Search

Factors related with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and the impact of HHcy in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are not well understood. We investigated the factors associated with increased levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and the relationship between HHcy and motor symptoms, cognitive status, and vascular risk in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Among 60 patients (29 males, 48.3%) with PD, the stage of the disease, the severity of clinical symptoms, and the patients’ cognitive status were measured using a modified Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale (mHY), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II and III, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively. Patients were also noted for having dyskinesia and hallucinations. Serum vitamin B12, folic acid, and plasma Hcy ​​levels were measured. Furthermore, the presence of vascular risk factors was recorded. Finally, we investigated carotid artery intima-media thickening and stenosis using colour Doppler ultrasonography as well as the presence of ischemic lesions using brain imaging techniques. Plasma Hcy ​​levels were higher with advanced age and in males. In addition, there was an inverse relationship between Hcy ​​and vitamin B12 levels. There was no correlation between HHcy and the stage of the disease, severity of motor symptoms, cognitive status as assessed by the MMSE, vascular risk factors, carotid artery atherosclerotic findings, and ischemic brain lesions. Plasma Hcy levels may rise due to several factors in PD. However, the resulting HHcy has no significant effect on the clinical picture in terms of motor features, cognitive status, and vascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels may increase in levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) as a consequence of levodopa methylation via catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Results from previous studies that assessed the effect of COMT inhibitors on levodopa-induced hyperhomocysteinemia are conflicting. We aimed to evaluate the effects of levodopa and entacapone on plasma Hcy levels. A hundred PD patients were enrolled to the study and divided into three treatment groups (group I: levodopa and/or dopamine agonists; group II: levodopa, entacapone, and/or a dopamine agonist; and group III: dopamine agonist alone). We measured the serum B12, folic acid, and Hcy levels in all patients. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of modified Hoehn and Yahr stages, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale II/III, Standardized Mini-Mental Test scores, and serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. Plasma median Hcy levels were found above the normal laboratory values in groups I and II, but they were normal in group III. However, there was no statistically significant difference in plasma Hcy levels between groups. Our results showed that levodopa treatment may cause a slight increase in the Hcy levels in PD compared with dopamine agonists and that COMT inhibitors may not have a significant effect on preventing hyperhomocysteinemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials responses in patients with Behçet's disease. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients (66 ears) with the diagnosis of Behçet's disease and 33 (66 ears) age and sex matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Logon type stimulus; 500 Hz frequency at an intensity of 120 dB HL with a 4/s stimulation rate was delivered to elicite the VEMP responses. The stemocleidomastoid muscle was chosen as the target to record the VEMPs. During the recording period subjects were in supine position with head elevation and simultaneous binaural acoustic stimulations were used. Results: The response rate of p1n1 wave was 69.7 % for Behçet group and 89.4 % for the control group (X2, p= 0.009). For Behçet group, the mean latencies of p1 and n1 were 13.7 ± 1.2 ms and 19.7 ± 1.4 ms, the mean amplitude of p1n1 wave was 12.2 ± 5.9 µV. For control group, these values were 14.2 ± 1.3 ms; 20.8 ± 2.1 ms and 14.1 ± 6.1 µV, respectively. Although there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to p1 latency and p1n1 amplitude, n1 latencies were significantly shorter in Behçet group. Conclusion: This preliminary report notify that in Behcet's disease, the VEMP response rate is lower and n1 latency was shorter than the healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]