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ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Increasing attention has been focused on the pain and health-related quality of life (HrQOL) in patients with PD. Objective - To evaluate the relationship between pain and the HrQOL in patients with PD.
Eighty-two patients with PD were included and classified into two groups according to the presence of pain. The Hoehn and Yahr scale, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ), the Zung Depression Inventory--Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Visual Analogue Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered. The factors influencing the pain, HrQOL and parkinsonian manifestations were evaluated.
The PD with pain group had higher UPDRS part III scores, lower SF-36 scores, higher SDS scores and higher MSPQ scores than the PD without pain group. The presence of pain, high Hoehn and Yahr stage, advanced age and somatic perception were the factors that had a negative effect on the physical component of the HrQOL. Depression and somatic perception were the most important predictive factors for the mental component of the HrQOL. Depression and poor parkinsonian motor abilities were the leading factors contributing to pain.
Pain and depression were major detrimental factors affecting the physical and mental aspects of the HrQOL respectively. Therefore, the treatment of pain and depression can be important to improve the HrQOL.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 11/2008; 119(6):397-403. · 2.47 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Staurosporin, a specific inhibitor of PKC, is widely used in studies of signal transduction pathways. Previous studies have shown that staurosporin induces neurite outgrowth, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that staurosporin induces neurite outgrowth in HN33 hippocampal cells. Two other PKC inhibitors, Go 6976 (specific for alpha- and beta-isoforms) and rotterlin (a selective inhibitor of PKC delta), have no neuritogenic effect. In addition, staurosporin specifically increases ROS generation. NAC, which inhibits the generation of ROS, suppresses the staurosporin-induced neurite outgrowth in HN33 cells. Further, H(2)O(2) causes neurite outgrowth. Taken together, these results confirm a neuritogenic effect of staurosporin and point to ROS as the signal mediator of staurosporin-induced neurite outgrowth in HN33 hippocampal cells. Theme: Development and regeneration Topic: Neurotrophic factors: receptors and cellular mechanisms.
Acta Neurovegetativa 12/2006; 113(11):1821-6. · 2.73 Impact Factor
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S B Koh,
S I Suh, D H Lee,
A R Kim,
C H Oh,
J S Yoon,
B M Weon,
S K Seol,
A R Pyun,
J H Je,
Y Hwu,
G Margaritondo
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ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD), defined as a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies in neurons. Morphological study of Lewy bodies is important to identify the causes and the processes of PD. Here, we investigate a possibility of phase contrast radiography using coherent synchrotron X-rays to explore the microscopic details of Lewy bodies in thick (approximately 3 mm) midbrain tissues. Autopsied midbrain tissues of a PD patient were sliced in 3 mm thickness and then examined using synchrotron X-rays from the 7B2 beamline of the Pohang Light Source. Refraction-enhanced phase contrast radiography and microtomography were adopted to identify dark core and dim edge of Lewy bodies in neurons. The morphology of Lewy bodies was clearly revealed by the phase contrast radiography in very thick (3 mm) midbrain tissues without any staining treatment. Three-dimensional volume rendered microtomography of the autopsied midbrain tissues demonstrates striking evidence that several Lewy bodies are agglomerated by dim edges in a neuron. We suggest that the phase contrast radiography could be a useful tool to morphologically investigate the causes or the processes in PD.
NeuroImage 09/2006; 32(2):566-9. · 5.89 Impact Factor
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Neurology 05/2005; 64(7):1313-4. · 8.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hiccups are an infrequent result of lateral medullary infarction. Their importance may be underestimated and they can cause distress, exhaustion, and aspiration. Hiccups in lateral medullary infarction remain poorly understood
To evaluate the relation between the lesional loci of lateral medullary infarction and hiccups.
51 patients with lateral medullary infarction were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging within three days of the onset of infarction. Seven of the 51 patients developed hiccup.
All patients with hiccups had middle level lateral medullary lesions, including two with lower level lesions and four with upper level lesions. In the middle level lateral medullary lesions, dorsolateral lesions were most often involved. All patients with lateral medullary infarction presenting with hiccups also had vertigo, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia.
The observations suggest that middle level and dorsolateral lesion locations in lateral medullary infarction frequently induce hiccups.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 02/2005; 76(1):95-8. · 4.76 Impact Factor
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European Neurology 02/2001; 46(3):156-7. · 1.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are now receiving considerable attention for their association with stroke recurrence and white matter lesions (WML). Pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is a measure of arterial stiffness, was found to be one of the predictors of cardiovascular disease and stroke in a large population-based study. The current study set out to investigate the association between CMB and arterial stiffness. Methods: Subjects included 255 patients with strokes, such as cerebral infarctions or transient ischemic attacks, who were enrolled at Korea University Stroke Registry, Ansan arm, between October 2005 and May 2007, and underwent MRI and PWV. CMB, stroke lesion, stroke subtype and WML were coded by researchers blind to clinical details. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). Results: CMB were observed in 57 patients (22.4%), and were most frequently seen in the basal ganglia, followed by the cerebral cortex. The baPWV was significantly higher in patients with CMBs compared to those without (p < 0.01). After adjustment for demographics, vascular risk factors and hemodynamic parameters, baPWV proved to be significantly associated with CMB using a logistic regression test (odds ratio 1.119, 95% CI 1.013–1.237). Conclusions: PWV had an independent association with CMB in patients with stroke. These findings suggest that arterial stiffness may be pathophysiologically associated with CMB.
Cerebrovascular Diseases. 08/1970; 26(6):618-623.
