Funded: Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and ICT
Objective The efficacy and safety of zolpidem for treating musician’s dystonia are not well understood. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of zolpidem for treating musician’s dystonia.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records between January 2021 and December 2023 to identify patients with musician’s dystonia who had been prescribed zolpidem. Tubiana’s Musician’s Dystonia Rating Scale (range, 1–5; lower scores indicating greater severity) was used to evaluate musician’s dystonia.
Results Fifteen patients were included in this study. The mean effective dose of zolpidem was 5.3 ± 2.0 mg. The mean effective duration of zolpidem was 4.3 ± 1.2 h. With zolpidem administration, Tubiana’s musician’s dystonia rating scale score significantly improved from 2.2 ± 1.0 to 4.3 ± 0.8 (48.9% improvement, p < 0.001). Two patients (13.3%) discontinued the drug owing to unsatisfactory results or sleepiness.
Conclusion The results of this study suggest that zolpidem may be an alternative treatment option for musician’s dystonia.
Objective Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) can help in assessing otolithic neural pathway in the brainstem, which may also contribute to the cardiovascular autonomic function. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with altered VEMP responses; however, the associations between VEMP abnormalities and multiple system atrophy (MSA) remain unknown. Therefore, we compared the extent of otolith dysfunction using ocular (oVEMP) and cervical VEMPs between patients with MSA and PD.
Methods We analyzed the clinical features, VEMP, and head-up tilt table test (HUT) findings using the Finometer in 24 patients with MSA and 52 with de novo PD who had undergone neurotologic evaluation at a referral-based university hospital in South Korea from January 2021 to March 2023.
Results MSA was associated with bilateral oVEMP abnormalities (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 9.19 [1.77–47.76], p = 0.008). The n1–p1 amplitude was negatively correlated with the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale I-II score in patients with MSA (r = -0.571, p = 0.033), whereas it did not correlate with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-III score in patients with PD (r = -0.051, p = 0.687). The n1 latency was negatively correlated with maximum changes in systolic blood pressure within 15 s during HUT in patients with PD (r = -0.335, p = 0.040) but not in those with MSA (r = 0.277, p = 0.299).
Conclusion Bilaterally abnormal oVEMP responses may indicate the extent of brainstem dysfunction in MSA. oVEMP reflects the integrity of otolith-autonomic interplay, reliably assists in differentiating between MSA and PD, and helps infer clinical decline.
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Selective otolithic dysfunction in patients presenting with acute spontaneous vertigo: consideration based on MRI Keun-Tae Kim, Sangeun Park, Sun-Uk Lee, Euyhyun Park, Byungjun Kim, Ji-Soo Kim Frontiers in Neurology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Objective In this study, we describe the clinical and investigative profiles of 7 cases of autosomal-recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix–Saguenay (ARSACS).
Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of genetically proven cases of ARSACS from our database. Additionally, we reviewed the literature for reported cases of ARSACS from India.
Results All 7 patients experienced disease onset within the first decade of life. According to the available data, all patients had walking difficulty (7/7), spastic ataxia (7/7), classical neuroimaging findings (7/7), sensory‒motor demyelinating polyneuropathy (6/6), abnormal evoked potentials (5/5), and a thickened retinal nerve fiber layer (3/3). Exome sequencing revealed 8 unique pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (6 novel) in the SACS gene. An additional 21 cases (18 families) of ARSACS that could be identified from India had similar clinical and investigational findings. The most common c.8793delA variant may have a founder effect.
Conclusion Our series adds to the previously reported cases of ARSACS from India and expands the genetic spectrum by adding 6 novel variants.
Objective Recessive variants in the PINK1 gene are known causes of early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD). To describe the clinical features and genetic profiles of patients with PINK1-related Parkinson’s disease (PARK-PINK1) mutations.
Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical and genetic details of patients from our database carrying biallelic PINK1 variants.
