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A Destée

Publications and source records attributed to A Destée.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Infectious myelopathies: clinical, serological, and prognostic patterns].

INTRODUCTION: Serological confirmation of an infectious acute myelitis injury is difficult to confirm as it is sometimes due to a post-infectious etiology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define the clinical, biological and prognostic patterns of infectious myelitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 153 subjects hospitalized in the department of neurology between 1993 and 2002 for treatment of a noncompressive acute myelopathy. Biological confirmation of recent infection was obtained in 12 patients (8 p. 100). RESULTS: An infectious syndrome, beginning prior to the neurological symptoms, was found in 67 percent of patients. The clinical symptoms were severe with loss of sensoromotor and sphincter functions and ascending spinal cord dysfunction (acute transverse myelopathy). Spinal cord MRI showed extended centromedullar high intensity signals with rapid and complete regression. CSF analysis cell count was above 30/mm3 with hyperproteinorachia, in 75 percent and 58 percent of patients respectively. CSF electrophoresis did not detect oligoclonal bands. Clinical outcome was good in all patients except one, however sphincter disorders recovered slowly. DISCUSSION: Our study illustrates a stereotypical clinical, biological and prognostic pattern for infectious acute myelitis. These findings contribute significantly to therapeutic decision making and establishing prognosis at the initial phase of acute myelopathy.

Adolescent↗

[Primary treatment of Parkinson's disease: the application of the March 2000 consensus rules in the Nord Pas-de-Calais area].

INTRODUCTION: For Parkinson's disease, the choice of the initial treatment is essentially between L-Dopa and dopaminergic agonists. Selegilin, anticholinergic and amantadine can be used for subjects with moderate symptoms. The first French consensus conference, held in 2000, elaborated decision-making rules which take into account both the age and disease severity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of these recommendations on treatments prescribed for de novo parkinsonian patients in the Nord-Pas de Calais area, comparing initial prescriptions before and after the conference. METHODS: Three groups of 50 patients whose diagnosis of Parkinson's disease had been establish in three periods (1985-1992, 1993-1999, and after July 2000, date of the national publication of the consensus) were constituted. RESULTS: For these 3 groups, the initial treatment complied with the 2000 recommendations for 58, 84 and 82 percent of the patients respectively. The prescriptions of agonists increased progressively while the prescriptions of L-Dopa decreased for younger patients, in concordance with the consensus, but also for older patients, in opposition with the recommendations, though without any increase in the incidence of side effects. The non dopaminergic treatments were almost discarded as initial treatment. CONCLUSION: Prescription habits have gradually changed over the past 10 years. Changes were linked to the elaboration of the national consensus conference guidelines and to the apparent desire to decrease L-Dopa prescriptions.

Aged↗

Clozapine in drug induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease: a randomised, placebo controlled study with open follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of clozapine in drug induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A four week, randomised, double blind, parallel comparison of clozapine and placebo, followed by a 12 week clozapine open period, plus a one month period after drug discontinuation, in 60 patients with PD. The primary efficacy outcome was the "clinical global impression scale" (CGI); the positive subscore of the "positive and negative syndrome scale" (PANSS) was used as the secondary efficacy parameter and the "unified Parkinson's disease rating scale" (UPDRS) and the "mini mental test examination" (MMSE) as safety outcomes. RESULTS: The mean (SD) dosage of clozapine was 35.8 (12.5-50) mg at the end of the double blind period. The mean (SD) scores on the CGI improved by 1.8 (1.5) for the clozapine group compared with 0.6 (1.1) for the placebo group (p = 0.001). The mean (SD) positive subscore of PANSS improved by 5.6 (3.9) for the clozapine group (0.8 (2.8) for the placebo group; p < 0.0001). At the end of the open period, 25 patients had completely recovered from delusions and hallucinations, and 19 experienced a relapse within one month after the clozapine washout period. The UPDRS motor and MMSE mean scores did not change significantly in either group. Somnolence was more frequent with clozapine than with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Clozapine at a mean dose lower than 50 mg/day improves drug induced psychosis in PD without significant worsening of motor function, and the effect wears off once the treatment stops.

