Heterogeneity of Monosymptomatic Resting Tremor in a Prospective Study: Clinical Features, Electrophysiological Test, and Dopamine Transporter Positron Emission Tomography / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The relationship between monosymptomatic resting tremor (mRT) and Parkinson's disease (PD) remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to assess the function of presynaptic dopaminergic neurons in patients with mRT by dopamine transporter positron emission tomography (DAT-PET) and to evaluate the utility of clinical features or electrophysiological studies in differential diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-three consecutive patients with mRT were enrolled prospectively. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and electromyography were tested before DAT-PET. Striatal asymmetry index (SAI) was calculated, and a normal DAT-PET was defined as a SAI of <15%. Scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficits (SWEDDs) were diagnosed in patients with a subsequent normal DAT-PET and structural magnetic resonance imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-eight mRT patients with a significant reduction in uptake of DAT binding in the striatum were diagnosed with PD, while the remained 5 with a normal DAT-PET scan were SWEDDs. As for UPRDS, the dressing and hygiene score, walking in motor experiences of daily living (Part II) and motor examination (Part III) were significant different between two groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Bilateral tremor was more frequent in the SWEDDs group (P < 0.05). The frequency of resting tremor and the amplitude of postural tremor tend to be higher in the SWEDDs group (P = 0.08 and P = 0.05, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>mRT is heterogeneous in presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration, which can be determined by DAT-PET brain imaging. Clinical and electrophysiological features may provide clues to distinguish PD from SWEDDs.</p>

Study on the association of the CRP gene +1444C/T polymorphism with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the potential association of the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene +1444C/T polymorphism with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for the detection of CRP +1444C/T genotypes in 192 patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis and 197 healthy controls. Serum high sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) levels were measured by routine method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No TT genotype was detected in this study. Patients with >70% stenosis had higher CC genotype compared with those with <70% stenosis after adjusting for major cerebrovascular risk factors (OR: 2.958; 95% CI: 1.198 - 7.305; P=0.019). CRP levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Subgroup analysis according to clinical characteristics (single or double stenosis; >70% or <70% stenosis) did not show difference in CRP levels. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CT genotype between patients and controls, or between single and double stenosis (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CRP +1444 CC genotype is a risk factor for >70% carotid artery stenosis. The serum CRP level is associated with the presence of carotid stenosis. However, it is not associated with the number and severity of stenosis.</p>