Transcranial sonography and (123)I-FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography in movement disorders.

Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) can be difficult in the early stages of the disease. The aim of the study described here was to assess the correlation between transcranial sonography (TCS) and (123)I-FP-CIT ([(123)I]ioflupane, N-ω-fluoropropyl-2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-[(123)I]iodophenyl)nortropane) SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) findings and the diagnosis of PD. A total of 49 patients were enrolled in the study: 29 patients with PD, 7 patients with other parkinsonian syndromes, 11 patients with essential tremor and 2 with psychogenic movement disorder. Substantia nigra echogenicity was measured using TCS. SPECT was performed using DaTSCAN ([(123)I]ioflupane). TCS and SPECT findings were correlated in 84% of patients, with κ = 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.86). TCS-measured substantia nigra echogenicity and SPECT-measured striatal binding ratio were negatively correlated (r = -0.326, p = 0.003). TCS/SPECT sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of PD were 89.7%/96.6%, 60.0%/70.0%, 76.5%/82.4% and 80.0%/93.3%, respectively. Both positive TCS and SPECT findings correlated significantly with the diagnosis of PD (κ = 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.76, and κ = 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.49-0.90, respectively).

Prevalence and determinants of delayed gastric emptying in hospitalised Type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in older patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: One hundred and forty seven patients with Type 2 diabetes, of whom 140 had been hospitalised, mean age 62.3 +/- 8.0 years, HbA1c 9.1% +/- 1.9%, treated with either oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin were studied. GE of a solid meal (scintigraphy), autonomic nerve function, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, acute and chronic glycemic control were evaluated. Gastric emptying results were compared to a control range of hospitalised patients who did not have diabetes. RESULTS: Gastric emptying was delayed (T50 > 85 min) in 17.7% patients. Mean gastric emptying was slower in females (T50 72.1 +/- 72.1 min vs 56.9 +/- 68.1 min, P = 0.02) and in those reporting nausea (112.3 +/- 67.3 vs 62.7 +/- 70.0 min, P < 0.01) and early satiety (114.0 +/- 135.2 vs 61.1 +/- 62.6 min, P = 0.02). There was no correlation between GE with age, body weight, duration of diabetes, neuropathy, current glycemia or the total score for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSION: Prolonged GE occurs in about 20% of hospitalised elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes when compared to hospitalised patients who do not have diabetes. Female gender, nausea and early satiety are associated with higher probability of delayed GE.

Transient ischemic dilation ratio (TID) correlates with HbA(1c) in patients with diabetes type 2 with proven myocardial ischemia according to exercise myocardial SPECT.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal values of the transient ischemic dilation ratio (TID) according to an exercise myocardial SPECT are linked to severe coronary artery disease. The authors investigated the relationship between TID and the levels of VCAM, ICAM, E-selectin, microalbuminuria, intima-media thickness and HbA(1c) of diabetic subjects. METHODS: We observed 38 subjects with diabetes type 2 (10 women, 28 men), of average age 56.08 +/- 8.24 years, with no past history of cardiovascular disease. All subjects were examined using an exercise myocardial SPECT. Transient ischemic dilation, summed stress score (SSS), summed rest score (SRS) and stress total severity score (STSS) were determined to quantify myocardial ischemia. RESULTS: The average IMT value was 1.05 +/- 0.31 mm. The TID value was 1.02 +/- 0.154, VCAM 795.24 +/- 163.25 mg/l, ICAM 516.55 +/- 164.07, E-selectin 63.82 +/- 38.89, HbA(1c) 7.09 +/- 1.68%, microalbuminuria 68.01 +/- 55.21 mg/l. When ascertaining the relation of TID to the other factors we used Pearson's correlation at the level of significance p < 0.05. We proved a statistically significant correlation between the value of TID and glycosylated hemoglobin HbA(1c) (p = 0.035); the other factors did not show any significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Diabetes and its long- term unsatisfactory compensation can be one of the factors which affect left ventricular transient ischemic dilation.