Acta neurologica Scandinavica
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialTopiramate in painful diabetic polyneuropathy: findings from three double-blind placebo-controlled trials.
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy. ⋯ These studies did not find topiramate to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing pain scores in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Several design features may have precluded the studies from having sufficient sensitivity to differentiate effective and ineffective treatments. The study design and results are instructive for other investigators designing future clinical studies in neuropathic pain.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2004
Occurrence of beta-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) in ALS/PDC patients from Guam.
We tested the brain tissues of the Chamorro people of Guam who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism dimentia complex (ALS/PDC) for the neurotoxin beta-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA). We used validated high-pressure liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses to test well-characterized archival tissues of the superior frontal gyrus from eight Chamorros from Guam and a comparison group of 15 Canadians. ⋯ Both forms of BMAA were also found at comparable levels in two Canadians who died of progressive neurodegenerative disease. BMAA, which is produced by cyanobacteria, may be associated with some cases of neurodegenerative disease.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Oct 2004
The effect of monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphisms on levodopa therapy in patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease.
The etiology of sporadic idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered multifactorial with both genetic and environmental factors modifying the disease expression. Recent studies suggest that polymorphism in monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) might influence the risk and treatment of PD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of MAOB and COMT genetic polymorphism on effective daily dose of levodopa applied during the first 5 years of treatment, and to find out if a relationship exists between MAOB and COMT haplotypes and motor disturbances onset in PD patients treated with levodopa preparations. ⋯ The results of the study suggest that patients with COMT(L/L) genotype and possibly MAOB genotype A may benefit from more efficient and safer levodopa therapy.