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F Tison

Publications and source records attributed to F Tison.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Routine MRI for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, MSA, PSP, and CBD.

We assessed the usefulness of routine MRI for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) with "atypical" parkinsonian syndromes in everyday clinical practice. We studied routinely performed MRI in PD (n = 32), multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 28), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, n = 30), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD, n = 26). From a preliminary analysis of 26 items, 4 independent investigators rated 11 easily recognizable MRI pointers organized as a simple scoring system. The frequency, severity and inter-rater agreement were determined. The total severity score was subdivided into "cortical", "putaminal", "midbrain", and "pontocerebellar" scores. The frequency of putaminal involvement (100%) and vermian cerebellar atrophy (45%) was significantly higher in MSA, but that of cortical atrophy (50%), midbrain atrophy and 3(rd) ventricle enlargement (75%) was higher in PSP and CBD. The median total score fairly differentiated "atypical" parkinsonian syndromes from PD (positive predictive value-PPV-90%). However, the median total score was unable to differentiate atypical parkinsonian syndromes each other. The "cortical" score distinguished CBD and PSP from MSA with a fair PPV (>90%). The PPV of the "putaminal" score was high (70%) for the differential diagnosis of MSA with PSP and CBD. The "midbrain" score was significantly higher in PSP and CBD compared to MSA. These results are in accordance with the underlying pathology found in these disorders and demonstrate that a simple MRI scoring procedure may help the neurologist to differentiate primary causes of parkinsonism in everyday practice.

Brain↗

Motor behaviour deficits and their histopathological and functional correlates in the nigrostriatal system of dopamine transporter knockout mice.

Chronic dysregulation of dopamine homeostasis has been shown to induce behavioural impairment in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice arising from the dysfunction of the mesolimbic and hypothalamo-infundibular system. Here, we assessed whether there are also any motor consequences of a chronic and constitutive hyperdopaminergia in the nigrostriatal system in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice. For this, we analysed motor performances using tests assessing balance, coordinated motor skills (rotarod, pole test), stride lengths and locomotor activity. Dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice were markedly hyperactive in the open field with central compartment avoidance, as previously shown. However, sensorimotor integration was also found to be altered in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice which displayed a reduced fore- and hind-limb mean stride length, impaired motor coordination on the pole test and reduced rearings in the open field. Moreover, dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice showed a slower task acquisition on the rotarod. Six-week-old dopamine transporter knockout wild type mice having the same femur size as adult dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice ruled out a possible size-effect bias. Whilst there was no significant difference in the striatal volume, we found a slight but significant reduction in neuronal density in the striatum but not in the nucleus accumbens of dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice. There was a reduced binding in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of dopamine(1) receptors ([(3)H]SCH 23390) and dopamine(2) receptors ([(3)H]YM-09151-2). There was no significant difference in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra between dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice and dopamine transporter knockout wild type mice. These results suggest an impaired functioning of the nigrostriatal system in dopamine transporter knockout mutant hyperdopaminergic mice, as illustrated by motor and sensorimotor integration deficits, despite their apparent hyperactivity. These dysfunctions may arise from combined striatal cell loss and/or functional changes of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Animals↗

[Progressive supranuclear palsy: a clinical, natural history and disability study].

We studied the clinical features, the natural history and disability in 47 progressive supranuclear palsy patients and brain imaging aspects by routinely performed MRI in a subgroup of 25. Unexplained falls together with atypical parkinsonism (symmetric, levodopa unresponsive without resting tremor) are good clinical pointers of the early diagnosis, since they occurred within the first year. Cognitive slowness and unspecific visual complains are also early symptoms, while usual cardinal signs such as supranuclear palsy are more delayed. Blepharospasm and eyelid opening apraxia as well as deep sighs are also quite characteristic clinical features (1/3 of cases). Cardinal signs (falls, pseudobulbar signs, supranuclear gaze palsy) worsened rapidly (20 to 30 months) towards a major disability. In the 20 patients deceased during follow-up, the mean survival time was about 5 years. The MRI study showed typical cortical fronto-temporo-parietal atrophy, mesencephalic and quadrigeminal plate atrophy with third ventricle dilatation. In conclusion, unexplained falls associated with atypical parkinsonism are contributive for the early clinical diagnosis. Non specific visual complains could be useful pointers in the absence of supranuclear ophthalmoplegia. MRI contributes to the clinical diagnosis even in the first 3 years of the disease course.

Age of Onset↗

[Diagnostic criteria of parkinsonian syndromes].

