective: To analyze peripheral neuron electrophysiologic changes and to compare these data with neuropathologic features of spinal motor neurons in patients with definite CJD.