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S Pappatà

Publications and source records attributed to S Pappatà.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Imaging of dopaminergic dysfunction with [123I]FP-CIT SPECT in early-onset parkin disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the presence of parkin gene mutations is associated with different nigrostriatal impairment than other early-onset parkinsonism. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive early-onset Parkinson disease (PD) patients (nine parkin and nine nonparkin patients) and six controls were studied with [123I]FP-CIT SPECT. RESULTS: Parkin patients had longer disease duration (15 +/- 9 vs 6 +/- 2 years, p = 0.008) and higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score (35.8 +/- 13.7 vs 22.8 +/- 7.9, p = 0.025) than nonparkin patients. Caudate and putamen DAT density were reduced by 60% and 79% in parkin and by 43% and 70% in nonparkin patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that the UPDRS and the presence of parkin gene mutations, but not the disease duration, were significantly correlated with the striatal DAT density. Parkin patients showed a more symmetric DAT loss in both caudate and putamen as compared with nonparkin patients. CONCLUSIONS: Parkin-related disease may be associated with a higher degree of nigrostriatal impairment, independently of the clinical severity of the disease, and a more symmetric involvement as compared with non-parkin early-onset disease.

Adolescent↗

Intracranial arachnoid cysts in myotonic dystrophy.

Clinically apparent brain dysfunction is common in myotonic dystrophy. In a sample of fourteen adult patients with the definite form of this disease, brain magnetic resonance imaging detected frequent white matter abnormalities and ventriculomegaly. In addition, two patients exhibited an intracranial arachnoid cyst, a condition of neurosurgical interest that could be related to the generalized dysmaturational process present in this disease. Patients with myotonic dystrophy deserve a careful screening for brain involvement. Further MRI studies should ascertain the actual prevalence of brain anomalies in myotonic dystrophy and define the role of this procedure in the workup of this disease.

Adult↗

High resolution real-time B-mode echotomography in the diagnosis of extracranial carotid lesions. Comparison with traditional angiography.

Sixty-three patients (115 carotid arteries) have been examined first by Dopplersonography, then by echotomography and finally by angiography using the Seldinger technique. The comparison between echotomography and angiography showed a sensitivity of 0.9, a specificity of 0.7 and a accuracy of 0.8. There have been 15 false positive results; in 14 of them the lesions were lower than 10% of lumen reduction and in one case there was a 10-45% stenosis. It seems that echotomography can better estimate lower degree lesions. It was difficult for echotomography to detect correctly the presence of an occlusion and to evaluate the surface aspect mainly in the presence of ulcerations.

Adult↗