Aged↗

Subthalamic nucleus stimulation induces deficits in decoding emotional facial expressions in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation is recognised as a treatment for parkinsonian patients with severe levodopa related motor complications. Although adverse effects are infrequent, some behavioural disturbances have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the consequences of STN stimulation on emotional information processing in Parkinson's disease by assessing the performance of an emotional facial expression (EFE) decoding task in a group of patients before and after surgery. METHODS: 12 non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease were studied. They were assessed one month before surgery and three months after. Their ability to decode EFEs was assessed using a standardised quantitative task. Overall cognitive function, executive function, visuospatial perception, depression, and anxiety were also measured. Twelve healthy controls were matched for age, sex, and duration of education. RESULTS: Before surgery, the patients showed no impairment in EFE decoding compared with the controls. Their overall cognitive status was preserved but they had a moderate dysexecutive syndrome. Three months after surgery, they had significant impairment of EFE decoding. This was not related to their overall cognitive status or to depression/anxiety scores. Visuospatial perception was not impaired. There was no change in the extent of the dysexecutive syndrome except for a reduction in phonemic word fluency. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral STN stimulation disturbs negative emotional information processing in Parkinson's disease. The impairment appears specific and unrelated to certain secondary variables. This behavioural complication of STN may have implications for the patient's social life.

Affect↗

Subthalamic nucleus stimulation modulates motor cortex oscillatory activity in Parkinson's disease.

In Parkinson's disease, impaired motor preparation has been related to an increased latency in the appearance of movement-related desynchronization (MRD) throughout the contralateral primary sensorimotor (PSM) cortex. Internal globus pallidus (GPi) stimulation improved movement desynchronization over the PSM cortex during movement execution but failed to improve impaired motor preparation. PET studies indicate that subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation partly reverses the abnormal premotor pattern of brain activation during movement. By monitoring MRD, we aimed to assess changes in premotor and PSM cortex oscillatory activity induced by bilateral STN stimulation and to compare these changes with those induced by l-dopa. Ten Parkinson's disease patients and a group of healthy, age-matched controls performed self-paced wrist flexions in each of four conditions: without either stimulation or l-dopa (the 'off' condition), with stimulation and without l-dopa (On Stim), with l-dopa and without stimulation ('on drug'), and with both stimulation and l-dopa (On Both). Compared with the Off condition, in both the On Stim and the On Drug condition the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score decreased by about 60% and in the On Both condition it decreased by 80%. The desynchronization latency over central regions contralateral to movement and the movement desynchronization over bilateral central regions were significantly increased by stimulation and by l-dopa, with a maximal effect when the two were associated. Furthermore, desynchronization latency significantly decreased over bilateral frontocentral regions in the three treatment conditions compared with the Off condition. In Parkinson's disease, STN stimulation may induce a change in abnormal cortical oscillatory activity patterns (similar to that produced by l-dopa) by decreasing the abnormal spreading of desynchronization over frontocentral regions and increasing PSM cortex activity during movement preparation and execution, with a correlated improvement in bradykinesia. Parkinsonians under treatment displayed a desynchronization pattern close to that seen in healthy, age-matched controls, although central latencies remained shorter. The study indicates that it is possible to influence cortical reactivity related to the planning and execution of voluntary movement through the basal ganglia, and furthermore that the oscillatory activity of the PSM cortex (in addition to that of premotor areas) could be of major importance in the control of movement-associated, neural activity in Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗

New parkin mutations and atypical phenotypes in families with autosomal recessive parkinsonism.

The frequency of parkin mutations was evaluated in 30 families of highly diverse geographic origin with early-onset autosomal recessive parkinsonism. Twelve different mutations, six of which were new, were found in 10 families from Europe and Brazil. Patients with parkin mutations had significantly longer disease duration than patients without the mutation but with similar severity of disease, suggesting a slower disease course. Two patients with parkin mutations had atypical clinical presentation at onset, with predominant tremor when standing.

Adult↗

Effect of L-Dopa on the pattern of movement-related (de)synchronisation in advanced Parkinson's disease.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), impaired motor preparation has been related to a delay of mu rhythm movement-related desynchronisation, suggesting hypoactivation of the contralateral, primary sensorimotor (PSM) cortex. Following movement, a decrease in the amplitude of beta rhythm movement-related synchronisation was observed over the same region. This decrease--not seen in control subjects--was thus thought to be related to an impairment in cortical deactivation. By monitoring movement-related (de)synchronisation, we aimed (i) to extend to advanced PD the observations made in less-advanced situations and (ii) to test the effect of acute L-Dopa on these abnormalities. The United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score decreased by about 60% following acute L-Dopa administration, and we observed the following concurrent changes: a marked increase in mu desynchronisation pre-movement latency (thus reduced delay) during movement preparation over contralateral, central regions; an increase in mu desynchronisation during movement execution over bilateral central regions; a decrease in mu desynchronisation latency over bilateral frontocentral regions, and a significant increase in beta synchronisation over contralateral, central regions after movement. Changes of mu and beta rhythm parameters seemed to be inversely correlated with bradykinesia. Mu rhythm desynchronisation latency and beta synchronisation amplitude further decreased in advanced PD compared to earlier stages of the disease, suggesting greater impairment of cortical activation/deactivation as the disease progresses. L-Dopa partially restored the abnormal mu and beta rhythm cortical (de)synchronisation patterns over the PSM cortex.

