Group physiotherapy and quality of life in parkinsonism: quasi-experimental study

According to systematic reviews, a short-term treatment of aquatic physiotherapy, mind-body therapies and exergame improve quality of life of people with parkinsonism. But few studies examined the group physiotherapy effects on quality of life of people with parkinsonism. Objective: We aimed to investigate the short-term effects of group physiotherapy protocols on the quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease or secondary parkinsonism. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study, a controlled, non-randomized, unmasked trial, with consecutive arms for one group and parallel to another, with 15 participants with parkinsonism. They were organized in 3 groups: OG-E1wI (n = 9), observed group treated with group physiotherapy once a week; EG-C (n = 6), in the control phase without treatment, concomitant with OG-E1wI; EG-2wI (n = 6), the same subjects as EG-C, they were treated with group physiotherapy twice a week, in a posterior consecutive phase. The PDQ-39 scale was used to assess Quality of Life. Results: The mean differences between OG-E1wI and EG-C and between EG-2wI and EG-C in the various domains of PDQ-39 were not statistically significant. Conclusion: A group physiotherapy protocols performed once or twice a week may not be enough to improve quality of life for people with parkinsonism. The literature suggests that group physiotherapy protocols performed three to five times a week improve quality of life in a short period

Contexto: Revisões sistemáticas sugerem que fisioterapia aquática, terapias corporais complementares e exergame aumentam a qualidade de vida da pessoa com parkinsonismo em tratamento de curto prazo. Porém, os efeitos da fisioterapia em grupo na qualidade de vida da pessoa com parkinsonismo são pouco estudados. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos em curto prazo de protocolos de fisioterapia grupal sobre a Qualidade de Vida de pessoas com doença de Parkinson e parkinsonismo secundário. Métodos: Estudo quasi-experimental, ensaio controlado não randomizado, sem mascaramento, com braços consecutivos para um grupo e paralelo para outro, com 15 participantes com parkinsonismo. Os participantes foram organizados em 3 grupos: OG-E1wI (n= 9), intervenção de fisioterapia em grupo uma vez por semana; EG-C (n= 6), em fase controle sem tratamento, concomitante ao OG-E1wI; EG-2wI (n=6), os mesmos sujeitos do EG-C, em fase consecutiva com intervenção de fisioterapia em grupo, duas vezes por semana. A escala PDQ-39 foi utilizada para avaliar a Qualidade de Vida. Resultados: As diferenças médias entre OG-E1wI e EG-C e entre EG-2wI e EG-C nos vários domínios da PDQ-39 não são estatisticamente significativas. Conclusão: Protocolos de fisioterapia em grupo com frequência de uma ou duas vezes por semana podem não ser suficiente para promover ganhos na qualidade de vida de pessoas com parkinsonismo. A literatura sugere que protocolos de fisioterapia em grupo feitos três a cinco vezes por semana obtêm ganho de qualidade de vida em um período de curto prazo

Glutamatergic Neurons in the Caudal Zona Incerta Regulate Parkinsonian Motor Symptoms in Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common and fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder. In recent years, it has been recognized that neurotransmitters other than dopamine and neuronal systems outside the basal ganglia are also related to PD pathogenesis. However, little is known about whether and how the caudal zona incerta (ZIc) regulates parkinsonian motor symptoms. Here, we showed that specific glutamatergic but not GABAergic ZIc

Demethylenetetrahydroberberine protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease / 中国天然药物

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disorder of the nervous system where a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons exist. However, the pathogenesis of PD remains undefined, which becomes the main limitation for the development of clinical PD treatment. Demethylenetetrahydroberberine (DMTHB) is a novel derivative of natural product berberine. This study was aimed to explore the neuroprotective effects and pharmacological mechanism of DMTHB on Parkinson's disease using C57BL/6 mice. A PD model of mice was induced by administration of MPTP (20 mg·kg-1) and probenecid (200 mg·kg-1) twice per week for five weeks. The mice were administered with DMTHB daily by gavage at the dose of 5 and 50 mg·kg-1 for one- week prophylactic treatment and five-week theraputic treatment. The therapeutic effects of DMTHB were evaluated by behavior tests (the open field, rotarod and pole tests), immunohistochemical staining of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Nissl staining and biochemical assays. The molecular mechanisms of DMTHB on the key biomarkers of PD pathological states were analyzed by Western blot (WB) and qRT-PCR. DMTHB treatment alleviated the behavioral disorder induced by MPTP-probenecid. Nissl staining and TH staining showed that the damage of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra was remarkably suppressed by DMTHB treatment. Western blot results showed that the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and TH increased, but the level of α-synuclein (α-syn) was remarkably reduced, which indicated that the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in mice was significantly reduced. The protein phosphorylation of p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR also increased about 2-fold, compared with the model group. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α, were reduced, but the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased after DMTHB treatment. Finally, the cellular assay displayed that DMTHB was also a strong antioxidant to protect neuron cell line PC12 by scavenging ROS. In this study, we demonstrated DMTHB alleviates the behavioral disorder and protects dopaminergic neurons through multiple-target effects includubg anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Parkinson genetico: Reporte de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Genetic Parkinson disease: a case report and literature review

