Biomedical subjects

P A Hanna

Publications and source records attributed to P A Hanna.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Autopsy-proven Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a patient with a negative 14-3-3 assay and nonspecific EEG and MRI.

Detection of 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in combination with findings on electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in patients premortem. We present a case of classic, sporadic CJD, confirmed on autopsy and by Western blot. However, all routine premorbid testing was negative, the CSF was negative for the 14-3-3 protein, EEG did not show periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWC), and MRI failed to show hyperintense signal in the basal ganglia. Thus, laboratory support for the diagnosis of CJD was not obtained premortem. The chances of all three diagnostic testing modalities to be negative in a single case of sporadic CJD are extremely remote. Autopsy with neuropathologic confirmation remains the only definitive way to make a diagnosis of CJD.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

PubMed2001

Switching from pergolide to pramipexole in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To compare the safety and efficacy of pramipexole and pergolide in the treatment of mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD). In contrast to pergolide, a D1 and D2 dopamine agonist, pramipexole is a nonergoline dopamine agonist with D2 and preferential D3 dopamine receptor activity. This selective activity may result in clinically different effects. No prospective head-to-head comparison studies of pergolide and pramipexole have been reported. METHODS: Patients with PD who were maintained on an optimal dose of pergolide were converted to pramipexole, typically over a one-month period. Clinical assessments were performed just prior to conversion and after an optimal dose of pramipexole was achieved. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were converted from pergolide to pramipexole during the period of July, 1997 to January, 1999. Three patients were lost to follow-up, and one patient died. Of the remaining 21 patients there were 11 men and 10 women, mean age was 67.3 years +/- 10.0 (range 51-84). Mean duration of symptoms prior to conversion was 12.5 years +/- 3.4 (range 5-19). All patients (except one) were on concomitant carbidopa/ levodopa and experienced motor fluctuations. After a mean follow-up of 5.9 +/- 2.9 months on pramipexole, the mean levodopa daily dose was reduced from 618.7mg to 581.2mg (16.5% reduction, p = 0.61). The mean daily doses of pergolide and pramipexole (in milligrams per day) were 2.1 +/- 1.5 (0.15-6) and 3.2 +/- 1.1 (0.75-6) respectively. Thirteen patients (62%) reported overall improvement (subjective global response) on pramipexole as compared to pergolide, 5 (24%) were unchanged and 3 (14%) reported worsening. Eighteen of the 21 patients (86%) remained on pramipexole after the study period. Although there was a slight trend toward improved scores on pramipexole, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This open label study failed to provide evidence of superior efficacy of either dopamine agonist. It is possible, however, that while somepatients may benefit more from either pergolide or pramipexole, other patients may obtain additional benefit from other DA agonists or combination therapy. Future randomized, controlled, double-blinded therapeutic trials are needed to determine which, if any, dopamine agonist is superior in the treatment of PD.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2000

Botulinum toxin in the treatment of tics.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin A (BTX) injections in the treatment of tics in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS). BACKGROUND: BTX is an effective treatment for an increasing number of conditions characterized by abnormal muscle contractions. BTX may improve not only the motor component of tics, but also premonitory sensations that precede tics. METHODS: Thirty-five patients (30 male, 5 female) were treated with BTX in the sites of their most problematic tics. Response to BTX was based on a 0 to 4 clinical rating scale (0, no improvement, to 4, marked improvement in both severity and function). Questionnaires were administered to evaluate patients' impressions of overall efficacy and degree of benefit with premonitory sensations. RESULTS: Mean duration of tics prior to initial injection was 15.3 years (range, 1-62 years) and mean duration of follow-up was 21.2 months (range, 1. 5-84 months). The mean peak effect response in 35 patients treated in 115 sessions was 2.8 (range, 0-4); the mean duration of benefit was 14.4 weeks (maximum, 45 weeks); and the mean latency to onset of benefit was 3.8 days (maximum, 10 days). Twenty-one (84%) of 25 patients with premonitory sensations derived marked relief of these symptoms (mean benefit, 70.6%). Total mean dose was 502.1 U (range, 15-3550 U); mean number of visits, 3.3 (range, 1-16); and mean dose per visit, 119.9 U (range, 15-273 U). Sites of injections were as follows: cervical or upper thoracic area (17), upper face (14), lower face (7), vocal cords (4), upper back and/or shoulder (3), scalp (1), forearm (1), leg (1) and rectus abdominis (1). Complications included neck weakness (4), dysphagia (2), ptosis (2), nausea (1), hypophonia (1), fatigue (1), and generalized weakness (1), which were all mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin A injections are an effective and well-tolerated treatment of tics. In addition to improving the motor component of tics, BTX also provides relief of premonitory sensations. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1190-1193

