Red cell distribution width levels in Parkinson's disease patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with motor and non-motor impairment. It has been known for a while that oxidative stress, protein changes and mitochondrial dysfunction have the role of contribution to the pathogenesis. Disturbance of red blood cell function may play a role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. RDW was found to be strongly associated with inflammatory markers in diseases such as acute pancreatitis, myocardial injury and hepatocellular carcinoma. The data about RDW levels and PD are scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate the RDW values and their relationship with the severity of the disease in patients with Parkinson's disease. 94 patients with Parkinson's disease were included into the study, 97 healthy individuals without history of PD were considered as control group. The United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the modified Hoehn and Yahr staging scale were used to assess the severity of PD. Although RDW levels were significantly higher than the healthy subjects, there was not any relation between the severity of PD, duration of the disease, RDW levels, other blood parameters, mean UPDRS score or mean mH&Y score. In conclusion, RDW levels are higher than the healthy subjects in PD patients but there is no relation between RDW levels and disease duration. Larger studies are needed to explain the role of RDW as an inflammatory marker.

Apraxia in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine praxis function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). METHODS: Nineteen patients with PD and 16 patients with probable MSA were recruited into study. Twenty-five age-matched, healthy subjects were included as controls. The Mayo Clinic praxis test battery was applied. Pantomime tasks, including oral/facial, trunk, and upper extremity movement, were used to evaluate ideomotor apraxia (IMA). Sequential tasks, including Luria test for ideational apraxia (IDA) and use of actual objects, were also tested. In addition, Standardized Mini Mental Test (MMSE), Hamilton Depression (HAM-D), and Anxiety (HAM-A) Scales were used. RESULTS: Mean ages of the study participants were 66 +/- 7, 68 +/- 5, and 65 +/- 7 years in PD, MSA, and control groups, respectively. Mean total praxis score was significantly lower for patients with PD (92.4 +/- 4) and MSA (75.9 +/- 18) than for controls (97.4 +/- 2) (P = 0.000). Transitive performances of upper extremities and sequential tasks were significantly impaired in patients with PD compared to control subjects (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between total praxis scores and sum scores of tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity of both of the upper limbs of patients with PD. Subgroup praxis scores were substantially worse in MSA group (P < 0.0001). Compared to control subjects, mean scores for MMSE, HAM-D, and HAM-A tests were significantly worse in MSA group, but, for PD patient group, only HAM-A scores were worse. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that although not a presenting symptom, IMA and IDA may be features of MSA and, to a lesser degree, of PD. Also, it seems to be unrelated to the motor features of patients with PD.

Association of low cholesterol with primary intracerebral haemorrhage: a case control study.

OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is high in patients with low cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between ICH and low cholesterol in cases of primary ICH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-nine patients with primary intracerebral haemorrhage and 137 healthy individuals were included in this study. Patients with prior cerebrovascular accident, secondary ICH, hereditary lipid metabolism disorders, thyroid diseases and those using lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. In all subjects, cholesterol levels were measured after 12 h of fasting. RESULTS: Mean cholesterol levels were 205.8 +/- 51.4 mg/dl in the ICH group and 230.2 +/- 38.9 mg/dl in the control group. Mean cholesterol levels of patients were significantly lower than the controls (P < 0.000). In ICH group, the frequency of patients who had very low cholesterol levels was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with lower cholesterol levels have an increased risk of ICH. Therefore, before treatment with statins, clinicians must be aware of the possible ICH risk.