Parkinson's disease constitutes 75p. 100 of all causes of parkinsonism. The disease is defined clinically by the UK Parkinson's Disease Brain Bank (UKPDSBB) which exclude secondary causes of parkinsonism and atypical primary parkinsonian syndromes. Any atypical sign, also commonly known as "red flags", should make the clinician aware of an alternative diagnosis: multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and parkinsonism associated with dementia such as dementia with diffuse Lewy body disease. Despite progress in designing validated clinical diagnosis criteria, such diseases remain difficult to diagnose in their early course.

Brain↗

Dystonia is predictive of subsequent altered dopaminergic responsiveness in a chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine+3-nitropropionic acid model of striatonigral degeneration in monkeys.

We conducted a new chronic sequential 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP) intoxication paradigm in two female monkeys in order to reproduce the striatonigral degeneration type of levodopa-unresponsive parkinsonism. A comparison was made with MPTP-, 3NP-intoxicated and control monkeys. A levodopa-responsive parkinsonism emerged in all MPTP-treated monkeys. During subsequent 3NP intoxication, one of the two MPTP +3NP monkeys exhibited hindlimb dystonia concomitantly with a reduced levodopa response. All MPTP-monkeys had severe cell loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (>70%), but 3NP-induced discrete lesioned areas and cell loss predominantly in the putamen appeared only in the dystonic and levodopa-unresponsive animal. We propose that the appearance of dystonia after 3NP intoxication following dopaminergic striatal denervation is the key symptom predictive of the loss of dopaminergic response.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Progressive bulbospinal amyotrophy in triple A syndrome with AAAS gene mutation.

Triple A (3A) syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by adrenocorticotropic hormone-resistant adrenal insufficiency, achalasia of the cardia, alacrima, and variable autonomic and neurologic dysfunction. The gene responsible, AAAS, recently has been identified. We describe the neurologic phenotype of the first adult case of 3A syndrome presenting bulbospinal amyotrophy as the prominent sign in association with a homozygous nonsense mutation identified in the AAAS gene.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗

A novel grading scale for striatonigral degeneration (multiple system atrophy).

Striatonigral degeneration (SND) is commonly thought to represent the neuropathological substrate of L-Dopa unresponsive parkinsonism in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Other neuropathological hallmarks of MSA include olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and preganglionic sympathetic spinal cord lesions. Clinicopathological evaluation of MSA patients recruited into ongoing natural history studies or neuroprotective intervention trials will require standardized grading of MSA pathology. Based on 25 autopsy cases of MSA, we propose a novel SND grading scale which allows semiquantitative assessment of lesion severity based on neuronal loss, astrogliosis and presence of alpha-synuclein positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) in substantia nigra, putamen, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus. SND grade I is defined as degeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) with relative preservation of the striatum except for minimal gliosis and GCIs in the posterior putamen ("minimal change MSA"). SND grade II is characterized by neuronal loss, astrogliosis and presence of GCIs in SNC and posterior/dorsolateral putamen. Caudate nucleus and external globus pallidus may exhibit slight gliosis. Striatal pathology is severe and extends to anterior ventromedial subregions in SND grade III. There is neuronal loss in caudate nucleus and globus pallidus. GCIs are more abundant in grade II than grade III SNC and putamen. Preliminary clinicopathologic correlation studies suggest milder parkinsonian disability and better initial L-Dopa responsiveness in SND grade I and II cases compared to grade III cases. Prospective clinicopathologic studies are required to validate the proposed SND grading scale and may result in further subdivisions, particularly of SND grade III.

Adult↗

Subacute systemic 3-nitropropionic acid intoxication induces a distinct motor disorder in adult C57Bl/6 mice: behavioural and histopathological characterisation.

Data on motor behavioural disorders induced by systemic 3-nitropropionic acid, an irreversible inhibitor of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and their histopathological correlates in mice, are sparse. We thus further characterised the subacute 3-nitropropionic-acid-induced motor disorder and its time course in C57Bl/6 mice using standard behavioural tests, histopathological correlates and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. Firstly, we studied two intoxication paradigms (340 and 560 mg 3-nitropropionic acid/kg, 7 days) compared to controls. The low-dose regimen induced only slight motor changes (reduced hindlimb stride length and rearing). The high-dose regimen induced significant (P<0.05) behavioural and sensorimotor integration deficits (pole test, rotarod, stride length, open-field spontaneous activity) but with 37.5% lethality at week one. The clinical motor disorder consisted of hindlimb clasping and dystonia, truncal dystonia, bradykinesia and impaired postural control. Histopathologically, there were discrete lesions of the dorsolateral striatum in 62.5% of mice together with a 32% reduction (P<0.0001) of the striatal volume, reduced caldbindin-D28K immunoreactivity in the lateral striatum, and met-enkephalin and substance P in the striatal output pathways. There was also a significant (P<0.05) 30-40% dopaminergic cell loss within the substantia nigra pars compacta. Secondly, we validated a semi-quantitative behavioural scale to describe the time course of the motor deficits and to predict the occurrence of striatal damage. We sought to determine whether it could also be disclosed in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging. The scale correlated with the striatal volume reduction (r(2)=0.57) and striatal cell loss (r(2)=0.87) but not with the loss of striatal dopaminergic terminals (dopamine transporter binding). Increased T2-signal intensity within the striatal lesion correlated with the cell loss (r(2)=0.66). We conclude that systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid in C57Bl/6 mice induces a distinct motor disorder and dose-dependent striatonigral damage, which are potentially useful to model human diseases of the basal ganglia.

