Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus improves temperature sensation in patients with Parkinson's disease

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) reportedly show deficits in sensory processing in addition to motor symptoms. However, little is known about the effects of bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) on temperature sensation as measured by quantitative sensory testing (QST). This study was designed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of STN-DBS on temperature sensation and pain in PD patients. We conducted a QST study comparing the effects of STN-DBS on cold sense thresholds (CSTs) and warm sense thresholds (WSTs) as well as on cold-induced and heat-induced pain thresholds (CPT and HPT) in 17 PD patients and 14 healthy control subjects. The CSTs and WSTs of patients were significantly smaller during the DBS-on mode when compared with the DBS-off mode (P < .001), whereas the CSTs and WSTs of patients in the DBS-off mode were significantly greater than those of healthy control subjects (P < .02). The CPTs and HPTs in PD patients were significantly larger on the more affected side than on the less affected side (P < .02). Because elevations in thermal sense and pain thresholds of QST are reportedly almost compatible with decreases in sensation, our findings confirm that temperature sensations may be disturbed in PD patients when compared with healthy persons and that STN-DBS can be used to improve temperature sensation in these patients. The mechanisms underlying our findings are not well understood, but improvement in temperature sensation appears to be a sign of modulation of disease-related brain network abnormalities.     

Free-living energy expenditure reduced after deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease

Background: The clinical picture in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability. In advanced stages of the disease, many patients will experience reduced efficacy of medication with fluctuations in symptoms and dyskinesias. Surgical treatment with deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS) is now considered the gold standard in fluctuating PD. Many patients experience a gain of weight following the surgery. The aim of this study was to identify possible mechanisms, which may contribute to body weight gain in patients with PD following bilateral STN‐DBS surgery. Methods: Ten patients with PD were studied before bilateral STN‐DBS surgery, and seven patients were studied again 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Clinical examination and resting metabolic rate with and without medical treatment was measured before and after STN‐DBS. Furthermore, free‐living energy expenditure, body composition, energy intake, peak oxygen consumption, maximal workload and leisure time physical activity were measured before and 3 and 12 months after surgery. Results: The STN‐DBS operated patients had a significant weight gain of 4·7 ± 1·6 kg (mean ± SE) 12 months postoperatively, and the weight gain was in the fat mass. The free‐living energy expenditure decreased postoperatively 13 ± 4% even though the reported dietary intake was reduced. A decreased energy expenditure took place in the non‐resting energy expenditure. The reported daily leisure time activity, peak oxygen consumption and maximal workload were unchanged. Conclusion: The STN‐DBS operated patients have a significant postoperative weight gain, as a result of a decrease in free‐living energy expenditure concomitant with an insufficient decrease in energy intake.     

Deep brain stimulation for neuropathic cephalalgia

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of various types of intractable head and facial pains. Seven patients underwent the insertion of DBS electrodes into the periventricular/periaqueductal grey region and/or the ventroposteromedial nucleus of the thalamus. We have shown statistically significant improvement in pain scores (visual analogue and McGill's) as well as health-related quality of life (SF-36v2) following surgery. There is wide variability in patient outcomes but, overall, DBS can be an effective treatment. Our results are compared with the published literature and electrode position for effective analgesia is discussed.     

脑深部电刺激治疗帕金森病的围手术期护理

目的 探讨脑深部电刺激（DBS）治疗帕金森病的护理方法及效果.方法 对我院2006年8月至2008年11月脑深部电刺激治疗的12例原发性帕金森病患者进行严谨的围手术期护理,重点加强患者的心理护理和知识宣教,严密观察病情,积极防范并发症的发生.结果 12例共植入22根电极（单侧2例,双侧10例）,刺激电极植入靶点均为丘脑底核（STN）,全部术后无颅内血肿出现,无感染及永久神经系统并发症,无刺激相关的不良反应;12例患者随访时间2～28个月,术后6个月UPDRSⅢ评分在开机不服药和开机服药的改善率分别是50%和67%.结论 周到细致的围手术期护理是STN-DBS治疗帕金森病良好疗效的保障.     

