Publications by authors named "S D Tabbal"

Background And Objectives: Surgical planning is critical to achieve optimal outcome in deep brain stimulation (DBS). The relationship between clinical outcomes and DBS electrode position relative to subthalamic nucleus (STN) is well investigated, but the role of surgical trajectory remains unclear. We sought to determine whether preoperatively planned DBS lead trajectory relates to adequate motor outcome in STN-DBS for Parkinson's disease (PD).

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  • In recyclable waste management facilities, bioaerosols and microorganisms may be released, posing health risks, with a focus on microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) as potential mold exposure biomarkers.
  • A study compared mVOC concentrations between a recyclable waste sorting plant (WSP) and a university campus (UC), finding 13 mVOCs at WSP versus only 3 at UC, emphasizing the higher levels of contamination at WSP.
  • The research optimized mVOC sampling methods, revealing distinct profiles of mVOCs in contaminated versus non-contaminated environments and identifying specific mVOCs that serve well as biomarkers for mold exposure.
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Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) therapeutic strategies have evolved since levodopa introduction in mid 1900s. To understand their impact and research gaps, this study delineated the clinical progression of PD in recent years.

Methods: Using Accelerating Medicine Partnership-PD (AMP-PD) data harmonized from seven biomarker discovery studies (2010-2020), we extracted: overall [Schwab and England (S&E), PD Questionnaire (PDQ-39)]; motor [Movement Disorders Society Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)-II and -III and Hoehn & Yahr (HY)]; and non-motor [MDS-UPDRS-I, University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)] scores.

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Bradykinesia is a term describing several manifestations of movement disruption caused by Parkinson's disease (PD), including movement slowing, amplitude reduction, and gradual decrease of speed and amplitude over multiple repetitions of the same movement. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) improves bradykinesia in patients with PD. We examined the effect of DBS on specific components of bradykinesia when applied at two locations within the STN, using signal processing techniques to identify the time course of amplitude and frequency of repeated hand pronation-supination movements performed by participants with and without PD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with late-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) rely heavily on caregivers, experience a poor quality of life, and contribute to higher healthcare costs.
  • A study analyzed data from 2010 to 2022, identifying over 1 million PD patients in the US, with specific focus on demographic details and late-stage conditions.
  • Findings highlight that a significant portion of PD patients are in late-stage conditions, often overlooked by traditional assessments that primarily consider motor symptoms, indicating the need for broader clinical and research approaches.
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