RESUMEN El parkinsonismo constituye un conjunto de signos y síntomas clínicos caracterizados por bradicinesia y temblor en reposo o rigidez, cuya causa más frecuente es la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). La gran mayoría de los casos de EP son esporádicos, sin embargo, existe una minoría en la cual la etiología se debe a una mutación heredada, ya sea autosómica dominante (AD), autosómica recesiva (AR) o herencia ligada al X. La identificación de estas causas heredables es importante para una adecuada consejería genética y tratamiento. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con EP de inicio temprano en el que se identificó una mutación AD en el gen GIGYF2 o PARK11, asociado a una breve revisión de la literatura

SUMMARY Parkinsonism constitutes a set of clinical signs and symptoms characterized by bradykinesia and tremor at rest and / or rigidity. The main etiology is Parkinson's disease (PD), but there are other causes such as atypical parkinsonism. The vast majority of PD cases are sporadic, however, there is a minority where the etiology is due to an inherited mutation, either autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (RA), or X-linked inheritance. Identifying these heritable causes is important for proper genetic counseling and treatment. We present the case of a patient with early-onset PD where an AD mutation in the GIGYF2 gene (PARK11) was identified. We subsequently present a brief review of the literature.

Abnormal eye movements in parkinsonism: a historical view / Movimentos oculares anormais em parkinsonismo: uma visão histórica

ABSTRACT Parkinson's disease (PD), known since ancient times as paralysis agitans, was studied and described by James Parkinson in 1817 in his work "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy". Fifty years later, Charcot and his students delved into the disease, naming it as we know it today, as well as defining the classic disease and its variants. One of these students, Arthur Dutil, addressed patients' abnormal eye movements. Nowadays, it is known that the differential diagnosis of PD is relevant for prognosis, treatment and research, and, despite the advances in the area, it remains largely clinical. The relevance of the eye movement exam has grown along with the history of PD and it has proved to be an excellent tool for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. Additionally, it can become a support to identify different types of genetic PD and be useful for improving early recognition of cognitive decline in patients with PD.

RESUMO A doença de Parkinson (DP), conhecida desde a antiguidade como paralysis agitans, foi estudada e descrita por James Parkinson em 1817 em seu trabalho An Essay on the Shaking Palsy. Cinquenta anos depois, Charcot e seus alunos aprofundaram os estudos na doença, nomeando-a como a conhecemos atualmente, bem como definindo a doença clássica e suas variantes. Um desses estudantes, Arthur Dutil, investigou os movimentos oculares anormais nos pacientes. Hoje, sabe-se que o diagnóstico diferencial da DP é relevante para o prognóstico, tratamento e pesquisa, e, apesar dos grandes avanços na área, ainda permanece amplamente clínico. A relevância do exame de movimentação ocular cresceu com a história da DP e este se mostrou uma excelente ferramenta para o diagnóstico diferencial do parkinsonismo. Além disso, pode se tornar um auxílio para identificar diferentes formas de DP genética e útil para melhorar o reconhecimento precoce do declínio cognitivo em pacientes com DP.

