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Reviews of selected abstracts from AmNeurAssn 125, October
2000;                  in Ann Neur; September 2000: These preliminary
presentations may             or may not reach peer-reviewed publication
in an archival journal.

Zhang Y et al: Familial-linked mutations of the protein parkin
are thought to impair its function as an E3 ubiquitin-protein
ligase and its indirect effect upon alpha-synuclein, suggesting
that they cause familial autosomal-recessive parkinsonism.

Schulz G et al: Combination of a caspase inhibitor (XIAP) that
prevents neural apoptosis and glial-cell-derived neurotrophic
growth factor (GDNF) has synergistic effect of protection against
MPTP-induced parkinsonism, may be promising strategy for
treatment of PD.

Adler C et al: Perceived balance ability in PD patients isn't
always the same as the actual measure. Study of 37 subjects
showed that those in fluctuating stage have more problems,
and optimists more likely to fall.

Ascherio A et al: Using data from a large (136,000 subjects)
health study, they found moderate (1-3 cups/day) coffee intake
associated with lowered incidence of PD.

Joyce J et al: To explain the loss of clinical response to
anti-PD (dopaminergic) drugs in later stages of PD, they studied
postmortem samples of patients who had or had not lost that
response. The failure correlated less well with D2 receptor
(motor function) impairment than with that of D3 receptors,
which are thought to play a role in motivation, mood, and
activity.

Kim S et al: They produced several lines of immortalized
multipotent human neural stem cells, one of which had dramatic
success when implanted in rats with drug-induced parkinsonism.

Kompoliti K et al: Ovariectomy in healthy monkeys resulted in
enhanced dopaminergic function.

Kujawa K et al: They tested 15 PD patients and 7 with MSA, for
autonomic disfunction and orthostatic instability, with similar
results in the two groups.

Martin W et al: By means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
they studied 5 PD patients and 10 controls, finding that in  PD
energy metabolism is impaired throughout the brain.

Shulman L et al: They studied 245 elderly PD patients for
tolerance of dopamine agonists, finding that age alone should
not be the deciding factor in choice of treatment.



AmNeurA125.doc                                      Page 2 of 2

Stacy M et al: They compared results in 12 PD recipients of
deep-brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN)
against those in 12 who declined in favor of levodopa therapy.
Despite significant differences within both groups, the DBS group
on the whole did better.

Terakawa H et al: Using magnetic resonance spectroscoy (MRS)
they studied metabolites in the basal ganglia of 30 PD patients
and 70 healthy controls, finding age-related decline in both
groups but no special difference between them.

Connor G: A 22-week crossover study in 24 essential tremor
patients of topiramate (Topamax) suggests that it may be
effective treatment for ET.

McRae C et al: A 12-month followup in a double-blind trial of
20 PD patients getting neural transplants and 20 getting sham
surgery was too early to reveal significant differences in
perceived quality of life.

Parkinson Study Group: The type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B)
inhibitor rasagiline is expected to be neuroprotective like
selegiline (Eldepryl), but doesn't metabolize to unwanted
amphetamines. A controlled trial in 404 early-PD patients
showed it to be beneficial and well-tolerated.

Palmer C et al: Using existing data and other sources, and a
mathematical assessment model, they determined that adjunctive
PD therapy with the COMT antagonist entacapone (Comtan) is
cost-effective in terms of quality of life.

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