Efficacy of istradefylline for gait disorders with freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: A single-arm,open-label,prospective, multicenter study

Background: Gait disorders are common in Parkinson’s disease patients who respond poorly to dopaminergic treatment. Blockade of adenosine A_2A receptors is expected to improve gait disorders. Istradefylline is a first-in-class selective adenosine A_2A receptor antagonist with benefits for motor complications associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Research design and methods: This multicenter, open-label, single-group, prospective interventional study evaluated changes in total gait-related scores of the Part II/III Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) in 31 Parkinson’s disease patients treated with istradefylline. Gait analysis by portable gait rhythmogram was performed.

Results: MDS-UPDRS Part III gait-related total scores significantly decreased at Weeks 4–12 from baseline with significant improvements in gait, freezing of gait, and postural stability. Significant decreases in MDS-UPDRS Part II total scores and individual item scores at Week 12 indicated improved daily living activities. At Week 12, there were significant improvements in FOG-Q, new FOG-Q, and overall movement per 48 h measured by portable gait rhythmogram. Adverse events occurred in 7/31 patients.

Conclusions: Istradefylline improved gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients complicated with freezing of gait, improving their quality of life. No unexpected adverse drug reactions were identified.

Trial registration: UMIN-CTR (UMIN000020288).     

Neurocognitive markers of suicidal ideation in patients with anxiety and mood disorders

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at identifying associations between cognitive function and suicidal ideation in the sample of patients with anxiety and mood disorders (AMD).

Methods: In sum, 186 (age = 39?±?12.3 years; 142 [76.3%] females) patients with AMD were enrolled in the study. Assessment included evaluation of socio-demographic information, medication use, anxiety and depression symptoms. Cognitive tests included measures of psychomotor performance and incidental learning using the Digit Symbol Test. Trail Making Tests respectively measured perceptual speed, task-switching and executive control. Additionally, 21 patients completed tests from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery measuring set shifting (Interdimensional/extradimensional set-shift), executive planning (Stockings of Cambridge), and decision making (Cambridge Gamble Task [CGT]).

Results: Almost half (45.0%, n?=?86) of the study sample patients had experienced suicidal ideations. In multivariable regression analysis, suicidal ideation was associated with a greater overall proportion of bet and risk taking on the CGT task (β?=?0.726, p?=?.010 and β?=?0.634, p?=?.019), when controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, medication use, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusions: Outpatients with AMD and suicidal ideation could be distinguished by the presence of cognitive deficits in the executive function domain, particularly in impulse-control and risk taking.     

维生素D在孤独症谱系障碍中作用的研究进展

孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)是影响儿童健康的严重公共问题之一,以社交沟通障碍、兴趣或活动范围狭窄以及重复刻板行为为特征。近年来越来越多的研究显示,ASD患儿维生素D(VitD)水平明显低于同龄健康儿童,VitD缺乏可能与ASD的发病机制相关。本文就VitD与ASD的相关研究进行综述。     

Obstructive sleep apnea,CPAP therapy and Parkinson's disease motor function: A longitudinal study

IntroductionWe aimed to assess, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), progression of motor dysfunction and the effect of OSA treatment.MethodsData were analysed from a prospective cohort study of idiopathic PD patients from a movement disorders clinic. Patients found to have OSA on polysomnography (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥15 events/h, OSA+) were offered treatment using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP+ was defined as an average ≥ 2 h/night use at each follow-up. Motor symptoms were assessed using the motor section of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (mUPDRS) and the Timed-Up-And-Go (TUG). Follow-up times were 3, 6 and 12 months. Mixed models were constructed, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, levodopa equivalent dose and comorbidities.ResultsWe studied 67 individuals (61.2% male) of mean age 64.7 years (SD = 10.1). Baseline mUPDRS was higher in OSA+ compared to OSA- (24.5 [13.6] vs. 16.2 [7.2], p < 0.001). Motor dysfunction increased at comparable rates in OSA- and OSA+CPAP-. However, in OSA+CPAP+, mUPDRS change was significantly lower compared to OSA- (β = −0.01 vs. 0.61, p = 0.03; p = 0.12 vs. OSA+CPAP- [β = 0.39]) and TUG change was lower compared to OSA+CPAP- (β = −0.01 vs. 0.13, p = 0.002; p = 0.05 vs. OSA- [β = 0.02]).ConclusionsIn this PD cohort, OSA was associated with higher baseline mUPDRS. In those with OSA, CPAP use was associated with stabilization of motor function (mUPDRS and TUG) over 12 months. These observations support further research to clarify the role of OSA in PD pathophysiology and motor dysfunction.     

Commentary: Broadening the research remit of participatory methods in autism science – a commentary on Happé and Frith (2020)

Autism science has transformed beyond recognition in the last two decades. International investment has grown extensively and the number of papers published on autism has increased 10-fold (Pellicano et al., 2014), far surpassing publications on related topics. The sheer amount of scientific research on autism has no doubt been instrumental in many of the discoveries and insights so eloquently described by Happé and Frith (2020). But, as autistic scientist Michelle Dawson reminds us, quality matters too and, for that reason, it is a delight to recognise the contribution that both Happé and Frith have made, dramatically changing our understanding of autism in a host of ways.     

妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常相关性分析

目的研究妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常相关性。方法回顾性分析2015年1月-2017年1月期间在天津港口医院治疗的107例孕妇,根据妊娠期是否患病分为A组、B组与对照组。A组为22例确诊为妊娠期糖尿病的患者;B组为36例确诊为妊娠期高血压疾病的患者;对照组为49例妊娠期血糖与血压正常、无其他疾病的孕妇。所有研究对象妊娠期定期抽取静脉血检测甲状腺功能、血压及血糖水平。采用妊娠期高血压疾病诊断标准、妊娠期糖尿病诊断标准以及妊娠期甲状腺疾病诊断标准联合评价。结果此研究发现糖尿病组与对照组在孕中期游离T4值、A组与对照组在孕晚期、B组与对照组在孕中期和孕晚期的促甲状腺激素(TSH)值对比,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);3组孕妇不同妊娠时期临床甲状腺功能亢进、减退的发病情况各组别数据对比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组、B组与对照组在孕中期与孕晚期亚临床甲状腺功能减退发病情况数据对比,A组、B组与对照组在不同妊娠时期低T4血症发病情况数据对比,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);孕早期仅甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb)阳性与甲状腺正常数据对比,B组发生率高于对照组、A组发生率低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论与正常孕妇相比,妊娠期高血压疾病与妊娠期糖尿病患者在不同妊娠期的游离T4水平更低、TSH水平更高,且随着妊娠期的增长,变化趋势不断增大;妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常存在着联系,妊娠期高血压疾病和糖尿病患者甲状腺功能异常发病率明显更高。