Serum phosphorus levels associated with nigrostriatal dopaminergic deficits in drug-naïve Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: A major component of Lewy bodies is phosphorylated α-synuclein. This post-translational modification of α-synuclein, phosphorylation, may consume a great amount of serum phosphorus. We aimed to investigate serum phosphorus levels and their associations with clinical phenotype and the degeneration of cardiac sympathetic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined serum phosphorus levels in 127 participants (drug-naïve PD, 97; age- and sex-matched controls, 30). Associations of serum phosphorus levels with clinical features, heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio on cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and striatal specific binding ratio of 123I-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) were examined. RESULTS: Serum phosphorus levels were 3.4 ± 0.5 mg/dL in patients with PD and were not different from those in controls after controlling for age and sex (p = 0.850). Serum phosphorus levels were significantly lower in patients with PD and decreased H/M ratio than in those with PD and normal H/M ratio (3.3 ± 0.4 mg/dL vs. 3.6 ± 0.5 mg/dL, p = 0.003). Lower serum phosphorus levels were significantly associated with more severe degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in patients with PD and decreased H/M ratio. However, this association was not observed in patients with PD and normal H/M ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Serum phosphorus levels and their association with nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration are different between patients with decreased H/M ratio and those with normal H/M ratio. Serum phosphorus levels may reflect the degree of nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration in patients with decreased H/M ratio, namely, Body-First PD.

Peripheral immune profile in drug-naïve dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that peripheral inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We examined peripheral immune profiles and their association with clinical characteristics in patients with DLB and compared these with values in patients with PD. METHODS: We analyzed peripheral blood from 93 participants (drug-naïve DLB, 31; drug-naïve PD, 31; controls, 31). Absolute leukocyte counts, absolute counts of leukocyte subpopulations, and peripheral blood inflammatory indices such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were examined. Associations with clinical characteristics, cardiac sympathetic denervation, and striatal 123I-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) binding were also examined. RESULTS: Patients with DLB had lower absolute lymphocyte and basophil counts than did age-matched controls (both; p < 0.005). Higher basophil counts were marginally associated with higher global cognition (p = 0.054) and were significantly associated with milder motor severity (p = 0.020) and higher striatal 123I-FP-CIT binding (p = 0.038). By contrast, higher basophil counts were associated with more advanced PD characterized by decreased global cognition and severe cardiac sympathetic denervation. Although lower lymphocyte counts had relevance to more advanced PD, they had little relevance to clinical characteristics in patients with DLB. Higher peripheral blood inflammatory indices were associated with lower body mass index in both DLB and PD. CONCLUSIONS: As in patients with PD, the peripheral immune profile is altered in patients with DLB. Some peripheral immune cell counts and inflammatory indices reflect the degree of disease progression. These findings may deepen our knowledge on the role of peripheral inflammation in the pathogenesis of DLB.

The impact of VPS35 D620N mutation on alternative autophagy and its reversal by estrogen in Parkinson's disease.

VPS35 plays a key role in neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease (PD). Many genetic studies have shown a close relationship between autophagy and PD pathophysiology, and specifically, the PD-causing D620N mutation in VPS35 has been shown to impair autophagy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death and impaired autophagy in PD are debated. Notably, increasing evidence suggests that Rab9-dependent "alternative" autophagy, which is driven by a different molecular mechanism that driving ATG5-dependent "conventional" autophagy, also contributes to neurodegenerative process. In this study, we investigated the relationship between alternative autophagy and VPS35 D620N mutant-related PD pathogenesis. We isolated iPSCs from the blood mononuclear cell population of two PD patients carrying the VPS35 D620N mutant. In addition, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate SH-SY5Y cells carrying the D620N variant of VPS35. We first revealed that the number of autophagic vacuoles was significantly decreased in ATG5-knockout Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast or ATG5-knockdown patient-derived dopaminergic neurons carrying the VPS35 D620N mutant compared with that of the wild type VPS35 control cells. Furthermore, estrogen, which activates alternative autophagy pathways, increased the number of autophagic vacuoles in ATG5-knockdown VPS35 D620N mutant dopaminergic neurons. Estrogen induces Rab9 phosphorylation, mediated through Ulk1 phosphorylation, ultimately regulating alternative autophagy. Moreover, estrogen reduced the apoptosis rate of VPS35 D620N neurons, and this effect of estrogen was diminished under alternative autophagy knockdown conditions. In conclusion, alternative autophagy might be important for maintaining neuronal homeostasis and may be associated with the neuroprotective effect of estrogen in PD with VPS35 D620N.

