Olfactory tract/bulb metal concentration in Manganese-exposed mineworkers.

BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient as well as a well-established neurotoxicant. Occupational and environmental exposures may bypass homeostatic regulation and lead to increased systemic Mn levels. Translocation of ultrafine ambient airborne particles via nasal neuronal pathway to olfactory bulb and tract may be an important pathway by which Mn enters the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To measure olfactory tract/bulb tissue metal concentrations in Mn-exposed and non-exposed mineworkers. METHODS: Using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we measured and compared tissue metal concentrations in unilateral olfactory tracts/bulbs of 24 Mn-exposed and 17 non-exposed South African mineworkers. We used linear regression to investigate the association between cumulative Mn exposures and olfactory tract/bulb Mn concentration. RESULTS: The difference in mean olfactory tract/bulb Mn concentrations between Mn-exposed and non-Mn exposed mineworkers was 0.16 µg/g (95% CI -0.11, 0.42); but decreased to 0.09 µg/g (95% CI 0.004, 0.18) after exclusion of one influential observation. Olfactory tract/bulb metal concentration and cumulative Mn exposure suggested there may be a positive association; for each mg Mn/m3-year there was a 0.05 µg/g (95% CI 0.01, 0.08) greater olfactory tract/bulb Mn concentration overall, but -0.003 (95% CI -0.02, 0.02) when excluding the three influential observations. Recency of Mn exposure was not associated with olfactory tract/bulb Mn concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Mn-exposed mineworkers might have higher olfactory tract/bulb tissue Mn concentrations than non-Mn exposed mineworkers, and that concentrations might depend more on cumulative dose than recency of exposure.

Improved Sleep Correlates with Improved Quality of Life and Motor Symptoms with Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa.

BACKGROUND: Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa is a subcutaneous infusion of levodopa/carbidopa prodrugs. OBJECTIVES: Assess correlations between sleep and efficacy from interim data of a phase 3 trial of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (NCT03781167). METHODS: Pearson correlations between sleep (Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2 [PDSS-2]) and quality of life (QoL; Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39), motor experiences of daily living (m-EDL; Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Scale Part II), and "Off"/"On" times were calculated for baseline and week 26 improvements. Regression analyses were adjusted for baseline PDSS-2 score. RESULTS: Baseline sleep correlated moderately with QoL (r = 0.44, P < 0.001) and weakly with m-EDL (r = 0.28; P < 0.001). Sleep improvement weakly correlated with improved "Off" time (r = 0.37; P < 0.001) and QoL (r = 0.36; P < 0.001). Regression analyses demonstrated significant positive associations for improved sleep, "Off" time, QoL, and m-EDL. CONCLUSIONS: Improved sleep with foslevodopa/foscarbidopa was associated with improved QoL and "Off" time.

Comorbid neurotrauma increases neurodegenerative-relevant cognitive, motor, and autonomic dysfunction in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a substudy of the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is strongly associated with phenoconversion to an overt synucleinopathy, e.g. Parkinson's disease (PD), Lewy body dementia, and related disorders. Comorbid traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-henceforth "neurotrauma" (NT)-increase the odds of RBD by ~2.5-fold and are associated with an increased rate of service-connected PD in Veterans. Thus, RBD and NT are both independently associated with PD; however, it is unclear how NT influences neurological function in patients with RBD. METHODS: Participants ≥18 years with overnight polysomnogram-confirmed RBD were enrolled between 8/2018 to 4/2021 through the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium. Standardized assessments for RBD, TBI, and PTSD history, as well as cognitive, motor, sensory, and autonomic function, were completed. This cross-sectional analysis compared cases (n = 24; RBD + NT) to controls (n = 96; RBD), matched for age (~60 years), sex (15% female), and years of education (~15 years). RESULTS: RBD + NT reported earlier RBD symptom onset (37.5 ±â€…11.9 vs. 52.2 ±â€…15.1 years of age) and a more severe RBD phenotype. Similarly, RBD + NT reported more severe anxiety and depression, greater frequency of hypertension, and significantly worse cognitive, motor, and autonomic function compared to RBD. No differences in olfaction or color vision were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional, matched case:control study shows individuals with RBD + NT have significantly worse neurological measures related to common features of an overt synucleinopathy. Confirmatory longitudinal studies are ongoing; however, these results suggest RBD + NT may be associated with more advanced neurological symptoms related to an evolving neurodegenerative process.

