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The P-I-E-N-O Parkinsn Current Topics Index
Index of Current Parkinson's Topics
The articles and studies contained on this site represent a cross section of topics discussed and posted on the Parkinsons Information Exchange Network's Parkinsn Email list.
The Parkinsn list, it is a e-mailing list of Parkinson's patients, care-givers, family members, neurologists, psychologists, family practice doctors, and manufacturer representatives that represent the pharmaceutical industry and equipment manufacturers. We currently have about 2000 members in more than 34 countries around the world. The language of the list is English.
Free subscription is required to post messages to Parkinsn. You can have that privilege also. The Parkinsn list is a high volume list, having from 50 to 100 postings a day, some quite long. A digest option is available that will bundle several postings together. Subscribing is a three step process, Click Here.
Finding Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
ARTICLES
New surgery liberates Parkinson's patients 5/21/2000 Harry Thomas says he is no longer a prisoner in his own body, thanks to innovative brain surgery for Parkinson's disease he underwent earlier this year at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Vanderbilt is one of a few medical centers nationwide offering this new form of "deep-brain stimulation."
Parkinson's disease puts damper on fight night scene for Finfrock" I wouldn't say (Parkinson's) is the most fun I've ever had in my life," Finfrock said in slightly slurred and slowed speech. "But you look at the things you like the most, and then you make sure you enjoy them in your free time."
Nerve Cells Created From Bone Marrow May be Useful for Spinal Cord Injuries & ParkinsonsResearchers hope that one day a person with Parkinson's disease, for instance, could have their own stromal cells harvested, transformed into nerve cells in a laboratory, and used for treatment. This process would eliminate the current ethical debate regarding the use of fetal tissues to treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson's.
New Study links Eldepryl/Deprenyl With increased Mortality This study from the UK raises some controversial questions on how often Parkinson's patients die from long term Eldepryl/Sinemet treatment.
Article on Information on Aging This article was posted posted by Alan Bonander, ELDER CARE: THEY'RE AGING, AND YOU'RE WORRYING 8/26/94 When children grow up, and parents grow old Published: Aug. 22, 1994 By KATHLEEN DONNELLY Mercury News Staff Writer If someone you know and love needs help, this article will give you a starting point to look for social agencies that help the elderly.
Young Onset PD This article was posted by Alan Bonander entitled: THE YOUNG PARKINSON'S PATIENT By Erwin B. Montgomery, Jr., MD This article appeared in the Parkinson News & View, Southern Arizona Chapter APDA, June / July 1994. It is reprinted with their permission. Young onset Parkinson's patients and caregivers need to read this article.
Tai Chi Exercise Reduces Falling in the Elderly Newspaper article posted by John Cottingham, Tai Chi Keeps the Doctor Away, Research Says / Chinese exercise helped elderly keep from falling by Paul Recer
Wall Street Journal article on pallidotomy:Margaret Monty's posting of David Stipp's article in The Wall Street Journal entitled Hope From a Knife-----Surgery for Parkinson's Brings Success Stories In Face of Skepticism
News on the Parkinson's Front:Several articles compiled into one message...interesting reading.
The Scientist: Brainstorms Abound At NIH's NINDS An article from The Scientist magazine outlining where research is going at NINDS.
More: Physics and PD A certain building on a college campus is being suspected of holding the key as to why several staff have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This story retraces the steps of the medical sleuths.
Drugs: From Compound to Pharmacy Drugs cost lots of money, Right? This is a step by step story of how a drug company's compound becomes approved and made available to your pharmacy's shelves.
What Parkinsonians Should Know About Social Security Disability Insurance Applying for and being approved for Social Security Disability can be a bewildering experience. This article somewhat demystifies the process and explains what kind of information must be presented. Dr. Henry Scovern, MD, Philadelphia, Pa, wrote this article published in the Southern Medical Journal 1995;88,3:256-259 March 1995. titled, Social Security Disability: Guidelines for Medical Practitioners
Disability Evaluation under Social Security There are rules SSDI uses to evaluate disabilities. This is the Listings of Impairments referred to in: What Parkinsonians Should Know About Social Security Disability Insurance.