Results A total of 7 patients whose median age at onset was 33 years (range: 20–49) were recruited. All had asymmetrical onset, tremors were present in 4 patients, abnormal posturing was present in 2 patients, and slowness was present in 1 patient. The parkinsonism phenotype was noted in 6 patients (with dystonia in four) and isolated dystonia in one. Among the 6 patients with parkinsonism, five had rest tremors, all had good levodopa responses, and four had motor fluctuations with choreiform dyskinesia. Exome sequencing revealed biallelic pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, five of which were novel.
Conclusion PARK-PINK1 presents as an EOPD with tremor-predominant phenotype, good levodopa-responsiveness, early motor fluctuation and dyskinesia. We describe five novel variants in PINK1 gene.
Ilaria Guarracino, Christian Lettieri, Massimo Mondani, Stanislao D’Auria, Giovanni Sciacca, Flavia Lavezzi, Miran Skrap, Serena D’Agostini, Gian Luigi Gigli, Mariarosaria Valente, Barbara Tomasino
J Mov Disord. 2024;17(4):442-446. Published online September 23, 2024
Objective We monitored cognition in 14 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery when the electrode was positioned at the target subthalamic nucleus (STN) (i.e., the STN motor area).
Methods We present the DBS-real-time neuropsychological testing (DBS-RTNT) protocol and our preliminary experience with it; we also compared the intraoperative patient performance with the baseline data.
Results Compared with the baseline data, patients undergoing DBS-RTNT in the target area demonstrated a significantly decreased performance on some tasks belonging to the memory and executive function domains. Patients undergoing right hemisphere DBS-RTNT had significantly lower short-term memory and sequencing scores than did patients undergoing left hemisphere DBS-RTNT.
Conclusion PD patient cognitive performance should be monitored during DBS surgery, as STN-DBS may induce changes. These preliminary data contribute to improving our understanding of the anatomo-functional topography of the STN during DBS surgery, which will enable the identification of the best site for producing positive motor effects without causing negative cognitive and/or emotional changes in individual patients in the future. In principle, medications (i.e., patients who underwent surgery in a levodopa-off state) could have influenced our results; therefore, future studies are needed to address the possible confounding effects of levodopa use.
Objective Gait speed is regulated by varying gait parameters depending on the diverse contexts of the environment. People with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) have difficulty adapting to gait control in their environment; however, the relationships between gait speed and spatiotemporal parameters in free-living environments have not been clarified. This study aimed to compare gait parameters according to gait speed in clinics and free-living environments.
Methods PwPD were assessed at the clinic and in a free-living environment using an accelerometer on the lower back. By fitting a bimodal Gaussian model to the gait speed distribution, gait speed was divided into lower and higher speeds. We compared the spatiotemporal gait parameters using a 2 × 2 (environment [clinic/free-living] × speed [lower/higher]) repeated-measures analysis of variance. Associations between Parkinson’s disease symptoms and gait parameters were evaluated using Bayesian Pearson’s correlation coefficients.
Results In the 41 PwPD included in this study, spatiotemporal gait parameters were significantly worse in free-living environments than in clinics and at lower speeds than at higher speeds. The fit of the walking speed distribution to the bimodal Gaussian model (adjustability of gait speed) in free-living environments was related to spatiotemporal gait parameters, severity of Parkinson’s disease, number of falls, and quality of life.
Conclusion The findings suggest that gait control, which involves adjusting gait speed according to context, differs between clinics and free-living environments in PwPD. Gait assessments for PwPD in both clinical and free-living environments should interpret gait impairments in a complementary manner.
Objective Physiotherapy (PT), which is an effective strategy for managing Parkinson’s disease (PD), can influence health care utilization. We analyzed trends in health care utilization, PT interventions, and medical costs among patients with PD.
Methods Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2011 to 2020, we analyzed the number of patients with PD and their health care utilization and assessed the odds ratio (OR) for receiving regular PTs.