Validation of the RBD Symptom Severity Scale in the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by dream enactment. The International RBD Study Group developed the RBD Symptom Severity Scale (RBDSSS) to assess symptom severity for clinical or research use. We assessed the psychometric and clinimetric properties of the RBDSSS in participants enrolled in the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy (NAPS) Consortium for RBD. METHODS: NAPS participants, who have polysomnogram-confirmed RBD, and their bedpartners completed the RBDSSS (participant and bedpartner versions). The RBDSSS contains 8 questions to assess the frequency and severity/impact of (1) dream content, (2) vocalizations, (3) movements, and (4) injuries associated with RBD. Total scores for participant (maximum score = 54) and bedpartner (maximum score = 38) questionnaires were derived by multiplying frequency and severity scores for each question. The Clinical Global Impression Scale of Severity (CGI-S) and RBD symptom frequency were assessed by a physician during a semistructured clinical interview with participants and, if available, bedpartners. Descriptive analyses, correlations between overall scores, and subitems were assessed, and item response analysis was performed to determine the scale's validity. RESULTS: Among 261 study participants, the median (interquartile range) score for the RBDSSS-PT (participant) was 10 (4-18) and that for the RBDSSS-BP (bedpartner) was 8 (4-15). The median CGI-S was 3 (3-4), indicating moderate severity. RBDSSS-BP scores were significantly lower in women with RBD (6 vs 9, p = 0.02), while there were no sex differences in RBDSSS-PT scores (8 vs 10.5, p = 0.615). Positive correlations were found between RBDSSS-PT vs RBDSSS-BP (Spearman rs = 0.561), RBDSSS-PT vs CGI-S (rs = 0.556), and RBDSSS-BP vs CGI-S (rs = 0.491, all p < 0.0001). Item response analysis showed a high discriminatory value (range 1.40-2.12) for the RBDSSS-PT and RBDSSS-BP (1.29-3.47). DISCUSSION: We describe the RBDSSS with adequate psychometric and clinimetric properties to quantify RBD symptom severity and good concordance between participant and bedpartner questionnaires and between RBDSSS scores and clinician-assessed global severity.

Frequency of Orthostatic Hypotension in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although orthostatic hypotension (OH) can be an early feature of autonomic dysfunction in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), no large-scale studies have examined the frequency of OH in iRBD. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the frequency of OH in a large multicenter iRBD cohort. METHODS: Participants 18 years or older with video polysomnogram-confirmed iRBD were enrolled through the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy consortium. All participants underwent 3-minute orthostatic stand testing to assess the frequency of OH, and a Δ heart rate/Δ systolic blood pressure (ΔHR/ΔSBP) ratio <0.5 was used to define reduced HR augmentation, suggestive of neurogenic OH. All participants completed a battery of assessments, including the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson Disease-Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT) and others assessing cognitive, motor, psychiatric, and sensory domains. RESULTS: Of 340 iRBD participants (65 ± 10 years, 82% male), 93 (27%) met criteria for OH (ΔHR/ΔSBP 0.37 ± 0.28; range 0.0-1.57), and of these, 72 (77%) met criteria for OH with reduced HR augmentation (ΔHR/ΔSBP 0.28 ± 0.21; range 0.0-0.5). Supine hypertension (sHTN) was present in 72% of those with OH. Compared with iRBD participants without OH, those with OH were older, reported older age of RBD symptom onset, and had worse olfaction. There was no difference in autonomic symptom scores as measured by SCOPA-AUT. DISCUSSION: OH and sHTN are common in iRBD. However, as patients may have reduced autonomic symptom awareness, orthostatic stand testing should be considered in clinical evaluations. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relationship between OH and phenoconversion risk in iRBD. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03623672; North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium.

Continuous Subcutaneous Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa in Parkinson's Disease: Safety and Efficacy Results From a 12-Month, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase 3 Study.

