Deep brain stimulation of globus pallidus internus and subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease: a multicenter, retrospective study of efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapeutic option in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Literature data and recent guidelines remain inconclusive about the best choice as a target between the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the globus pallidus internus (GPi). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical efficacy outcomes of 48 DBS-implanted patients (33 STN-DBS and 15 GPi-DBS) at a short- (<1 year from the surgery) and long-term (2-5 years) follow-up. Also, clinical safety outcomes, including postoperative surgical complications and severe side effects, were collected. RESULTS: We found no difference between STN-DBS and GPi-DBS in improving motor symptoms at short-term evaluation. However, STN-DBS achieved a more prominent reduction in oral therapy (L-DOPA equivalent daily dose, P = .02). By contrast, GPi-DBS was superior in ameliorating motor fluctuations and dyskinesia (MDS-UPDRS IV, P < .001) as well as motor experiences of daily living (MDS-UPDRS II, P = .03). The greater efficacy of GPi-DBS on motor fluctuations and experiences of daily living was also present at the long-term follow-up. We observed five serious adverse events, including two suicides, all among STN-DBS patients. CONCLUSION: Both STN-DBS and GPi-DBS are effective in improving motor symptoms severity and complications, but GPi-DBS has a greater impact on motor fluctuations and motor experiences of daily living. These results suggest that the two targets should be considered equivalent in motor efficacy, with GPi-DBS as a valuable option in patients with prominent motor complications. The occurrence of suicides in STN-treated patients claims further attention in target selection.

The clinical and genetic spectrum of primary familial brain calcification.

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC), formerly known as Fahr's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral progressive calcification of the microvessels of the basal ganglia and other cerebral and cerebellar structures. PFBC is thought to be due to an altered function of the Neurovascular Unit (NVU), where abnormal calcium-phosphorus metabolism, functional and microanatomical alterations of pericytes and mitochondrial alterations cause a dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the generation of an osteogenic environment with surrounding astrocyte activation and progressive neurodegeneration. Seven causative genes have been discovered so far, of which four with dominant (SLC20A2, PDGFB, PDGFRB, XPR1) and three with recessive inheritance (MYORG, JAM2, CMPK2). Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic subjects to movement disorders, cognitive decline and psychiatric disturbances alone or in various combinations. Radiological patterns of calcium deposition are similar in all known genetic forms, but central pontine calcification and cerebellar atrophy are highly suggestive of MYORG mutations and extensive cortical calcification has been associated with JAM2 mutations. Currently, no disease-modifying drugs or calcium-chelating agents are available and only symptomatic treatments can be offered.

Antiphospholipid-Related Chorea: Two Case Reports and Role of Metabolic Imaging.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a complex acquired autoimmune disease with a wide clinical spectrum. Chorea is a rare neurological manifestation of APS. Cases: We report two elderly patients with APS-related chorea in whom functional imaging (18F-FDG positron emission tomography, FDG-PET) supported the diagnosis and compare our findings with existing literature. Literature Review: Among 142 clinical cases of antiphospholipid-related chorea found in literature, only 10 had undergone brain metabolic imaging. Striatal hypermetabolism was evident in all cases (6) that underwent FDG-PET cerebral imaging. Cerebral perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was normal in two cases, while the other two presented with basal ganglia hypoperfusion. Conclusions: Brain FDG-PET usually shows striatal hypometabolism in neurodegenerative types of chorea as opposed to striatal hypermetabolism observed in most cases of chorea from reversible etiologies, such as APS-related chorea. When a patient's clinical presentation is not clearly suggestive of either a neurodegenerative or autoimmune chorea, and first-line investigations are normal, FDG-PET may help in the differential diagnosis, especially in the presence of striatal hypermetabolism. SPECT data are less numerous and show either normal scans or basal ganglia hypoperfusion.

Long-term safety, discontinuation and mortality in an Italian cohort with advanced Parkinson's disease on levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel infusion.

INTRODUCTION: Levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is an effective treatment in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) with consolidated evidence of clinical efficacy. However, only few studies have assessed long-term safety, causes of discontinuation, mortality, and relative predictors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 79 PD patients treated with LCIG between 2005 and 2020 in two Italian Neurological Centers, recording all adverse events (AEs), including weight loss (WL). Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the time to discontinuation and survival. Cox proportional hazard model was employed to identify predictors of discontinuation and mortality, while Pearson's correlation was used to analyze predictors of WL. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 47.7 ± 40.5 months and the median survival from disease onset was 25 years. There were three cases of polyradiculoneuropathy Guillain-Barre syndrome-like, all occurred in the early years of LCIG treatment. Twenty-five patients died (32%), 18 on LCIG (including one suicide) and seven after discontinuation. The mean WL was 3.62 ± 7.5 kg, which correlated with levodopa dose at baseline (p = 0.002), levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) baseline (p = 0.017) and off-duration (p = 0.0014), but not dyskinesia. Peristomal complications emerged as a negative predictor of discontinuation (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: LCIG has a relatively satisfactory long-term safety profile and efficacy and a relatively low rate of discontinuation. Peristomal complications may represent a predictor of longer duration of therapy. According to the mortality analysis, LCIG patients show a long lifespan. Delaying the initiation of LCIG does not affect the sustainability of LCIG therapy.

Oncological Children and Well-Being: Occupational Performance and HRQOL Change after Fine Motor Skills Stimulation Activities.

Cancer children experience long periods of hospitalization, which are associated with limited performance in several developmental domains and participation restrictions in age appropriate occupations. Fine motor abilities represent building blocks in performing daily life skills and have been found to be closely connected with later academic success. Moreover, medical and psychological sequelae for cancer inpatients may result in diminished daily activities functioning, poor perceived health related quality of life (HRQOL), and increase the likelihood of long-term impairments. This study examines the variations in the occupational performance of children hospitalized for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after their participation to a stimulation program designed to enhance fine motor skills. Parents reported significant gains in children's motor functioning, a slight improvement in overall occupational performance related to an increase in the area of productivity and self-care, and a better quality of life perception following the stimulation activities. Feasibility of the stimulation program in a health care setting are discussed evaluating its benefits for cancer children and their families.