Highlights, AAN 50th Annual Meeting, from:        Page 1 of 4
Neurology 1998;50:Supplement 4:April 1998

S07.001 Rascol O et al: The selective full dopamine D1 receptor
agonist ABT-431 showed anti-parkinsonian efficacy in advanced
PD equal to levodopa, and less dyskinesia. (Abbot Laboratories)

S07.002 Friedman J et al: In the first full-blown trial on PWP,
Clozapine improved drug-induced psychosis without worsening
motor function, and was well tolerated. (Orphan Drug-FDA)

S07.003 Juncos J et al; In open-label trial, quetiapine fumarate
(Seroquel) had sustained antipsychotic effect and short-term
motor benefit in advanced PD patients with psychosis. (ZENECA)

S07.004 Virgilio G et al; Rimantadine (Flumadine), a derivative
of amantadine, helped motor symptoms of mild to moderate PD, as
monotherapy or with levodopa, with longer half-life and fewer
CNS side effects than amantadine.

S07.005 Goetz C et al; Significant placebo effect, mainly on
bradykinesia, is present in PD clinical trials unless the
trial design takes it into account.

S07.006 Gironell A et al;In a controlled trial, gabapentin was
equal to propranolol against ET, with fewer side effects.

S10.001 Damier P et al; The effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of
the globus pallidus strongly depends on the site selected. DBS
of GPexternal improved gait and akinesia and could induce
dyskinesia, while DBS of GPinternal suppressed levodopa-induced
dyskinesia but worsened gait and akinesia of PD. (PHRC 1995)

S10.002 Bonnet A et al; Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the sub-
thalamic nucleus (STN) was much more effective than DBS of the
globus pallidus against the cardinal signs of PD, and also
allowed significant reduction of levodopa dosage.

S10.003: Krack P et al; Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the sub-
thalamic nucleus (STN) dramatically reduced off-period dystonia
in patients with fluctuating PD. (INSERM and Medtronic)

S10.004: Lyons K et al; Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the
globus pallidus in advanced PD proved safe and effective at the
1-year followup assessment of 9 patients. (Medtronic)

S10.005: Kumar R et al; In a double-blind trial on 10 advanced
PD patients of subthalamic nucleus stimulation, improvement of
levodopa-resistant PD symptoms and levodopa-induced dyskinesia
outweighed the adverse effects. (NPF, PFCanada, Medtronic)

S10.006: Vitek J et al; In the first such randomized trial 14
PD patients got unilateral GPi pallidotomy while 13 others
got conventional drug therapy. The surgery yielded significant
improvement in cardinal motor features of PD. (NIH)

S10.007: Ellias S et al; In a one-year safety and efficacy trial
on 12 PD patients, transplantation of fetal porcine ventral
mesencephalic cells was well tolerated, with evidence of symptom
improvement and porcine cell survival. (Diacrin/Genzyme LLC)

Highlights, AAN 50th Annual Meeting               page 2 of 4

S20.003: Chan P et al; They found no mutation in the alpha-
synuclein gene in clinically- and pathologically- defined
Parkinson's Disease.   (NIH and various foundations)

S20.004: Nelson L et al; Looking for missense mutation of the
alpha-synuclein gene in 40 patients with family history of
PD, they found none, ruling it out as a cause of PD. (NINDS)

S20.005: Lynch T et al; Looking for alpha-synuclein gene
mutation in 21 autosomal-dominant PD families, they found
only the normal gene sequence.    (NIH and foundations)

S20.006: Nicholl D et al; Examining a large British kindred
having autosomal-dominant PD, they found it clinically and
pathologically identical to sporadic PD, but the family differs
genetically from the Contursi kindred.   (Sheldon, UKPD Soc)

S40.001: Louis E  et al; Tracking progression of extrapyramidal
signs in 237 PD patients for up to 8 years, they found that
bradykinesia, rigidity, gait and balance impairment all
wowrsened at the same rate, but tremor stayed about the same.
                                         (NIH, foundations)
S40.002: Marek K et al; SPECT imaging with 1231-beta-CIT as
marker is useful indicator of PD progression and effects of
therapy.                                 (NPF)

S40.003: Saunders-Pullman R et al; In a retrospective chart
review of 171 women, early-stage PD symptoms were less severe
in those getting hormone (estrogen) replacement.   (PDF)

S40.004: Rakshi S et al; F-dopa PET imaging in a double-blind
trial of ropinirole vs. levodopa in 45 early-stage PD patients
indicated that ropinirole may be neuroprotective.  (SKB)

S40.005: Carrion A et al; In a 3.5-yr double-blind trial in
25 early-stage PD patients, 84% of those given ropinirole
alone have had no deterioration of symptoms, fluctuations,
or dyskinesia.                                     (NPF)

S40.006: Schneider J et al; In a 2-yr open extension of a prior
double-blind trial of GM-1 ganglioside, most PD patients needed
no increase of levodopa and had less than expected symptom
progression.                             (Fidia Pharmaceutical)

S50.004: Jankovic J et al; Observation of 16 PD patients having
both resting and postural tremor suggests that one type of
postural tremor is really a "re-emergent" rest tremor.

