A Comparison among Different Strategies to Detect Potential Unstable Behaviors in Postural Sway.

Assistive Technology helps to assess the daily living and safety of frail people, with particular regards to the detection and prevention of falls. In this paper, a comparison is provided among different strategies to analyze postural sway, with the aim of detecting unstable postural status in standing condition as precursors of potential falls. Three approaches are considered: (i) a time-based features threshold algorithm, (ii) a time-based features Neuro-Fuzzy inference system, and (iii) a Neuro-Fuzzy inference fed by Discrete-Wavelet-Transform-based features.

Understanding the dual-task costs of walking: a StartReact study.

The need to perform multiple tasks more or less simultaneously is a common occurrence during walking in daily life. Performing tasks simultaneously typically impacts task performance negatively. Hypothetically, such dual-task costs may be explained by a lowered state of preparation due to competition for attentional resources, or alternatively, by a 'bottleneck' in response initiation.

Electrocortical networks in Parkinson's disease patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. The PaCoS study.

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is frequently associated with cognitive dysfunction ranging from Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) to dementia. Few electrophysiological studies are available evaluating potential pathogenetic mechanisms linked to cognitive impairment in PD since its initial phases. The objective of the study is to analyze electrocortical networks related with cognitive decline in PD-MCI for identifying possible early electrophysiological markers of cognitive impairment in PD.

Accuracy of MDS-UPDRS section IV for detecting motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

Background: In a precedent paper, we validated part IV of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) for detecting motor fluctuations in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients using a 12-h Waking-Day Motor Assessment (WDMA) as gold standard, showing a high sensitivity (> 80%) and a lower specificity (< 45%). The aim of this study was to validate the Movement Disorder Society-UPDRS (MDS-UPDRS) part IV, especially items 4.3 and 4.

Complexity of electrocortical activity as potential biomarker in untreated Parkinson's disease.

In Parkinson's disease (PD), the identification of instrumental biomarkers is crucial to evaluate disease susceptibility and motor stage. We evaluated self-similarity of electrocortical activity as expression of brain signal complexity in untreated PD, to investigate its possible role as a neurophysiological biomarker. We analyzed the data of 34 untreated PD subjects and 18 group-matched controls who underwent standardized electroencephalography.

Temperament traits and executive functions in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Aim of the study was to evaluate the possible relationship between Temperament traits and executive dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Patients affected by PD diagnosed according to the UK Parkinson's disease Society Brain Bank criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients with a Mini Mental State Examination <24 were excluded from the study.

Dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic gait components assessed by instrumented timed up and go test in Parkinson's disease.

The timed up and go test (TUG) is a widely used clinical test for the evaluation of balance and mobility. An instrumented version of TUG (iTUG) has been proposed to provide quantitative information on TUG performances. Here, we hypothesized that L-dopa may differently influence gait parameters recorded by a portable inertial sensor.

Quantitative estimation of motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: To provide a quantitative estimation of motor fluctuations in PD through a 12-h Waking-day Motor Assessment (WDMA) and to develop new WDMA-based tools, the Motor Fluctuation Indices.

Methods: Two independent samples of PD patients (exploratory population N = 51, testing population N = 109) were examined. Patients underwent a WDMA using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and were classified as either having or not having motor fluctuations.

Computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation on freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: A pilot study.

Background: In Parkinson's Disease (PD), effects of a cognitive training have been systematically evaluated only for cognitive and behavioral outcome measures, with mild to moderate effects. Despite the demonstrated interplay between cognition and gait, no studies have investigated the effect of cognitive rehabilitation protocols on gait in PD.

Methods: Patients affected by PD with freezing of gait were treated twice a week for six weeks with one hour sessions of computer-assisted training of attention ability and information processing tasks.

Side effects induced by the acute levodopa challenge in Parkinson's Disease and atypical parkinsonisms.

Introduction: Acute levodopa challenge may be performed to predict levodopa chronic responsiveness. The aim of the study was to investigate frequency of side effects during the acute levodopa challenge in PD and atypical parkinsonisms.

