Constant-Current Deep Brain Stimulation of the Globus Pallidus Internus in the Treatment of Primary Dystonia by a Novel 8-Contact (Octrode) Lead

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bilateral constant-current globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation using an 8-contact lead. METHODS: This prospective, open-label, single-center pilot study of 10 patients assessed the feasibility of delivering bilaterally constant-current GPi deep brain stimulation with a novel 8-channel lead to treat primary dystonia using standard scales as outcome measures. RESULTS: Patients included 4 men and 6 women with a mean age of 35.8 years +/- 9.2 (range, 27-49 years). Mean age of onset was 18.5 years +/- 9.1 (range, 8-35 years), and mean disease duration was 17.3 years (range, 7-27 years). All had primary dystonia (8 generalized dystonia, 1 segmental dystonia, 1 focal dystonia). The primary variable was determined as 50% reduction in dystonia symptoms from baseline to the 6-month follow-up, as defined by the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale. Six patients (60.0%) achieved >50% reduction in Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale score and were classified as responders at the 6-month follow-up. Five of these 6 responders (83.3%) sustained that response through the assessment at the end of the first year. Constant-current stimulation was associated with significant improvement in pain and quality of life in all patients. Nearly 84% of the overall improvement occurred by the end of first month after stimulation onset, documenting an early response to treatment. Axial symptoms responded the best. CONCLUSIONS: Constant-current GPi deep brain stimulation proved safe and efficacious for treatment of primary dystonia. Motor scores improved by 54%, mostly within the first month. No phenotype-specific stimulation could be achieved, despite the capability of the new lead to stimulate specific loci within the GPi

Effect of constant-current pallidal deep brain stimulation for primary dystonia on cognition, mood and quality of life: Results from a prospective pilot trial

Objective: Knowledge on the effects of DBS on cognitive functions is limited and no data exists on the effects of constant-current DBS (CC-GPi-DBS), which appears to prevail over constant-voltage stimulation. Our aim was to prospectively assess the effect of Constant-Current-GPi-DBS, using an 8-contact lead, on cognition, mood and quality of life. Patients and Methods: Ten patients aged 27-49 underwent prospective neuropsychological assessment using dedicated tests. Various cognitive domains (intelligence, executive functions, memory, attention, visuo-spatial perception, verbal intelligence) as well as emotional state and quality of life were examined preoperatively and 1, 6 and 12 months after continuous constant-current DBS. Results: Patients performed preoperatively below average on information processing speed, phonemic verbal fluency and working memory. At 6-months there was an improvement in phonemic verbal fluency (p < .05), which was retained at 12-months postoperatively (p = .05). Results also showed marginal improvement in the Trail Making-A test (p = .051) and the Stroop colour-word test (p < .05). Despite improvement in Quality of Life (Physical and Mental Component improved by 32.42% and 29.46% respectively), patients showed no discernible change in anxiety and depression status. Conclusions: CC-GPi-DBS for primary dystonia has no discernible negative impact on cognition and mood. If anything, we noted an improvement of certain cognitive functions

Spawning period of Mediterranean marine fishes

We collected all available information (i.e. international and local journals, conference proceedings, theses, technical reports) on the spawning season (n = 511 stocks, 168 species), gonadosomatic index (n = 237 stocks, 81 species) and sex ratio (n = 97 stocks, 68 species) of Mediterranean marine fish. The 511 stocks represented 20 orders (most were Perciformes, 283 stocks) and 65 families (most were Sparidae: 17 species and 63 stocks). Overall, 346 stocks (128 species) spawned between April and August, 139 stocks (60 species) between September and March, while the remaining 26 stocks (13 species) were all-year-round spawners. In addition, 174 stocks (34.1%) were characterised by an extended (> 4 months) spawning season, but, for most stocks (332 stocks, 64.4%), spawning duration ranged from 2 to 4 months inclusive. Regardless of the onset and the duration of spawning, the spawning period of 284 and 287 stocks included June and July, respectively, indicating that most Mediterranean species are summer spawners. Female gonadosomatic index ranged between 0.06 and 37 (mean +/- A SE = 8.55 +/- A 0.647, n = 95) and was significantly higher (t-test: t = 5.58, P < 0.001) than the corresponding male one, which ranged between 0.06 and 30 (mean +/- A SE = 4.21 +/- A 0.431, n = 95). Congeneric species that occupied the same area and share the same requirements exhibited successive and non-overlapping spawning (e.g. Sparidae in the Adriatic Sea, Mugilidae in the Ionian Sea and Tunisian waters). The knowledge of the spawning period coupled with information on spawning and nursery grounds and detailed knowledge of mating systems, social interactions, maturity and fecundity may be very useful for fisheries management