Cortical correlates of susceptibility to upper limb freezing in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Freezing behavior is an unmet symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), which reflects its complex pathophysiology. Freezing behavior can emerge when attentional capacity is reduced, i.e.

Prevalence of Dementia and Cognitive Complaints in the Context of High Cognitive Reserve: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dementia and cognitive complaints in a cross-sectional sample of Luxembourg seniors, and to discuss the results in the societal context of high cognitive reserve resulting from multilingualism.

Methods: A population sample of 1,377 people representative of Luxembourg residents aged over 64 years was initially identified via the national social insurance register. There were three different levels of contribution: full participation in the study, partial participation, and non-participation.

Epigenetic Activity of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Agonists Increases the Anticancer Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on Multiple Myeloma Cells.

Epigenetic modifications play a major role in the development of multiple myeloma. We have previously reported that the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (PIO) enhances, in-vitro, the cytotoxic effect of the Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), valproic acid (VPA), on multiple myeloma cells. Here, we described the development of a new multiple myeloma mouse model using MOLP8 cells, in order to evaluate the effect of VPA/PIO combination on the progression of myeloma cells, by analyzing the proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells.

Neuromuscular correlates of subthalamic stimulation and upper limb freezing in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The pathophysiology of deep brain stimulation mechanisms and resistant freezing phenomena in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) remains incompletely understood. Further studies on the neuromuscular substrates are needed.

Methods: We analyzed 16 patients with advanced iPD and bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation, and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

BMP-2-transduced human bone marrow stem cells enhance neo-bone formation in a rat critical-sized femur defect.

Synthetic graft materials are considered as possible substitutes for cancellous bone, but lack osteogenic and osteoinductive properties. In this study, we investigated how composite scaffolds of βTCP containing osteogenic human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) influenced the process of fracture healing. hBMSCs were loaded into βTCP scaffolds 24 h before implantation in a rat critical-sized bone defect.

Platelet mitochondrial membrane potential in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), which has been reported not to be restricted to striatal neurons. However, studies that analyzed mitochondrial function at the level of selected enzymatic activities in peripheral tissues have produced conflicting data. We considered the electron transport chain as a complex system with mitochondrial membrane potential as an integrative indicator for mitochondrial fitness.

Long-term outcome of deep brain stimulation in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.

Introduction: Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) presents as complex movement disorder including tremor and cerebellar ataxia. The efficacy and safety of deep brain stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius of the thalamus in atypical tremor syndromes like FXTAS remains to be determined.

Methods: Here, we report the long-term outcome of three male genetically confirmed FXTAS patients treated with bilateral neurostimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius for up to four years.

Subthalamic stimulation modulates cortical motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson's disease.

Dynamic modulations of large-scale network activity and synchronization are inherent to a broad spectrum of cognitive processes and are disturbed in neuropsychiatric conditions including Parkinson's disease. Here, we set out to address the motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson's disease and its modulation with subthalamic stimulation. To this end, 20 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with subthalamic nucleus stimulation were analysed on externally cued right hand finger movements with 1.

[The reduction of stroke risk, risk of myocardial infarction and death by healthy diet and physical activity].

There is no doubt that a healthy diet and regular physical activity improve risk factors for cerebro-cardio-vascular disease and death. However, there is less evidence from prospective randomised controlled trials that they also reduce the actual risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and death. The only evidence from randomised controlled trials is, that a mediterranean diet with nuts and/or native olive oil considerably reduces stroke risk by 47% respectively 31%, however not the risk of myocardial infarction and death.

A daily glass of red wine associated with lifestyle changes independently improves blood lipids in patients with carotid arteriosclerosis: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Physical exercise and a Mediterranean diet improve serum lipid profile. The present work studied whether red wine has an effect on top of a lipid-lowering lifestyle in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: A prospective randomised unblinded trial was performed from 2009 to 2011 in 108 patients with carotid atherosclerosis, 65% of whom were already on statin therapy with a low mean LDL of 104.

Lifestyle counseling in patients with carotid arteriosclerosis from Luxemburg should focus more on the reduction of sugar, sodium and saturated fat consumption.

Background: Healthy diet and physical activity improve risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. It is unclear whether patients with carotid artery disease from Luxemburg meet common guideline criteria and whether systematic counseling has a sustained effect.

Methods: We assessed anthropometric data, eating habits and physical activity habits in 53 patients with carotid atherosclerosis at baseline, after 4 and 20 weeks, and advised them five times for 30 min to follow a modified Mediterranean diet and to perform moderate physical exercise at least during 30 min/day.

[Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome].

An Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was diagnosed in a patient who had massive pulmonary embolisation from a right atrial thrombus. The (APS) is an autoimmune disease defined by the presence in the serum of at least one type of autoantibody known as antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) and the occurrence of at least one clinical feature from a list of potential disease manifestations, the most common of which are venous or arterial thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. The prevalence of APS in a series of patients from internal medicine is 2 percent.