Adult↗

Changes in oscillatory cortical activity related to a visuomotor task in young and elderly healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: In order to better understand the spatio-temporal interaction of the activated cortical areas when the movement is visuo-guided and to assess the age effect on the spatio-temporal pattern of cortical activity, we have compared a proximo-distal movement with visual-motor control and hand-eye coordination (targeting movement) with a distal and a proximal movement. METHODS: Brain's electrical activity was studied using the analysis of event-related (de)synchronizations (ERD/S) of cortical mu and beta rhythms in 17 subjects, 8 young and 9 elderly subjects. RESULTS: In both populations, we found an earlier and broader mu and beta ERD during the preparation of the targeting movement compared to distal and proximal movements, principally involving the contralateral parietal region. During the execution, a spreading over the parietocentral region during proximal movement and over the parietal region during targeting movement was observed. After the execution of proximal and targeting movements, a wider and higher beta ERS was observed only in the young subjects. In the elderly subjects, our results showed a significant decrease of beta ERS during the targeting task. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest there was a larger recruitment of cortical areas, involving notably the parietal cortex when the movement is visuo-guided. Moreover, cerebral aging-related changes in the spatio-temporal beta ERS pattern suggests an impaired sensory integration.

Adult↗

Motor preparation is more impaired in Parkinson's disease when sensorimotor integration is involved.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate changes in spatio-temporal, event-related (de)synchronization (ERD/ERS) patterns recorded with respect to the more akinetic versus the less akinetic side during performance of a visuo-guided targeting movement when compared to an index finger extension. METHODS: Twelve de novo parkinsonian patients were recorded. ERD/ERS in mu and beta frequency bands was computed from 21 source derivations. RESULTS: When the index finger extension was performed with the less akinetic limb, mu ERD focused over contralateral central region appeared 2 s before movement. With the targeting movement, additional pre-movement mu ERD was observed over the parietal region, as well as earlier ipsilateral mu ERD. When the same movements were performed with the more akinetic limb, we observed delayed mu ERD over contralateral regions, earlier ipsilateral mu ERD and a lack of contralateral parietal mu ERD before the targeting movement. Following index finger extension for the less akinetic limb, a focused contralateral central beta ERS was recorded, increasing and spreading after the targeting movement. In contrast, for the more akinetic limb, beta ERS was dramatically attenuated and remained unchanged after the targeting movement. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the fact that motor programming is delayed, and provide some insight into what may well be impaired sensorimotor integration in Parkinson's disease.

Adult↗

Subthalamic stimulation influences postmovement cortical somatosensory processing in Parkinson's disease.

In Parkinson's disease, poor motor performance (resulting primarily from abnormal cortical activation during movement preparation and execution) may also be due to impaired sensorimotor integration and defective cortical activity termination of the ongoing movement, thus delaying preparation of the following one. Reduced movement-related synchronization of the beta rhythm in Parkinson's disease compared to controls has been put forward as evidence for impaired postmovement cortical deactivation. We assessed the effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation and l-dopa on beta rhythm synchronization over the premotor and primary sensorimotor cortex. Ten advanced patients performed self-paced wrist flexion in four conditions according to the presence or not of stimulation and l-dopa. Compared to without treatment, the motor score improved by approximately 60%; the beta synchronization was present over the contralateral frontocentral region and increased significantly over the contralateral central region under stimulation and under l-dopa, with a maximal effect when both treatments were associated. Our advanced patients displayed very focused and attenuated beta rhythm synchronization which, under stimulation, increased over the contralateral premotor and primary sensorimotor cortex. Stimulation and l-dopa both partly restored postmovement cortical deactivation in advanced Parkinson's disease, although the respective mechanisms probably differ. They may improve bradykinesia and cortical deactivation by reestablishing movement-related somatosensory processing at the end of the movement through the basal ganglia into the cortex.

Aged↗

[Neuroprotection and neurodegenerative parkinsonian syndromes].