Paraparesia espástica complicada como fenótipo neurológico em OPA1 / Complex spastic paraplegia as a neurological phenotype in an opa1 patient

RESUMO: A atrofia óptica autossômica dominante (ADOA) é uma das formas mais comuns de atrofias ópticas hereditárias, e causada por mutações no gene OPA1. Os pacientes afetados por essa doença geralmente apresentam perda visual na primeira década de vida, podendo apresentar manifestações extraoftalmológicas no decorrer dos anos, configurando uma síndrome chamada OPA1 plus ou ADOA-plus. Objetivos: Relatar caso de paciente portadora da síndrome ADOA-plus, estabelecendo correlações com casos descritos na literatura. Relato de caso: Paciente feminino, 30 anos, foi encaminhada para avaliação de quadro de atrofia óptica progressiva associada a sintomas de neuropatia periférica. Aos dois anos, foi diagnosticada com perda visual parcial em consulta de puericultura. Não relatou outros sintomas associados durante a infância e a adolescência. Aos 20 anos, apresentou dificuldades de deambular, fraqueza em membros inferiores e falta de equilíbrio. Aos 25 anos, após extensa investigação, foi identificada, através de sequenciamento de exoma, mutação patológica no gene OPA1 confirmando o diagnóstico ADOA-plus e iniciado tratamento com Coenzima Q10. Atualmente a paciente relata ataxia sensitiva, diminuição da acuidade visual progressiva, fasciculações e câimbras em MMII, disfagia e dispneia. Discussão: Muitos pacientes com ADOA-plus apresentam surdez neurossensorial como sintoma extraoftalmológico mais comum, além de quadros de parkinsonismo e demência, ataxia e ptose. Paciente relatada constitui um caso de atrofia óptica associado à neuropatia periférica, ataxia e miopatia. Devido à ampla variabilidade clínica dessa doença, deve-se investigar mutações no OPA1 em casos de paraparesia espástica progressiva associada à atrofia óptica, visto que possibilidade de tratamento com Coenzima Q10. (AU)

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) is one of the most common forms of inherited optic atrophies and is caused by mutations in the OPA1 gene. Patients affected by this disease usually present visual loss in the first decade of life, and may present extra-ophthalmologic manifestations over the years, configuring a syndrome called OPA1 plus or ADOA-plus. Objectives: to report the case of a patient with ADOA-plus syndrome, establishing correlations with cases described in the literature, Case report: a 30-year-old female patient was referred for evaluation of progressive optic atrophy associated with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. At two years of age, she was diagnosed with partial visual loss during a childcare visit. She reported no other associated symptoms during childhood and adolescence. At the age of 20, she presented with difficulty walking, lower limb weakness, and poor balance. At 25, after extensive investigation, a pathological mutation in the OPA1 gene was identified through exome sequencing, confirming the diagnosis of ADOA-plus, and treatment with Coenzyme Q10 was initiated. Currently the patient reports sensory ataxia, progressive decrease in visual acuity, fasciculations and cramps in the lower limbs, dysphagia and dyspnea. Discussion: Many patients with ADOA-plus present sensorineural deafness as the most common extra-ophthalmologic symptom, in addition to parkinsonism and dementia, ataxia and ptosis. The patient reported is a case of optic atrophy associated with peripheral neuropathy, ataxia and myopathy. Due to the wide clinical variability of this disease, OPA1 mutations should be investigated in cases of progressive spastic paraparesis associated with optic atrophy, since the possibility of treatment with Coenzyme Q10. (AU)

Gray matter atrophy in parkinsons disease and the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy: a combined roi- and voxel-based morphometric study

OBJECTIVES: Parkinson's disease (PD) and the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) are distinct neurodegenerative disorders that share similar clinical features of parkinsonism. The morphological alterations of these diseases have yet to be understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate gray matter atrophy in PD and MSA-P using regions of interest (ROI)-based measurements and voxel-based morphometry (VBM). METHODS: We studied 41 patients with PD, 20 patients with MSA-P, and 39 controls matched for age, sex, and handedness using an improved T1-weighted sequence that eased gray matter segmentation. The gray matter volumes were measured using ROI and VBM. RESULTS: ROI volumetric measurements showed significantly reduced bilateral putamen volumes in MSA-P patients compared with those in PD patients and controls (p<0.05), and the volumes of the bilateral caudate nucleus were significantly reduced in both MSA-P and PD patients compared with those in the controls (p<0.05). VBM analysis revealed multifocal cortical and subcortical atrophy in both MSA-P and PD patients, and the volumes of the cerebellum and temporal lobes were remarkably reduced in MSA-P patients compared with the volumes in PD patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both PD and MSA-P are associated with gray matter atrophy, which mainly involves the bilateral putamen, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, and temporal lobes. ROI and VBM can be used to identify these morphological alterations, and VBM is more sensitive and repeatable and less time-consuming, which may have potential diagnostic value.