Urinary Immunoglobulin G Is a Novel Biomarker for Atherosclerotic Burden in Mild Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

AIMS: Urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) may be a stronger marker of atherosclerosis than microalbuminuria are because urinary IgG reflects proteinuria level and size-selectivity loss. Microalbuminuria-not urinary IgG-is associated with mild acute ischemic stroke (MAIS). METHODS: Using the Jikei University School of Medicine Stroke Registry, we selected and screened patients with symptomatic acute ischemic stroke (onset-to-door time ≤ 24 h). The exclusion criteria were (1) on-admission NIHSS scores ＞10, (2) a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥ 2 prior to stroke onset, (3) incomplete data (no urinalysis ≤ 3 days after admission or no mRS score at 90 days from stroke onset), and (4) an active malignancy. Patients at 90 days post-discharge were divided into those with favorable mRS scores of 0-1 and those with unfavorable mRS scores of 2-6. Clinical backgrounds were compared for (1) patients with positive and negative urinary IgG results, and (2) patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: Of our study's 210 patients (164=male, median age=68, median eGFR=53.2 ml/min/1.73 m2), 30 (14%) presented with positive urinary IgG, which was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Higher BNP, higher D-dimer, lower eGFR, and higher CAVI were associated with higher positive urinary IgG. The favorable group, comprising 155 (74%) patients, had higher negative urinary IgG than the unfavorable group (89% vs 76%, P=0.026). No statistical difference emerged regarding microalbuminuria (29% vs 29%, P=1.000). CONCLUSION: In MAIS, urinary IgG was associated with both the presence of atherosclerosis and an unfavorable outcome at 90 days after stroke onset.

Interactive effect of orthostatic hypotension on gray matter atrophy associated with hyposmia and RBD in de novo Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a potential modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although other risk factors for dementia, hyposmia and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), are closely associated with autonomic dysfunction in PD, little is known about how these risk factors influence cognitive function and cerebral pathology. OBJECTIVE: We investigated how these three factors contribute to gray matter atrophy by considering the interaction of OH with hyposmia and RBD. METHODS: We analyzed cortical thickness, subcortical gray matter volume, and cognitive measures from 78 patients with de novo PD who underwent the head-up tilt test for the diagnosis of OH. RESULTS: Whole-brain analyses with Monte Carlo corrections revealed that hyposmia was associated with decreased cortical thickness in a marginal branch of the cingulate sulcus among patients with OH, and cortical thickness in this area correlated with cognitive functioning only in patients with OH. Subcortical gray matter volume analysis indicated that severe RBD was associated with decreased volume in the left hippocampus and bilateral amygdala among patients with OH. CONCLUSION: Even in early PD, OH exerts effects on gray matter atrophy and cognitive dysfunction by interacting with RBD and hyposmia. OH might exacerbate cerebral pathology induced by hyposmia or RBD.

