Browsing by Author "Kostic, V.S. (57189017751)"

This study assessed brain structural and functional alterations in patients with Parkinson's disease and impulsive-compulsive behaviours (PD-ICB) compared with controls and PD no-ICB cases. Eighty-five PD patients (35 PD-ICB) and 50 controls were recruited. All subjects underwent three-dimensional T1-weighted, diffusion tensor (DT), and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS fMRI). We assessed cortical thickness with surface-based morphometry, subcortical volumes using FIRST, DT MRI metrics using region of interest and tractography approaches, and RS fMRI using a model free approach. Compared with controls, both PD groups showed a pattern of brain structural alterations in the basal ganglia (more evident in PD no-ICB patients), sensorimotor and associative systems. Compared with PD no-ICB, PD-ICB cases showed left precentral and superior frontal cortical thinning, and motor and extramotor white matter tract damage. Compared with controls, all patients had an increased functional connectivity within the visual network. Additionally, PD no-ICB showed increased functional connectivity of bilateral precentral and postcentral gyri within the sensorimotor network compared with controls and PD-ICB. Severity and duration of PD-ICB modulated the functional connectivity between sensorimotor, visual and cognitive networks. Relative to PD no-ICB, PD-ICB patients were characterised by a more severe involvement of frontal, meso-limbic and motor circuits. These data suggest ICB in PD as the result of a disconnection between sensorimotor, associative and cognitive networks with increasing motor impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and ICB duration. These findings may have important implications in understanding the neural substrates underlying ICB in PD. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved.

This study assessed brain structural and functional alterations in patients with Parkinson's disease and impulsive-compulsive behaviours (PD-ICB) compared with controls and PD no-ICB cases. Eighty-five PD patients (35 PD-ICB) and 50 controls were recruited. All subjects underwent three-dimensional T1-weighted, diffusion tensor (DT), and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS fMRI). We assessed cortical thickness with surface-based morphometry, subcortical volumes using FIRST, DT MRI metrics using region of interest and tractography approaches, and RS fMRI using a model free approach. Compared with controls, both PD groups showed a pattern of brain structural alterations in the basal ganglia (more evident in PD no-ICB patients), sensorimotor and associative systems. Compared with PD no-ICB, PD-ICB cases showed left precentral and superior frontal cortical thinning, and motor and extramotor white matter tract damage. Compared with controls, all patients had an increased functional connectivity within the visual network. Additionally, PD no-ICB showed increased functional connectivity of bilateral precentral and postcentral gyri within the sensorimotor network compared with controls and PD-ICB. Severity and duration of PD-ICB modulated the functional connectivity between sensorimotor, visual and cognitive networks. Relative to PD no-ICB, PD-ICB patients were characterised by a more severe involvement of frontal, meso-limbic and motor circuits. These data suggest ICB in PD as the result of a disconnection between sensorimotor, associative and cognitive networks with increasing motor impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and ICB duration. These findings may have important implications in understanding the neural substrates underlying ICB in PD. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved.

Background and purpose: Dystonia is difficult to recognize due to its large phenomenological complexity. Thus, the use of experts in dystonia is essential for better recognition and management of dystonia syndromes (DS). Our aim was to document managing strategies, facilities and expertise available in various European countries in order to identify which measures should be implemented to improve the management of DS. Methods: A survey was conducted, funded by the Cooperation in Science and Technology, via the management committee of the European network for the study of DS, which is formed from representatives of the 24 countries involved. Results: Lack of specific training in dystonia by general neurologists, general practitioners as well as other allied health professionals was universal in all countries surveyed. Genetic testing for rare dystonia mutations is not readily available in a significant number of countries and neurophysiological studies are difficult to perform due to a lack of experts in this field of movement disorders. Tetrabenazine is only readily available for treatment of dystonia in half of the surveyed countries. Deep brain stimulation is available in three-quarters of the countries, but other surgical procedures are only available in one-quarter of countries. Conclusions: Internationally, collaboration in training, advanced diagnosis, treatment and research of DS and, locally, in each country the creation of multidisciplinary teams for the management of dystonia patients could provide the basis for improving all aspects of dystonia management across Europe. European Journal of Neurology ©.

Background and purpose: Dystonia is difficult to recognize due to its large phenomenological complexity. Thus, the use of experts in dystonia is essential for better recognition and management of dystonia syndromes (DS). Our aim was to document managing strategies, facilities and expertise available in various European countries in order to identify which measures should be implemented to improve the management of DS. Methods: A survey was conducted, funded by the Cooperation in Science and Technology, via the management committee of the European network for the study of DS, which is formed from representatives of the 24 countries involved. Results: Lack of specific training in dystonia by general neurologists, general practitioners as well as other allied health professionals was universal in all countries surveyed. Genetic testing for rare dystonia mutations is not readily available in a significant number of countries and neurophysiological studies are difficult to perform due to a lack of experts in this field of movement disorders. Tetrabenazine is only readily available for treatment of dystonia in half of the surveyed countries. Deep brain stimulation is available in three-quarters of the countries, but other surgical procedures are only available in one-quarter of countries. Conclusions: Internationally, collaboration in training, advanced diagnosis, treatment and research of DS and, locally, in each country the creation of multidisciplinary teams for the management of dystonia patients could provide the basis for improving all aspects of dystonia management across Europe. European Journal of Neurology ©.