Validation of the Korean Version of the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale

Background@#and PurposeImpulse-control disorder is an important nonmotor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that can lead to financial and social problems, and be related to a poor quality of life. A nationwide multicenter prospective study was performed with the aim of validating the Korean Version of the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (K-QUIP-RS). @*Methods@#The K-QUIP-RS was constructed using forward and backward translation, and pretesting of the prefinal version. PD patients on stable medical condition were recruited from 27 movement-disorder clinics. Participants were assessed using the K-QUIP-RS and evaluated for parkinsonian motor and nonmotor statuses and for PD-related quality of life using a predefined evaluation battery. The test–retest reliability of the K-QUIP-RS was assessed over an interval of 10–14 days, and correlations between the KQUIP-RS and other clinical scales were analyzed. @*Results@#This study enrolled 136 patients. The internal consistency of the K-QUIP-RS was indicated by a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.846, as was the test–retest reliability by a Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.808. The total K-QUIP-RS score was positively correlated with the scores for depression and motivation items on the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale, and Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep-Behavior-Disorders Questionnaire. The total K-QUIP-RS score was also correlated with the scores on part II of the UPDRS and the PD Quality of Life-39 questionnaire, and the dopaminergic medication dose. @*Conclusions@#The K-QUIP-RS appears to be a reliable assessment tool for impulse-control and related behavioral disturbances in the Korean PD population.

Subtypes of Sleep Disturbance in Parkinson's Disease Based on the Cross-Culturally Validated Korean Version of Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2

Validation of the Korean Version of the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Sleep

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems commonly occur in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and are associated with a lower quality of life. The aim of the current study was to translate the English version of the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Sleep (SCOPA-S) into the Korean version of SCOPA-S (K-SCOPA-S), and to evaluate its reliability and validity for use by Korean-speaking patients with PD. METHODS: In total, 136 patients with PD from 27 movement disorder centres of university-affiliated hospitals in Korea were enrolled in this study. They were assessed using SCOPA, Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HYS), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale 2nd version (PDSS-2), Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Montgomery Asberg Depression Scale (MADS), 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ39), Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (NOHQ), and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder Questionnaire (RBDQ). The test-retest reliability was assessed over a time interval of 10–14 days. RESULTS: The internal consistency (Cronbach's α-coefficients) of K-SCOPA-S was 0.88 for nighttime sleep (NS) and 0.75 for daytime sleepiness (DS). Test-retest reliability was 0.88 and 0.85 for the NS and DS, respectively. There was a moderate correlation between the NS sub-score and PDSS-2 total score. The NS and DS sub-scores of K-SCOPA-S were correlated with motor scale such as HYS, and non-motor scales such as UPDRS I, UPDRS II, MADS, NMSS, PDQ39, and NOHQ while the DS sub-score was with RBDQ. CONCLUSION: The K-SCOPA-S exhibited good reliability and validity for the assessment of sleep problems in the Korean patients with PD.

Sleepiness and Depression in Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Ropinirole and Levodopa

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of ropinirole on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) with a large population. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at nine hospitals in Korea between April 24, 2013, and April 22, 2015. We analyzed the demographic and clinical features, other medical history, history of antiparkinsonian medication within 6 months, Hoehn and Yahr stage (HY stage), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part II and III, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). RESULTS: Four-hundred-thirteen patients with PD (mean age: 65.2 ± 9.0 years; men: 227 patients) were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age at examination, UPDRS II, and GDS-30 were independent risk factors for EDS and that sex, UPDRS II, and ESS were independent risk factors for depression. CONCLUSION: Our large group study did not find any significant associations of ropinirole with EDS and depression in Korean PD patients.

Validation of the Korean Version of the Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic

OBJECTIVE: Autonomic symptoms are commonly observed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and often limit the activities of daily living. The Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) was developed to evaluate and quantify autonomic symptoms in PD. The goal of this study was to translate the original SCOPA-AUT, which was written in English, into Korean and to evaluate its reliability and validity for Korean PD patients. METHODS: For the translation, the following processes were performed: forward translation, backward translation, expert review, pretest of the pre-final version and development of the final Korean version of SCOPA-AUT (K-SCOPA-AUT). In total, 127 patients with PD from 31 movement disorder clinics of university-affiliated hospitals in Korea were enrolled in this study. All patients were assessed using the K-SCOPA-AUT and other motor, non-motor, and quality of life scores. Test-retest reliability for the K-SCOPA-AUT was assessed over a time interval of 10−14 days. RESULTS: The internal consistency and reliability of the K-SCOPA-AUT was 0.727 as measured by the mean Cronbach's α-coefficient. The test-retest correlation reliability was 0.859 by the Guttman split-half coefficient. The total K-SCOPA-AUT score showed a positive correlation with other non-motor symptoms [the Korean version of non-motor symptom scale (K-NMSS)], activities of daily living (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II) and quality of life [the Korean version of Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life 39 (K-PDQ39)]. CONCLUSION: The K-SCOPA-AUT had good reliability and validity for the assessment of autonomic dysfunction in Korean PD patients. Autonomic symptom severities were associated with many other motor and non-motor impairments and influenced quality of life.

