Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2019
Observational StudyMotor and non-motor outcomes in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease treated with levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel: final results of the GREENFIELD observational study.
The GREENFIELD observational study assessed the effect of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) on motor and non-motor symptoms, and the related impact on patient quality of life and caregiver burden up to 8 years. ⋯ The results of this study support the long-term efficacy of LCIG on PD symptoms as well as on activities of daily living. The adverse events were consistent with the established LCIG safety profile.
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2019
Comparative StudyComparison of high-frequency and ultrahigh-frequency probes in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS 18-20 MHz) performed on patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) shows a focal enlargement, particularly in the proximal segments of upper-arm motor nerves. Ultrahigh frequency ultrasound (UHFUS 30-70 MHz), having a higher spatial resolution, enables a better characterization of nerve structures. The aim of this study was to compare the two ultrasound probes in the evaluation of motor nerve characteristics in CIDP patients. ⋯ Ultrasound evaluation could become an adjunctive diagnostic tool for CIDP. Further studies are needed to validate the examined parameters as biomarkers for the evaluation and follow-up of CIDP patients.
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2019
Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain tracks cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.
Cognitive impairment (CI) is a disabling symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Axonal damage disrupts neural circuits and may play a role in determining CI, but its detection and monitoring are not routinely performed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising marker of axonal damage in MS. ⋯ CSF NfL is higher in MS patients with CI and impaired IPS and verbal fluency. Large myelinated axons injury, causing neural disconnection, may be an important determinant of CI in MS and can be reliably measured through CSF NfL.
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2019
Analytical and clinical performances of the automated Lumipulse cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 and T-Tau assays for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are increasingly used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, important methodological and technical remain regarding measurement variability between kit providers and users. We compared the Lumipulse fully automated assays with the manual INNOTEST assays (both from Fujirebio Europe NV, Gent, Belgium) on a clinically representative sample of patients and controls. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that the Lumipulse Aβ1-42 and T-Tau assays show good analytical and clinical performances in the context of patient evaluation referred to a memory clinic. Automated analyzers should be preferred for the measurement of CSF AD biomarkers to reduce inter- and intra-laboratory variability.