Incontinence: What the Algorithm has to say, and More One of the "to pee or not to pee..that is the question" stories that has a "I was sad...but now I am glad" ending.
ADL and UPDRS Role in PD Treatment All of that pulling and pushing and finger tapping and walking for the Neurologist are just not recreational time....the results added together give a numeric score on "How are you doing Mr. Jones?". These scores done several times over can tell how you are tolerating your meds.How can you know the answers if you don't know the questions. This is the 'cheat sheet'.....the questions...???
Pallidotomies or Thalamotomy on an Outpatient Basis? Three-dimensional body maps that guide a robot arm offering pinpoint blasts of radiation are starting to make possible -- on an outpatient basis -- many brain and spinal cord surgeries
Chinese Influences in Western Medicine Among the drugs taken over by Western medicine from the Chinese are rhubarb, iron (for anemia), castor oil, kaolin, aconite, camphor, and Cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).
Can't Remember Your Name...How About Singing? For almost three years, after his Parkinson's disease should have put him in a wheelchair, Joseph Pearl steadied himself by singing the march from "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and was able to walk.
RESTLESS LEGS Those who have restless legs syndrome take it very seriously, but they have an awful time putting their symptoms into words. That's one reason the condition is so often shrugged off by doctors.
Confusion , Cold Intolerance, Constipation...How is your Thyroid?Mental status changes including confusion and memory loss, and general tiredness, are common presenting symptoms in hypothyroidism.
Ability to regulate eating declines in elderly The body's ability to regulate food intake declines markedly with age, according to a new study presented here Saturday at a conference on obesity and "ingestive behavior."
New Dystonic Tremor Case Study by list-member, T. DavisABSTRACT: We report three cases and a literature review describing a syndrome of intermittent idiopathic focal or segmental dystonic tremor dramatically responsive to clonazepam.
Mouse Gene May Lead To Clues by M.A.J. McKenna M.A.J. McKenna who has occasionally graced our hallowed halls has written an informative article on new findings on the weaver mouse that naturally mimics Parkinson's.
Surgery and transplants show new promise: by Judy FormanToday, Weeden and Johnson - and hundreds of patients like them - are cautiously excited about surgical treatments that are sweeping like wildfire through the once-quiet world of Parkinson's.
PALLIDOTOMY; A chance for a normal life by M.A.J. McKennaAt Emory University School of Medicine and other medical centers around the country, patients with Parkinson's disease are staking their futures on a grueling and controversial procedure called pallidotomy.
Listmember Quoted in Toronto Pallidotomy Article After pallidotomy, "Some of my patients are playing pool, curling or going dancing for the first time in years," he said, referring to the increased independence of patients who are able to do more for themselves.
Parkinson's Abstracts presented at AAN Convention 1995 Abstracts of studies on Tolcapone, Entacapone, Cabergoline and Lazabemide. Abstract of use of deep brain stimulation (DBS).
PD HUMOR
Wednesday PD-humor By David Boots Need a belly laugh?
HUMOR: Sinemet chain-letter More humor?
can't get it up (a twisted pair variation on an old parkie theme)Bawdy parkie humor.
Fred Turner, Funny Glossary of Medical Terms Terminology gone amok!
PALLIDOTOMY INFORMATION
PALLIDOTOMY FOLLOW-UP STUDY
M. Dogali, E. Fazzini,E. Kolodny Pallidotomy Follow-up In NEUROLOGY 1995;45:753-761, a significant work followed 18 patients who underwent pallidotomy for 12 months, at 3 month intervals measuring motor functions. The motor functions of these patients was compared with 7 patients who did not have the surgery.
STIMULATION, (PALLID AND THALAMIC) INFORMATION
STIM Clinical Trials in Progress
Thalamic Stimulation at Vanderbilt, Dr. Thomas Davis The Vanderbilt Department of Neurology, Division of Movement Disorders, Is also participating in the multicenter study of thalamic stimulation for tremor.