Age Factors↗

A 'single toxin-double lesion' rat model of striatonigral degeneration by intrastriatal 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion injection: a motor behavioural analysis.

Previous attempts to reproduce striatonigral degeneration, the core pathology underlying Parkinsonism in multiple system atrophy, have been impeded by interactions in the neurotoxins used to replicate striatal and nigral degeneration in rodents. To overcome these interactions, we have developed a new model of striatonigral degeneration which uses a single unilateral administration of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) into the rat striatum. Spontaneous and drug-induced rotational behaviour, thigmotactic scanning, stepping adjusting steps and paw reaching deficits were compared in four groups of animals: group 1 (control), group 2 (20 microg quinolinic acid), group 3 (20 microg 6-hydroxydopamine), and group 4 (90 nmol MPP(+)). MPP(+) administration resulted in the absence of the amphetamine-induced ipsilateral bias observed in the 6-hydroxydopamine group and of the apomorphine-induced ipsilateral bias observed in the quinolinic acid group. There was no thigmotactic scanning asymmetry in the MPP(+)-injected rats compared to the quinolinic acid- and the 6-hydroxydopamine-injected rats. MPP(+) elicited a bilateral stepping adjustment deficit similar to that found in the quinolinic acid group when compared to controls. MPP(+) also elicited a more severe and significant contralateral deficit in paw reaching compared to controls, 6-hydroxydopamine and quinolinic acid groups. Histopathology revealed a significant reduction of the lesioned striatal surface (-47.53%) with neuronal loss and increased astrogliosis in the MPP(+) group grossly similar to that found in the quinolinic acid group. Contrary to the latter group, however, loss of intrastriatal and striatal-crossing fibre bundles was observed in the MPP(+) group as there was also some retrograde degeneration in the ipsilateral thalamic parafascicular nucleus. The mean loss of dopaminergic cells in the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars compacta in MPP(+) rats was less marked (-48.8%) than in the 6-hydroxydopamine rats (-63.6%) and was not significant in quinolinic acid rats (-5.2%). This study shows that a single unilateral intrastriatal administration of MPP(+) induces a unique motor behaviour resulting from both nigral and striatal degeneration, but also from possible extrastriatal damage. This 'single toxin-double lesion' paradigm may thus serve as a rat model of striatonigral degeneration.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗

Sleep disorders and their determinants in multiple system atrophy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence, types, determinants, and consequences of sleep disorders in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and determine whether their characteristics are similar to those of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Information about sleep disorders was collected using a standardised questionnaire in an unselected group of 57 patients with MSA and in 62 patients with PD matched as a group for age, sex distribution, and disease duration. RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients with MSA complained of sleep disorders compared with 51% of patients with PD (p=0.03). The most commonly reported sleep disorders were sleep fragmentation (52.5%), vocalisation (60%), REM sleep behaviour disorder (47.5%), and nocturnal stridor (19%). Except for sleep fragmentation, the incidence of these disorders was significantly higher than in PD. Sleep problems tended to be associated with more severe motor symptoms, longer disease duration, depression, and longer duration of levodopa treatment. Half of patients with MSA with sleep disorders complained of daytime somnolence compared with 30% of patients with PD. Daytime somnolence was significantly associated with disease severity in MSA. CONCLUSION: This study shows that sleep disorders are more common in patients with MSA than in those with PD after the same duration of the disease, reflecting the more diffuse underlying pathological process in MSA.

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↗

McLeod neuroacanthocytosis: genotype and phenotype.