Clinical and genetic analysis of a case with infantile Parkinsonism with motor delay due to tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic variants in a child with tyrosine hydroxylase-deficient infantile Parkinsonism with motor delay.@*METHODS@#Clinical feature of the patient was summarized. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples taken from the child and her family members. All exons of GCH1, TH and SPR genes were subjected to targeted capture and next-generation sequencing. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.@*RESULTS@#The child could not sit alone at 7 month and 11 days. Physical examination suggested motor retardation and hypotonia, limb stiffness, head nodding, slight torticollis, and language and intellectual developmental delays. She developed involuntary shaking of limbs at 3 month old, which lasted approximately 10 seconds and aggregated with excitement and before sleeping. Cranial MRI revealed widening of subarachnoid space on the temporomandibular and particularly temporal sides. Genetic testing revealed that she has carried a nonsense c.457C>T (p.R153X) variant, which was known to be pathogenic, and a novel missense c.720C>G (p.I240M) variant of the TH gene. The two variants were derived from her father and mother, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#The child was diagnosed as tyrosine hydroxylase-deficient infantile Parkinsonism with motor delay due to compound heterozygous variants of the TH gene. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of TH gene variants.

Clinical and Genetic Spectrum of ATP1A3-Related Disorders in a Korean Pediatric Population

Dermatoses in parkinsonism: the importance of multidisciplinary follow-up

Summary Parkinsonism is characterized by bradykinesia with rigidity and/or resting tremor, in addition to non-motor symptoms, which include dermatological manifestations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the main dermatoses in patients with parkinsonism found at the Philanthropic Association of Curitiba - PR. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with the application of a questionnaire and dermatological evaluation of the patients. The sample consisted of 386 patients and was composed mainly by men (55.4%), between 60-74 years old (51.6%), with complete primary education (45.3%), disease diagnosis time between 5-10 years (35%) and in use of medication (96.6%). The most prevalent dermatoses were pigmented nevus (36.3%), warts (25.1%), actinic keratosis (22%), seborrheic keratosis (21.5%), seborrheic dermatitis (20.5%), and rosacea (19.2%). Among the 13 cases (3.4%) of malignant cutaneous neoplasms confirmed by biopsy, 2 were melanomas. Regarding patients' sex, there was a higher prevalence of inflammatory dermatoses (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.51, p = 0.025) and benign cutaneous neoplasms (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.16-2.69, p = 0.01) in men. As to age, patients aged between 60-74 years had more pre-malignant skin lesions (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.05-6.44, p <0.001) and seborrheic keratosis (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.02-6.25, p = 0.001) and, in those older than 75 years, actinic keratosis was more frequent (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.17-13.6, p <0.001). The results of the study show that it is fundamental to dermatologically evaluate and monitor these patients, aiming at diagnosis and early treatment of lesions, especially of skin cancer.

RESUMO Parkinsonismo é caracterizado por bradicinesia e/ou tremor de repouso, além de sintomas não motores, entre os quais se destacam as manifestações dermatológicas. O objetivo desse trabalho é conhecer as principais dermatoses em pacientes portadores de parkinsonismo atendidos em uma associação filantrópica de Curitiba/PR. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal com aplicação de questionário e avaliação dermatológica dos pacientes. A amostra estudada consistiu de 386 pacientes e foi composta principalmente por homens brancos (55,4%), entre 60-74 anos (51,6%), ensino fundamental completo (45,3%), tempo de diagnóstico da doença entre 5-10 anos (35%) e em uso de medicação (96,6%). As dermatoses mais encontradas na inspeção dermatológica foram manchas pigmentadas (36,3%), verrugas (25,1%), ceratose actínica (22%), ceratose seborreica (21,5%), dermatite seborreica (20,5%) e rosácea (19,2%). Entre os 11 casos (2,8%) de neoplasias cutâneas malignas confirmados por biópsia, dois eram melanomas. Em relação ao sexo, houve prevalência em homens de dermatoses inflamatórias (OR 1,64, IC 95% 1,08-2,51; p=0,025) e neoplasias cutâneas benignas (OR 1,77, IC 95% 1,16-2,69; p=0,01). Quanto à idade, pacientes entre 60-74 anos apresentaram mais lesões cutâneas pré-malignas (OR 2,60, IC 95% 1,05-6,44; p<0,001) e a ceratose seborreica (OR 2,52, IC 95% 1,02-6,25; p=0,001); naqueles acima de 75 anos foi mais frequente a ceratose actínica (OR 5,43, IC 95% 2,17-13,6; p<0,001). Os resultados encontrados no estudo evidenciam que são fundamentais a avaliação e o monitoramento dermatológico desses pacientes, visando diagnóstico e tratamento precoce das lesões, em especial do câncer de pele.

Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Juvenile Parkinsonism: Case Report

Juvenile parkinsonism (JP) is characterized by the clinical manifestation of Parkinson syndrome before the age of 21 years old. This entity is often associated with genetic mutations. After all the possibilities of clinical treatment have been exhausted, surgical treatment is recommended, performed via deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or in the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi). The present study aimed to report the case of a patient with JP who underwent DBS in the STN with good clinical response. Neuromodulation via DBS is an option for the treatment of JP. However, since this entity is very rare, and even more peculiar when treated surgically, more studies are necessary to evaluate DBS used to control refractory manifestations and levodopa-induced dyskinesia, as well as surgical complications that may occur, aiming to gather more knowledge of the surgical management of JP. Despite the dysarthria after the DBS, the patient presented a satisfactory response regarding the symptoms, corroborated by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) score, which was 61.19% before the procedure, and decreased to 21.05% 14 months after the DBS.

An Autopsy Proven Case of CSF1R-mutant Adult-onset Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia (ALSP) with Premature Ovarian Failure

Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a progressive degenerative white matter disorder caused by mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the CSF1R gene. ALSP is often misdiagnosed as other diseases due to its rarity and various clinical presentations such as Parkinsonism, pyramidal signs, cognitive impairment and/or psychiatric symptoms. We describe an autopsy case of ALSP with a CSF1R mutation. A 61-year-old woman presented insidious-onset gait difficulty for 12 years since her age of 49, and premature ovarian failure since her age of 35. At initial hospital visit, brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus. Initially, Parkinson's syndrome was diagnosed, and she was prescribed L-dopa/carbidopa because of spasticity and rigidity of extremities, which had worsened. Subsequently, severe neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment developed and radiologically, features of leukoencephalopathy or leukodystrophy were detected. She showed a down-hill course and died, 12 years after initial diagnosis. At autopsy, the brain showed severe symmetric atrophy of bilateral white matter, paper-thin corpus callosum, thin internal capsule, and marked hydrocephalus. Microscopically, diffuse loss of white matter, relatively preserved subcortical U-fibers, and many eosinophilic bulbous neuroaxonal spheroids were noted, but there was no calcification. Pigmented glia with brown cytoplasmic pigmentation were readily found in the white matter, which were positive for Periodic acid-Schiff, p62, and CD163 stains, but almost negative for CD68. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing revealed a CSF1R mutation (c.2539G>A, p.Glu847Lys) which was reported in prior one ALSP case. This example demonstrates that ALSP could be associated with premature ovarian failure.

Altered Local Field Potential Relationship Between the Parafascicular Thalamic Nucleus and Dorsal Striatum in Hemiparkinsonian Rats / 神经科学通报·英文版

The thalamostriatal pathway is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, PD-related changes in the relationship between oscillatory activity in the centromedian-parafascicular complex (CM/Pf, or the Pf in rodents) and the dorsal striatum (DS) remain unclear. Therefore, we simultaneously recorded local field potentials (LFPs) in both the Pf and DS of hemiparkinsonian and control rats during epochs of rest or treadmill walking. The dopamine-lesioned rats showed increased LFP power in the beta band (12 Hz-35 Hz) in the Pf and DS during both epochs, but decreased LFP power in the delta (0.5 Hz-3 Hz) band in the Pf during rest epochs and in the DS during both epochs, compared to control rats. In addition, exaggerated low gamma (35 Hz-70 Hz) oscillations after dopamine loss were restricted to the Pf regardless of the behavioral state. Furthermore, enhanced synchronization of LFP oscillations was found between the Pf and DS after the dopamine lesion. Significant increases occurred in the mean coherence in both theta (3 Hz-7 Hz) and beta bands, and a significant increase was also noted in the phase coherence in the beta band between the Pf and DS during rest epochs. During the treadmill walking epochs, significant increases were found in both the alpha (7 Hz-12 Hz) and beta bands for two coherence measures. Collectively, dramatic changes in the relative LFP power and coherence in the thalamostriatal pathway may underlie the dysfunction of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical network circuits in PD, contributing to some of the motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease.

