A Comparison of Gray Matter Density in Restless Legs Syndrome Patients and Matched Controls Using Voxel-Based Morphometry

BACKGROUND Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder the pathophysiology of which is incompletely understood. Four studies have examined structural differences between the brains of RLS patients and healthy controls, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). All 4 studies have provided different results. METHODS Optimized VBM was used to search for structural differences in gray matter density. Sixteen RLS patients naïve to dopaminergic drugs and 16 age- and sex-matched controls received structural T1-weighted MR scans. Structural data were analyzed using FSL-VBM. RESULTS No difference in gray matter density was detected between the two groups (voxel-wise significance: no significant voxels at P= .89 (whole brain Family Wise Error (FWE) corrected); no significant voxels at P < .05 (whole brain False Discovery Rate (FDR) corrected; smallest achievable FDR threshold .99). CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION The present study did not replicate (confirm) previous findings of structural brain changes in RLS, but instead supported the findings of a recent study showing a lack of gray matter alteration in an elderly RLS population. More specifically, the results do not support neuronal loss as an underlying disease mechanism in RLS. Potential limitations in the application of VBM are also discussed

Interim analysis of long-term intraduodenal levodopa infusion in advanced Parkinson disease

Background - This interim 12-month analysis is a part of an open-label, observational, prospective study on health outcomes and cost impact of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG, Duodopa) in Parkinson disease (PD). The specific aim was to investigate clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) effects in routine care. Methods - Unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) was the primary efficacy measurement. PD QoL questionnaire 39 (PDQ-39) assessed HRQoL. Subjects were assessed at baseline, >= 3 months after surgery, and then every 3 months. Results - Twenty-seven treatment-naive subjects when started with LCIG showed a decrease in UPDRS score that was statistically significant throughout the year: UPDRS total score (mean +/- SD), baseline = 52.1 +/- 16.1, N = 27, month 0 (first visit; at least 3 months after permanent LCIG) = 43.1 +/- 16.7, N = 27, P = 0.003; month 12 = 42.5 +/- 22.6, n = 25, P = 0.017. PDQ-39 results also showed a tendency for improvement: PDQ-39 (mean +/- SD), baseline = 33.6 +/- 10.8, N = 27, month 0 = 27.1 +/- 11.8, N = 27, P = 0.001; 12 months = 28.8 +/- 12.8, n = 23, P = 0.126. Conclusions - LCIG provides functional improvement beginning at first visit that is sustained for 12 months

Quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers

We previously reported the occurrence of Lewy bodies in grafted human fetal mesencephalic neurons in two patients with Parkinson's disease. Here, we have used immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to characterize the development of Lewy bodies in one of these cases. This patient was operated in putamen on both sides at 12 or 16 years before death, respectively. We demonstrate that 2% of the 12-year-old and 5% of the 16-year-old grafted, presumed dopaminergic neurons contained Lewy bodies immunoreactive for alpha-synuclein. Based on morphological analysis, two forms of alpha-synuclein-positive aggregates were distinguished in the grafts, the first a classical and compact Lewy body, the other a loose meshwork aggregate. Lewy bodies in the grafts stained positively for ubiquitin and thioflavin-S, and contained characteristic alpha-synuclein immunoreactive electron dense fibrillar structures on electron microscopy. Our data indicate that Lewy bodies develop gradually in transplanted dopaminergic neurons in a fashion similar to that in dopaminergic neurons in the host substantia nigra. (c) 2010 Movement Disorder Society