bacteria enhance alpha-synuclein aggregation in a model of Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: The aggregation of the neuronal protein alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) is a key feature in the pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Alpha-syn aggregation has been suggested to be induced in the gut cells by pathogenic gut microbes such as bacteria, which has been shown to be associated with PD. This study aimed to investigate whether bacteria induce alpha-syn aggregation.

Hydrogen Sulfide Produced by Gut Bacteria May Induce Parkinson's Disease.

Several bacterial species can generate hydrogen sulfide (HS). Study evidence favors the view that the microbiome of the colon harbors increased amounts of HS producing bacteria in Parkinson's disease. Additionally, HS can easily penetrate cell membranes and enter the cell interior.

Bacteria Are Associated With Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent movement disorder known and predominantly affects the elderly. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease wherein α-synuclein, a neuronal protein, aggregates to form toxic structures in nerve cells. The cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown.

Magnetic Nanoparticles in Human Cervical Skin.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, magnetite/maghemite, have been identified in human tissues, including the brain, meninges, heart, liver, and spleen. As these nanoparticles may play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, a pilot study explored the occurrence of these particles in the cervical (neck) skin of 10 patients with Parkinson's disease and 10 healthy controls. Magnetometry and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed magnetite/maghemite nanoparticles in the skin samples of every study participant.

Altered N100-potential associates with working memory impairment in Parkinson's disease.

The diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia often occurring with Parkinson's disease (PD) is still based on the clinical picture and neuropsychological examination. Ancillary methods to detect cognitive decline in these patients are, therefore, needed. Alterations in the latencies and amplitudes of evoked response potential (ERP) components N100 and P200 have been described in PD.

Gut microbiota are related to Parkinson's disease and clinical phenotype.

In the course of Parkinson's disease (PD), the enteric nervous system (ENS) and parasympathetic nerves are amongst the structures earliest and most frequently affected by alpha-synuclein pathology. Accordingly, gastrointestinal dysfunction, in particular constipation, is an important non-motor symptom in PD and often precedes the onset of motor symptoms by years. Recent research has shown that intestinal microbiota interact with the autonomic and central nervous system via diverse pathways including the ENS and vagal nerve.

Uric acid and cognition in Parkinson's disease: a follow-up study.

Cognitive changes are common in Parkinson's disease (PD). Low plasma uric acid (UA) level is associated with risk of PD and predicts faster progression of motor symptoms in established disease. Whether UA levels predict cognitive changes has not been studied.

Uric acid associates with cognition in Parkinson's disease.

Cognitive dysfunction is common in Parkinson's disease (PD). Low plasma uric acid level is a risk factor for PD but its association with cognitive impairment in PD has not been previously studied. In the present study urine uric acid level as well as plasma uric acid- and homocysteine levels were measured in 40 patients with PD.

Low plasma uric acid level in Parkinson's disease.

Earlier studies suggest that low plasma uric acid level is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), and that uric acid associates with iron-binding proteins. We therefore decided to examine plasma uric acid levels and markers of peripheral iron metabolism in PD patients and healthy controls. For the study, 40 patients with PD and 29 controls underwent clinical screening, laboratory testing, and body mass index (BMI) measurement.

Long term survival after primary intracerebral haemorrhage: a retrospective population based study.

Objectives: To determine the long term survival and predictors of death in patients with primary intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in Central Finland.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively on all adult patients with first ever ICH in Central Finland county between September 1985 and December 1991. The survival of all patients at the end of December 2002 was investigated.

Admission blood glucose and short term survival in primary intracerebral haemorrhage: a population based study.

Background: The role of admission blood glucose level on the prognosis of patients with intracerebral haemorrhage has not been elucidated.

Objective: To examine this association on the basis of an epidemiologically representative patient material.

Methods: 249 500 people living in the catchment area of the Central Hospital of Central Finland.

Modified-release formulation of tizanidine in chronic tension-type headache.

The efficacy of the modified-release formulation of tizanidine (Sirdalud) was compared with placebo in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of 138 women and 47 men, aged 18 to 79 years, with a history of chronic tension-type headache (IHS categories 2.2 and 2.3).

Effect of nimodipine on final infarct volume after acute ischemic stroke.

Placebo-controlled clinical trials with nimodipine in acute ischemic stroke have not fulfilled the early optimistic expectations. Nimodipine has in some experimental studies, when administered either before or up to 90 min after induction of cerebral ischemia, resulted in a reduction of infarct size. No studies on the effects of nimodipine on infarct size in man have been published.

The association of antihypertensive agents with MRI white matter findings and with Modified Mini-Mental State Examination in older adults.

Objectives: To examine the association of antihypertensive regimen with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) white matter hyperintensity and with cognitive impairment in older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The Cardiovascular Health study, an observational prospective cohort study of risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke in men and women 65 years of age and older.

Prognostic value and determinants of first-day mean arterial pressure in spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: The onset of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is often accompanied by transient blood pressure (BP) elevation. The prognostic value and the determinants of this BP reaction have not entirely been solved, and the present study was focused on these questions.

Methods: From 1985 to 1991 in Central Finland (population, 246,000), a total of 425 patients had first-ever ICH verified by CT or necropsy.

Decreasing incidence of stroke in central Finland, 1985-1993.

Introduction: During the last decades the age-standardized stroke mortality has declined in Finland as in many other industrialized countries. Epidemiological studies have, however, not been consistent in explaining this fall in mortality. Our aim was to shed light on this question by using two consecutive, population-based surveys.

Factors delaying hospital admission after acute stroke.

Background And Purpose: Clinical trials of new drugs that reverse neurological deficits when used in the first hours of stroke onset suggest that early hospital admission is important. We analyzed a database of patients with acute stroke to determine the factors that delay hospital admission.

Methods: We analyzed all patients with their first stroke during 1993 in the province of Central Finland (population, 256 000).

Diurnal blood pressure variations and onset of subarachnoid haemorrhage: a population-based study.

Objectives: To analyse the association between time of onset of subarachnoid haemorrhage and diurnal blood pressure variations of ambulant normo- and hypertensive subjects.

Design: Retrospective, population-based study.

Setting: The population (246,000) of the Health Care District of Central Finland.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of nimodipine in acute ischemic hemispheric stroke.

Background And Purpose: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial was conducted to test the hypothesis that nimodipine would improve the functional outcome in acute ischemic hemispheric stroke.

Methods: A total of 350 patients were randomized to nimodipine 120 mg/d PO or matching placebo for 21 days. Randomization was stratified by onset of therapy, age, and stroke severity.