Deep brain stimulation(DBS) therapy for parkkinson,s disease

During the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that DBS represents a useful adjunct for therapies to control various symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The stimulation sites include the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius(Vim), globus pallidus internus(GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN). The clinical data of DBS therapy currently available from the literature, together with our own experience, are reviewed. The results of our double blinded evaluation of the effects of GPi and STN stimulation are also summarized. DBS therapy affords the best effect on tremor when the Vim is selected as the stimulation site. DBS therapy is also useful for controlling rigidity when the GPi or STN is stimulated. Improvement of bradykinesia may often be induced by DBS therapy involving the GPi or STN. Dopa-induced dyskinesia can be attenuated effectively by the direct and/or indirect effects of DBS therapy. Two advantages of GPi and STN stimulation were identified in our double blinded evaluation. Firstly, the stimulation can supplement a reduced action of levodopa during the off-period. It thus improves the patient's daily activities through attenuation of the motor fluctuations. Secondly, the stimulation can replace part of the action of levodopa during the on-period. It thus attenuates dopa-induced dyskinesia through a reduced dose of medication. More importantly, the stimulation improves the daily activities in dopa-intolerant patients who are being administered a small dose of levodopa because of unbearable side effects. In addition, GPi stimulation has its own inhibitory effect on dopa-induced dyskinesia.     

Treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease

After the advent of levodopa, treatment of Parkinson's disease has changed and the activity of daily life of patients has been remarkably improved; whereas, many patients experience various problems such as wearing-off, dyskinesia, dystonia, neuropsychiatric problems, and dysautonomia. Especially, wearing-off and dyskinesia emerge with the change of absorptional pattern of levodopa and could be solved by regulating the timing and the dose of it. Recently, some new drugs for Parkinson's disease have been available and we physician have a wide choice of them. It is important to make a careful choice of and manipulate of doses of drugs after understanding daily life of each patient enough.     

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation modulates small fiber-dependent sensory thresholds in Parkinson's disease

The effects of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus on nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) rarely have been investigated. Among these, sensory disturbances, including chronic pain (CP), are frequent in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by deep brain stimulation in the perception of sensory stimuli, either noxious or innocuous, mediated by small or large nerve fibers. Sensory detection and pain thresholds were assessed in 25 PD patients all in the off-medication condition with the stimulator turned on or off (on- and off-stimulation conditions, respectively). The relationship between the changes induced by surgery on quantitative sensory testing, spontaneous CP, and motor abilities were studied. Quantitative sensory test results obtained in PD patients were compared with those of age-matched healthy subjects. Chronic pain was present in 72% of patients before vs 36% after surgery (P=.019). Compared with healthy subjects, PD patients had an increased sensitivity to innocuous thermal stimuli and mechanical pain, but a reduced sensitivity to innocuous mechanical stimuli. In addition, they had an increased pain rating when painful thermal stimuli were applied, particularly in the off-stimulation condition. In the on-stimulation condition, there was an increased sensitivity to innocuous thermal stimuli but a reduced sensitivity to mechanical or thermal pain. Pain provoked by thermal stimuli was reduced when the stimulator was turned on. Motor improvement positively correlated with changes in warm detection and heat pain thresholds. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation contributes to relieve pain associated with PD and specifically modulates small fiber-mediated sensations.     

经颅磁刺激治疗帕金森病的Meta分析

目的评价经颅磁刺激(TMS)治疗帕金森病的疗效和安全性。 方法电子检索中外文数据库,辅以文献追溯检索。按磁刺激频率,将其分为高频刺激（&rt;1 Hz）和低频刺激（≤1 Hz）进行分别统计,用RevMan 5.0软件进行Meta分析。 结果低频、高频磁刺激治疗后,统一帕金森病评定量表（UPDRS）总分真刺激组比假刺激刺激组降低,分别为(WMD=-10.71, 95%CI［-19.05, -2.37］, P=0.01)和(WMD=-6.00, 95%CI［-11.14, -0.86］, P=0.02),真、假刺激组差异有统计学意义。高频磁刺激组UPDRS运动评分比假刺激组降低,(WMD=-6.15, 95%CI［-9.36, -2.95］, P<0.01),真、假刺激组差异有统计学意义;低频磁刺激UPDRSⅢ运动评分、UPDRSⅠ精神评分、UPDRSⅡ日常生活活动评分、低频或高频治疗后the Schwab and England日常生活活动（ADL）评分真、假刺激组差异均无统计学意义。 结论TMS是一种安全有效的治疗帕金森病的方法。     

帕金森病的脑深部电刺激治疗

随着立体定向技术及电刺激装置的迅速发展 ,脑深部电刺激治疗帕金森病作为一种非破坏性的功能性治疗方法 ,在国外逐渐发展成熟 ,并被认为是目前最理想的治疗方法之一。本文就脑深部电刺激治疗帕金森病的现状作一简要综述。     

Deep brain stimulation for the alleviation of post-stroke neuropathic pain

Our aim was to asses the efficacy of deep brain stimulation in post-stroke neuropathic pain. Since 2000, 15 patients with post-stroke intractable neuropathic pain were treated with deep brain stimulation of the periventricular gray area (PVG), sensory thalamus (Ventroposterolateral nucleus-VPL) or both. Pain was assessed using both a visual analogue scale and the McGill's pain questionnaire. VAS scores show a mean improvement of 48.8% (SD 8.6%). However, there is a wide variation between patients. This study demonstrates that it is an effective treatment in 70% of such patients.     