Methods: We enrolled 34 de novo PD patients and 29 patients affected by atypical parkinsonisms (Multiple System Atrophy, MSA, n = 10; Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, PSP, n = 12 and Corticobasal Degeneration, CBD, n = 7) who underwent an acute levodopa challenge.

Switching L-dopa Therapy from Pulsatile to Pulse Administration Reduces Motor Complications in Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: To evaluate the severity of wearing-off and dyskinesia in patients with complicated Parkinson disease (PD) after switching L-dopa oral therapy from a "pulsatile" administration, consisting in intermittent multiple daily small doses of the drug, to a "pulse" administration, consisting in standard oral doses given at specific interdose intervals.

Methods: Thirty-four PD patients with motor complications were monitored twice with standardized waking day motor status evaluations using the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-Motor Examination (UPDRS-ME) and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) after switching L-dopa administration modality from "pulsatile" to "pulse." To quantify predictable motor fluctuations, a Wearing Off Index was computed based on changes in treatment response magnitude.

Risk factors in multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study in Sicily. Background and methods.

Incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has steeply increased over time during the last 30 years in the city of Catania. We carried out a population-based case-control study to evaluate the possible role of both environmental and genetic factors. From 1975 to 2004 in Catania, 367 MS patients diagnosed according to the Poser's criteria had the onset of disease.

Does the StartReact Effect Apply to First-Trial Reactive Movements?

Introduction: StartReact is the acceleration of reaction time by a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS). The SAS is thought to release a pre-prepared motor program. Here, we investigated whether the StartReact effect is applicable to the very first trial in a series of repeated unpractised single-joint movements.

Secondary task performance during challenging walking tasks and freezing episodes in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients likely use attentional strategies to compensate for their gait deficits, which increases the cognitive challenge of walking. The interplay between cognitive functions and gait can be investigated by evaluating the subject's attendance to a secondary task during walking. We hypothesized that the ability to attend to a secondary task decreases during challenging walking conditions in PD, particularly during freezing of gait (FOG)-episodes.

Magnetic resonance parkinsonism index in progressive supranuclear palsy and vascular parkinsonism.

To investigate accuracy of the magnetic resonance parkinsonism index (MRPI) in differentiating progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from vascular parkinsonism (VP). We retrospectively analyzed radiological data of 12 PSP patients and 17 VP patients group-matched by age and sex who performed a standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Analysis of selected structures morphometry was performed to all study subjects and the MRPI was calculated for each selected patient.

Electroencephalographic lateralization, clinical correlates and pharmacological response in untreated Parkinson's disease.

Background: In Parkinson's disease (PD), different topographically defined cortical-subcortical oscillatory networks have been implicated in motor program dysfunction. Few studies have focused on clinical correlates of cortical activity asymmetry using quantitative electroencephalography.

Methods: We retrospectively selected N = 34 L-dopa naïve PD subjects who had undergone standardized electroencephalography.

The walk-bicycle: A new assistive device for Parkinson's patients with freezing of gait?

Background: Previous studies reported a preserved ability to cycle in freezers, creating opportunities for restoring mobility and independence. However, use of a bicycle is not always feasible. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of a "walk-bicycle" in reducing freezing of gait (FOG).

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder and Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of personality disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and in a group of healthy controls.

Methods: Patients affected by PD diagnosed according to the United Kingdom Parkinson's disease Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria and a group of healthy controls were enrolled in the study. PD patients with cognitive impairment were excluded from the study.

Single photon emission computed tomography striatal asymmetry index may predict dopaminergic responsiveness in Parkinson disease.

Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the excellent response to l-dopa and by asymmetry of neurological signs. The aim of the present study is to investigate a possible relationship between responsiveness to l-dopa in patients with PD and asymmetry detected by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with [I]FP-CIT (DaTSCAN).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 20 patients with PD never previously exposed to l-dopa, who had undergone (1) a short-term l-dopa test with l-dopa/carbidopa 250/25 mg to quantify dopaminergic responsiveness, and (2) a SPECT with DaTSCAN to assess the degree of nigrostriatal neuronal degeneration.