Results Over 10 years, 169,613 patients with PD were included in the analysis. The number of patients with PD increased annually from 49,417 in 2011 to 91,841 in 2020. The number of patients with PD receiving PT increased from 4,847 (9.81%) in 2011 to 13,163 (14.33%) in 2020, and the number of PT prescriptions increased from 81,220 in 2011 to 377,651 in 2019. Medical costs per patient with PD increased from 1,686 United States dollars (USD) in 2011 to 3,202 USD in 2020. The medical expenses for each patient with PD receiving PT increased from 6,582 USD in 2011 to 13,475 USD in 2020. Moreover, regular PTs were administered to 31,782 patients (18.74%) and were administered only through hospitalization. Those patients in their 50s with disabilities demonstrated a high OR for regular PTs, whereas those aged 80 years or older and residing outside of Seoul had a low OR.
Conclusion The PD burden increased in South Korea between 2011 and 2020, as did health care utilization and medical costs. A significant increase in medical expenses can be associated with increased PD incidence and PT interventions. Regular PT applications remain restricted and have barriers to access.
Funded: Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Hospital, Korean Healthy Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Health and Welfare
Jinse Park, Eungseok Oh, Seong-Beom Koh, In-Uk Song, Tae-Beom Ahn, Sang Jin Kim, Sang-Myung Cheon, Yoon-Joong Kim, Jin Whan Cho, Hyeo-Il Ma, Mee Young Park, Jong Sam Baik, Phil Hyu Lee, Sun Ju Chung, Jong-Min Kim, Han-Joon Kim, Young-Hee Sung, Do Young Kwon, Jae-Hyeok Lee, Jee-Young Lee, Ji Seon Kim, Ji Young Yun, Hee Jin Kim, Jin Yong Hong, Mi-Jung Kim, Jinyoung Youn, Hui-Jun Yang, Won Tae Yoon, Sooyeoun You, Kyum-Yil Kwon, Su-Yun Lee, Younsoo Kim, Hee-Tae Kim, Joong-Seok Kim, Ji-Young Kim
J Mov Disord. 2024;17(3):328-332. Published online April 3, 2024
Objective The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) was developed to assess cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SCOPACog (K-SCOPA-Cog).
Methods We enrolled 129 PD patients with movement disorders from 31 clinics in South Korea. The original version of the SCOPA-Cog was translated into Korean using the translation-retranslation method. The test–retest method with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used to assess reliability. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MOCA-K) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess concurrent validity.
Results The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.797, and the ICC was 0.887. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation with the K-MMSE and MOCA-K scores (r = 0.546 and r = 0.683, respectively).
Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the K-SCOPA-Cog has good reliability and validity.
Objective Sialidosis type 2 has variants that are both catalytically inactive (severe), while sialidosis type 1 has at least one catalytically active (mild) variant. This study aimed to discuss the structural changes associated with these variants in a newly reported family carrying N-acetyl-α-neuraminidase-1 (NEU1) variants and explore the clinical characteristics of different combinations of variants in sialidosis type 1.
Methods First, whole-exome sequencing and detailed clinical examinations were performed on the family. Second, structural analyses, including assessments of energy, flexibility and polar contacts, were conducted for several NEU1 variants, and a sialidase activity assay was performed. Third, previous NEU1 variants were systematically reviewed, and the clinical characteristics of patients in the severe-mild and mild-mild groups with sialidosis type 1 were analyzed.
Results We report a novel family with sialidosis type 1 and the compound heterozygous variants S182G and V143E. The newly identified V143E variant was predicted to be a mild variant through structural analysis and was confirmed by a sialidase activity assay. Cherry-red spots were more prevalent in the severe-mild group, and ataxia was more common in the mild-mild group. Impaired cognition was found only in the severe-mild group. Moreover, patients with cherry-red spots and abnormal electroencephalographies and visual evoked potentials had a relatively early age of onset, whereas patients with myoclonus had a late onset.
Conclusion Changes in flexibility and local polar contacts may be indicators of NEU1 pathogenicity. Sialidosis type 1 can be divided into two subgroups according to the variant combinations, and patients with these two subtypes have different clinical characteristics.