The diffuse nature of the lesions in neurodegenerative parkinsonian syndromes explains the inefficacy of symptomatic treatments and the potential interest of neuroprotector treatments that could slow down or even prevent neuron degeneration in structures involved in the degenerative processes. As these syndromes share preferential degeneration of the substantia nigra with Parkinson's disease it is logical to hypothesize that the same mechanisms of neuron death are involved. The responsibility of an exotoxin, with a mechanism of action that would be similar to that of MPTP and/or rotenone, appears to be implicated only in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP): this is suggested by the "guadeloupean parkinsonean" syndrome. There is no evidence demonstrating an exotoxin in corticobasal degeneration (CBD), which might play an anecdotal role in rare cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA). There are rare cases of PSP, sometimes with autopsy proof, generally with autosomal dominant inheritance, but in the much larger number of sporadic cases there is an undeniable genetic susceptibility linked with certain polymorphisms of the tau protein gene. Genetic susceptibility plays a much less pronounced role in CBD. There is no argument however in favor of a genetic factor in MSA. A few arguments suggest that oxidative stress is involved in PSP and MSA, or even CBD, but no evidence of a primary effect. Perturbed mitochondrial metabolism is possible in PSP. Undeniable proof of the effect of inflammation, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis remains to be presented. We now have several compounds which could affect different phases of neurodegeneration. Identifying the precise cause of neuronal death is needed to properly choose the most effective therapeutic approach (single drug or multiple drug regimens). Therapeutic assessment should be conducted in patients with certain diagnosis. This apparently evident prerequisite does not however appear to be easy to satisfy as has been demonstrated by anatomoclinical series in PSP and MSA, and even more so in CBD. Use of international criteria does not alleviate the difficulty. Satisfactory criteria of efficacy remain to be identified. Assuming that such trials would be conclusive, there remains the question of how to implement neuroprotection in routine practice. The difficulties encountered are well known: late intervention after development of the disease in sporadic cases, ethical issues concerning preclinical screening in familial forms of the disease or in patients exposed to an exotoxin.

Cytokines↗

[Clinical and electrophysiological features of "cortical tremor"].

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to one particular variant of tremor named "cortical tremor," which corresponds to rhythmic cortical myoclonus whose principal differential diagnosis is essential tremor. Diagnosis may be established with electrophysiological explorations (electromyography, accelerometry, electroencelography with back averaging, long latency reflexes, giant somesthesic evoked potentials). Clinical and electrophysiological features of 15 patients are reported and compared to cases previously published. Association with generalized or partial seizures is possible. Other cases in the family are often mentioned with a dominant autosomal transmission. The therapeutic approach is based on the use of antiepileptic drugs.

Adolescent↗

[Parkinson's disease as a model of aging: prospective analysis of gait discorders].

Falls are a dramatic consequence of the age-related gait disorders. There are few prospective studies on falls predictive of the biomechanical features of gait. According to the literature, there are similarities between the gait observed in older people and in parkinsonian subjects. The objective of this study was to apply multiparametric gait analysis to demonstrate changes of the neuromotor gait pattern connected with falls. This prospective study included two groups of 16 subjects aged more than 60 years, who had not fallen during the previous year. One group included 16 minimally disabled parkinsonian patients off drugs, and the other group 16 healthy people. Gait recordings were obtained with a three-dimensional optoelectronic movement analysis system coupled with 2 force platforms in all persons who were followed for 1 year to collect data on all new events, particularly falls. Data analysis concerned spatiotemporal stride and three-dimensional power peaks developed in each lower limb joint. Cluster analysis of the 32 persons was used to determine various infraclinic neuromotor gait patterns. A post hoc analysis of variance was then applied to identify discriminating parameters. Three groups of subjects were identified with 3 different neuromotor gait patterns, independently of the presence of Parkinson disease. There were no fallers in first group (n=18). The second group (n=8) had 20 p.cent fallers and the third group (n=4) 100 p.cent fallers. The groups differed by 4 spatiotemporal parameters and 3 joint power peaks in the sagittal plane. Functional capacity was good in the first group with no falls recorded. This group of subjects had characteristics reported in the literature corresponding to a category of persons who compensate well for the phenomena of aging. Functional capacity was intermediary in the second group (20 p. cent were fallers). The kinematic pattern appeared to be less successful, revealing a tendency for stiff posture. The third group (100 p. cent fallers) exhibited inferior functional capacity. In this group, the kinematic pattern appeared to be disrupted. The subjects were unable to adapt satisfactorily to situations other than by stereotypical neuromotor reactions. In conclusion this study demonstrated a close determinism between physiological neuromotor aging and Parkinson's disease. The prospective follow-up demonstrated that falls that occurred were related to changes in neuromotor gait patterns. Three phases of gait pattern were also identified from minimal to major risk of falls.