Specific vulnerability of iPSC-derived motor neurons with TDP-43 gene mutation to oxidative stress.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that affects motor neurons and has a poor prognosis. We focused on TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), which is a common component of neuronal inclusions in many ALS patients. To analyze the contribution of TDP-43 mutations to ALS in human cells, we first introduced TDP-43 mutations into healthy human iPSCs using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, induced the differentiation of these cells into motor and sensory neurons, and analyzed factors that are assumed to be altered in or associated with ALS (cell morphology, TDP-43 localization and aggregate formation, cell death, TDP-43 splicing function, etc.). We aimed to clarify the pathological alterations caused solely by TDP-43 mutation, i.e., the changes in human iPSC-derived neurons with TDP-43 mutation compared with those with the same genetic background except TDP-43 mutation. Oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide administration caused the death of TDP-43 mutant-expressing motor neurons but not in sensory neurons, indicating the specific vulnerability of human iPSC-derived motor neurons with TDP-43 mutation to oxidative stress. In our model, we observed aggregate formation in a small fraction of TDP-43 mutant-expressing motor neurons, suggesting that aggregate formation seems to be related to ALS pathology but not the direct cause of cell death. This study provides basic knowledge for elucidating the pathogenesis of ALS and developing treatments for the disease.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is associated with decreased quality of life and stigma in people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may present with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). We therefore investigated the association between RBD and quality of life (QOL) in people with PD. METHODS: Individuals with PD and a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 24 were divided into two groups using the RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ): those with an RBDSQ score ≥ 5 were assigned to the "probable RBD" (pRBD) group, and those with a score < 5 to the "non-pRBD" group. Participants were then evaluated for motor symptoms (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III and modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale), cognitive functions (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Frontal Assessment Battery [FAB]), anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale), and QOL (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire [PDQ]-39 total and subscores for mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, communication, and bodily discomfort). Each measure was compared between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U test/χ2 test). Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors contributing to the total score and the subscore of the stigma domain of the PDQ-39. RESULTS: Ninety-three individuals with PD were recruited (mean ± standard deviation age, 67.0 ± 10.6 years). The pRBD group exhibited a longer disease duration (P = 0.006), worse FAB (P = 0.015) and PDQ-39 total (P = 0.032) scores. RBDSQ scores correlated with higher scores in the PDQ-39 stigma domain (B = 2.44, P = 0.033). CONCLUSION: RBD is associated with worse QOL and stigma in people with PD. The RBDSQ is a useful tool for the prediction of such disturbances in QOL.

Effects of monotherapy with a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor on motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease are dependent on frontal function.

BACKGROUND: Monotherapy with monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors enhances the level of endogenous dopamine in treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) and provides some benefits. Certain neuropsychiatric functions are also regulated by central dopaminergic activity. AIM: To investigate the relationship of the efficacy of monotherapy with MAO-B inhibitors on motor symptoms in PD with baseline cognitive function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcomes were examined for 27 consecutive drug-naïve PD patients who received initial treatment with a MAO-B inhibitor (selegiline: 11, rasagiline: 16). Selegiline was titrated to an optimal dose. The dose of rasagiline was fixed at 1 mg/day. Motor symptoms were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III before treatment and after the efficacy reached a plateau within 19 weeks after drug initiation, and the % improvement in motor symptoms was calculated. Pre-treatment cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Correlations of % improvement in motor symptoms and baseline cognitive assessments were examined using Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: In all patients, the mean % improvement in motor symptoms was 46.5% (range 0-83.3%). Spearman correlation coefficients showed the % improvement in motor symptoms was correlated with FAB (r = 0.631, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis with patient background factors as independent variables, only FAB was associated with improvement in motor symptoms in the MAO-B group. CONCLUSION: Better FAB scores predict a significant improvement in motor symptoms with treatment with MAO-B inhibitors, suggesting high activity of endogenous dopamine.

Urinary Immunoglobulin G Is Associated with Deep and Infratentorial Cerebral Microbleeds in Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) detected on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) are associated with cerebral small vessel disease. Chronic kidney disease and microalbuminuria have been associated with the presence of CMBs in stroke patients. Urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) is measured to document glomerular injury; however, the relationship between urinary IgG and CMBs is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients who had been admitted with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke and identified those who had undergone SWI and a spot urine test. The location of CMBs was classified on magnetic resonance imaging as strictly lobar, deep/infratentorial (D/I), or mixed areas. We analyzed the association between urinary IgG and the presence and location of CMBs. RESULTS: We included 298 patients (86 female, median age 70 years, median eGFR 65.8 mL/min/1.73 m2). Positive urinary IgG and CMB results were found in 58 (19%) and 160 patients (54%), respectively. Urinary IgG positivity was significantly associated with CMBs compared with non-CMBs (28% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), and with D/I or mixed CMBs compared with non-D/I or mixed CMBs (34% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that urinary IgG and hypertension positivity were strongly associated with D/I or mixed CMBs (OR 3.479, 95% CI: 1.776-6.818, p < 0.001; OR 3.415, 95% CI: 1.863-6.258, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary IgG was associated with the prevalence of D/I or mixed location CMBs in TIA or ischemic stroke patients. Our findings provide new insights into the association between urinary IgG and the distribution of CMBs.

