scholarly journals Dopaminergic Treatment Effects on Dysarthric Speech: Acoustic Analysis in a Cohort of Patients With Advanced Parkinson's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cavallieri ◽  
Carla Budriesi ◽  
Annalisa Gessani ◽  
Sara Contardi ◽  
Valentina Fioravanti ◽  
...  

Importance: The effects of dopaminergic treatment on speech in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are often mixed and unclear. The aim of this study was to better elucidate those discrepancies.Methods: Full retrospective data from advanced PD patients before and after an acute levodopa challenge were collected. Acoustic analysis of spontaneous monologue and sustained phonation including several quantitative parameters [i.e., maximum phonation time (MPT); shimmer local dB] as well as the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (total scores, subscores, and items) and the Clinical Dyskinesia Rating Scale (CDRS) were performed in both the defined-OFF and -ON conditions. The primary outcome was the changes of speech parameters after levodopa intake. Secondary outcomes included the analysis of possible correlations of motor features and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) with acoustic speech parameters. Statistical analysis included paired t-test between the ON and OFF data (calculated separately for male and female subgroups) and Pearson correlation between speech and motor data.Results: In 50 PD patients (male: 32; female: 18), levodopa significantly increased the MPT of sustained phonation in female patients (p < 0.01). In the OFF-state, the UPDRS part-III speech item negatively correlated with MPT (p = 0.02), whereas in the ON-state, it correlated positively with the shimmer local dB (p = 0.01), an expression of poorer voice quality. The total CDRS score and axial subscores strongly correlated with the ON-state shimmer local dB (p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively).Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that levodopa has a poor effect on speech acoustic parameters. The intensity and location of LID negatively influenced speech quality.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Ueno ◽  
Megumi Sasaki ◽  
Haruo Nishijima ◽  
Yukihisa Funamizu ◽  
Tomoya Kon ◽  
...  

The efficacy of LSVT-BIG for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with wearing off remains to be determined. Therefore, we evaluated whether LSVT-BIG improves motor disability in eight PD patients with wearing off. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores, daily off time, and mobility assessments were evaluated during the “on” time before and after the LSVT-BIG course. LSVT-BIG significantly improved UPDRS III scores at 4 weeks and UPDRS II scores in the “off” state at 12 weeks, with no changes in the other measures. The findings suggest that LSVT-BIG may be an effective therapy for advanced PD patients with wearing off.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 1095-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviva Abosch ◽  
Shitij Kapur ◽  
Anthony E. Lang ◽  
Doug Hussey ◽  
Elspeth Sime ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a target in the surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The mechanism by which electrical stimulation of the STN ameliorates symptoms of PD remains unknown. One consistent aspect of STN stimulation is the ability to reduce the dosage of dopaminergic medications; sometimes they can be eliminated altogether. Furthermore, nigrostriatal projection axons are apposed to the dorsal surface of the STN and are likely affected by the application of current in this region. We sought to determine whether STN stimulation could release endogenous striatal dopamine. METHODS Five patients with PD, who had previously undergone surgical implantation of bilateral STN stimulators, underwent [11C]raclopride positron emission tomographic scanning. l-dopa was withheld for 12 hours, and both stimulators were turned off 9 hours before scanning. We assayed for striatal dopamine release by measuring radioligand displacement as a consequence of turning on the right STN stimulator after 45 minutes of a 90-minute [11C]raclopride infusion. Patients were evaluated with the motor section of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale before and after the studies. RESULTS Comparisons between the right and left striata, before and after right STN stimulation, demonstrated no significant differences in [11C]raclopride binding, despite significant improvements in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores with unilateral stimulation (mean improvement, 26.0 ± 16.4%; P < 0.05). This finding was also noted when the striatum was partitioned into dorsal and ventral caudate and putamen and the four regions were analyzed separately. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that STN stimulation does not mediate its anti-PD effects via the release of dopamine, as assessed with [11C]raclopride displacement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Tao Wang ◽  
Yiwang Zhang ◽  
Yixin Pan ◽  
Linbin Wang ◽  
Chencheng Zhang ◽  
...  

Background. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease (PD) has evolved as a well-established treatment in neurosurgery, and identifying appropriate surgical candidates could contribute to better DBS outcomes. The Florida Surgical Questionnaire for Parkinson Disease (FLASQ-PD) is a reasonable screening tool for assessing DBS candidacy in PD patients; however, a Chinese version of FLASQ-PD is needed for functional neurosurgery units in China. In this study, we translated the FLASQ-PD to Chinese and assessed its reliability and validity for Chinese PD patients. Methods. The FLASQ-PD was translated before the study formally started. A single-center retrospective analysis of FLASQ-PD was performed at the Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, between July and December 2019. The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS-III) was also used to assess PD patients on and off medication. All patients were evaluated for surgical candidacy by specialists. Results. Overall, 115 PD patients, 25 with parkinsonism and six with multiple system atrophy were consecutively included. Internal consistency of the Chinese FLASQ-PD was roughly adequate (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.664). There were significant differences in mean total scores of the Chinese FLASQ-PD between the diagnostic (Kruskal–Wallis H value = 37.450, p ≤ 0.001 ) and surgery-candidacy groups (H = 48.352, p ≤ 0.001 ). Drug improvements in UPDRS-III scores were mildly correlated with the Chinese FLASQ-PD scores in the surgery-ready group (Pearson correlation = 0.399, p = 0.001 ). Conclusions. The Chinese FLASQ-PD, which is a simple and efficient screening tool for clinicians, was developed and initially validated in this retrospective single-center study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-yi Kuai ◽  
Xiao-han Yao ◽  
Li-juan Xu ◽  
Yu-qing Zhou ◽  
Li-ping Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70–80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Leodori ◽  
Maria Ilenia De Bartolo ◽  
Daniele Belvisi ◽  
Alessia Ciogli ◽  
Andrea Fabbrini ◽  
...  