Aged↗

Influence of internal globus pallidus stimulation on motor cortex activation pattern in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Indications of the functional neurosurgical treatments become more and more numerous, however, few methods were used to study the mechanism of action and some discrepancies came to light. We assessed the influence of internal globus pallidus (GPI) stimulation and L-Dopa on cortical activation during the preparation and execution phases of the movement compared to clinical improvement of Parkinson's disease. METHODS: We recorded the movement-related cortical potential and movement-related desynchronization. RESULTS: The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was improved by 46% under stimulation and 64% under stimulation with L-Dopa. Premovement desynchronization was significantly increased on central contralateral derivation under stimulation with L-Dopa and decreased on frontocentral ipsilateral derivation under stimulation with and without L-Dopa. Movement desynchronization was improved on the contralateral motor cortex under stimulation with and without L-Dopa (benefit correlated with bradykinesia improvement). The movement-related postmotor potential was significantly increased under stimulation with L-Dopa. CONCLUSIONS: GPI stimulation alone influenced the premotor cortex activation during the planning and induced a selective and focal effect on the organisation of motor cortical activity during the movement execution which may explain bradykinesia improvement. The motor cortex activation improvement under stimulation with L-Dopa concerned both the movement preparation and execution but remained very localised to the contralateral motor cortex.

Aged↗

[Validation of the French language version of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - PDQ-39].

After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent degenerative disease of the central nervous system. The consequences of PD at the functional, social and emotional levels warrant a better understanding the patient's perceptions as measured using a specific instrument rather than restricting the medical approach to the clinical evaluation of the motor component. In 1996, we began implementation of a project to transculturally validate the single specific instrument that had been published and was available at that time: PDQ-39. The scale consists in a 39-item questionnaire enabling determination of an overall quality-of-life score and scores for 8 specific dimensions: mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognitions, communication and bodily discomfort. Eighty-nine patients taking part in an open-label study of the safety of a combination of pergolide and dopa therapy were included and followed up on D15 and after 8 weeks. The process of "Forward-Backward" translation, conducted in close liaison with the authors, enabled semantic and linguistic validation of the French language version. The content was validated by PD experts. At baseline, the patients presented quality-of-life scores that were particularly impaired for the dimensions exploring Mobility, Emotional well-being and Bodily discomfort. The main metric properties of the scale were confirmed. The PDQ-39 scores were closely correlated with the related concepts investigated by generic scale, SF-36. The PDQ-39 scores were correlated with the "Mental and Mood Status", "Everyday Activities" and "Motor Status" dimensions determined by the UPDRS. The reliability, expressed by Cronbach coefficients alpha, showed strong consistency of the instrument, very similar to the data for the original version. In contrast to what was observed with SF-36, the scale was particularly sensitive to clinical changes. The initial results make PDQ-39 a precious tool for the optimization of management of patients presenting with PD.

Female↗

[Continuous dopaminergic stimulation, pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation].

Levodopa is the gold standard treatment for Parkinson's disease. The therapeutic effect may however be compromised by the inevitable risk of motor complications, with fluctuating motor control and dyskinesia, particularly in the younger patient. The Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms are undoubtedly involved but pulsed dopaminergic stimulation appears to play a determining role. This underlines the importance of a treatment which achieves a most stable and physiological dopaminergic stimulation as possible. Dopaminergic agonists provide a promising alternative. Another possibility is to modulate the peripheral kinetics of levodopa as soon as it is introduced using catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors.

Antiparkinson Agents↗

[Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: diagnostic contribution of magnetic resonance imaging].

Data regarding the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) are scarce. WKS usually combines a cerebellar syndrome, oculomotor disorder and confusion. The aim of this study was to determine more precisely the clinical presentation of WKS and the frequency and topography of MRI abnormalities. Furthermore, we try to assess the prognostic value of both clinical signs and MRI abnormalities. We retrospectively studied 25 patients with WKS in which an MRI was available. We assessed the initial clinical presentation and the outcome. We also analyzed the frequency and the location of MRI lesions. We then correlated clinical and MRI data with the clinical outcome. Eleven patients (44 p. 100) had the full WKS. Fourteen of the 25 patients (56 p. 100) had a poor evolution. The occurrence of full WKS was correlated with a poor outcome (p < 0.02). Signal abnormalities on T2-weighted images were found in the periacqueducal region, in the thalami or in the mamillar bodies in 16 cases (64 p. 100). There was a correlation between an hypersignal in at least one region and a poor clinical outcome (p < 0.02). Our study demonstrates the high frequency of brain MRI lesions in WKS and the correlation of both initial clinical signs and MRI abnormalities with a poor clinical outcome.

Adult↗