INTRODUCTION: Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa, a soluble formulation of levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) prodrugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), is administered as a 24-hour/day continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) with a single infusion site. The efficacy and safety of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa versus oral immediate-release LD/CD was previously demonstrated in patients with PD in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial (NCT04380142). We report the results of a separate 52-week, open-label, phase 3 registrational trial (NCT03781167) that evaluated the safety/tolerability and efficacy of 24-hour/day foslevodopa/foscarbidopa CSCI in patients with advanced PD. METHODS: Male and female patients with levodopa-responsive PD and ≥ 2.5 hours of "Off" time/day received 24-hour/day foslevodopa/foscarbidopa CSCI at individually optimized therapeutic doses (approximately 700-4250 mg of LD per 24 hours) for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety/tolerability. Secondary endpoints included changes from baseline in normalized "Off" and "On" time, percentage of patients reporting morning akinesia, Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2), 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). RESULTS: Of 244 enrolled patients, 107 discontinued, and 137 completed treatment. Infusion site events were the most common adverse events (AEs). AEs were mostly nonserious (25.8% of patients reported serious AEs) and mild/moderate in severity. At week 52, "On" time without troublesome dyskinesia and "Off" time were improved from baseline (mean [standard deviation (SD)] change in normalized "On" time without troublesome dyskinesia, 3.8 [3.3] hours; normalized "Off" time, -3.5 [3.1] hours). The percentage of patients experiencing morning akinesia dropped from 77.7% at baseline to 27.8% at week 52. Sleep quality (PDSS-2) and quality of life (PDQ-39 and EQ-5D-5L) also improved. CONCLUSION: Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa has the potential to provide a safe and efficacious, individualized, 24-hour/day, nonsurgical alternative for patients with PD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03781167.

Neuroinflammation and white matter alterations in occupational manganese exposure assessed by diffusion basis spectrum imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in-vivo neuroinflammation and white matter (WM) microstructural integrity in occupational manganese (Mn) exposure. METHODS: We assessed brain inflammation using Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging (DBSI) in 26 Mn-exposed welders, 17 Mn-exposed workers, and 26 non-exposed participants. Cumulative Mn exposure was estimated from work histories and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subsection 3 (UPDRS3) scores were completed by a movement specialist. Tract-based Spatial Statistics allowed for whole-brain voxel-wise WM analyses to compare WM DBSI-derived measures between the Mn-exposed and non-exposed groups. Exploratory grey matter region of interest (ROI) analyses examined the presence of similar alterations in the basal ganglia. We used voxelwise general linear modeling and linear regression to evaluate the association between cumulative Mn exposure, WM or basal ganglia DBSI metrics, and UPDRS3 scores, while adjusting for age. RESULTS: Mn-exposed welders had higher DBSI-derived restricted fraction (DBSI-RF), higher DBSI-derived nonrestricted fraction (DBSI-NRF), and lower DBSI-derived fiber fraction (DBSI-FF) in multiple WM tracts (all p < 0.05) in comparison to less-exposed workers and non-exposed participants. Basal ganglia ROI analyses revealed higher average caudate DBSI-NRF and DBSI-derived radial diffusion (DBSI-RD) values in Mn-exposed welders relative to non-exposed participants (p < 0.05). Caudate DBSI-NRF was also associated with greater cumulative Mn exposure and higher UPRDS3 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Mn-exposed welders demonstrate greater DBSI-derived indicators of neuroinflammation-related cellularity (DBSI-RF), greater extracellular edema (DBSI-NRF), and lower apparent axonal density (DBSI-FF) in multiple WM tracts suggesting a neuroinflammatory component in the pathophysiology of Mn neurotoxicity. Caudate DBSI-NRF was positively associated with both cumulative Mn exposure and clinical parkinsonism, indicating a possible dose-dependent effect on extracellular edema with associated motor effects.