S60.005: Franklin G et al; Controlled survey of 103 PD cases
showed no risk correlation with vitamins A, D, E, or iron;
but foods rich in vitamin D or animal fat increased risk. (NIEHS)

S60.006: Van Den Eeden S et al; PD patients used more health
resources related to PD than controls, but usage of general
health resources was no different.            (NINDS, Kaiser)

S60.007: Parashos S et al; PD patients use outpatient services
and nursing home care more than those without PD.  (Mayo)

Highlights, AAN 50th Annual Meeting                 Page 3 of 4

P06.037: Currie L et al; Interview survey of 383 PD patients
revealed that early-morning dystonia is primarily due to long-
term, high-dose levodopa therapy.                 (NIH-NINDS)

P06.038: Nutt J et al; In dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD),
dopamine storage is intact, while in PD it is impaired. In DRD,
levodopa infusion blends into long-duration response, to
prolong the short-duration response.             (NIH-NINDS)

P06.039: Gordin A et al; Since entacapone is metabolized mainly
in the liver its dose should be reduced for patients with
impaired liver function.                     (Novartis Pharm.)

P06.040: Salvetti S et al; In 3-yr study of 64 PD patients and
60 healthy controls, they found that early autonomic involvement
in PD may presage more rapid progression.

P06.041: Hu M et al; Proton MRI study of 17 PD patients and 10
healthy controls found significant chemical change in the
cortex of the PD group, which predicts dementia before the onset
of overt clinical signs and possible presence of Lewy bodies.

P06.042: Noe E et al; SPECT study of 64 PD patients and 11
healthy controls showed relative hyperfusion of the posterior
temporal area, which correlates with cognitive decline, in the
PD group. It appears in early stages and increases with
progression of PD.

P06.043: Fields J et al; Neuropsychological examination of 18
PD patients who received pallidotomy and 9 given pallidal
stimulation implant showed little risk to cognitive function.

P06.044: Lai E et al; Followup of 44 PD patients who received
unilateral posteroventral pallidotomy for up to 1 yr showed
some prompt cognitive decline but it usually stabilizes of
improves within a year.

P06.045: Counihan T et al; In followup of 11 PD patients who
received staged contralateral pallidotomy after failure of
the first one to relieve ipsilateral symptoms, motor function
improved without additional complications.

P06.046: Dhawan V et al; From study of 10 PD patients and 7
healthy controls using PET imaging with [18F]FPCIT as a
tracer of the dopamine transporter, they conclude the technique
yields an objective measure of PD severity.

P06.047: Schwarz J et al; SPECT scans of 17 patients with
parkinsonism unresponsive to dopaminergics and 25 responsive
ones combbined imaging of dopamine transporter and dopamine
D2 receptors, and proved a useful tool to identify early PD.

P06.048: Martin W et al; SPECT imaging of dopamine transporter
using the marker beta-CIT in 11 patients with early PD and 12
healthy controls proved useful for early diagnosis.  (PFC)




Highlights, AAN 50th Annual Meeting               Page 4 of 4

P06.050: Hanakawa T et al; SPECT atudy of cerebral blood flow
in 10 PD patients and 9 normal controls identified those
brain regions whose hyperfunction may be responsible for the
gait impairment of PD.

P06.051: Moeller J et al; Continued FDG/PET study of a large
cohort of PD patients and controls confirms that the regional
metabolic pattern is a robust and reproducible marker for PD.

P06.052: Lee C et al; PET study using various tracers of 25
early-PD patients showed that the fluorodopa tracer in the
posterior putamen gives the best indication of PD severity.
                                            (MRC Canada)

P06.054: Boeker H et al; Groups of PD patients, HD patients,
and controls were scanned by PET while given a standard
stimulus at the index finger. Basal ganglia disorders such
as PD and HD are associated with deficits in cortical
activation during sensory processing. (SFB 462 'Sensomotorik')

P06.055: Rajput A et al; Postmortem study of 7 PD patients
who had dyskinesia or wearing-off, and 5 controls, showed
regional differences in dopamine metabolism. (Sask. PDF)

P06.056: Trenkwalder C et al; Sleep disruption and increased
motor activity during REM sleep are frequent both in PD and
in MSA.

OK!--
Joe

J. R. Bruman   (818) 789-3694
3527 Cody Road
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013