NEURO

For some patients with common neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease, treatment using neurotechnological devices such as deep brain stimulation has been successful in improving their symptoms. But in a new JAMA Neurology Viewpoint article,  Michael S. Okun , M.D., UF’s chair of neurology, and James Giordano, Ph.D., of Georgetown University, argue that reform is needed in the current U.S. approval process for these devices to treat rare diseases and rare disease subtypes, such as severe Tourette syndrome. The authors state that increasing knowledge and identification of rare neurological diseases and the expansion and sophistication of available neurotechnological devices necessitate this reform. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/38qaa7T

Thank you to all who are planning to attend  this year’s Tyler’s Hope Think Tank !  Please see the attached schedule. We have planned for three sessions. Each talk for  the Tyler’s Hope Think Tank is 20 minutes long; however, at the end of each session, we will have about 60 minutes for questions and discussion. Please prepare questions that you would like to be discussed at this meeting. While all speakers will be able to unmute to talk and ask questions for any session, everyone else can use the question/chat feature. If your question is not discussed or you have technical difficulties, please contact : Dr. Mark Moehle: email,  mark.moehle@ufl.edu ; cell, 225-715-9928 Heather Parker: email,  hparker@tylershope.org ; cell  352-246-1023 or Dr. Aparna Wagle Shukla: email,  aparna.shukla@neurology.ufl.edu ; cell, 501-213-6201 They will be able to unmute people as needed , or as requested by the moderator for the sessi...

Congratulations to Dr Michael Okun and his colleagues on their publication “ Patient-centred management of Parkinson’s disease – Authors’ reply ,” in the correspondence section of the November 1, 2020 issue of The Lancet Neurology.   from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/3jJxfVb

Congratulations to Drs. Yoon Jin Choi, Stefan Delmas, Basma Yacoubi, David Vaillancourt, Michael Okun, and Evangelos Christou on the publication of “ Deep Brain Stimulation Reduces Midline Tremor During a Static Postural Balance Task in Essential Tremor Patients ,” in the November issue of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Article information:  To determine the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on midline tremor during a static balance in Essential Tremor patients. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/37Tf0KO

Congratulations Drs. Shannon Y. Chiu , Wissam Deeb , Pamela Zeilman , Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora , Addie Patterson , Bhavana Patel , Kelly D. Foote , Michael S. Okun , and Leonardo Almeida on the publication of “ Brain Atrophy Following Deep Brain Stimulation: Management of a Moving Target ” in the October 21, 2020 issue of Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements.   Abstract Clinical vignette:  A 51-year-old man with essential tremor (ET) had bilateral ventralis intermedius nucleus deep brain stimulation (VIM-DBS) placed to address refractory tremor. Despite well-placed DBS leads and adequate tremor response, he subsequently experienced worsening. Re-programming of the device and reconfirming the electrical thresholds for benefits and side effects were both performed. Six years following DBS implantation, repeat imaging revealed brain atrophy and a measured lead position change with a coincident change in clinical response. Clinical dilemma:  What do we know about brain at...

Please join us for the  Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration Training Program 2020 Joint T32 & Movement Fellows Research Symposium Via Zoom Friday, October 30, 2020 9:00 am – 11:15 am   Zoom ID:  956 5339 9648 Passcode:  189370 See agenda here! from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2G4qPCn

A new drug combination tested in a multisite human clinical trial shows promise for slowing the progression of ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, researchers at the University of Florida and partner institutions reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. The oral drug, a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol, was tested in the Phase 2 CENTAUR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of 137 ALS patients within 18 months of onset of symptoms. The compounds, which previously were found to reduce neuronal death in preclinical models, resulted in statistically significant slowing of disease progression in the human trial, according to the study. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2Tjr3Zm

A new drug combination tested in a multisite human clinical trial shows promise for slowing the progression of ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, researchers at the University of Florida and partner institutions reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. The oral drug, a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol, was tested in the Phase 2 CENTAUR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of 137 ALS patients within 18 months of onset of symptoms. The compounds, which previously were found to reduce neuronal death in preclinical models, resulted in statistically significant slowing of disease progression in the human trial, according to the study. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2Tjr3Zm

A drug widely used for anesthesia and sedation in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening form of stroke mostly caused by an aneurysm rupture, could have other potential benefits such as helping to protect against a secondary brain injury in those patients, UF researchers reported in a comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies in the Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology. The review, led by  Sylvain Doré , Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology;  Katharina Busl , M.D., an associate professor of neurology; and Hongtao Liu, M.D., a visiting scientist in Doré’s lab, concluded that the drug dexmedetomidine shows promise to serve as a protective therapy for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, known as SAH. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/3j3nroL

Genetics and Genomics Graduate student Yuning Liu is the first author on a recent publication entitled  “The abnormal firing of Purkinje cells in the knockin mouse model of DYT1 dystonia.” Liu is in Dr. Yuqing Li’s lab which mainly focused on the pathophysiology and experimental therapeutics of DYT1 dystonia. “DYT1 dystonia is an inherited movement disorder caused by a heterozygous trinucleotide deletion (GAG) in DYT1 gene,” Liu said. Dystonia is a movement disorder in which your muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements. There is currently no cure for the disorder but many studies are being done for possible treatments. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/3nXFO2a

Congratulations Bonnie M. Scott ,  Robert S. Eisinger ,  Matthew R. Burns ,  Janine Lopes ,  Michael S. Okun ,  Aysegul Gunduz ,  Dawn Bowers on the publication of “ Co-occurrence of apathy and impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease .”  This research paper was published in the October issue of Neurology. Abstract Objective  To empirically test if apathy and impulse control disorders (ICDs) represent independent, opposite ends of a motivational spectrum. Methods  In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we obtained retrospective demographics and clinical data for 887 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) seen at a tertiary care center. Mood and motivation disturbances were classified using recommended cutoff scores from self-report measures of apathy, ICD, anxiety, and depression. Results  Prevalence rates included 29.0% of PD patients with depression, 40.7% with anxiety, 41.3% with apathy, 27.6% with I...