Baseline characteristics of the North American prodromal Synucleinopathy cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is widely considered a prodromal synucleinopathy, as most with RBD develop overt synucleinopathy within ~10 years. Accordingly, RBD offers an opportunity to test potential treatments at the earliest stages of synucleinopathy. The North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy (NAPS) Consortium has created a multisite RBD participant, primarily clinic-based cohort to better understand characteristics at diagnosis, and in future work, identify predictors of phenoconversion, develop synucleinopathy biomarkers, and enable early stage clinical trial enrollment. METHODS: Participants ≥18 years of age with overnight polysomnogram-confirmed RBD without Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple system atrophy, or narcolepsy were enrolled from nine sites across North America (8/2018 to 4/2021). Data collection included family/personal history of RBD and standardized assessments of cognitive, motor, sensory, and autonomic function. RESULTS: Outcomes are primarily reported based on sex (361 total: n = 295 male, n = 66 female), and secondarily based on history of antidepressant use (n = 200 with, n = 154 without; with correction for sex differences) and based on extent of synucleinopathy burden (n = 56 defined as isolated RBD, n = 305 defined as RBD+ [i.e., exhibiting ≥1 abnormality]). Overall, these participants commonly demonstrated abnormalities in global cognition (MoCA; 38%), motor function (alternate tap test; 48%), sensory (BSIT; 57%), autonomic function (orthostatic hypotension, 38.8%), and anxiety/depression (BAI and PHQ-9; 39.3% and 31%, respectively). INTERPRETATION: These RBD participants, assessed with extensive history, demographic, cognitive, motor, sensory, and autonomic function demonstrated a lack of sex differences and high frequency of concomitant neurological abnormalities. These participants will be valuable for future longitudinal study and neuroprotective clinical trials.

Effect of Urate-Elevating Inosine on Early Parkinson Disease Progression: The SURE-PD3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Urate elevation, despite associations with crystallopathic, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders, has been pursued as a potential disease-modifying strategy for Parkinson disease (PD) based on convergent biological, epidemiological, and clinical data. Objective: To determine whether sustained urate-elevating treatment with the urate precursor inosine slows early PD progression. Design, Participants, and Setting: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of oral inosine treatment in early PD. A total of 587 individuals consented, and 298 with PD not yet requiring dopaminergic medication, striatal dopamine transporter deficiency, and serum urate below the population median concentration (<5.8 mg/dL) were randomized between August 2016 and December 2017 at 58 US sites, and were followed up through June 2019. Interventions: Inosine, dosed by blinded titration to increase serum urate concentrations to 7.1-8.0 mg/dL (n = 149) or matching placebo (n = 149) for up to 2 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was rate of change in the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS; parts I-III) total score (range, 0-236; higher scores indicate greater disability; minimum clinically important difference of 6.3 points) prior to dopaminergic drug therapy initiation. Secondary outcomes included serum urate to measure target engagement, adverse events to measure safety, and 29 efficacy measures of disability, quality of life, cognition, mood, autonomic function, and striatal dopamine transporter binding as a biomarker of neuronal integrity. Results: Based on a prespecified interim futility analysis, the study closed early, with 273 (92%) of the randomized participants (49% women; mean age, 63 years) completing the study. Clinical progression rates were not significantly different between participants randomized to inosine (MDS-UPDRS score, 11.1 [95% CI, 9.7-12.6] points per year) and placebo (MDS-UPDRS score, 9.9 [95% CI, 8.4-11.3] points per year; difference, 1.26 [95% CI, -0.59 to 3.11] points per year; P = .18). Sustained elevation of serum urate by 2.03 mg/dL (from a baseline level of 4.6 mg/dL; 44% increase) occurred in the inosine group vs a 0.01-mg/dL change in serum urate in the placebo group (difference, 2.02 mg/dL [95% CI, 1.85-2.19 mg/dL]; P<.001). There were no significant differences for secondary efficacy outcomes including dopamine transporter binding loss. Participants randomized to inosine, compared with placebo, experienced fewer serious adverse events (7.4 vs 13.1 per 100 patient-years) but more kidney stones (7.0 vs 1.4 stones per 100 patient-years). Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients recently diagnosed as having PD, treatment with inosine, compared with placebo, did not result in a significant difference in the rate of clinical disease progression. The findings do not support the use of inosine as a treatment for early PD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02642393.

Principal Component Analysis of Striatal and Extrastriatal D2 Dopamine Receptor Positron Emission Tomography in Manganese-Exposed Workers.

