ObjectiveTo observe the changes of optic disc structure and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in patients with different degrees of Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsThirty eyes of 30 patients with primary PD and 20 eyes of 20 healthy subjects (control group) in Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from October 2016 to October 2017 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into mild to moderate PD group (15 eyes of 15 patients) and severe PD group (15 eyes of 15 patients). All the patients underwent OCT examination. The optic disc area, cup area, C/D area ratio, rim volume, disc volume, cup volume, rim area, C/D area, linear C/D, vertical C/D, the thickness of average RNFL, superior, inferior, temporal upper (TU), superior temporal (ST), superior nasal (SN), nasal upper (NU), nasal lower (NL), inferior nasal (IN), inferior temporal (IT), temporal lower (TL) quadrant RNFL thickness. Analysis of variance was performed for comparison among three groups. Minimum significant difference t test was performed for comparison between two groups.ResultsOptic disc structure parameters: there was no significant difference in the area of optic disc between the three groups (F=1.226, P＞0.05). The other optic disc parameters were significantly different in the three groups (F=5.221, 5.586, 6.302, 5.926, 5.319, 5.404, 5.861, 6.603; P＜0.05). The cup area, cup volume, C/D area, linear C/D, vertical C/D of the mild to moderate PD group and severe PD group were higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The cup area, cup volume, C/D area, linear C/D, vertical C/D of the severe PD group were higher than those of mild to moderate PD group (P＜0.05), the rim area, rim volume and disc volume of the severe PD group were smaller than that of mild to moderate PD group (P＜0.05). The thickness of RNFL: there was no significant difference between the three groups of ST, SN, NU and NL (F=3.586, 2.852, 2.961, 2.404; P＞0.05). The average thickness of RNFL, TU, IN, IT and TL in patients of the mild to moderate PD group and severe PD group were less than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The thickness of the average RNFL, TU, IN, IT and TL in patients of the severe PD group were less than that in the mild to moderate PD group (P＜0.05). With the increase of PD severity, the RNFL of TL and TU thinned most significantly.ConclusionsWith the increase of the severity of PD, the optic disc structure and RNFL thickness changes obviously, showing reduced optic disc area and volume, enlarged cup area and volume significantly enlarged C/D ratio. The average RNFL thickness of PD patients is significantly thinner than that of the controls, and it is the most obvious in the TU and TL quadrant.
Objective To investigate the association between parkin gene S/N167 polymorphism and the risk for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using the methods of meta-analysis. Method References were retrieved through the computerized Medline, Cochrane Library and CBM search from 1998 to 2003. Similar search strategies were applied to each of these databases. The unpublished data of our study were also included.Studies eligible for this meta-analysis should meet the following inclusion criterias: ① presentation of original data and a cross-sectional design. ② PD as the outcome of interest. ③ an odds ratio (or enough information to calculate it) reported to quantify the association between the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of parkin gene S/N167 polymorphism and the risk for PD. All analyses were conducted with ’Review Manager’ Version 4.2 software. Results A total of 1 239 PD patients and 1 168 control studies were studied. The combined data statistics revealed the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles were higher, but showed no statistically difference, for the total PD group from that ofthe control group (Z=1.57, P=0.12). After stratification according to eastern or western origin, the frequencies of G/A+A/A genotype and a allele of eastern origin were significantly higher [test for overall effect: P=0.01, OR=1.41, 95%CI= (1.08 to1.83); P=0.01, OR=1.25, 95%CI= (1.08 to1.44), respectively] in the PD group than that in the control group. After including our unpublished data, the results remained constant, and the trend was much more pronounced. Conversely, there was no difference [test for overall effect: P=0.08, OR=0.55, 95%CI= (0.30 to1.02); P=0.08, OR=0.55, 95%CI= (0.28 to1.08)] in the frequencies of allele and genotype of western origin between the PD patients and the controls. Conclusions The meta-analysis suggests that the parkin gene S/N167 polymorphism might be a genetic risk factor for PD of eastern origin, but not a definite risk for PD of western origin.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients with depression. MethodsThe Cochrane Library (Issue 5, 2014), PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases were searched from inception to May 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy and safety of SSRIs for Parkinson's disease patients with depression. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 12 RCTs were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of SSRIs was better than placebo (RR=2.18, 95%CI 1.60 to 2.97, P<0.000 01) and the dropouts rates of SSRIs were higher than placebo (OR=3.02, 95%CI 1.04 to 8.79, P=0.04). However, the incidence rate of adverse events between the SSRIs group and the placebo group was not statistically different. ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that SSRIs are effective for the Parkinson's disease patients with depression. Because of the limitation of quantity and quality of included studies, large-scale multi-center RCTs are required to confirm these findings.
ObjectiveTo evaluate visual field changes in early mild Parkinson's disease. Methods A total of 66 eyes of 33 cases with early mild Parkinson's disease and 72 eyes of 36 age-matched normal individuals were enrolled into the study. Humphrey Field Analyzer II was applied for central visual field test. The visual field indices of mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were analyzed to evaluate the location and the characteristics of visual field defect in this study. ResultsVisual field indices MD (-3.4±2.5) dB was significantly changed in patients with PD when compared to the controls (-0.6±1.7) dB. PSD (4.3±2.6) was significantly higher in patients with PD than that in the control group (2.1±1.8) dB. Glaucoma hemifield test (GHT) assessment was within normal limits in the controls. Of the 33 patients (66 eyes) in PD, GHT showed outside normal limits in 31 eyes, borderline in 8 eyes, and within normal limits in 27 eyes. 31 eyes outside normal limits appeared glaucomatous visual field defects, in which 16 with nasal step and 5 with arcuate defect. ConclusionsVisual field indices including MD and PSD in early mild patients with PD were significantly worse than that in the controls group. GHT abnormalities could be found in early mild PD patients with visual field defects, including pericentral scotoma and nasal step, which mimicked glaucomatous changes.
1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (Sal) is a kind of catechol isoquinoline compound, which mainly exists in mammalian brain and performs a variety of biological functions. Through in vivo metabolism, Sal can be transformed into endogenous neurotoxins and can participate the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This has attracted widespread concern of researchers. Recently, many research works have shown that Sal may lead to alcohol addiction and regulate hormone release of the neuroendocrine system, which indicated that it is a potential regulator of dopaminergic neurons. In this paper, we discuss the neural functions of Sal on the above aspects, and wish to provide some theoretical supports for further research on its mechanism.