A thinning of intraretinal layers has been previously described in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared to healthy controls (HCs). Few studies evaluated the possible correlation between retinal thickness and retinal microvascularization. Thus, here we assessed the thickness of retinal layers and microvascular pattern in early PD patients and HCs, using, respectively, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and SD-OCT-angiography (SD-OCT-A), and more interestingly, we evaluated a possible correlation between retinal thickness and microvascular pattern. Patients fulfilling criteria for clinically established/clinically probable PD and HCs were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were any ocular, retinal, and systemic disease impairing the visual system. Retinal vascularization was analyzed using SD-OCT-A, and retinal layer thickness was assessed using SD-OCT. Forty-one eyes from 21 PD patients and 33 eyes from 17 HCs were evaluated. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular RNFL, ganglionic cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and inner nuclear layer (INL), resulted to be thinner in PD compared to HCs. Among PD patients, a positive correlation between RNFL, GCL, and IPL thickness and microvascular density was found in the foveal region, also adjusting by age, sex, and, especially, hypertension. Such findings were already present in the early stage of disease and were irrespective of dopaminergic treatment. Thus, the retina might be considered a biomarker of PD and could be a useful instrument for onset and disease progression.
Toxocariasis is one of the most common helminthiases worldwide. However, there is a lack of data regarding Southern Italy. We have evaluated the seroprevalence and associated environmental factors of toxocariasis in a sample of adults living in the city of Catania.
Presence of anti-Toxocara canis IgG antibodies was searched using an ELISA test using excretory/secretory antigens. Environmental risk factors have beene valuated with a face-to-face questionnaire.
Two hundred eighty-seven subjects (mean age of 48.1±15.6 years) were enrolled, and presence of anti T. canis antibodies was found in 23 participants, of whom 18 (78.3%) were women with a mean age of 51.1±14.0 years, giving a seroprevalence of 8.0% (95%CI 5.4-11.7). At multivariate analysis a positive association for subjects with more than 3 siblings (adjOR 3.17; 95%CI 1.09-9.25) was recorded.
Our study confirms that exposition to T. canis is common also in urban areas of western countries.
Objective
The long-duration response (LDR) to L-dopa is a sustained benefit deriving from chronic administration of therapy to patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Almost all patients with early PD may develop the LDR to L-dopa, even if some patients could not at given dosages of the drug. Aim of this exploratory study is to investigate whether a neuroanatomical substrate may underlie the development of the of LDR using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis.
Methods
Twenty-four drug-naïve PD patients were enrolled and underwent a baseline 3D T1-weighted structural brain MRI. Then, a treatment with 250/25 mg of L-dopa/carbidopa every 24 h was started and, after 2 weeks, LDR was evaluated by movement time recordings.
Results
After 2 weeks of continuative therapy, 15 patients (62.5%) showed a sustained LDR (LDR +), while nine patients (37.5%) did not develop a sustained LDR (LDR −). VBM analysis on MRI executed before treatment showed changes of gray matter in precentral and middle frontal gyri in patients subsequently developing a sustained LDR with respect to those patients who will not achieve LDR.
Conclusions
Parkinsonian patients who will develop a LDR to L-dopa may present, before starting treatment, peculiar structural conditions in cortical areas involved in motor control. Our exploratory study suggests that some cortical structural changes may predispose individual patients for developing the LDR to L-dopa.
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