Recent Advances in Drug Therapy for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease manifesting with motor and non-motor symptoms. Current treatment mainly relies on medication as a symptomatic therapy modulating neurotransmitters. Dopamine replacement therapy has been established, and levodopa is the gold standard for treatment of PD. However, the emergence of motor complications, such as a wearing-off phenomenon, is a clinical problem. Both primary symptoms and motor complications have been targets for the development of treatments for PD. Recent progression in the management of motor complications is supported by newly developed agents and advances in device and formulation technology to deliver drugs continuously. Elucidation of the pathophysiology of PD and the development of disease-modifying therapy that affects the underlying fundamental pathophysiology of the disease are also progressing. In this review, we introduce current knowledge on developments concerning medications for patients with PD.

Effects and safety of high-frequency rTMS in acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Although high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) in chronic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is beneficial, it has been poorly investigated in rTMS for acute ICH. Our aim is to investigate the effects and safety of rTMS in acute spontaneous ICH. METHODS: We prospectively performed HF-rTMS on consecutive patients with ICH within 24 h from onset between April 2019 and August 2021. The inclusion criterion was (1) persistent paralysis, with an NIHSS scale of 1 or higher for at least 3 days after onset. The exclusion criteria were (1) cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar ICH, (2) disturbance of consciousness, and (3) over 80 years of age. For the purpose of comparison, we used a conventional rehabilitation group whose patients met the same criteria between April 2016 and March 2019. We evaluated incidence of epilepsy and exacerbation of the NIHSS score in the rTMS group. We also compared the two groups regarding clinical background and outcome. RESULTS: Enrolled in the study were a total of 44 patients. Of the patients, 22 (50%) were in the rTMS group. The median (IQR) time from onset to the start of rTMS was 9 (6-12) days. There were no cases of epilepsy or exacerbation of NIHSS after the start of rTMS. Favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of between 0 and 2) at 3 months was frequently observed in the rTMS group (73% vs 27%, p = 0.006). HF-rTMS was independently associated with favorable outcome at 3 months (OR = 11.5, 95% CI = 2.194-60.447, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: HF-rTMS may be safe and effective in acute ICH patients.

The association between urinary pentosidine levels and cognition in drug-naïve patients with Parkinson's disease.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are suggested to play a potential role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). The association between urinary levels of pentosidine, one of the best-characterized AGEs, and clinical conditions such as motor severity and cognition were investigated in patients with PD. Data on the clinical characteristics and urinary levels of pentosidine for 44 drug-naïve patients aged 60 years or older with PD were collected. The association between urinary pentosidine levels and severity of motor symptoms and cognition was analyzed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). Urinary pentosidine values increased with age (R2 = 0.286, p < 0.001) and were negatively correlated with the MoCA score (R2 = 0.255, p = 0.001). Urinary pentosidine levels were significantly correlated with age (r = 0.535, p < 0.001), Hoehn-Yahr stage (r = 0.340, p < 0.05), and total MoCA score (r = - 0.505, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (ß = 0.543; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.300, 1.307; p = 0.003) was significantly associated with severity of motor symptoms, and that older age (ß = - 0.456; 95% CI - 0.287, - 0.054; p = 0.005) and urinary pentosidine levels (ß = - 0.311; 95% CI - 0.428, - 0.004; p = 0.046) were significantly associated with a lower MoCA score. Urinary pentosidine levels were significantly associated with lower cognition in drug-naïve PD patients. These findings have important clinical implications and suggest that pentosidine may be a potential marker for cognitive impairment in early PD.

Association between heart rate variability and striatal dopamine depletion in Parkinson's disease.

Striatal dopamine depletion is associated with not only motor symptom but also non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose is to elucidate the relation between heart rate variability (HRV) and dopaminergic depletion in specific striatal subregions. The subjects were 84 patients with newly diagnosed untreated PD. All patients underwent striatal 123I-2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT). DaTQUANT software (GE Healthcare) was used as a semi-quantitative tool to analyze DAT-SPECT data. Association of HRV with dopaminergic depletion in specific striatal subregions was examined. HRV was related to dopamine depletion in the caudate and anterior putamen, especially the left side, after controlling for age, hemoglobin A1c level, disease duration, motor severity and global cognition on multiple regression analysis (left caudate p = 0.012). HRV was closely related to striatal dopamine depletion, especially in the left associative striatum, in patients with PD.

