Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive mo...Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive movements around distal and proximal joints in ET patients with normal controls by using a simple test paradigm. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with ET and 14 control subjects were instructed to tap with the index finger sequentially on push-button microswitches. Movement times around metacarpophalangeal, wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints of the right side were tested. The data collected were stored on a computer and the time elapsed between sequential taps on two keys (ms) and number of taps on the left key for 15 seconds were evaluated offline. Results: Movement times of the patients with ET were not found to be significantly different from those of the controls at all joints tested despite slight prolongation for movements around the shoulder joint. Conclusion: The simple test paradigm we have used showed that there is no difference in the movement time for repetitive movements around fourjoints of the upper extremity between patients with ET and normal control subjects. The slightly prolonged movement time around the shoulder joint noted in patients with ET may be ascribed to tremor, not bradykinesia. Tremor may cause these patients to pay more attention to the performance of goal-directed finger movements and consequently prolong movement time slightly or it may simply delay the time elapsed to reach the goal in the absence of overt intention tremor.展开更多
Ropinirole is a modern, non ergoline dopamine agonist which has been shown to be effective as monotherapy as well as combination therapy against idiopathic P arkinsons disease. In addition to improving bradykinesia,...Ropinirole is a modern, non ergoline dopamine agonist which has been shown to be effective as monotherapy as well as combination therapy against idiopathic P arkinsons disease. In addition to improving bradykinesia, rigor and tremor, it will amel iorate the abilities of daily living as well as depressive mood. The long term complications of L dopa are diminished and the existing complications are reduc ed. A neuroprotective effect is under discussion. In addition to Parkinsons di sease, ropinirole is also used successfully in the treatment of restless legs sy ndrome.展开更多
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, lethal neurodegenerative dis order of the central nervous system, caused by an uncontrolled expansion of a CA G dynamic mutation in the coding region of the IT15gene. ...Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, lethal neurodegenerative dis order of the central nervous system, caused by an uncontrolled expansion of a CA G dynamic mutation in the coding region of the IT15gene. Although a majority of patients have a midlife onset of the disease, in a small number of patients the disease manifests before 20 years of age. In adults, HD is mainly characterised by involuntary movements, personality changes and dementia. By contrast, in chil dren a dominant picture of bradykinesia, rigidity, dystonia and epileptic seizur es is noticed. The earlier onset is often associated with a paternal transmissio n of the disease allele to the offspring. We report here a rather unusual infant ile onset of the disease in a little girl who presented with a history of seizur es and psychomotor regression starting at the age of 3 years. A progressive cort ical-subcortical atrophy, progressive cerebellar atrophy and lesions in the bas al ganglia were found on MRI. An important expansion, of 214 triplet numbers, of the CAG repeat size associated with HD, was observed. Conclusion: Juvenile Hunt ingdon disease should be considered in children suffering from a progressive neu rodegenerative disease.展开更多
文摘Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive movements around distal and proximal joints in ET patients with normal controls by using a simple test paradigm. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with ET and 14 control subjects were instructed to tap with the index finger sequentially on push-button microswitches. Movement times around metacarpophalangeal, wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints of the right side were tested. The data collected were stored on a computer and the time elapsed between sequential taps on two keys (ms) and number of taps on the left key for 15 seconds were evaluated offline. Results: Movement times of the patients with ET were not found to be significantly different from those of the controls at all joints tested despite slight prolongation for movements around the shoulder joint. Conclusion: The simple test paradigm we have used showed that there is no difference in the movement time for repetitive movements around fourjoints of the upper extremity between patients with ET and normal control subjects. The slightly prolonged movement time around the shoulder joint noted in patients with ET may be ascribed to tremor, not bradykinesia. Tremor may cause these patients to pay more attention to the performance of goal-directed finger movements and consequently prolong movement time slightly or it may simply delay the time elapsed to reach the goal in the absence of overt intention tremor.
文摘Ropinirole is a modern, non ergoline dopamine agonist which has been shown to be effective as monotherapy as well as combination therapy against idiopathic P arkinsons disease. In addition to improving bradykinesia, rigor and tremor, it will amel iorate the abilities of daily living as well as depressive mood. The long term complications of L dopa are diminished and the existing complications are reduc ed. A neuroprotective effect is under discussion. In addition to Parkinsons di sease, ropinirole is also used successfully in the treatment of restless legs sy ndrome.
文摘Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, lethal neurodegenerative dis order of the central nervous system, caused by an uncontrolled expansion of a CA G dynamic mutation in the coding region of the IT15gene. Although a majority of patients have a midlife onset of the disease, in a small number of patients the disease manifests before 20 years of age. In adults, HD is mainly characterised by involuntary movements, personality changes and dementia. By contrast, in chil dren a dominant picture of bradykinesia, rigidity, dystonia and epileptic seizur es is noticed. The earlier onset is often associated with a paternal transmissio n of the disease allele to the offspring. We report here a rather unusual infant ile onset of the disease in a little girl who presented with a history of seizur es and psychomotor regression starting at the age of 3 years. A progressive cort ical-subcortical atrophy, progressive cerebellar atrophy and lesions in the bas al ganglia were found on MRI. An important expansion, of 214 triplet numbers, of the CAG repeat size associated with HD, was observed. Conclusion: Juvenile Hunt ingdon disease should be considered in children suffering from a progressive neu rodegenerative disease.