Breaking News, Dr. W.C. Koller/Busenbark Pallid STIM KU Medical Center Is First U.S. Site for Pallidal Brain Stimulation for Treatment of Parkinson's
Technical Details, Patient Selection
Thalamic Stimulation System The continuing story of thalamic Stimulation. I typed this from a brochure from the company Medtronic called : "Thalamic Stimulation System, Therapy Reference Guide"
Deep Brain Stimulation References There have been questions on deep brain stimulation (DBS), here is the recent historical and current information on this procedure.
Don Sandstrom's Thalmic Stimulation Experiences Many of us who are "shakers", viewed with interest and admiration your experiences after being implanted with a DBS device. Would you mind replying to the list so all can gain from your experiences?
CONTENTS OF CURRENT RESEARCH STUDIES
What is Parkinson's Disease and how is it treated? Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor occurs at rest, involves the jaw and limbs, and is associated with bradykinesia, rigidity and falling.
What is Essential Tremor (ET) and how is it treated? Essential or familial tremor (ET) is symptomatic with movement, and involves the limbs, head and voice.
The following questions are answered in the same study.
What is Shy-Drager Syndrome (SDS) and how is it treated?
What is SupraNuclear Palsy (SNP) and how is it treated?
What is Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)?
What is StriatoNigral Degeneration (SND) and how is it treated?
What is OlivoPontoCerebellar Atrophy (OPCA) and how is it treated?
What is CorticoBasal Ganglionic Degeneration (CBGD) and how is it treated?
What is Diffuse Lewy Body Disease (DLBD)?
What symptoms may or may not be present in Parkinsonism Plus Syndromes? Table 3.
Other Educational Medical Articles & Studies
Adverse Reactions to Sinemet CR in the Elderly : Case Reports Carol Joseph,MDWe report experience with four frail, elderly patients who exhibited hallucinations, confusion, and worsening dyskinesias after changing from standard Sinemet to Sinemet CR.
Drug-Induced & Tardive Movement Disorders Gwen M. Vernon This article discusses drug-induced and tardive movement disorders, risk factors, management and nursing implications.
Tremor: by Marjorie M. Gillespie Clinical recognition of tremor type is extremely important as type determines prognosis, treatment, and need for genetic counseling. The most common forms are parkinsonian, physiological, cerebellar intention and essential tremor.
Dose-response Relationship of Levodopa/Mood/Anxiety The abstract of the lastest study by Robert A. Maricle et al, which is found in the September 1995 edition of Neurology, verified the hypothesis that mood/anxiety correspond with motor improvements after dosing with levodopa.
A Study of Hereditary Essential Tremor Bain et al. Tremor generally starts in the hands and progresses upward. Bain concludes, "Physicians probably underestimate the effect of tremor on patients' lives and overestimate the practical benefits of the medical treatments available."
DIET
Dietary Factors in the Management of Parkinson's Disease This article, by Dr. Kempster, reviews dietary strategies to improve responsiveness to pharmaceutical L-dopa treatment and the potential use of food as a source of L-dopa. Moreresearch abstracts by Dr. Kempster.
Re: Fava Beans! I have a friend who is a healthcare consultant in alternative medicine and has a client in New York City who has Parkinson's disease with really bad tremors. She recently tried a special variety of vicia fava/vicia faba bean with the client (a 54 year old white male) and achieved 3 hours and 15 minutes of tremor-free time for him with just a 100 gram feeding of the beans.
Eating Fava Beans in Old San Francisco In the San Francisco area, there is a restaurant serving fava beans for your scientific sampling.
Three Fava Bean Recipes RAGOUT OF SPRING VEGETABLES The flavor and texture of new spring vegetables is so delicate that preparing them is little more than briefly cooking them in butter. MELANGE OF ARTICHOKES, FAVA BEANS AND GREEN GARLIC Serve this rustic stew with crusty country bread and a red wine. FRESH PEA SOUP WITH BLOSSOMS This soup, which takes only minutes to prepare, is equally good made with fresh asparagus or fava beans.
Mailorder sources for Dry Fava Beans FAVA BEAN CROSTINI INGREDIENTS: Here are some sources for new-crop dried beans
Favism, Faba, Sinemet and Parkinson's Folks with X chromasome defects who consume large portions (300 mg) faba beans over a period of time (years perhaps?) definitely have residual reaction to them in their diet. By the same token, if they did not eat faba beans and were levodopa responsive as is the case with Parkinson's disease, the result would be the the same by taking the pills.
