Cognitive impacts of unilateral MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy: a meta-analysis and a call for systematic neuropsychological assessment.

Objective: Pharmacoresistant tremors, often seen in Parkinson disease and essential tremor, significantly impair patient quality of life. Although deep brain stimulation has been effective, its invasive nature limits its applicability. MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy offers a noninvasive alternative, but its cognitive impacts are not fully understood.

Imaging-Guided Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Programming for Parkinson Disease: A Real-Life Pilot Study.

Background And Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment for Parkinson disease (PD), with programming methods continually evolving. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and patient burden between conventional ring-mode programming (CP-RM) and image-guided volume of tissue activated (IG-VTA) programming for subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS in PD.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with PD who underwent STN-DBS between 2011 and 2014 (CP-RM group) and 2019 and 2021 (IG-VTA group) were evaluated.

Continuous Subcutaneous Foslevodopa-Foscarbidopa in Parkinson's Disease: A Mini-Review of Current Scope and Future Outlook.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, primarily because of the impairment of dopaminergic neurons. Long-term use of levodopa, the standard PD treatment, often results in fluctuating therapeutic effects and dyskinesia, necessitating alternative therapies.

Objectives: This review aims to synthesize current insights and clinical experiences with foslevodopa-foscarbidopa, focusing on its pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety profile, to evaluate its potential in transforming PD therapy.

Oxycodone or Higher Dose of Levodopa for the Treatment of Parkinsonian Central Pain: OXYDOPA Trial.

Background: Among the different types of pain related to Parkinson's disease (PD), parkinsonian central pain (PCP) is the most disabling.

Objectives: We investigated the analgesic efficacy of two therapeutic strategies (opioid with oxycodone- prolonged-release (PR) and higher dose of levodopa/benserazide) compared with placebo in patients with PCP.

Methods: OXYDOPA was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, multicenter parallel-group trial run at 15 centers within the French NS-Park network.

Trial of Lixisenatide in Early Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Lixisenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist used for the treatment of diabetes, has shown neuroprotective properties in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Methods: In this phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the effect of lixisenatide on the progression of motor disability in persons with Parkinson's disease. Participants in whom Parkinson's disease was diagnosed less than 3 years earlier, who were receiving a stable dose of medications to treat symptoms, and who did not have motor complications were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to daily subcutaneous lixisenatide or placebo for 12 months, followed by a 2-month washout period.

Descriptive study of general practitioner's practices and knowledge about Parkinson's disease in the north of France.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease, constitutes a major public health challenge. A guide published by the French National Authority for Health in 2012 and revised in 2016 put forward recommendations for general practitioners (GP) planning care pathways for parkinsonian patients. It is well known that PD can be difficult to diagnose, and that when patients consult their GP, symptoms are often still limited and embedded in clinical uncertainty.

Unilateral Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy Thalamotomy for Essential Tremor.

Background: Essential tremor (ET) affects numerous adults, impacting quality of life (QOL) and often defying pharmacological treatment. Surgical interventions like deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesional approaches, including radiofrequency, gamma-knife radiosurgery, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound, offer solutions but are not devoid of limitations.

Objectives: This retrospective, single-center, single-blinded pilot study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of unilateral MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRIg-LITT) thalamotomy for medically intractable ET.

The impact of subthalamic deep-brain stimulation in restoring motor symmetry in Parkinson's disease patients: a prospective study.

Background And Objectives: The impact of subthalamic deep-brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on motor asymmetry and its influence on both motor and non-motor outcomes remain unclear. The present study aims at assessing the role of STN-DBS on motor asymmetry and how its modulation translates into benefits in motor function, activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Postoperative motor asymmetry has been assessed on the multicentric, prospective Predictive Factors and Subthalamic Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease cohort.

ON/OFF non-motor evaluation: a new way to evaluate non-motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

Background: NMF are currently poorly evaluated in therapeutic decisions. A quantification of their severity would facilitate their integration. The objective of this study was to validate an autoquestionnaire evaluating the severity of non-motor fluctuations (NMF) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Motivational and cognitive predictors of apathy after subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

Postoperative apathy is a frequent symptom in Parkinson's disease patients who have undergone bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. Two main hypotheses for postoperative apathy have been suggested: (i) dopaminergic withdrawal syndrome relative to postoperative dopaminergic drug tapering; and (ii) direct effect of chronic stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. The primary objective of our study was to describe preoperative and 1-year postoperative apathy in Parkinson's disease patients who underwent chronic bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus.

Stereotactic robot-assisted MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy thalamotomy for medically intractable Parkinson's disease tremor: technical note and preliminary effects on 2 cases.

Background: Medically intractable Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor is a common difficult clinical situation with major impact on patient's quality of life (QOL). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective therapy but is not an option for many patients. Less invasive lesional brain surgery procedures, such as thalamotomy, have proven to be effective in these indications.

Indication for molecular testing by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in parkinsonism.

Background And Purpose: The monogenic forms of Parkinson's disease represent <10% of familial cases and a still lower frequency of sporadic cases. However, guidelines to orient genetic testing are lacking. The aim was to establish the interest of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) as a primary screening test and to propose clinical criteria to guide genetic diagnostic tests for patients with suspected Mendelian Parkinson's disease.

Can Dopamine Responsiveness Be Predicted in Parkinson's Disease Without an Acute Administration Test?

Background: Dopamine responsiveness (dopa-sensitivity) is an important parameter in the management of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). For quantification of this parameter, patients undergo a challenge test with acute Levodopa administration after drug withdrawal, which may lead to patient discomfort and use of significant resources.

Objective: Our objective was to develop a predictive model combining clinical scores and imaging.

In vivo evaluation and molecular docking studies of Schinus molle L. fruit extract protective effect against isoproterenol-induced infarction in rats.

The aim of the current study was to assess the potential cardiopreventive effect of the methanolic extract of S. molle L. (MESM) on isoproterenol-induced infarction in rats.

Functional Analyses of Two Novel LRRK2 Pathogenic Variants in Familial Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Pathogenic variants in the LRRK2 gene are a common monogenic cause of Parkinson's disease. However, only seven variants have been confirmed to be pathogenic.

Objectives: We identified two novel LRRK2 variants (H230R and A1440P) and performed functional testing.

Heterogeneity of PD-MCI in Candidates to Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation: Associated Cortical and Subcortical Modifications.

Background: Parkinson's disease mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) is frequent and heterogenous. There is no consensus about its influence on subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) outcomes.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of PD-MCI and its subtypes in candidates to STN-DBS.

Quantification of Head Tremors in Medical Conditions: A Comparison of Analyses Using a 2D Video Camera and a 3D Wireless Inertial Motion Unit.

This study compares two methods to quantify the amplitude and frequency of head movements in patients with head tremor: one based on video-based motion analysis, and the other using a miniature wireless inertial magnetic motion unit (IMMU). Concomitant with the clinical assessment of head tremor severity, head linear displacements in the frontal plane and head angular displacements in three dimensions were obtained simultaneously in forty-nine patients using one video camera and an IMMU in three experimental conditions while sitting (at rest, counting backward, and with arms extended). Head tremor amplitude was quantified along/around each axis, and head tremor frequency was analyzed in the frequency and time-frequency domains.