Dopaminergic versus anticholinergic treatment effects on physiologic complexity of hand tremor in Parkinson's disease: A randomized crossover study.

AIMS: Parkinsonian tremor (PT) is regulated by numerous neurophysiological components across multiple temporospatial scales. The dynamics of tremor fluctuation are thus highly complex. This study aimed to explore the effects of different medications on tremor complexity, and how the underlying factors contribute to such tremor complexity. METHODS: In this study, 66 participants received a 2-mg dose of benzhexol or a pre-determined dose of levodopa at two study visits in a randomized order. Before and after taking the medications, tremor fluctuation was recorded using surface electromyography electrodes and accelerometers in resting, posture, and weighting conditions with and without a concurrent cognitive task. Tremor complexity was quantified using multiscale entropy. RESULTS: Tremor complexity in resting (p = 0.002) and postural condition (p < 0.0001) was lower when participants were performing a cognitive task compared to a task-free condition. After taking levodopa and benzhexol, participants had increased (p = 0.02-0.03) and decreased (p = 0.03) tremor complexity compared to pre-medication state, respectively. Tremor complexity and its changes as induced by medications were significantly correlated with clinical ratings and their changes (ß = -0.23 to -0.39; p = 0.002-0.04), respectively. CONCLUSION: Tremor complexity may be a promising marker to capture the pathophysiology underlying the development of PT, aiding the characterization of the effects medications have on PT regulation.

Multimodal Imaging of Substantia Nigra in Parkinson's Disease with Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration of the substantia nigra (SN) may contribute to levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the exact characteristics of SN in LID remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To further understand the pathogenesis of patients with PD with LID (PD-LID), we explored the structural and functional characteristics of SN in PD-LID using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with PD-LID, 37 patients with PD without LID (PD-nLID), and 28 healthy control subjects underwent T1-weighted MRI, quantitative susceptibility mapping, neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, multishell diffusion MRI, and resting-state functional MRI. Different measures characterizing the SN were obtained using a region of interest-based approach. RESULTS: Compared with patients with PD-nLID and healthy control subjects, the quantitative susceptibility mapping values of SN pars compacta (SNpc) were significantly higher (P = 0.049 and P = 0.00002), and the neuromelanin contrast-to-noise ratio values in SNpc were significantly lower (P = 0.012 and P = 0.000002) in PD-LID. The intracellular volume fraction of the posterior SN in PD-LID was significantly higher compared with PD-nLID (P = 0.037). Resting-state fMRI indicated that PD-LID in the medication off state showed higher functional connectivity between the SNpc and putamen compared with PD-nLID (P = 0.031), and the functional connectivity changes in PD-LID were positively correlated with Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale total scores (R = 0.427, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our multimodal imaging findings highlight greater neurodegeneration in SN and the altered nigrostriatal connectivity in PD-LID. These characteristics provide a new perspective into the role of SN in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD-LID. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Prevalence of axial postural abnormalities and their subtypes in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Axial postural abnormalities, mainly involving the spinal deformities, are disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the prevalence of axial postural abnormalities in PD and their clinical correlates remain unclear. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of overall and subtypes of axial postural abnormalities in PD. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched up to 31st March, 2022. We identified studies that reported the prevalence of axial postural abnormalities in PD. The pooled estimate of prevalence was calculated using a random effect model. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed. RESULTS: There were 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of axial postural abnormalities in PD was 22.1% (95% CI 19.7-24.5%). The prevalence of each subtype of axial postural abnormalities was 19.6% for scoliosis (95% CI 10.6-28.7%), 10.2% for camptocormia (95% CI 7.7-12.7%), 8% for Pisa syndrome (95% CI 4.7-11.4%), and 7.9% for antecollis (95% CI 3.9-11.9%). Subgroup analysis showed that the measuring method of axial postural abnormalities exerted significant effects on prevalence estimates. Axial postural abnormalities in PD were associated with older age, longer disease duration, higher H-Y stage, greater levodopa equivalent daily dose, more severe motor symptoms, motor fluctuations, and akinetic-rigid subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Axial postural abnormalities, which include scoliosis, camptocormia, Pisa syndrome, and antecollis, are not uncommon in patients with PD. Future research on axial postural abnormalities should be based on uniform diagnostic criteria and measuring methods.