McLeod syndrome is caused by mutations of XK, an X-chromosomal gene of unknown function. Originally defined as a peculiar Kell blood group variant, the disease affects multiple organs, including the nervous system, but is certainly underdiagnosed. We analyzed the mutations and clinical findings of 22 affected men, aged 27 to 72 years. Fifteen different XK mutations were found, nine of which were novel, including the one of the eponymous case McLeod. Their common result is predicted absence or truncation of the XK protein. All patients showed elevated levels of muscle creatine phosphokinase, but clinical myopathy was less common. A peripheral neuropathy with areflexia was found in all but 2 patients. The central nervous system was affected in 15 patients, as obvious from the occurrence of seizures, cognitive impairment, psychopathology, and choreatic movements. Neuroimaging emphasized the particular involvement of the basal ganglia, which was also detected in 1 asymptomatic young patient. Most features develop with age, mainly after the fourth decade. The resemblance of McLeod syndrome with Huntington's disease and with autosomal recessive chorea-acanthocytosis suggests that the corresponding proteins--XK, huntingtin, and chorein--might belong to a common pathway, the dysfunction of which causes degeneration of the basal ganglia.

Adult↗

The chorea of McLeod syndrome.

Among the movement disorders associated with acanthocytosis, McLeod syndrome (McKusick 314850) is the one that is best characterized on the molecular level. Its defining feature is low reactivity of Kell erythrocyte antigens. This is due to absence of membrane protein KX that forms a complex with the Kell protein. KX is coded for by the XK gene on the X-chromosome. We present six males (aged 29 to 60 years), with proven XK mutations, to discuss the chorea associated with McLeod syndrome. The movement disorder commonly develops in the fifth decade and is progressive. It affects the limbs, the trunk and the face. In addition to facial grimacing, involuntary vocalization can be present. In early stages there may only be some restlessness or slight involuntary distal movements of ankles and fingers. Lip-biting and facial tics seem more common in autosomal recessive choreoacanthocytosis linked to chromosome 9. This, together with the absence of dysphagia in McLeod syndrome, may help in differential diagnosis. Recent findings suggest a role for the endothelin system of the striatum in the pathogenesis of McLeod syndrome.

Adult↗

Fast orthostatic tremor in Parkinson's disease mimicking primary orthostatic tremor.

Leg tremor during standing is a rare feature in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Tremor during standing usually has a low frequency (range, 4-6 Hz), similar to PD rest tremor frequency, and is improved by levodopa. We describe three cases of fast orthostatic tremor (FoT) of legs and trunk mimicking primary orthostatic tremor (OT) in patients treated with levodopa for PD. Asymmetrical akinetorigid syndrome was accompanied by a rest tremor in two cases. We obtained electrophysiological parameters by electromyographic (EMG) polygraphic recording after 16 hours withdrawal of antiparkinsonian treatment and at the maximal effect of levodopa in order to investigate the effect of dopaminergic stimulation upon such cases of orthostatic tremor in PD. Electrophysiological parameters of orthostatic tremor, especially frequency (range 14-18 Hz), were similar to that seen in POT. Severity of tremor was independent of seriousness and duration of PD. Levodopa had no effect either on the handicap due to OT or on the amplitude and frequency of the EMG OT activity. In contrast, mild improvement of OT was obtained with benzodiazepines in two cases and parkinsonian syndrome was levodopa-sensitive. These findings suggest that FoT in PD would not be directly controlled by the dopaminergic system. However, increased rhythmicities in basal ganglia or in cerebello-thalamic loops at the rapid frequencies range seen in PD could favor the emergence of a primary orthostatic tremor-like tremor in PD patients.

Aged↗

Simultaneous intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine and quinolinic acid injection: a model of early-stage striatonigral degeneration.

Animal models reproducing early stages of striatonigral degeneration (SND), the core pathology underlying parkinsonism in multiple system atrophy, are lacking. We have developed a new model of early-stage SND by using a simultaneous unilateral administration of quinolinic acid (QA) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the putaminal equivalent of the rat striatum. Spontaneous and drug-induced behavior, thigmotactic scanning, paw reaching deficits, and histopathology were studied in rat groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (QA), group 3 (6-OHDA), and group 4 (QA + 6-OHDA). The double toxin administration resulted in reduction of the spontaneous and the amphetamine-induced ipsiversive bias in the 6-OHDA group and in a reduction of the apomorphine-induced ipsiversive rotations in the QA group. Simultaneous QA and 6-OHDA also reduced the thigmotactic bias observed in the 6-OHDA rats. Combined toxin elicited a nonsignificant contralateral deficit in paw reaching but a significant deficit on the ipsilateral side. Histopathology revealed a significant reduction of the lesioned striatal surface (-27%) with neuronal loss and increased astrogliosis in group 4 compared to group 2, consistent with an exacerbation of QA toxicity by additional 6-OHDA. By contrast, the mean loss of the TH-positive neurons in the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of group 4 was less marked (-15%) than in the 6-OHDA group (-36%), indicating a possible protective action of intrastriatal QA upon 6-OHDA retrograde SNc degeneration. This study shows that a combined unilateral intrastriatal administration of QA and 6-OHDA may serve as a model of early stage SND which is more suitable for early therapeutic interventions.

Animals↗