磁共振成像技术在帕金森病震颤诊断及脑刺激治疗中的研究进展

帕金森病(Parkinson's disease,PD)是以黑质纹状体多巴胺变性为特征的神经退行性疾病,临床表现有震颤、运动迟缓、僵硬等运动症状和焦虑、抑郁、认知功能障碍等非运动症状。震颤作为PD最常见的症状,其脑机制尚未完全明确,大约有四分之三的患者在疾病进展过程中出现震颤,且以震颤为主的PD被认为是疾病的早期阶段。脑刺激治疗如深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)、经颅磁刺激(transcranial magnetic stimulation,TMS)常用于PD的治疗与研究。近年来磁共振成像技术广泛用于PD诊疗方面的研究,能够从结构、功能等方面为早期诊断和疗效评估提供重要信息。本文对磁共振成像技术在以震颤为主PD的诊断及脑部刺激治疗效果评估方面的研究进展进行综述。     

Deep brain stimulation for intractable chronic cluster headache: proposals for patient selection

Cluster headache is the most severe of the primary headaches. Positron emission tomography and functional MRI studies have shown that the ipsilateral posterior hypothalamus is activated during cluster headache attacks and is structurally asymmetric in these patients. These changes are highly specific for the condition and suggest that the cluster headache generator may be located in that brain area; they further suggest that electrical stimulation of that region might produce clinical improvement in chronic cluster headache sufferers refractory to medical therapy. In five patients with severe intractable chronic cluster headache, hypothalamic electrical stimulation produced complete and long-term pain relief with no relevant side-effects. We therefore consider it essential to propose criteria for selecting chronic cluster headache patients for hypothalamic deep brain stimulation before this procedure is undertaken at other academic medical centres.     

Deep brain stimulation for movement disorders: patient selection and technical options

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used as a treatment for movement disorders. Unlike ablative procedures, DBS is reversible and adjustable. It is approved in the United States for treatment of Parkinson disease (PD), dystonia, and tremor. This surgical procedure is considered safe and effective for the management of the motor symptoms of these disorders, although it does not cure the underlying conditions. Potential complications of DBS surgery include intracranial hemorrhage, infections, and complications related to the hardware. There may also be complications related to stimulation or programming, although these are usually associated with dosages of dopaminergic medications and are reversible. DBS is usually performed under conscious sedation with awake evaluation during intraoperative physiologic testing. Typically, the procedure is performed with stereotactic image guidance, using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for targeting. Surgery can be accomplished with stereotactic frames or frameless systems. Recently, intraoperative MRI guidance has become available and is an alternative to the traditional surgical procedure, allowing for implantation of the DBS device under general anesthesia.     

Deep brain stimulation: current and future clinical applications

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has developed during the past 20 years as a remarkable treatment option for several different disorders. Advances in technology and surgical techniques have essentially replaced ablative procedures for most of these conditions. Stimulation of the ventralis intermedius nucleus of the thalamus has clearly been shown to markedly improve tremor control in patients with essential tremor and tremor related to Parkinson disease. Symptoms of bradykinesia, tremor, gait disturbance, and rigidity can be significantly improved in patients with Parkinson disease. Because of these improvements, a decrease in medication can be instrumental in reducing the disabling features of dyskinesias in such patients. Primary dystonia has been shown to respond well to DBS of the globus pallidus internus. The success of these procedures has led to application of these techniques to multiple other debilitating conditions such as neuropsychiatric disorders, intractable pain, epilepsy, camptocormia, headache, restless legs syndrome, and Alzheimer disease. The literature analysis was performed using a MEDLINE search from 1980 through 2010 with the term deep brain stimulation, and several double-blind and larger case series were chosen for inclusion in this review. The exact mechanism of DBS is not fully understood. This review summarizes many of the current and potential future clinical applications of this technology.