A neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome (NMLS) in a patient with Parkinson's disease resolved with rotigotine: a case report.

Neuroleptic Malignant-Like Syndrome (NMLS) is a rare, but potentially fatal complication of dopaminergic therapy in Parkinson's disease due to a sudden withdrawal of dopaminergic therapy. Here, we describe the case of a 79 years old woman, with 19 years history of Parkinson disease treated with L-dopa, dopamine agonists and MAO inhibitors, whose sudden withdrawal due to lack of therapeutic compliance, led to sudden onset of high fever, muscle rigidity, akinesia, autonomic dysfunction, impaired level of consciousness, respiratory distress and dysphagia with inability to take oral dopaminergic therapy. High blood levels of CPK and myoglobinaemia were found.

The (AAT)n repeat of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor gene influences disease progression in relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Background: Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors (CB(1)Rs) exacerbates disease course in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, suggesting that CB(1)Rs might play a role in the neurodegenerative damage associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To see whether CNR1 gene polymorphism could influence disease progression in relapsing-remitting MS.

Methods: The genotype of 350 patients for the number of AAT repeats was characterized and correlation studies were performed with measures of disease severity and progression.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in central Italy.

Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies considerably throughout the world.

Objective: To better define the prevalence of MS in central Italy.

Methods: This is a population-based study conducted in the province of Frosinone, which is situated in the Lazio region, central Italy.

Cannabis-based treatment induces polarity-reversing plasticity assessed by theta burst stimulation in humans.

Background: In animal models, the cannabinoid system has been convincingly implicated in the regulation of long-lasting synaptic plasticity. Both long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) phenomena can be induced in the human motor cortex by transcranial magnetic theta burst stimulation (TBS).

Objective/hypothesis: Here, we explored the potential involvement of the cannabinoid system in TBS-induced synaptic plasticity in humans.

Inverse correlation between VEGF and soluble VEGF receptor 2 in POEMS with AIDP responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin.

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-band, and skin changes) syndrome is characterized by chronic progressive polyneuropathy and plasma-cell dyscrasia. A major diagnostic criterion of POEMS is elevation of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is believed to play a pathogenic role in this disease. We report a case of POEMS that presented as relapsing acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, in which complete remission after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment was unexpectedly observed.

Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on chronic neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Unlabelled: Neuropathic pain in patients with MS is frequent and is associated with a great interference with daily life activities. In the present study, we investigated whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing central chronic pain in MS patients. Patients received sham tDCS or real tDCS in a 5-day period of treatment in a randomized, double blind, sham-controlled study.

Lack of effect of cannabis-based treatment on clinical and laboratory measures in multiple sclerosis.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), and relief from pain and spasticity has been reported in MS patients self-medicating with marijuana. A cannabis-based medication containing Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (Sativex) has been approved in some countries for the treatment of MS-associated pain. The effects of this pharmaceutical preparation on other clinically relevant aspects of MS pathophysiology, however, are still unclear.

Psychomotor development and general movements in offspring of women with epilepsy and anticonvulsant therapy.

Unlabelled: While the role of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in teratogenesis has widely been investigated, there are few prospective studies on later postnatal development in offspring of epileptic women in utero exposed. The aim of this study was a prospective investigation of the psychomotor development in a selected population of infant born to women with epilepsy on AED therapy during pregnancy.

Patients And Methods: Children were assessed at various times until 30 months of age by general movement (GMs) observation (at 7 days and 4 and 13 weeks), traditional neurologic examination (at 7 days and 4 and 13 weeks, 6, 9 and 12 months) and Brunet-Lezine (B-L) administration (at 30 months).