The UF Health Cancer Center invites you to the  2020 Virtual Research Symposium , taking place December  8-10, 2020. The abstract submission deadline is Oct. 12 . Limit one poster per presenter. In keeping with the center’s mission to foster education and training and to build research collaborations, trainee prizes will be awarded. Junior faculty are welcome to submit an abstract in order to showcase current research and foster mentorship; however, junior faculty posters will not be judged. Questions should be directed to  Education@cancer.ufl.edu . Submit Abstract from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2SA8CiJ

Today marks the start of National Physician Assistant Week, a celebration each year from Oct. 6-12 recognizing the PA profession and its contributions to the nation’s health. This year’s PA Week is especially significant as it falls during a pandemic. PAs, along with our partners across the health care teams, have risen to the unprecedented occasion to serve on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, putting their health at risk every day to care for their patients. This week is also an opportunity to raise awareness and visibility for the profession, as many are still unfamiliar with the vital role a PA plays in the health care delivery system. As medical professionals, PAs diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal health care provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative, working closely with physicians and other health care professionals.    Pleas...

Congratulations Takashi Tsuboi, Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora, Janine Lemos Melo Lobo Jofili Lopes, Leonardo Almeida, Pamela Zeilman, Robert Eisinger, Kelly Foote, and Michael Okun for you publication of “Pallidal Connectivity Profiling of Stimulation‐Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease,” in the October issue of Movement Disorders.   ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of this study is to identify anatomical regions related to stimulation‐induced dyskinesia (SID) after pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and to analyze connectivity associated with SID. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the clinical and imaging data of PD patients who experienced SID during the monopolar review after pallidal DBS. We analyzed structural and functional connectivity using normative connectivity data with the volume of tissue activated (VTA) modeling. Each contact was assigned to either that producing SID (SID VTA) or that without SID (non‐SID VTA). Struct...

Congratulations to Dr. Subramony on the funding of the a Global, multi-stakeholder, consortium launched to study neuroimaging biomarkers for Friedreich Ataxia.   A Natural History Study to TRACK Brain and Spinal Cord Changes in Individuals with Friedreich Ataxia (TRACK-FA) The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and partner organizations proudly announce an international consortium of academic, industry, and patient advocacy partners to launch a natural history study to TRACK brain and spinal cord changes in individuals with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). Friedreich’s ataxia is a rare debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. About 5,000 people in the United States and 15,000 worldwide live with FA. The TRACK-FA study is the most extensive worldwide longitudinal, multi-center neuroimaging study in FA with 200 children and adults (and ~100 matched controls) and three assessments (baseline, 12-month, and 24-month follow-up). The TRACK-FA study aims ...

Congratulations to Drs. Buchwald, Heilman and Simpkins on the publication of “ Musical hallucinations with a right frontotemporal stroke ,” in the September issue of Neurocase.   Abstract Musical hallucinations have been reported in association with psychiatric diseases, brain stem strokes, deafness, degenerative diseases, intoxications, pharmacologic agents, and epilepsy. We present a patient who in the absence of these disorders developed musical hallucinations from an infarction of the right hemisphere that primarily injured his right frontal and anterior temporal lobes. This report discusses some of the possible mechanisms for this patient’s presentation. Although the mechanism of his musical hallucinations remains unclear, recognition of this uncommon syndrome is important when structuring rehabilitation and management for patients with stroke who have this disorder.   from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2G32gFX...

The world may look a little different right now, but one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to ending Alzheimer’s. This year, Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is everywhere — on every sidewalk, track and trail. This year’s event won’t be a large in-person gathering — instead, we are invited to walk in small teams of friends and family while others in our community do the same. Because we are all still walking and fundraising for the same thing: a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Date:  Saturday, October 17 th Link to Register for our Team:  http://act.alz.org/goto/ufhealth You can even download the Walk to End Alzheimer’s mobile app to send fundraising messages and track your progress as you go. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2E5363O

Through funding provided to McKnight Brain Institute by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust for Neuroscience Research and Education Fund, the MBI established the Toffler Research Awards to provide summer research funds for M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students in neuroscience. Funding will also be available for students to travel to present their own research. To be considered for this award, applicants must be an  MBI member  and an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. student who does not have funding to work in neuroscience research. from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/35veukW

from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2FdN1cS

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Okun on the publication of “ A New Day: the role of telemedicine in reshaping care for persons with movement disorders ,” in the September 2020 issue of Movement Disorders. Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of clinic‐based care for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. In response to the virus, many clinics across the world abruptly closed their doors to persons with Parkinson’s. Fortunately, a niche care model, telemedicine—first described in this journal a generation ago—emerged as the dominant means of providing care. As we adjust to a new normal, we should center future care not on clinics, but on patients. Their needs, guided by clinicians, should determine how care is delivered, whether in the clinic, at home, remotely, or by some combination. Within this patient‐centered approach, telemedicine is an attractive care option but not a complete replacement for in‐person consultations, which are valuable for s...