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Alien limb sign.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attention↗

PubMed1999

Bilineal transmission in Tourette syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and pattern of bilineal transmission in families of patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) compared with normal control subjects. METHODS: The study population consisted of two groups: 1) consecutive patients with TS with both parents (51 family sets; 153 individuals), and 2) normal control subjects randomly selected from public schools (20 family sets; 60 individuals). All patients with TS, normal control subjects, and their parents were evaluated for evidence of TS and associated features. Structured interviews and detailed questionnaires designed to assess tics, obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB), and attention deficit disorder (ADD) were administered to all people in both groups. RESULTS: In addition to tics, 43 (84.3%) patients with TS had ADD, 33 (64.7%) had OCB, and 31 (60.8%) had both ADD and OCB. In 42 (82.4%) of the 51 patients, at least one parent exhibited features of TS; unilineal transmission (only one parent with tics, OCB, or ADD) was present in 29 (56.9%) TS families and an additional 13 (25.5%) TS families manifested evidence of bilineal transmission (both parents affected). More fathers than mothers of patients with TS had tics (31.4% versus 15.7%), whereas more mothers had OCB than did fathers (33.3% versus 15.7%). Features of ADD were equally distributed among fathers (35.3%) and mothers (33.3%) of patients with TS. Eight of 1,142 (0.7%) children in the general school population had some evidence of TS. One of 40 parents of the normal control subjects (2.5%) had symptoms of ADD, but none of the parents of normal control subjects manifested any features of TS or OCB. CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence for bilineal transmission in one fourth of TS families. Features of the TS spectrum were rare in normal control families. Evidence of tics, OCB, and ADD should be investigated in both parents of patients with TS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Multiple system atrophy: the putative causative role of environmental toxins.

BACKGROUND: Whereas a number of studies have investigated the putative role of environmental toxins in the pathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson disease, the possibility of such a role in multiple system atrophy has received little attention. DESIGN AND SETTING: Review of records of patients examined in the Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorder Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex, from July 1, 1977, to February 4, 1998. PATIENTS: We reviewed 100 consecutive medical records of patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for multiple system atrophy formulated by the Consensus Committee of the American Autonomic Society and the American Academy of Neurology. INTERVENTION: The type and amount of toxin exposure were verified by history and examination of records whenever possible. Severity of parkinsonism was assessed by clinical rating scales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of multiple system atrophy after environmental toxin exposure. RESULTS: Eleven patients had a notable history of heavy exposure to environmental toxins. One patient with multiple system atrophy confirmed by postmortem evaluation was exposed to high concentrations of malathion, diazinon, and formaldehyde, while the other patients with multiple system atrophy had well-documented high exposures to agents including n-hexane, benzene, methyl isobutyl ketone, and pesticides. The case studied pathologically demonstrated extensive advanced glial changes, including glial cytoplasmic inclusions in deep cerebellar white matter, brainstem, cortex (superior frontal, insula) and putamen, with notable cell loss and depigmentation of the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus. CONCLUSION: While many studies report a possible role of environmental toxins in Parkinson disease, such a role is even more likely in multiple system atrophy, as this is a sporadic disease.