The relationships between the neurotoxicant manganese (Mn), dopaminergic pathology, and parkinsonism remain unclear. Therefore, we used [11C](N-methyl)benperidol (NMB) positron emission tomography to investigate the associations between Mn exposure, striatal and extrastriatal D2 dopamine receptors (D2R), and motor function in 54 workers with a range of Mn exposure. Cumulative Mn exposure was estimated from work histories, and all workers were examined by a movement specialist and completed a Grooved Pegboard test (GPT). NMB D2R nondisplaceable binding potentials (BPND) were calculated for brain regions of interest. We identified 2 principal components (PCs) in a PC analysis which explained 66.8% of the regional NMB BPND variance (PC1 = 55.4%; PC2 = 11.4%). PC1 was positively correlated with NMB binding in all regions and inversely correlated with age. PC2 was driven by NMB binding in 7 brain regions (all p < .05), positively in the substantia nigra, thalamus, amygdala, and medial orbital frontal gyrus and negatively in the nucleus accumbens, anterior putamen, and caudate. PC2 was associated with both Mn exposure status and exposure duration (years). In addition, PC2 was associated with higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subsection 3 (UPDRS3) scores and slower GPT performance. We conclude Mn exposure is associated with both striatal and extrastriatal D2R binding. Multifocal alterations in D2R expression are also associated with motor dysfunction as measured by both the GPT and UPDRS3, demonstrating a link between Mn exposure, striatal and extrastriatal D2R expression, and clinical neurotoxicity.

[11C]dihydrotetrabenazine Positron Emission Tomography in Manganese-Exposed Workers.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the neurotoxic effects of manganese (Mn) exposure on monoaminergic function, utilizing [C]dihydrotetrabenazine (DTBZ) positron emission tomography (PET) to measure vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). METHODS: Basal ganglia and thalamic DTBZ binding potentials (BPND) were calculated on 56 PETs from 41 Mn-exposed workers. Associations between cumulative Mn exposure, regional BPND, and parkinsonism were examined by mixed linear regression. RESULTS: Thalamic DTBZ BPND was inversely associated with exposure in workers with less than 3 mg Mn/m-yrs, but subsequently remained stable. Pallidal DTBZ binding increased in workers with less than 2 mg Mn/m-yrs of exposure, but decreased thereafter. Thalamic DTBZ binding was inversely associated with parkinsonism (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Mn-dose-dependent associations with thalamic and pallidal DTBZ binding indicate direct effects on monoaminergic VMAT2. Thalamic DTBZ binding was also associated with parkinsonism, suggesting potential as an early biomarker of Mn neurotoxicity.

MRI Signal Intensity and Parkinsonism in Manganese-Exposed Workers.

OBJECTIVE: T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the basal ganglia provides a noninvasive measure of manganese (Mn) exposure, and may also represent a biomarker for clinical neurotoxicity. METHODS: We acquired T1-weighted MRI scans in 27 Mn-exposed welders, 12 other Mn-exposed workers, and 29 nonexposed participants. T1-weighted intensity indices were calculated for four basal ganglia regions. Cumulative Mn exposure was estimated from work history data. Participants were examined using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subsection 3 (UPDRS3). RESULTS: We observed a positive dose-response association between cumulative Mn exposure and the pallidal index (PI) (ß = 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 3.74). There was a positive relationship between the PI and UPDRS3 (ß = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.27). CONCLUSION: The T1-weighted pallidal signal is associated with occupational Mn exposure and severity of parkinsonism.

Selective D2 receptor PET in manganese-exposed workers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between manganese (Mn) exposure, D2 dopamine receptors (D2Rs), and parkinsonism using [11C](N-methyl)benperidol (NMB) PET. METHODS: We used NMB PET to evaluate 50 workers with a range of Mn exposure: 22 Mn-exposed welders, 15 Mn-exposed workers, and 13 nonexposed workers. Cumulative Mn exposure was estimated from work histories, and movement disorder specialists examined all workers. We calculated NMB D2R nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) for the striatum, globus pallidus, thalamus, and substantia nigra (SN). Multivariate analysis of covariance with post hoc descriptive discriminate analysis identified regional differences by exposure group. We used linear regression to examine the association among Mn exposure, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subsection 3 (UPDRS3) score, and regional D2R BPND. RESULTS: D2R BPND in the SN had the greatest discriminant power among exposure groups (p < 0.01). Age-adjusted SN D2R BPND was 0.073 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.022-0.124) greater in Mn-exposed welders and 0.068 (95% CI 0.013-0.124) greater in Mn-exposed workers compared to nonexposed workers. After adjustment for age, SN D2R BPND was 0.0021 (95% CI 0.0005-0.0042) higher for each year of Mn exposure. Each 0.10 increase in SN D2R BPND was associated with a 2.65 (95% CI 0.56-4.75) increase in UPDRS3 score. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Nigral D2R BPND increased with Mn exposure and clinical parkinsonism, indicating dose-dependent dopaminergic dysfunction of the SN in Mn neurotoxicity.