Acute Chorea Onset after Hot Food Consumption in a Patient with Moyamoya Disease

No abstract available.

Ischemic Stroke Associated with Orthostasis in an Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patient with Orthostatic Hypotension

No abstract available.

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability in Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Altered blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variations (HRVs) have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is unclear how these two manifestations are associated with AD. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate BP and heart rate variability in AD compared to that in normal controls, patients with subjective memory impairment (SMI), and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Case-control comparisons were made among AD (n=37), MCI (n=24), SMI (n=17), and controls (n=25). All patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological assessments with 24-h ambulatory BP and Holter monitoring. RESULTS: Patients with AD had higher pulse pressures than those in other groups. In addition, AD patients experienced blunted nocturnal BP dipping associated with declining cognitive status. AD patients also had larger ranges of HRV in parasympathetic domains compared to other groups, especially at night. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that diurnal sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac variability were significantly disturbed in mild cholinesterase-naive AD patients. This may be an indirect sign of disturbed integrity to the sleep-wake cycle in mild AD.

Clinical and Radiological Characteristics of Ischemic Stroke in the 80 Year-Old or Older: A Single Center Study

BACKGROUND: The risk profiles and stroke presentations may differ between elderly stroke patients and their younger counterparts. The most appropriate stroke-management regime for a better outcome can only be achieved with knowledge of the characteristics of elderly stroke patients. This study compared the clinical and radiological characteristics of elderly (> or =80 years) ischemic stroke patients with those aged 80 years (40.0% vs. 63.3%; p=0.001), while their initial NIHSS score was higher (median, 4 vs. 3; p=0.033). Furthermore, an unclear stroke onset (46.4% vs. 32.8%; p=0.049) and clinicoradiological discrepancies (13.8% vs. 5.7%; p=0.044) were more common among the elderly. The proportions of subjects with stroke of undetermined cause (30.0% vs. 18.0%; p=0.019) and multiple circulation infarctions (23.3% vs. 12.6%, p=0.030) were higher among the elderly. A favorable outcome (mRS score of 0 or 1) was more common in the younger stroke patients (57.5% vs. 25.9%, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, male gender, and initial stroke severity were significantly associated with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that stroke presentation in the elderly differs from that of their younger counterparts in terms of clinical and radiological variables.

Clinical Significance of Hyperhomocysteinemia Between Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia

BACKGROUND: Recent research has shown that risk factors for cerebrovascular disorders are also causes of dementia. Of these risk factors, hyperhomocysteinemia is well known to be positively correlated with all types of dementias including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). But it is not know if there is a difference in the concentration of homocysteine in AD and VaD. We analyzed the homocysteine concentrations in AD and VaD and investigated the relationship between homocysteine and the progression of these two dementias. METHODS: A total of 193 patients to the dementia clinic at our hospital were enrolled. Fifty-four patients had AD and 48 patients had VaD. The remaining patients were the healthy control. Data for analysis consisted of the results of neuropsychological tests and homocysteine levels. RESULTS: Homocysteine levels were higher in AD and VaD patients than in healthy subjects, and no statistical difference was seen between AD and VaD. With lower mini-mental state examination scores, the homocysteine concentration increased significantly in VaD, but not in AD. The homocysteine concentration and the sum of box of clinical dementia rating were positively correlated in both AD and VaD. Other neuropsychological tests had no correlation with the homocysteine level. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that hyperhomocysteinemia, resulting in inflammation of vessel walls and oxidative stress, is a risk factor for both AD and VaD. However, our results did not clarify if hyperhomocysteinemia is related to the progression of dementia symptoms.

Successful Endovascular Mechanical Thrombolysis in a Patient with Hyperacute Tandem Occlusions of Middle Cerebral Artery and Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Previous studies have shown that patients with tandem occlusions involving extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) have lower likelihood of recanalization by standard intravenous thrombolytic therapy. A 70-years-old man with a history of hypertension was admitted because of left hemiplegia and drowsiness which developed 47 minutes ago. On neurologic examination, he was drowsy and showed neglect syndrome as well as left hemiplegia. Brain CT angiography showed tandem occlusions at right extracranial ICA and proximal MCA. The administration of intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) did not improve his symptoms. We performed angioplasty and stenting for proximal ICA occlusion followed by mechanical thrombolysis for MCA occlusion. After the endovascular treatment, the MCA was recanalized and the patient recovered to show only mild left side weakness. This case shows successful treatment of hyperacute ischemic infarction from tendem occlusion of right MCA and proximal ICA with endovascular treatment following IV tPA thrombolysis.