Employment Status Prior to Ischemic Stroke and Weekly Variation of Stroke Onset.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the differences in clinical backgrounds, especially weekly variations of stroke occurrence, between hyper-acute ischemic stroke patients with and without regular employment (RE), as well as the impact of RE on outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Symptomatic ischemic stroke patients with ≤4.5 h from onset to door were enrolled. First, we divided patients into the RE and non-RE group to analyze differences in clinical characteristics, especially relation between weekly variations of stroke occurrence and RE. Second, we divided the same patients into those with and without favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 at 3 months from stroke onset) to analyze the impact of RE on outcomes. RESULTS: We screened 1,249 consecutive symptomatic ischemic stroke patients and included 377 patients (284 [75%] males; median age, 67 years). Of these patients, 248 (66%) were included in RE group. First, RE was independently associated with occurrence of stroke on Monday in reference to Sunday or a public holiday (OR 2.562, 95% CI 1.004-6.535, p = 0.049). Second, RE (OR 2.888 95% CI 1.378-6.050, p = 0.005) was a factor independently associated with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RE were more likely to have a hyper-acute ischemic stroke on Monday in reference to Sunday or a public holiday. However, RE before stroke onset appears to have a positive impact on outcome.

Face pareidolia is associated with right striatal dysfunction in drug-naïve patients with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) present with pareidolia, an illusion of a meaningless stimulus as a familiar object known to the observer. Since the striatum is associated with processing of visual information, we investigated correlations of pareidolia with motor symptoms and striatal dopaminergic function. METHOD: A noise pareidolia test, assessment of motor symptoms using MDS-UPDRS and 123I-Ioflupane SPECT were performed in 58 drug-naïve PD patients. A number of images in which a participant noticed an illusory face (number of illusory responses) were compared with motor assessment scores and uptake of 123I-ioflupane in the striatum. RESULTS: Of the 58 participants, 22 had at least one illusory response. Mean scores for MDS-UPDRS part III (p<0.05), rigidity (p<0.05), and rigidity on the left side of the body (p<0.01) in patients with pareidolia were significantly higher than those in patients without pareidolia. Uptake of 123I-ioflupane in the right caudate nucleus (p<0.05), anterior putamen (p<0.01), and posterior putamen (p<0.01) in patients with pareidolia was significantly lower than in patients without pareidolia. In the 22 patients with pareidolia, the number of illusory responses was significantly correlated with total scores for MDS-UPDRS part III (r=0.443, p<0.05) and subscores for bradykinesia (r=0.440, p<0.05) and bradykinesia on the left side of the body (r=0.564, p<0.01). The prevalence of pareidolia in left-dominant parkinsonism (16/30 patients) was higher than that in right-dominant parkinsonism (6/28 patients) (p<0.05 by chi-square test). CONCLUSION: Pareidolia in PD patients is associated with dysfunction in the right striatum.

Clinical and neuroendocrinological characteristics of delayed orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: Delayed orthostatic hypotension (DOH), a fall in blood pressure after a 3-min cutoff, is clinically meaningful. The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical and neuroendocrinological characteristics of DOH in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A total of 132 patients with newly diagnosed PD were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics, including olfactory function, and changes in norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (ADH) concentrations during the head-up tilt test (HUT), were examined. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (42%) had classical orthostatic hypotension (COH), and 19 patients (14%) had DOH. Patients with COH and DOH tended to have more severe hyposmia than patients without OH. A multivariate linear regression model showed that hyposmia was associated with DOH and COH. The increase of heart rate against the fall in blood pressure was significantly lower in patients with COH and DOH than those without OH. The NE levels at supine rest and after upright tilting were lower in the COH group than in the PD without OH and DOH groups. The levels of ADH were higher in the DOH group than in the COH group at supine rest and higher than in the PD without OH group after upright tilting. There was no significant difference in the cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy between the COH and DOH groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with patients without OH, patients with DOH had severe hyposmia. Relatively preserved peripheral sympathetic nervous system function in patients with DOH suggests that DOH might be an early and milder form of OH in PD.