Author Correction to: Pooled Analyses of Phase III Studies of ADS-5102 (Amantadine) Extended-Release Capsules for Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease.

An Online First version of this article was made available online at http://link.springer.com/journal/40263/onlineFirst/page/1 on 12 March 2018. An error was subsequently identified in the article, and the following correction should be noted.

Pooled Analyses of Phase III Studies of ADS-5102 (Amantadine) Extended-Release Capsules for Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Although levodopa is considered the most effective pharmacotherapy for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), chronic use is associated with motor complications, including fluctuating response and unpredictable, involuntary movements called dyskinesia. ADS-5102 (amantadine) extended-release (ER) capsules (GOCOVRITM) is a recent US FDA-approved treatment for dyskinesia in PD patients. ADS-5102 is a high-dose, ER formulation of amantadine, administered orally once daily at bedtime, that achieves high plasma drug concentrations throughout the day. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we present pooled results from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III ADS-5102 trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The two studies in PD patients with dyskinesia shared design and eligibility criteria, differing only in treatment duration. Results from common assessment time points were pooled. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, the least squares (LS) mean change in total score on the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale among 100 patients randomized to ADS-5102 and 96 patients randomized to placebo was - 17.7 (standard error [SE] 1.3) vs. - 7.6 (1.3) points, respectively (- 10.1 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 13.8, - 6.5; p < 0.0001). The relative treatment difference between groups was 27.3% (p < 0.0001). At 12 weeks, the LS mean change in OFF time was - 0.59 (0.21) vs. +0.41 (0.20) h/day, a difference of - 1.00 h/day (95% CI - 1.57, - 0.44; p = 0.0006). For both efficacy measures, a significant difference from placebo was attained by two weeks, the first post-baseline assessment, and was maintained throughout 12 weeks. In the pooled ADS-5102 group, the most common adverse events were hallucination, dizziness, dry mouth, peripheral edema, constipation, falls, and orthostatic hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses provide further evidence supporting ADS-5102 as an adjunct to levodopa for treating both dyskinesia and OFF time in PD patients with dyskinesia. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02136914 and NCT02274766.

A screening tool to detect clinical manganese neurotoxicity.

Manganese (Mn) over-exposure in occupational settings is associated with basal ganglia toxicity and a movement disorder characterized by parkinsonism (i.e., the signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease). A simple test to help non-neurologists identify workers with clinical Mn neurotoxicity represents an unmet need. In a cohort of Mn-exposed workers from welding worksites, with extensive clinical data, we developed a linear regression model to predict the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor subsection part 3 (UPDRS3) score. We primarily considered factors easily obtained in a primary care or occupational medicine clinic, specifically easily assessed signs of parkinsonism and factors likely to be associated with UPDRS3 such as age, timed motor task results, and selected symptoms/conditions. Secondarily we considered other demographic variables and welding exposure. We based the model on 596 examined workers age≤65years and with timed motor task data. We selected the model based on simplicity for clinical application, biologic plausibility, and statistical significance and magnitude of regression coefficients. The model contained age, timed motor task scores for each hand, and indicators of action tremor, speech difficulty, anxiety, depression, loneliness, pain and current cigarette smoking. When we examined how well the model identified workers with clinically significant parkinsonism (UPDRS3≥15) the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67, 0.77). With a cut point that provided 80% sensitivity, specificity was 52%, the positive predictive value in our cohort was 29%, and the negative predictive value was 92%. Using the same cut point for predicted UPDRS3, the AUC was nearly identical for UPDRS3≥10, and was 0.83 (95% CI 0.76, 0.90) for UPDRS3≥20. Since welding exposure data was not required after including its putative effects, this model may help identify workers with clinically significant Mn neurotoxicity in a variety of settings, as a first step in a tiered occupational screening program.

