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