DRUG TRIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jefferson Scientist Begins Clinical Trial To Study Promising Parkinson’s Disease Drug Jay S. Schneider, PhD, professor of pathology, cell biology and anatomy and neurology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia , said, "We hope that we will be able to do something no one else has done before – to stimulate remaining brain cells to sprout new nerve endings and rescue other cells that might otherwise die," says Dr. Schneider, who last year published evidence that GM1 may improve symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients and perhaps even help slow progression of the disease.
NIH Study on Slowing or Stopping PD Progression Recent laboratory studies indicate that a new drug (code number OPC 14117) does possess free radical scavenging activity. This drug can be taken by mouth and readily enters the brain. As a result of these promising preliminary results, additional patient studies are now planned, in accordance with a protocol approved both by the NIH and the FDA.
NINDS Studying Postmenopausal Estrogen Replacement in PD womenPostmenopausal females with Parkinson's Disease, stages I-IV are needed for a study of the effect of ESTROGEN on parkinsonian symptoms and levodopa response.
PARKINSON'S PLUS DISEASE ETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS
PD & PD+ Syndromes by Mark Stacy/J. Jankovic
RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Recog/Treat of Early PD & Other Tremor Disorders by Mark Stacy/D. BrownleeThis paper approaches the diagnosis of tremor disorders (Essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and others) from a clinical perspective. Treatment is outlined in respect to algorithms designed to maximize patient benefit.
NEW MEDICINAL APPROACHES TO TREATING PARKINSON'S-STUDY
NADH--a new therapeutic approach to Parkinson's disease by Birkmayer JGD Dr. JGD Birkmayer's excerpted work on an open study of the effects of NADH administered to Parkinson's patients is presented here for research purposes.
MEDICATIONS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Medications in PD AN EXAMINATION OF MEDICATIONS BOTH COMMONLY AND OCCASIONALLY USED IN TREATING PARKINSON'S DISEASE Neal Slatkin, MD
PD PROTOCOL FOR PREVENTION OF CONSTIPATION The following document was given to us by our internist, who has worked with us on this problem for some time, and who requested our input and comments.
CONTENTS OF ABSTRACTS IN THE ARCHIVE
Parkinson's and Essential Tremor Abstracts 2000
Most Recent Abstracts Listed by Author
Benabid, A Dr. Alim Benabid is one of the pioneers of thalamic stimulation for the treatment of essential tremor and Parkinsons.
Burchiel, KJ Dr. Kim Burchiel is one of the most prolific thalamic stimulation neurosurgeons in the northwest US.
Iacono, RP Dr. Iacono refined and perfected the pallidotomy procedure and has done over 1500.
Iansek, R Dr. Iansek is one of Australia's leading Movement Disorder Specialists in Melbourne.
Kempster, RA Dr. Kempster is another of Australia's premier Movement Disorder Specialists in Melbourne.
Koller, WC Dr. Koller formerly at KUMC is now with the National Parkinson's Foundation. He is one of the leading Movements Disorder Specialists in the US.
Olanow, CW Dr. Olanow was a pioneer in establishing that fetal tissue transplants work. His practice is at the Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Stacy, Mark Dr. Mark Stacy is one of the premier 'young' Movements Disorder Specialists, practicing at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ.
Listed by Subject
Analysis of Medications used to counter Adverse Effects in Parkinsons
COMT Medications Comtess/entacapone Tasmar/tolcapone
Essential Tremor Treatment Options
Parkinson's Disease Epidemiology
Thalamotomy and other thalamic procedures
Thalamotomy Pallidotomy and Deep Brain Stimulation Adverse Effects and Outcomes
What Is DHEA? A growing body of research suggests that DHEA may have a number of vital medical applications, including bolstering immunity in the elderly, inhibiting certain cancers, and combating atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, lupus, diabetes, and obesity.
What is Melatonin and How Is It Helpful? ...recent research shows that melatonin may also be a key to the aging process.
