Parkinson Disease: Comella C

Comella C. · No affiliation provided · Sleep Med. · Pubmed #14592295 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Simuni T, Lyons KE, Pahwa R, Hauser RA, Comella C, Elmer L, Weintraub D. · Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Chicago, Ill, USA. · Eur Neurol. · Pubmed #19176961 links to  free full text

Abstract: The management of early Parkinson's disease (PD) involves the treatment of motor symptoms, and, increasingly, non-motor symptoms. Given the fast pace of clinical research in PD, clinicians are faced with the challenge of integrating the latest findings into the ongoing care of individual PD patients. Part 1 of this 2-part article reviews efficacy and safety data for the newest PD treatment options, as well as for established therapies. Part 2 of the article, presented here, reviews key data relevant to the assessment of potential neuroprotective therapies and the treatment of non-motor symptoms.

Simuni T, Lyons KE, Pahwa R, Hauser RA, Comella C, Elmer L, Weintraub D. · Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Chicago, Ill 60611, USA. · Eur Neurol. · Pubmed #19176960 links to  free full text

Abstract: The management of early Parkinson's disease (PD) involves the treatment of motor symptoms and, increasingly, non-motor symptoms. Given the fast pace of clinical research in PD, clinicians are faced with the challenge of integrating the latest findings into the ongoing care of individual PD patients. Part 1 of this 2-part article reviews motor symptom efficacy data for the newest PD treatment options, as well as for established therapies. Safety and tolerability data are also reviewed. Part 2 of the article reviews key findings relevant to the assessment of potential neuroprotective therapies and the treatment of non-motor symptoms.

Friedman JH, Brown RG, Comella C, Garber CE, Krupp LB, Lou JS, Marsh L, Nail L, Shulman L, Taylor CB, Anonymous00113. · NeuroHealth, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886, USA. · Mov Disord. · Pubmed #17133511 No free full text.

Abstract: Fatigue is a common problem in Parkinson's disease (PD), often the most troubling of all symptoms. It is poorly understood, generally under-recognized, and has no known treatment. This article reviews what is known about the symptom, putting it into the context of fatigue in other disorders, and outlines a program for developing better understanding and therapy.

Widnell KL, Comella C. · Regional Parkinson Center, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. · Mov Disord. · Pubmed #15822107 No free full text.

Abstract: Although levodopa remains the most effective drug for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), there are significant limitations to its chronic use. Growing preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that the severity of motor fluctuations is influenced both by PD severity and pulsatile stimulation of striatal dopamine receptors. Current management of motor fluctuations is based primarily on strategies to prolong the effects of dopaminergic stimulation. This prolongation is accomplished either through the use of long-acting dopaminergic drugs or prolonging of the effects of levodopa. During the past decade, the armamentarium of dopamine agonists increased and agents that prolong the plasma half-life of levodopa became available. Furthermore, recent clinical trials provide evidence-based approaches to improve the management of motor fluctuations in patients with advanced and early PD.

Shoulson I, Penney J, McDermott M, Schwid S, Kayson E, Chase T, Fahn S, Greenamyre JT, Lang A, Siderowf A, Pearson N, Harrison M, Rost E, Colcher A, Lloyd M, Matthews M, Pahwa R, McGuire D, Lew MF, Schuman S, Marek K, Broshjeit S, Factor S, Brown D, Feigin A, Mazurkiewicz J, Ford B, Jennings D, Dilllon S, Comella C, Blasucci L, Janko K, Shulman L, Wiener W, Bateman-Rodriguez D, Carrion A, Suchowersky O, Lafontaine AL, Pantella C, Siemers E, Belden J, Davies R, Lannon M, Grimes D, Gray P, Martin W, Kennedy L, Adler C, Newman S, Hammerstad J, Stone C, Lewitt P, Bardram K, Mistura K, Miyasaki J, Johnston L, Cha JH, Tennis M, Panniset M, Hall J, Tetrud J, Friedlander J, Hauser R, Gauger L, Rodnitzky R, Deleo A, Dobson J, Seeberger L, Dingmann C, Tarsy D, Ryan P, Elmer L, Ruzicka D, Stacy M, Brewer M, Locke B, Baker D, Casaceli C, Day D, Florack M, Hodgeman K, Laroia N, Nobel R, Orme C, Rexo L, Rothenburgh K, Sulimowicz K, Watts A, Wratni E, Tariot P, Cox C, Leventhal C, Alderfer V, Craun AM, Frey J, McCree L, McDermott J, Cooper J, Holdich T, Read B, Anonymous00161. · No affiliation provided · Neurology. · Pubmed #11222787 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies suggest that glutamate antagonists help ameliorate motor fluctuations in patients with PD treated with levodopa. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-ranging study, the authors assessed the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the glutamate receptor blocker remacemide hydrochloride in 279 patients with motor fluctuations treated with levodopa. The primary objective was to assess the short-term tolerability and safety of four dosage levels of remacemide during 7 weeks of treatment. Patients were also monitored with home diaries and the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) to collect preliminary data on treatment efficacy. RESULTS: Remacemide was well tolerated up to a dosage of 300 mg/d on a twice daily schedule and 600 mg/d on a four times daily schedule. The most common dosage-related adverse events were dizziness and nausea, as observed in previous studies of remacemide. The percent "on" time and motor UPDRS scores showed trends toward improvement in the patients treated with 150 and 300 mg/d remacemide compared with placebo-treated patients, although these improvements were not significant. CONCLUSION: Remacemide is a safe and tolerable adjunct to dopaminergic therapy for patients with PD and motor fluctuations. Although this study had limited power to detect therapeutic effects, the observed improvement is consistent with studies of non-human primates with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonian signs and symptoms. Additional studies are warranted to confirm these results over an extended period of observation, and to explore the potential neuroprotective effects of remacemide in slowing the progression of PD.