FV 7. Cross-sectional area of the vagus nerve correlates with parasympathetic dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 132 (8) ◽  
pp. e31-e32
Author(s):  
S. Huckemann ◽  
K. Müller ◽  
P. Averdunk ◽  
E. Kühn ◽  
L. Hilker ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C.J. Sijben ◽  
Werner H. Mess ◽  
Uwe Walter ◽  
A. Miranda L. Janssen ◽  
Mark Kuijf ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveRecent studies have revealed the importance of the gut brain axis in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has also been suggested that the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the vagus nerve can be used in the diagnosis of PD. Here, we hypothesize that the CSA of the vagus nerve is decreased in PD patients compared to control subjects.MethodsIn this study we measured the CSA of the vagus nerve on both sides in 31 patients with PD and 51 healthy controls at the level of the common carotid artery using high-resolution ultrasound.ResultsThe CSA of the vagus nerve was not reduced in PD patients compared to controls (p = 0.391. The mean CSA of the left vagus nerve was significantly smaller than the right (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between age, gender and autonomic symptoms with the CSA of the left (p = 0.128) and right vagus nerve (p = 0.166).ConclusionThese findings show that the CSA of the vagus nerve using ultrasonography is not a reliable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of PD.HighlightsThe cross-sectional area of the vagus nerve is not decreased in Parkinson disease patients.The cross-sectional area of the vagus nerve does not correlate with autonomic symptoms.Measurement of the vagus nerve cross-sectional area has a high inter-observer correlation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Horsager ◽  
Uwe Walter ◽  
Tatyana D Fedorova ◽  
Katrine B. Andersen ◽  
Casper Skjærbæk ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundVagal parasympathetic neurons are prone to degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). High-resolution ultrasound can precisely estimate the cross-sectional area (CSA) of peripheral nerves. Here, we tested the hypothesis that vagus CSA is reduced in PD.MethodsWe included 56 healthy controls (HCs) and 63 patients with PD. Using a high-end ultrasound system equipped with a high-frequency transducer, five images were obtained of each nerve. The hypoechoic neuronal tissue was delineated offline with dedicated software and the CSA extracted.ResultsIn the initial PD vs. HC comparison, no statistically significant differences were observed in mean left vagus CSA (HC: 1.97mm2, PD: 1.89mm2, P=0.36) or in mean right vagus CSA (HC: 2.37mm2, PD: 2.23mm2, P=0.17). The right vagus CSA was significantly larger than the left vagus CSA in both groups (P<0.0001). Females were overrepresented in the HC group and presented with generally smaller vagus CSAs. Consequently, sex-adjusted CSA was significantly smaller for the right vagus nerve of the PD group (P=0.041), but not for the left.ConclusionA small but significant reduction in sex-adjusted right vagus CSA was observed in patients with PD. The left vagus CSA was not significantly reduced in patients with PD. Ultrasound may not be a suitable method to detecting vagal axonal loss in individual patients.


Author(s):  
Chiang ◽  
Chen ◽  
Lin

Background: To investigate the relationship between fat content and the cross-sectional area of psoas and thigh muscles, and clinical severity in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients and 20 age- and sex-matched normal controls were recruited. All subjects underwent MRI study to determine the fat content of the bilateral psoas and thigh muscles. Muscle quality was measured by grasp, walking speed, and cross-sectional area. All patients underwent clinical surveys to evaluate disease severity and frailty, and analyses of the correlations between muscle quality and disease severity were performed. Results: Compared with the controls, patients exhibited higher fatty content in the measured muscles. The higher fat infiltration of measured muscles was significantly correlated with increased disease severity and frailty in patients. The fat fraction of the bilateral medial compartment of the thigh was correlated with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-I results and the fat fraction of the bilateral anterior compartment of the thigh was correlated with weakness and exhaustion in patients. Conclusions: Decreased quality in psoas and thigh muscles is prominent in Parkinson’s disease which is further associated with disease severity and frailty. Awareness of the risk of sarcopenia and associated sequelae might improve patient care and outcomes.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247920
Author(s):  
Karl Aoun ◽  
Kay L. Double ◽  
Verity Pearson-Dennett ◽  
Rezzak Yilmaz ◽  
Daniela Berg ◽  
...  