Environmental Pollutants↗

PubMed1999

Mal de debarquement.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical features of mal de debarquement syndrome. RESULTS: Nearly all respondents were middle-aged women (26 of 27; mean age, 49.3 years). The duration of symptoms ranged from 6 months to 10 years (mean, 3.5 years; SD, 2.5 years). The symptoms were constant in 23 (85%) patients. Neither meclizine hydrochloride nor transdermal scopolamine was helpful. Benzodiazepines were of the most benefit. Balance rehabilitation physical therapy was undertaken by 15 patients, who on average reported a small benefit. CONCLUSIONS: More than double the number of previously reported cases of mal de debarquement syndrome were identified by this study. The syndrome usually occurs in middle-aged women following an ocean cruise. Symptoms are often refractory to vestibular suppressants as well as physical therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Comparison of mouse bioassay and immunoprecipitation assay for botulinum toxin antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a recently developed immunoprecipitation assay (IPA) to the mouse protection bioassay (MPB), currently considered the "gold standard", for detecting antibodies against botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) and to correlate these assay results with clinical responses to BTX-A injections. METHODS: MPB and IPA assays were performed on serum samples from 83 patients (38 non-responders, 45 responders) who received BTX-A injections. Six non-responders had serum tested on two separate occasions. Some patients also received a "test" injection into either the right eyebrow (n=29) or right frontalis (n=19). RESULTS: All patients antibody positive (Ab+) by MPB were also Ab+ by IPA, whereas an additional 19 patients (17 with reduced or no clinical response) who were MPB Ab- were Ab+, with low titres, by IPA. Two of these 19 patients (non-responders) were initially MPB Ab- but later became MPB Ab+. Similar to previous studies, the sensitivity for the MPB was low; 50% for clinical, 38% for eyebrow, and 30% for frontalis responses whereas the IPA sensitivity was much higher at 84% for clinical (p<0.001), 77% for eyebrow (p=0.111, NS) and 90% for frontalis responses (p<0.02). The IPA specificity was 89% for clinical, 81% for eyebrow, and 89% for frontalis responses, whereas the MPB specificity was 100% for all three response types, which were all non-significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both assays had high specificity although the sensitivity of the IPA was higher than the MPB. In addition, the IPA seems to display positivity earlier than the MPB, and as such, it may prognosticate future non-responsiveness. Eyebrow and frontalis "test" injections correlated well with clinical and immunological results and are useful in the assessment of BTX non-responders.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Tetrabenazine treatment for tardive dyskinesia: assessment by randomized videotape protocol.

OBJECTIVE: Tetrabenazine, a monoamine depleter and dopamine receptor blocker, is used to treat several hyperkinetic movement disorders. The authors studied the use of tetrabenazine for tardive dyskinesia. METHOD: Twenty patients with tardive dyskinesia (mean duration = 43.7 months) were videotaped before and after tetrabenazine treatment. Randomized videotapes were scored with the motor subset of the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) by raters blind to pre- or posttreatment status. RESULTS: One patient did not tolerate tetrabenazine owing to sedation. The remaining 19 were rated after a mean of 20.3 weeks at a mean tetrabenazine dose of 57.9 mg/day. There were significant improvements in mean scores on both the patient AIMS self-rating and the AIMS motor subset evaluated by the blind videotape raters. All 19 patients continued to take tetrabenazine after the study. CONCLUSIONS: Tetrabenazine was well tolerated and resulted in significant improvements in AIMS scores for patients with refractory tardive dyskinesia.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Mouse bioassay versus Western blot assay for botulinum toxin antibodies: correlation with clinical response.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mouse protection bioassay (MPB) to the Western blot assay (WBA) in detecting antibodies against botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) and to correlate the assay results with clinical responses to BTX-A injections. METHODS: MPB and WBA assay results were compared in 51 patients (34 nonresponders and 17 responders) who received BTX-A injections, most commonly for cervical dystonia. A subset of patients received a "test" injection into either the right eyebrow (14) or right frontalis (12). RESULTS: Twelve patients with antibodies against BTX-A (Ab+) detected by WBA did not demonstrate antibodies (Ab-) by MPB. Conversely, five patients were Ab+ by MPB but Ab- by WBA. Specificity of the MPB was 100% on all three parameters (clinical, eyebrow, and frontalis injections), whereas WBA specificity was only 71% for clinical response but 100% for both eyebrow and frontalis responses. Sensitivities for both assays were low (33 to 53%). Of the 16 patients previously Ab+ by MPB, seven became negative on retesting after a mean interval of 33 months (range, 6 to 93 months). CONCLUSIONS: The lower specificity of the WBA compared to the MPB suggests that the WBA detects nonblocking antibodies. Eyebrow and frontalis "test" injections correlated well with MPB and WBA results and with clinical responses and may be useful in the evaluation of BTX nonresponders.

Adult↗