Improved conditions for the generation of beta oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus--globus pallidus network

A key pathology in the development of Parkinson's disease is the occurrence of persistent beta oscillations, which are correlated with difficulty in movement initiation. We investigated the network model composed of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus (GP) developed by A. Nevado Holgado et al. [(2010) Journal of Neuroscience, 30, 12340-12352], who identified the conditions under which this circuit could generate beta oscillations. Our work extended their analysis by deriving improved analytic stability conditions for realistic values of the synaptic transmission delay between STN and GP neurons. The improved conditions were significantly closer to the results of simulations for the range of synaptic transmission delays measured experimentally. Furthermore, our analysis explained how changes in cortical and striatal input to the STN-GP network influenced oscillations generated by the circuit. As we have identified when a system of mutually connected populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons can generate oscillations, our results may also find applications in the study of neural oscillations produced by assemblies of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in other brain regions.

Tremor suppression orthoses for parkinson's patients: a frequency range perspective

While the majority of tremor-afflicted Parkinso-nian (PD) patients suffer from rest tremors, which is not considered highly disabling, a portion of these PD patients also demonstrate action tremors that interfere with their daily lives. Two main considerations in designing an orthosis that aims at suppressing the tremor, are the frequency bands of the tremor and the joints tremor affects. Nine subjects, which included six healthy people, two PD patients with typical tremor afflictions, and a PD patient with severe tremor of not only in her fingers and wrist, but also in her elbow, participated in this study. The highly afflicted patient displayed the need for tremor suppression in action as well as when in rest. The study focuses on uncommon elbow tremors and demonstrates that, for typically afflicted patients, tremor amplitudes are comparable to healthy subjects, but the frequency distribution of the tremors are different at high levels of elbow torque. For the highly afflicted patient, both tremor amplitude and its frequency distribution are different at all levels of elbow torque. The study further investigates the tremors in two bands of frequency on both hands of the highly troubled patient before, and after medication. The two bands are those of classical Parkinsonian tremor (4-6 Hz) and physiological (or enhanced physiological) tremor (8-12 Hz). Power spectrum and tremor amplitude comparisons reveal that, for part of tremulous PD patients, both tremors coexist and, depending on the level of affliction, the designed orthosis needs to suppress tremors in both bands, even at more proximal joints, such as the elbow.

Provocation of Parkinsonian tremor

Classical Parkinsonian rest tremor typically fluctuates over time and can be provoked by stressful situations. We quantified and compared the influence of different provocation methods on classical rest tremor severity. The effect of counting backwards from 100, tapping of the contralateral foot and a Stroop test on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III rest tremor scores and the accelerometrically measured tremor amplitudes (total power) were analyzed in 18 patients with Parkinson's disease and a Type I tremor. Each of the three provocation methods increased the UPDRS III rest tremor score by 1-2 and the total power by 1-2 orders of magnitude compared with baseline (P < 0.001). The maximal effect was reached on average after 2-3 minutes of provocation. The effects were not significantly different. Provocations clearly influence the result of clinical rest tremor ratings, with the kind of provocation being of minor importance. We therefore suggest that each assessment of Parkinsonian rest tremor should include a systematic provocation and this should be formally included in future versions of the UPDRS.

Effects of mercury vapor exposure on neuromotor function in Chinese miners and smelters

OBJECTIVES

Current risk assessment of elemental mercury vapor is based on the tremor toxicity. To clarify the neuromotor effects of occupational exposure to mercury vapor, hand tremor and postural sway were measured in 27 miners and smelters (i.e., exposed workers) and 52 unexposed subjects.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected and total mercury and creatinine concentrations were determined. Data of the tremor and postural sway were analyzed using the fast Fourier transformation.

RESULTS

The geometric means of the urinary mercury level (UHg) were 228 (range 22.6-4,577) microg/g creatinine for the exposed workers and 2.6 (1.0-17.4) microg/g creatinine for the unexposed subjects. Total tremor intensity and frequency-specific tremor intensities at 1-6 and 10-14 Hz were significantly larger in the exposed workers than in the unexposed subjects (P < 0.05), but they were not significantly related to the UHg among the exposed workers (P > 0.05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in any postural sway parameters between the above two groups (P > 0.05), but the transversal sway with eyes open was positively related to the UHg among the exposed workers in using multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that postural sway, as well as hand tremor, may be affected by elemental mercury vapor exposure, but the former test seems to be less sensitive to mercury than the latter one.