Background Transcranial sonography is increasingly used to aid clinical diagnoses of movement disorders, for example, to identify an enlarged area of substantia nigra echogenicity in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Objective The current study investigated characteristics of the midbrain at the anatomical plane for quantification of substantia nigra echogenicity. METHODS: Area of substantia nigra echogenicity, cross-sectional area of the midbrain, and interpeduncular angle were quantified in two groups of adults aged 18–50 years: 47 healthy non-drug-using controls (control group) and 22 individuals with a history of methamphetamine use (methamphetamine group), a cohort with a high prevalence of enlarged substantia nigra echogenicity and thus risk of Parkinson’s disease. Results In the control group, cross-sectional area of the midbrain (4.47±0.44 cm2) and interpeduncular angle were unaffected by age, sex, or image acquisition side. In the methamphetamine group, cross-sectional midbrain area (4.72±0.60 cm2) and area of substantia nigra echogenicity were enlarged compared to the control group, and the enlargement was sex-dependent (larger in males than females). Whole midbrain area and interpeduncular angle were found to be weak predictors of area of substantia nigra echogenicity after accounting for group and sex. Conclusions History of methamphetamine use is associated with an enlarged midbrain and area of substantia nigra echogenicity, and the abnormality is more pronounced in males than females. Thus, males may be more susceptible to methamphetamine-induced changes to the brainstem, and risk of Parkinson’s disease, than females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Horsager ◽  
Uwe Walter ◽  
Tatyana D. Fedorova ◽  
Katrine B. Andersen ◽  
Casper Skjærbæk ◽  
...  

Background: Vagal parasympathetic neurons are prone to degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). High-resolution ultrasound can precisely estimate the cross-sectional (CSA) area of peripheral nerves. Here, we tested the hypothesis that vagus CSA is reduced in PD.Methods: We included 56 healthy controls (HCs) and 63 patients with PD. Using a high-end ultrasound system equipped with a high-frequency transducer, five images were obtained of each nerve. The hypoechoic neuronal tissue was delineated offline with dedicated software and the CSA extracted.Results: In the initial PD vs. HC comparison, no statistically significant differences were observed in mean left vagus CSA (HC: 1.97 mm2, PD: 1.89 mm2, P = 0.36) nor in mean right vagus CSA (HC: 2.37 mm2, PD: 2.23 mm2, P = 0.17). The right vagus CSA was significantly larger than the left vagus CSA in both groups (P &lt; 0.0001). Females were overrepresented in the HC group and presented with generally smaller vagus CSAs. Consequently, sex-adjusted CSA was significantly smaller for the right vagus nerve of the PD group (P = 0.041), but not for the left.Conclusion: A small but significant reduction in sex-adjusted right vagus CSA was observed in patients with PD. The left vagus CSA was not significantly reduced in patients with PD. Ultrasound may not be a suitable method to detecting vagal axonal loss in individual patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 148-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuto Tsukita ◽  
Tomoaki Taguchi ◽  
Haruhi Sakamaki-Tsukita ◽  
Kanta Tanaka ◽  
Toshihiko Suenaga

1994 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 110-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Holmberg ◽  
M. B. Hurtig ◽  
H. R. Sukhiani

SummaryDuring a triple pelvic osteotomy, rotation of the free acetabular segment causes the pubic remnant on the acetabulum to rotate into the pelvic canal. The resulting narrowing may cause complications by impingement on the organs within the pelvic canal. Triple pelvic osteotomies were performed on ten cadaver pelves with pubic remnants equal to 0, 25, and 50% of the hemi-pubic length and angles of acetabular rotation of 20, 30, and 40 degrees. All combinations of pubic remnant lengths and angles of acetabular rotation caused a significant reduction in pelvic canal-width and cross-sectional area, when compared to the inact pelvis. Zero, 25, and 50% pubic remnants result in 15, 35, and 50% reductions in pelvic canal width respectively. Overrotation of the acetabulum should be avoided and the pubic remnant on the acetabular segment should be minimized to reduce postoperative complications due to pelvic canal narrowing.When performing triple pelvic osteotomies, the length of the pubic remnant on the acetabular segment and the angle of acetabular rotation both significantly narrow the pelvic canal. To reduce post-operative complications, due to narrowing of the pelvic canal, overrotation of the acetabulum should be avoided and the length of the pubic remnant should be minimized.


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