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Angelini L, Paparella G, Cannavacciuolo A, Costa D, Birreci D, De Riggi M, Passaretti M, Colella D, Guerra A, Berardelli A, Bologna M. Clinical and kinematic characterization of parkinsonian soft signs in essential tremor. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024:10.1007/s00702-024-02784-0. [PMID: 38744708 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02784-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subtle parkinsonian signs, i.e., rest tremor and bradykinesia, are considered soft signs for defining essential tremor (ET) plus. OBJECTIVES Our study aimed to further characterize subtle parkinsonian signs in a relatively large sample of ET patients from a clinical and neurophysiological perspective. METHODS We employed clinical scales and kinematic techniques to assess a sample of 82 ET patients. Eighty healthy controls matched for gender and age were also included. The primary focus of our study was to conduct a comparative analysis of ET patients (without any soft signs) and ET-plus patients with rest tremor and/or bradykinesia. Additionally, we investigated the asymmetry and side concordance of these soft signs. RESULTS In ET-plus patients with parkinsonian soft signs (56.10% of the sample), rest tremor was clinically observed in 41.30% of cases, bradykinesia in 30.43%, and rest tremor plus bradykinesia in 28.26%. Patients with rest tremor had more severe and widespread action tremor than other patients. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between the amplitude of action and rest tremor. Most ET-plus patients had an asymmetry of rest tremor and bradykinesia. There was no side concordance between these soft signs, as confirmed through both clinical examination and kinematic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS Rest tremor and bradykinesia are frequently observed in ET and are often asymmetric but not concordant. Our findings provide a better insight into the phenomenology of ET and suggest that the parkinsonian soft signs (rest tremor and bradykinesia) in ET-plus may originate from distinct pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Angelini
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, Pozzilli (IS), 86077, Italy
| | - Giulia Paparella
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, Pozzilli (IS), 86077, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Davide Costa
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, Pozzilli (IS), 86077, Italy
| | - Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Passaretti
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Andrea Guerra
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Center on Neurodegeneration (CESNE), Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, Pozzilli (IS), 86077, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, Pozzilli (IS), 86077, Italy.
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, Rome, 00185, Italy.
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Paparella G, Galosi E, Irelli EC, Angelini L, Birreci D, Costa D, De Riggi M, Cannavacciuolo A, Truini A, Bologna M. A Novel KCNQ2 Variant in a Patient with a Combined Tremor Syndrome. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2024; 14:24. [PMID: 38737299 PMCID: PMC11086586 DOI: 10.5334/tohm.887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Tremor disorders have various genetic causes. Case report A 60-year-old female with a family history of tremor presented a combined tremor syndrome, transient episodes of loss of contact and speech disturbances, as well as distal painful symptoms. Genetic screening revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant in the KCNQ2 gene. Discussion The KCNQ2 protein regulates action potential firing, and mutations in its gene are associated with epilepsy and neuropathic pain. The identified variant, although of uncertain significance, may disrupt KCNQ2 function and also play a role in tremor pathogenesis. This case highlights the importance of genetic screening in combined tremor disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Paparella
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Galosi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Truini
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
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Bellucci G, De Riggi M, Di Bonaventura C, Suppa A, Leodori G, Fiorelli M, Fabbrini G. Blurred lines: bilateral optic perineuritis mimicking idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:1783-1785. [PMID: 38006468 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Bellucci
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Suppa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Giorgio Leodori
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Marco Fiorelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Fabbrini
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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Paparella G, De Riggi M, Cannavacciuolo A, Costa D, Birreci D, Passaretti M, Angelini L, Colella D, Guerra A, Berardelli A, Bologna M. Interhemispheric imbalance and bradykinesia features in Parkinson's disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae020. [PMID: 38370448 PMCID: PMC10873583 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In patients with Parkinson's disease, the connectivity between the two primary motor cortices may be altered. However, the correlation between asymmetries of abnormal interhemispheric connections and bradykinesia features has not been investigated. Furthermore, the potential effects of dopaminergic medications on this issue remain largely unclear. The aim of the present study is to investigate the interhemispheric connections in Parkinson's disease by transcranial magnetic stimulation and explore the potential relationship between interhemispheric inhibition and bradykinesia feature asymmetry in patients. Additionally, we examined the impact of dopaminergic therapy on neurophysiological and motor characteristics. Short- and long-latency interhemispheric inhibition was measured in 18 Parkinson's disease patients and 18 healthy controls, bilaterally. We also assessed the corticospinal and intracortical excitability of both primary motor cortices. We conducted an objective analysis of finger-tapping from both hands. Correlation analyses were performed to explore potential relationships among clinical, transcranial magnetic stimulation and kinematic data in patients. We found that short- and long-latency interhemispheric inhibition was reduced (less inhibition) from both hemispheres in patients than controls. Compared to controls, finger-tapping movements in patients were slower, more irregular, of smaller amplitudes and characterized by a progressive amplitude reduction during movement repetition (sequence effect). Among Parkinson's disease patients, the degree of short-latency interhemispheric inhibition imbalance towards the less affected primary motor cortex correlated with the global clinical motor scores, as well as with the sequence effect on the most affected hand. The greater the interhemispheric inhibition imbalance towards the less affected hemisphere (i.e. less inhibition from the less to the most affected primary motor cortex than that measured from the most to the less affected primary motor cortex), the more severe the bradykinesia in patients. In conclusion, the inhibitory connections between the two primary motor cortices in Parkinson's disease are reduced. The interhemispheric disinhibition of the primary motor cortex may have a role in the pathophysiology of specific bradykinesia features in patients, i.e. the sequence effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Paparella
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS 86077, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | - Davide Costa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | | | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Andrea Guerra
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Center for Neurodegeneration (CESNE), Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS 86077, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS 86077, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
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Paparella G, De Riggi M, Cannavacciuolo A, Colella D, Costa D, Birreci D, Passaretti M, Angelini L, Guerra A, Berardelli A, Bologna M. Relationship between the interlimb transfer of a visuomotor learning task and interhemispheric inhibition in healthy humans. Cereb Cortex 2023:7071045. [PMID: 36882526 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The "interlimb transfer" phenomenon consists of improved performance of the trained and untrained contralateral limbs after unilateral motor practice. We here assessed whether a visuomotor learning task can be transferred from one hemisphere to the other, whether this occurs symmetrically, and the cortical neurophysiological correlates of this phenomenon, focusing on interhemispheric connectivity measures. We enrolled 33 healthy subjects (age range: 24-73 years). Participants underwent two randomized sessions, which investigated the transfer from the dominant to the nondominant hand and vice versa. Measures of cortical and intracortical excitability and interhemispheric inhibition were assessed through transcranial magnetic stimulation before and after a visuomotor task. The execution of the visuomotor task led to an improvement in motor performance with the dominant and nondominant hands and induced a decrease in intracortical inhibition in the trained hemisphere. Participants were also able to transfer the visuomotor learned skill. The interlimb transfer, however, only occurred from the dominant to the nondominant hand and positively correlated with individual learning-related changes in interhemispheric inhibition. We here demonstrated that the "interlimb transfer" of a visuomotor task occurs asymmetrically and relates to the modulation of specific inhibitory interhemispheric connections. The study results have pathophysiological, clinical, and neuro-rehabilitative implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Costa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Passaretti
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Angelini
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Guerra
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, Pozzilli, (IS) 86077, Italy.,Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, Pozzilli, (IS) 86077, Italy.,Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, Pozzilli, (IS) 86077, Italy.,Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
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