Movement-related cortical potentials in myotonic dystrophy.

Objective: To investigate a possible deficit of the voluntary movement mechanism within the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MyD).

Methods: Movement-related cortical potentials preceding voluntary extension of the right middle and index fingers were studied in 9 patients with MyD and compared with those in 11 age-matched healthy subjects and 9 age-matched patients with other neuromuscular disorders (NMDs).

Results: The amplitudes of Bereitschaftspotential was smaller in MyD patients than in age-matched controls and age-matched patients with other NMDs although there was no statistically significant difference.

Effects of nicotine chewing gum on UPDRS score and P300 in early-onset parkinsonism.

It has been reported that nicotine shows some beneficial effects on Parkinson's disease. The purpose of the present study is to assess the therapeutic effects of nicotine chewing gum in patients with early-onset parkinsonism (EOP). The subjects were 8 patients with early-onset parkinsonism (male/female = 4/4, mean age; 51.