NIH Grant to design and synthesize Co-factor of TH The overall goal of this research proposal is to design and synthesize tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) analogs for the treatment of catecholamine deficiency disorders, such as PARKINSON'S disease and dystonia. These patients have decreased CSF and brain levels of BH4, an essential cofactor for tyrosine hydroxylase,
Vitamins E and C, Useful in Parkinson's? Despite a realisation that antioxidants will not delay ageing in healthy older people, there is increasing scientific interest in the role of free radical oxidants in a number of diseases associated with older age.
Gastrointestinal Problems Encountered With PD Bodily functions such as swallowing and defecating, which we take so much for granted, are actually very complex neurologically, requiring the precise coordination of multiple muscles, some contracting and some relaxing. These functions are often impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)
Does It Take You a Little Longer to Think Now? Studies of cognition and motor control have independently suggested that patients with Parkinson's disease show deficits in both attentional control and the preprogramming of movement. However, few studies have examined directly the involvement of cognitive processes in the origin of their slowed response.
Are Melonomas Activated by Carbidopa/Levodopa? Previous reports and the Physicians' Desk Reference caution against the use of levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with melanoma. A critical review of the literature reveals only anecdotal evidence to support a link between levodopa and melanoma.
Has Aluminum Been Implicated in PD? We studied the relative etiologic importance upon the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) of occupational exposure to herbicides and other compounds, ionizing radiation exposure, family history of PD and essential tremor, smoking, and history of various viral and other medical conditions.
Are Environmental Factors Implicated in PD? There has been some discussion as to whether herbicides or insecticides have been implicated in Parkinson's. The following are some abstracts on the subject.
GM1, An Elixir of Life for a Damaged Dopamninergic System? Unlike two controversial Parkinson's procedures recently under public discussion -- fetal cell transplant and pallidotomy surgery -- GM1 ganglioside is non-invasive, self-administered and potentially more accessible to Parkinson's patients.
Cisapride References Impaired gastric emptying may be the cause for some response fluctuations in Parkinson's disease (PD), especially the "delayed-on" and "no-on" phenomena. Cisapride is a prokinetic drug that enhances gastric emptying...
A Relationship between Diabetes and PD? It has been reported that 50% to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease have abnormal glucose tolerance which may be further exacerbated by levodopa therapy.
fava beans and Mucuna pruriens Natural L-dopa in the Diet Routinely grown cell suspension cultures of Mucuna pruriens L. (Fabaceae) were able to endogenously accumulate the anti-Parkinson drug L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) in the range between 0.2 and 2% on a dry weight (DW) basis.
Cerebral Palsy with parkinsonian symptoms References The diagnosis of dopa-responsive dystonia should be considered in children with unexplained or atypical "cerebral palsy."
Essential Tremor: Another use for GM-1 ganglioside? Essential tremor dramatically improved with gangliosides on the second day of treatment, suggesting that the effect of gangliosides was not induced by neuronal sprouting or regeneration. It is speculated that a certain type of essential tremor is a reversible disease of membrane disorder.
The 2 1/2 Hour Erection..How To..or..Not To Impotence is not always disease related. The following are abstracts that address the causes and some compounds that are being used/tested in the United States and Europe.
Ganglioside GM1 In Parkinson's disease the functional capacity of surviving dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is affected.... In MPTP treated monkeys, neuronal survival and tyrosine hydroxylase content was not influenced (adversely) by levodopa, but did increase with Ganglioside GM1 treatment.
RESOURCES
Should I make a Parkinson Alert ID Card? Going into the hospital? Nurses, surgeons, anthesiologists don't always remember which medicines that can interfere with and even be fatal used with Parkinsons medications. This little ID card you can print and distribute to every medical professional involved with your hospital stay will make the experience much more pleasant.
Care-Giver Handbook This version is suitable for printing.
Algorithm for Managing Parkinson's Disease This version is suitable for printing.
Blue Glasses Tech Info There is anecedotal evidence that those who experience dyskinesias can benefit from Blue Glasses. This compilation of articles details what is known and how and what to obtain.
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