Dopaminergic Correlates of Orthostatic Hypotension in de novo Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) at an early stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) predicts poor prognosis, which may suggest degeneration of dopaminergic neurons affects sympathetic function, causing OH. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that striatal dopaminergic depletion is associated with OH in PD. METHODS: Out of 99 patients with newly diagnosed untreated PD, 81 patients were enrolled according to our selection criteria. All patients underwent head-up tilt-table testing and striatal 123I-2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT). DaTQUANT software (GE Healthcare) was used as a semi-quantitative tool to analyze DAT-SPECT data. The association between hemodynamic changes and 123I-FP-CIT uptake was examined. RESULTS: 123I-FP-CIT uptake in the putamen, especially the anterior part and left side, was related not only to motor severity but also to OH. Change in systolic blood pressure correlated negatively with 123I-FP-CIT uptake in bilateral anterior putamen (left: p < 0.01, right: p < 0.05) and left posterior putamen (p < 0.05). Patients with OH had more severe dopamine depletion in left anterior (p = 0.008) and posterior (p = 0.007) putamen at a similar motor severity than did patients without OH even though both groups have similar baseline characteristics. An analysis of asymmetry index showed patients with OH had symmetrically decreased dopamine levels in anterior putamen when compared to those without OH (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: OH is closely related to striatal dopamine depletion in PD. This relation may help to account for the prognostic value of OH.

Risk factors for minor hallucinations in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Minor hallucinations (MHs), including sense of presence, passage hallucinations, and visual illusions, have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors for MHs according to appearance time. METHODS: Data on the clinical characteristics and the appearance time of MHs for 100 PD patients were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed. MHs were classified into two groups according to the time when MHs appeared: MHs appearing while awake during the daytime (dMHs) and MHs appearing at arousal from sleep during the night or early morning (aMHs). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (38%) experienced MHs. dMHs and aMHs were present in 21 (21%) and 28 patients (28%), respectively. Compared to patients without MHs, patients with dMHs had more severe motor symptoms, longer disease duration, higher levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD), and higher rates of cognitive impairment and visual hallucinations during the daytime, whereas patients with aMHs had a higher rate of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), longer disease duration, higher LEDD, and higher dopamine agonist dosage. Logistic regression analysis showed that cognitive impairment was significantly associated with dMHs (odds ratio (OR) 7.292, p = .001), and that RBD (OR 8.306, p < .001) and LEDD (OR 1.002, p = .049) were significantly associated with aMHs. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MHs have different clinical characteristics according to the time when MHs appear. These findings have important clinical and prognostic implications and suggest appropriate therapeutic options for psychotic symptoms.

Female, aging, difference formulations of DCI, or lower body weight increases AUC4hr of levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable intra- and inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of levodopa after oral administration. Inter-individual variability in levodopa PK has also been demonstrated in fasting single-dose studies. We examined the factors that affect levodopa PK in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and quantified the intensity of their respective effects. METHODS: We studied 220 patients who underwent PK assessment after administration of 1 tablet of levodopa/DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor (DCI) combination, which contained 10 mg carbidopa/100 mg levodopa or 25 mg benserazide/100 mg levodopa. PK was evaluated using non-compartmental analysis. RESULTS: In total, 220 PD patients (including 112 men) were studied. The mean age (±standard deviation) and mean disease duration was 68.1 ± 8.9 and 7.7 ± 5.8 years, respectively. The Cmax of levodopa was 9.0 ± 4.0 ng/mL, Tmax was 41.4 ± 40.2 min, and area under the blood concentration-time curve up to 4 h (AUC4hr) was 12.3 ± 3.7 ng/mL*4hr. Factors affecting AUC4hr were analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Age (1.1 ± 0.23 per +10 years, p = 3.1E-8), sex (2.2 ± 0.5 for female, p = 1.9E-5), DCI (1.4 ± 0.4 for benserazide, p = 0.0028), and body weight (-0.77 ± 0.22 per +10 kg, p = 5.4E-4) were significantly related to AUC4hr, while disease duration, dyskinesia status, and eGFR were not related to AUC4hr and Cmax. CONCLUSION: Female, aging, difference formulations of DCI, or lower body weight independently contributes to increased AUC4hr of levodopa in Japanese patients with PD in this study.