Publications (23) View all
-
Article: BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with cognitive impairment in Italian patients with Parkinson's disease.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A possible association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and the polymorphism of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) G196A (Val66Met) has been suggested by different studies that nevertheless yielded-contrasting result. The purpose of this study was to analyze such possible association in a cohort of Italian PD patients. The BDNF polymorphisms were analyzed in 294 Italian patients with PD; results were compared to those obtained in 233 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) enrolled from two tertiary centres in Italy. Polymorphisms were determined by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis; correlations between BDNF G196A polymorphism, and cognitive function were established by sub analyzing the results upon dividing PD patients based on their Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Univariate analysis showed a highly significant correlation between the BDNF(AA) genotype and a MMSE score < or =24. Hence, the distribution of this genotype in PD individuals with a MMSE score < or =24 was significantly increased compared to PD patients with an MMSE score >24 and HC (P < 0.001 in both cases). Multivariate analyses showed that BDNF (AA) genotype was associated to a sixfold risk of cognitive impairment. The BDNF(AA) homozygote genotype is over-represented in PD patients compared with normal individuals; this genotype was significantly correlated to cognitive impairment, age and disease severity. These results, although preliminary, could be important in establishing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to PD.European Journal of Neurology 06/2009; 16(11):1240-5. · 3.69 Impact Factor -
Article: Long-term experience with continuous duodenal levodopa-carbidopa infusion (Duodopa): report of six patients.
Neurological Sciences 02/2009; 30(1):85-6. · 1.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Association of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 polymorphisms with adverse reactions to catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors in Parkinson's disease patients.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To investigate the association between adverse reactions to catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors and the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 genotypes UGT1A9*1b and UGT1A9*3a, which were previously identified in individual cases of COMT inhibitor-induced toxicity. The study included 52 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients on COMT inhibitors without evidence of adverse reactions and 11 PD patients who had been withdrawn from COMT inhibitors due to adverse reactions. UGT1A9*1b was identified by direct sequencing of the PCR amplification of the gene and UGT1A9*3a was assayed by real-time PCR. The frequency of the *3a/*3a and *1/*3a genotype variants was 45.5 % in subjects with adverse reactions and 21.1 % in subjects without adverse reactions [overall UGT1A9*3a allele frequency 27.3 vs. 11.5 %, P = 0.087; odds ratio (OR) 2.87, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.94-8.77]. The frequency of genotype combinations leading to low glucuronosyltransferase activity (*3a/*3a irrespective of *1b or *1/*3a and *1/*1b) was 5.8 % in subjects without adverse reactions and 36.4 % in subjects with adverse reactions (P = 0.014; OR 9.33, 95 % CI 1.71-50.78). In PD patients UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 genotypes are associated with adverse reactions to COMT inhibitors, leading to treatment withdrawal. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 genotyping may be a screening and/or diagnostic test to assist individualized treatments with COMT inhibitors.European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 04/2012; 68(11):1493-9. · 2.85 Impact Factor -
Article: Rehabilitation improves dyskinesias in Parkinsonian patients: a pilot study comparing two different rehabilitative treatments.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: GOAL AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was devised: (a) to test whether an intensive (60 hours in 4 weeks) multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment (involving physiotherapy, exercises to improve gait and balance using treadmill and stabilometric platform, occupational therapy) for Parkinsonian patients is effective in improving dyskinesia and motor performance compared to a control group undergoing a non-intensive non multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment (30 hours in 4 weeks involving physiotherapy only); and (b) to verify whether rehabilitation may lead to a reduction in levodopa dosage. Forty Parkinsonian patients suffering from dyskinesias were admitted to study: 20 for an intensive multidisciplinary (Group1) and 20 for a non-intensive non multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment (Group2). The rating scales used for the clinical evaluation were: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales (UPDRS) II, III, IV, Parkinson's disease disability scale (PDDS), Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). All outcome measurements improved in both groups of patients, but patients Group1 presented better results: UPDRS II was reduced by 33% in Group1 and by 22% in Group2, UPDRS III 29% vs. 22%, UPDRS IV 74% vs. 10%, PDDS 18% vs. 12%, and AIMS 71% vs. 8%. A different behaviour was observed for levodopa dosage at baseline and after treatment: dosage decreased by an average value of 210 mg (p< 0.0001) in Group1 and was virtually unchanged (30 mg reduction, p=0.08) in Group2. Our findings suggest that a rehabilitation protocol should be considered as a valid non-invasive therapeutic support for patients who show dyskinesias and that there are better results when the treatment is intensive.Neurorehabilitation 01/2012; 30(4):295-301. · 1.63 Impact Factor -
Article: Progression to vascular dementia of patients with mild cognitive impairment: relevance of mild parkinsonian signs.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Mild parkinsonian signs (MPS) may be found among patients presenting with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but few data are available about the relation of these signs with the prospective risk for dementia. Our retrospective investigation considered a case-series of 119 MCI subjects followed over a three-year period: their baseline clinical picture has been analyzed in search of correlation between the cognito-motor profile and the final diagnosis. The population included 66 patients with amnesic MCI and 53 with an involvement of other cognitive areas (nonamnesic MCI). MPS were detected in 22 subjects (18.5%). At the first observation, MPS cases showed an higher frequency of nonamnesic MCI and more pronounced deficits at the Trail Making Test (p < 0.05). After a three-year follow-up, 48 patients had converted to dementia. The presence of MPS at the baseline evaluation was significantly related to the development of a vascular-type dementia. The study investigates the association between MPS and MCI and might indicate for these cases a greater risk for an involvement of executive functions and the subsequent development of vascular dementia.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 12/2008; 4(6):1267-71. · 1.81 Impact Factor
