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Biomedical subjects

L Brusa

Publications and source records attributed to L Brusa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cognition and emotion in different stages and subtypes of Parkinson's disease.

This paper reviews the main neuropsychological features of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), Huntington's disease (HD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD). These neurodegenerative disorders all share a prominent frontal lobe-like syndrome which can be explained by damage to connections between the basal ganglia and the cortical areas involved in movement, and in behavioural and mood control. In this paper different types of cognitive and mood alteration are described in an attempt to identify additional reasons for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism-like syndromes.

Cognition↗

A possible association between exposure to n-hexane and parkinsonism.

Recently, some case-control studies and case reports have shown an association between solvent exposure and parkinsonisms. We present a 55-year-old male parkinsonian patient with chronic exposure to n-hexane for 17 years. The results of neurophysiological (electromyography, evoked potentials), neuroradiological (MRI) and neuropsychological tests performed on the patient suggest a role of this solvent at the level of the central nervous system. Biological susceptibility to neurotoxic compounds is discussed briefly.

Antiparkinson Agents↗

Levodopa may improve orthostatic tremor: case report and trial of treatment.

Primary orthostatic tremor is a regular fast lower limb tremor causing unsteadiness on standing. Treatment is generally unsatisfactory. A patient with primary orthostatic tremor who 9 years later developed levodopa responsive idiopathic Parkinson's disease is described. The patient exhibited the classic features of primary orthostatic tremor with relief of the tremor by walking or sitting while treated with levodopa. However, in the "off" state, when the benefits of levodopa disappeared, this orthostatic tremor was continuous and severely compromised the patient's gait. On the basis of this finding eight patients with primary orthostatic tremor were treated with levodopa. Five patients experienced benefit and elected to remain on long term treatment. This study is the first trial of therapy in primary orthostatic tremor and suggests that levodopa can lead to good symptomatic relief in this potentially disabling condition.

Aged↗

Dopamine hypersensitivity in migraine: role of the apomorphine test.

We investigated the effects of apomorphine administration at two different doses (2-10 micrograms/kg, s.c.) in 35 migraineurs in headache-free period and in 20 age-matched healthy control subjects, with and without pretreatment with domperidone. Neither patients or controls complained of headache at either dose, whereas at the dose of 10 micrograms/kg migraineurs showed a statistically significant higher incidence of dopaminergic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, yawning, dizziness, sweating) than controls. Furthermore, symptoms due to postsynaptic dopamine receptors activation (i.e., nausea and vomiting) only appeared in migraineurs. No symptom, however, resembled those characterizing a spontaneous migraine attack. In conclusion, migraineurs show a lower threshold for dopamine receptor activation than normal subjects.

Adult↗

Bilateral simultaneous cerebellar infarction in the medial branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territories.

We present an unusual case of simultaneous bilateral cerebellar infarction in the territory of the medial and intermediate branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (mPICA). The patient, a 57-yr-old woman, had no risk factors for cerebrovascular disease but a long-standing hypertension. Pathogenetic hypotheses of this unusual ischemic site of lesion may be referred to: A) two PICAs arising from an occluded basilar artery; B) both medial branches arising from the same PICA on one side; C) a haemodynamic mechanism with hypoperfusion in the most peripheral branches of the arteries; D) a double, simultaneous embolic stroke in mPICAs territory. Based on clinical course, supraortic duplex-scan, echocardiography, MRI, angioMRI and CT scans, and digital subtraction angiography, none of these hypotheses could be clearly associated with the pathogenesis of the lesion. Nevertheless, we propose that an anomalous common mPICA for both cerebellar territories should represent the necessary condition for the ischemic insult and, simultaneously, other factors should intervene as possible determining events.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

Basilar migraine with electroencephalographic findings of occipital spike-wave complexes: a long-term study in seven children.

Basilar migraine is characterized by headache preceded by prodromal symptoms and signs of posterior cerebral circulation dysfunction. Few studies have focused on EEG findings in this condition or on the prognosis of occipital spike-wave complexes observed in either migraine or epilepsy. We now report a long-term follow-up (8-16 years) in seven children affected by basilar migraine who had EEG findings of occipital spike-wave complexes. Basilar migraine resolved and the EEG became normal in all subjects during the observation period, as did migraine with aura and seizures which developed in some of the patients after basilar migraine attacks ceased.

Basilar Artery↗

Area tempestas modulates the behavioural responses to nociceptive stimuli in rats.

The antinociception of opiates is mediated through the activation of opioid receptors in several mid brain and brain stem areas. This paper reports that the forebrain area termed area tempestas (AT), first identified as a convulsant trigger area, is also a component of the endogenous pain suppression system. Unilateral AT application of DAMGO, morphine and U-50,488H in rats at doses in the nanogram range produced marked and dose-dependent increases in the latency to respond to nociceptive stimuli. A lower effect is found after application of DPDPE and DADLE. Antinociception is more evident in the hot plate than in the tail flick test. In the former test, the effect was restricted to the paws contralateral to the hemisphere of injection. Unilateral AT application of naltrexone (4 ng) reduced in the contralateral paws the antinociceptive effect that the bilateral AT application of morphine (20 ng/hemisphere) had induced in both body sides. Unilateral application of naltrexone, (20 ng) ICI 154, 129 (20 ng) and Win 44,441-3 (8 ng) antagonized the antinociceptive effect elicited by the systemic injection of morphine (2.5 mg/kg s), DPDPE (20 mg/kg s) and U-50,488H (20 mg/kg s), respectively. In the hot plate test, the antagonism was found in the paws ipsilateral and contralateral to the hemisphere of injection of the antagonists.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