Anti-Ma2-Associated Encephalitis with Axonal Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy

Anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis is one of the paraneoplastic limbic and brainstem encephalitis characterized by decreased consciousness, parkinsonism and the limitation of vertical eye movement. It is usually associated with non-small cell lung cancer in male and female or germ cell tumor in male. Herein, we report a case of atypical anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis which presented with axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

Reduced Uptake on Dopamine Transporter Imaging by Methylphenidate

No abstract available.

The History of Parkinson's Disease and Famous Patients

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. However, the history of PD and famous persons with PD have not been described in detail yet. METHODS: We summarized the history of PD before the first description of James Parkinson's. The four famous patients who were suspected or diagnosed with PD were reviewed through peer-reviewed journals as well as biographies, books, and media. RESULTS: Before the definition of PD was established, there were descriptions of various Parkinsonian symptoms in several literatures. The diagnoses of Adolf Hitler and Na Hyeseok are not certain and we only suspect that they had parkinsonism. The diagnoses of PD of the Pope John Paul II and Muhammad Ali are certain as they had medical records as well as video records that shows progressive deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Even before James Parkinson, PD have been recognized and described focusing on the bradykinesia and tremor. We should keep in mind that detailed examination as well as transcriptions are important, and that long-term follow-up is needed to document or differentiate PD and its mimics.

Oro-Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease and Related Movement Disorders

Oro-pharyngeal dysphagia is a common symptom in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and related disorders, even in their early stage of diseases. Dysphagia in these patients has been underdiagnosed, probably due to poor the self-awareness of the conditions and the underuse of validated tools and objective instruments for assessment. The early detection and intervention of dysphagia are closely related to improving the quality of life and decreasing the mortality rate in these patients. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the characteristics of dysphagia, including the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical symptomatology, in patients with PD compared with other parkinsonian disorders and movement disorders. The management of dysphagia and future research directions related to these disorders are also discussed.

Increased Signal in the Superior Cerebellar Peduncle of Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

OBJECTIVE: The provisional diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) depends on a combination of typical clinical features and specific MRI findings, such as atrophy of the tegmentum in the midbrain. Atrophy of the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) distinguishes PSP from other types of parkinsonism. Histological factors affect the conventional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signals, such as the extent of neuronal loss and gliosis. METHODS: We investigated patients with PSP to verify the percentage of patients with various PSP phenotypes presenting a high signal intensity in the SCP. Three interviewers, who were not informed about the clinical data, visually inspected the presence or absence of a high signal intensity in the SCP on the FLAIR images. We measured the pixel value in the SCP of each patient. Clinical characteristics were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney test, followed by the χ² test. RESULTS: Ten of the 51 patients with PSP showed a high signal intensity in the SCP on FLAIR MRI. Higher pixel values were observed within the SCP of patients with a high signal intensity in the SCP than in patients without a high signal intensity (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the high signal intensity in the SCP of patients with PSP was 19.6% and 100%, respectively. This finding was more frequently observed in patients with PSP with Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) (25.7%) than other phenotypes (6.2%). CONCLUSION: The high signal intensity in the SCP on FLAIR MRI might be an effective diagnostic tool for PSP-RS.

Clinical Milestones Preceding the Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are rapidly progressive forms of degenerative Parkinsonism. The difficulties of diagnosing MSA and PSP in their early stages may lead to delayed referral to appropriate specialists and distress to patients, as well as delaying symptomatic treatment and participation in clinical trials. This work aimed to describe the symptoms that patients with MSA and PSP developed and plot their emergence relative to final diagnosis using a median onset in months. METHODS: Forty-seven patients from the United Kingdom with MSA or PSP diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist were interviewed with carers or relatives to establish milestone onset. This was corroborated using clinical notes and letters. RESULTS: In the MSA cohort (n = 23), autonomic symptoms (median 5.5 months before diagnosis) and falls (median 1 month before diagnosis) were the two clinical milestones which occurred before diagnosis. In the PSP cohort (n = 24), falling was the only milestone which occurred before diagnosis (median of 18.5 months). CONCLUSION: This study shows that PSP patients experience falling more than a year and a half an average before receiving a diagnosis and although MSA patients also tended to fall, this was much closer to the time of diagnosis. Further work with larger cohorts may illustrate whether these preliminary findings can be generalised to guide diagnosis and management.