Comparative efficacy and safety of monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors plus channel blockers and monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors as adjuvant therapy to levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors plus channel blockers (MAO-BIs plus) are a new class of antiparkinsonian drug with additional mechanisms of action for their property as ion channel blockers. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of MAO-BIs plus and conventional MAO-BIs, as well as their corresponding doses, as adjuvant therapy to levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHOD: Randomized controlled trials enrolling PD patients treated with selegiline, rasagiline, safinamide or zonisamide as adjuvant therapy to levodopa were identified. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Thirty-one randomized controlled trials comprising 7142 PD patients were included. Compared with levodopa monotherapy, the combination therapy of MAO-BIs and levodopa was significantly more effective, with a mean difference of 2.74 (1.26-4.18) on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score change for selegiline, 2.67 (1.45-3.87) for safinamide, 2.2 (0.98-3.64) for zonisamide and 2.04 (1.24-2.87) for rasagiline. No significant difference was detected amongst MAO-BIs. The surface under the cumulative ranking results showed that safinamide 100 mg and rasagiline 1 mg ranked first in improving UPDRS III and UPDRS II, respectively. Zonisamide 100 mg ranked first in reducing OFF time. For safety outcomes, rasagiline was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events than placebo and safinamide. MAO-BIs plus had a higher probability of being safer agents compared to conventional MAO-BIs. CONCLUSIONS: Monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors plus, conventional MAO-BIs and the corresponding doses are similar in efficacy in PD treatment. MAO-BIs plus might be safer than conventional MAO-BIs. Head-to-head comparisons are needed for further investigation.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in Multiple System Atrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a clinical feature of multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, the prevalence and factors influencing the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in MSA patients remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aim to provide an estimate of the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in patients with MSA and to evaluate the possible effect of demographic, clinical and methodological factors on the prevalence. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of science databases to identify studies that report the prevalence of cognitive impairment or dementia in MSA published up to February 2022. We computed the estimates of the pooled prevalence using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was investigated by subgroup analyses and meta-regression. Differences between MSA patients with and without cognitive impairment in demographic and clinical features were explored. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies comprising 2064 MSA patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment in MSA patients was 37% (95% CI: 29% -45%), the prevalence of dementia was 11% (95% CI: 7% -15%). The subgroup analyses showed the prevalence of dementia in pathologically-confirmed MSA was 7% (95% CI: 0% -12%), in clinically diagnosed MSA was 14% (95% CI: 10% -18%). Cognitive impairment in MSA patients was associated with older age, lower education, longer disease duration and more severe motor symptoms. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment is a common non-motor symptom in MSA. Dementia can develop in a few patients with MSA as well, but usually in the late stage.

Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence and retention in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common non-motor symptoms but are often overlooked in Parkinson's disease (PD). The prevalence of LUTS in PD is inconsistent among different studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of LUTS, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention in PD patients, then, investigate potential sources of inconsistency in prevalence estimation. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception to May 2022. Studies reporting the prevalence of LUTS or LUTS subtypes in PD were included. Pooled prevalence of LUTS, LUTS subtypes, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention was calculated via random-effects models. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Of 7,358 studies after duplicate removal, a total of 73 studies comprising 14,937 PD patients were included. The pooled prevalence of LUTS was 61% (95% CI 53-69; 27 studies; n = 5,179), while the pooled prevalence of storage symptoms and voiding symptoms was 59% (44-73; 9 studies; n = 798) and 24% (14-33; 11 studies; n = 886), respectively. The pooled prevalence of urinary incontinence, retention and post-void residual (PVR) volume ≥ 100 ml were 30% (95% CI 22-39; 21 studies; n = 6,054), 27% (17-37; 14 studies; n = 1,991), and 4% (1-7; 5 studies; n = 439), respectively. The prevalence of LUTS, urinary incontinence, or urinary retention was significantly associated with diagnostic methods. Conclusion: LUTS and its subtypes present in a significant proportion of PD patients. It is necessary to use standardized and validated methods to detect and screen LUTS and its subtypes.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022311233, Identifier: CRD42022311233.

Altered Brain Activity in Depression of Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Validation Study.

Background: The pathophysiology of depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) is not fully understood. Studies based upon functional MRI (fMRI) showed the alterations in the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) fluctuations in multiple brain regions pertaining to depression in PD. However, large variance was observed across previous studies. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the results in previous publications and completed an independent regions-of-interests (ROIs)-based analysis using our own data to validate the results of the meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify fMRI studies in PD patients with depression. Using signed differential mapping (SDM) method, we performed a voxel-based meta-analysis. Then, a validation study by using multiscale entropy (MSE) in 28 PD patients with depression and 25 PD patients without depression was conducted. The fMRI scan was completed in anti-depression-medication-off state. The ROIs of the MSE analysis were the regions identified by the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 126 PD patients with depression and 153 PD patients without depression were included in meta-analysis. It was observed that the resting-state activities within the posterior cingulate gyrus, supplementary motor area (SMA), and cerebellum were altered in depressed patients. Then, in the validation study, these regions were used as ROIs. PD patients with depression had significantly lower MSE of the BOLD fluctuations in these regions (posterior cingulate gyrus: F = 0.856, p = 0.049; SMA: F = 0.914, p = 0.039; cerebellum: F = 0.227, p = 0.043). Conclusion: Our study revealed that the altered BOLD activity in cingulate, SMA, and cerebellum of the brain were pertaining to depression in PD.