[18F]FDOPA positron emission tomography in manganese-exposed workers.

Occupational manganese (Mn) exposure is associated with the development of parkinsonism; however, the mechanism of neurotoxicity is unknown. Brain positron emission tomography (PET) imaging provides a non-invasive method of assessing dopamineric neuronal function. 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA (FDOPA) PET reflects in-vivo nigrostriatal function, but results in Mn exposure are conflicting. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between Mn exposure secondary to occupational welding, FDOPA striatal uptake, and clinical parkinsonism as measured by Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor subscore 3 (UPDRS3) scores. FDOPA PET scans were acquired on 72 subjects (27 Mn-exposed welders, 14 other Mn-exposed workers, and 31 non-exposed subjects). We estimated cumulative welding exposure from detailed work histories, and a movement disorders specialist examined all subjects. Striatal volumes of interest were identified on aligned magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for each subject. Specific striatal FDOPA uptake was calculated with a graphical analysis method. We used linear regression while adjusting for age to assess the association between welding exposure and FDOPA uptake in the caudate, anterior putamen, and posterior putamen. Compared to the non-exposed subjects, mean caudate FDOPA uptake was 0.0014min-1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0008, 0.0020) lower in Mn-exposed welders and 0.0012min-1 (95% CI 0.0005, 0.0019) lower in other Mn-exposed workers (both p≤0.001). There was no clear dose-response association between caudate FDOPA uptake and Mn exposure or UPDRS3 scores. Mn-exposed welders and workers demonstrated lower caudate FDOPA uptake, indicating pre-synaptic dopaminergic dysfunction in Mn-exposed subjects that was not associated with clinical parkinsonism.

Dose-dependent progression of parkinsonism in manganese-exposed welders.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the parkinsonian phenotype prevalent in welders is progressive, and whether progression is related to degree of exposure to manganese (Mn)-containing welding fume. METHODS: This was a trade union-based longitudinal cohort study of 886 American welding-exposed workers with 1,492 examinations by a movement disorders specialist, including 398 workers with 606 follow-up examinations up to 9.9 years after baseline. We performed linear mixed model regression with cumulative Mn exposure as the independent variable and annual change in Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor subsection part 3 (UPDRS3) as the primary outcome, and subcategories of the UPDRS3 as secondary outcomes. The primary exposure metric was cumulative Mn exposure in mg Mn/m3-year estimated from detailed work histories. RESULTS: Progression of parkinsonism increased with cumulative Mn exposure. Specifically, we observed an annual change in UPDRS3 of 0.24 (95% confidence interval 0.10-0.38) for each mg Mn/m3-year of exposure. Exposure was most strongly associated with progression of upper limb bradykinesia, upper and lower limb rigidity, and impairment of speech and facial expression. The association between welding exposure and progression appeared particularly marked in welders who did flux core arc welding in a confined space or workers whose baseline examination was within 5 years of first welding exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to Mn-containing welding fume may cause a dose-dependent progression of parkinsonism, especially upper limb bradykinesia, limb rigidity, and impairment of speech and facial expression.

Cognitive control dysfunction in workers exposed to manganese-containing welding fume.

BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to manganese (Mn) is a health concern in occupations such as welding because of well-established motor effects due to basal ganglia dysfunction. We hypothesized that cognitive control (the ability to monitor, manipulate, and regulate ongoing cognitive demands) would also be affected by chronic Mn exposure. METHODS: We examined the relationship between Mn exposure and cognitive control performance in 95 workers with varying intensity and duration (median 15.5 years) of exposure to welding fume. We performed linear regression to assess the association between exposure to Mn-containing welding fume and cognitive control tasks. RESULTS: Overall performance was inversely related to intensity of welding exposure (P = 0.009) and was driven by the Two-Back and Letter Number Sequencing tests that assess working memory (both P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to Mn-containing welding fume may be associated with poorer working memory performance, and workers may benefit from practices that reduce exposure intensity. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:181-188, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.