AbstractWe aimed to investigate salivary caffeine content, caffeine absorption and metabolism in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and verify whether salivary caffeine can be used as a biomarker of PD. We enrolled 98 PD patients and 92 healthy subjects. Caffeine and its major metabolite, paraxanthine, were measured in saliva samples collected before and 4 h after the oral intake of caffeine (100 mg). We measured caffeine absorption as the normalized increase in caffeine levels, and caffeine metabolism as the paraxanthine/caffeine ratio. The Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III, the Hoehn & Yahr, the presence of motor complications, and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) were assessed and correlated with caffeine levels, absorption, and metabolism. The effects of demographic and environmental features possibly influencing caffeine levels were also investigated. Caffeine levels were decreased in patients with moderate/advanced PD, while caffeine levels were normal in patients with early and de-novo PD, unrelated to caffeine intake. Caffeine absorption and metabolism were normal in PD. Decreased salivary caffeine levels in PD were associated with higher disease severity, longer duration, and the presence of motor complications, no significant association was found with LED. Salivary caffeine decrease correlates with PD progression.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
He-Yang You ◽  
Lei Wu ◽  
Hai-Ting Yang ◽  
Chen Yang ◽  
Xiao-Ling Ding

Background. Pain is frequent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Parkinson-plus syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, therapy (especially the effect of dopaminergic therapy), and associated symptoms of pain in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. Methods. Seventy-one PD patients, sixty-five MSA patients, and forty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled and evaluated by using the German pain questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, the influence of pain in PD patients on anxiety, depression, and the quality of life was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Results. Compared to that of the healthy controls, the PD and MSA patients had a significantly higher presence of pain (P<0.01, P<0.01). PD patients had a higher presence of pain than MSA patients (P=0.007). No difference in VAS scores was observed between the PD and MSA patients (P=0.148). A total of 21 PD patients (42.85%) with pain and 13 MSA patients (43.33%) with pain received treatment. A total of 13 PD patients with pain and 6 MSA patients with pain had an improved pain intensity after using dopaminergic medication. The differences in the disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr stages, and scores on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor score, HAD-D, HAD-A, and PDQ-39 were significant between the PD patients with and without pain. Conclusion. PD and MSA patients are prone to pain with insufficient treatment. Pain interventions should be provided as soon as possible to improve the patient’s life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Luz ◽  
Alan Whone ◽  
Niccolò Bassani ◽  
Richard K Wyse ◽  
Glenn T Stebbins ◽  
...  

Abstract There is an increasing need for improved endpoints to assess clinical trial effects in Parkinson’s disease. We propose the Parkinson’s Disease Comprehensive Response as a novel weighted composite endpoint integrating changes measured in three established Parkinson’s outcomes, including: OFF state Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Motor Examination scores; Motor Experiences of Daily Living scores; and total good-quality ON time per day. The data source for the initial development of the composite described herein was a recent Phase II trial of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. A wide range of clinically derived relative weights was assessed to normalize for differentially scoring base rates with each endpoint component. The Parkinson’s disease comprehensive response, in contrast to examining practically defined OFF state Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Motor Examination scores alone, showed stability over 40 weeks in placebo patients, and all 432 analyses in this permutation exercise yielded significant differences in favour of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. The findings were consistent with results obtained employing three different global statistical test methodologies and with patterns of intra-patient change. Based on our detailed analyses, we conclude it worth prospectively evaluating the clinical utility, validity and regulatory feasibility of using clinically supported final Parkinson’s disease comprehensive response formulas (for both the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-based and Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-based versions) in future disease-modifying Parkinson’s trials. Whilst the data source employed in the initial development of this weighted composite score is from a recent Phase II trial of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, we wish to stress that the results are not described to provide post hoc evidence of the efficacy of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor but rather are presented to further the debate of how current regulatory approved rating scales may be combined to address some of the recognized limitations of using individual scales in isolation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Henrique Ferreira Camargo ◽  
Rafael Arthur Serpa ◽  
Thiago Matnei ◽  
Jivago Szpoganicz Sabatini ◽  
Hélio Afonso Ghizoni Teive

ABSTRACT Background: Apathy is one of the main neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Objective: To identify the characteristics of apathy in individuals with PDD according to caregiver perception. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with PD according to MDS criteria for PDD were included. The following scales were used: the Hoehn and Yahr, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III, Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Cognition (SCOPA Cog), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). Results: A total of 97.4% of the patients showed results consistent with apathy. Analysis of question 14 of the AES revealed no correlation with the total result of all the questions [r=-1293, r²=0.0167, 95%CI (-0.4274 to 0.1940), P=0.2162], however, there was a correlation of responses to the same question with depression data on the MADRS scale [r=-0.5213, r²=0.2718, 95%CI (-0.7186 to -0.2464), P=0.00033]. Conclusion: Apathy is a disorder associated with PDD. However, the scoring scheme of the AES questions can lead to different interpretations of caregiver responses, highlighting limitations of the tool for use in studies of PDD.


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