1
|
Brugnolo A, De Carli F, Accardo J, Amore M, Bosia LE, Bruzzaniti C, Cappa SF, Cocito L, Colazzo G, Ferrara M, Ghio L, Magi E, Mancardi GL, Nobili F, Pardini M, Rissotto R, Serrati C, Girtler N. An updated Italian normative dataset for the Stroop color word test (SCWT). Neurol Sci 2015; 37:365-72. [PMID: 26621362 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-015-2428-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Stroop color and word test (SCWT) is widely used to evaluate attention, information processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility. Normative values for the Italian population are available only for selected age groups, or for the short version of the test. The aim of this study was to provide updated normal values for the full version, balancing groups across gender, age decades, and education. Two kinds of indexes were derived from the performance of 192 normal subjects, divided by decade (from 20 to 90) and level of education (4 levels: 3-5; 6-8; 9-13; >13 years). They were (i) the correct answers achieved for each table in the first 30 s (word items, WI; color items, CI; color word items, CWI) and (ii) the total time required for reading the three tables (word time, WT; color time, CT; color word time, CWT). For each index, the regression model was evaluated using age, education, and gender as independent variables. The normative data were then computed following the equivalent scores method. In the regression model, age and education significantly influenced the performance in each of the 6 indexes, whereas gender had no significant effect. This study confirms the effect of age and education on the main indexes of the Stroop test and provides updated normative data for an Italian healthy population, well balanced across age, education, and gender. It will be useful to Italian researchers studying attentional functions in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Brugnolo
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - F De Carli
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Genoa, Italy
| | - J Accardo
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Amore
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - L E Bosia
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - C Bruzzaniti
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - S F Cappa
- Division of Neuroscience, IUSS Pavia, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - L Cocito
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - G Colazzo
- C.H. La Palmosa, Accueil de Jour Alzheimer, Centre Hospitalier La Palmosa, Menton Division of Neuroscience, Menton, France
| | - M Ferrara
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - L Ghio
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Magi
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - G L Mancardi
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - F Nobili
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Pardini
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - R Rissotto
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - C Serrati
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - N Girtler
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pagani M, De Carli F, Morbelli S, Öberg J, Chincarini A, Frisoni GB, Galluzzi S, Perneczky R, Drzezga A, van Berckel BNM, Ossenkoppele R, Didic M, Guedj E, Brugnolo A, Picco A, Arnaldi D, Ferrara M, Buschiazzo A, Sambuceti G, Nobili F. Volume of interest-based [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET discriminates MCI converting to Alzheimer's disease from healthy controls. A European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium (EADC) study. Neuroimage Clin 2014; 7:34-42. [PMID: 25610765 PMCID: PMC4299956 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
An emerging issue in neuroimaging is to assess the diagnostic reliability of PET and its application in clinical practice. We aimed at assessing the accuracy of brain FDG-PET in discriminating patients with MCI due to Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls. Sixty-two patients with amnestic MCI and 109 healthy subjects recruited in five centers of the European AD Consortium were enrolled. Group analysis was performed by SPM8 to confirm metabolic differences. Discriminant analyses were then carried out using the mean FDG uptake values normalized to the cerebellum computed in 45 anatomical volumes of interest (VOIs) in each hemisphere (90 VOIs) as defined in the Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL) Atlas and on 12 meta-VOIs, bilaterally, obtained merging VOIs with similar anatomo-functional characteristics. Further, asymmetry indexes were calculated for both datasets. Accuracy of discrimination by a Support Vector Machine (SVM) and the AAL VOIs was tested against a validated method (PALZ). At the voxel level SMP8 showed a relative hypometabolism in the bilateral precuneus, and posterior cingulate, temporo-parietal and frontal cortices. Discriminant analysis classified subjects with an accuracy ranging between .91 and .83 as a function of data organization. The best values were obtained from a subset of 6 meta-VOIs plus 6 asymmetry values reaching an area under the ROC curve of .947, significantly larger than the one obtained by the PALZ score. High accuracy in discriminating MCI converters from healthy controls was reached by a non-linear classifier based on SVM applied on predefined anatomo-functional regions and inter-hemispheric asymmetries. Data pre-processing was automated and simplified by an in-house created Matlab-based script encouraging its routine clinical use. Further validation toward nonconverter MCI patients with adequately long follow-up is needed. 18F-FDG-PET/CT analysis of metabolic differences between MCI converting to AD and HC Large and very well controlled cohorts from EADC-Consortium were investigated. Data were analyzed by a friendly-to-use Matlab-based script and Support Vector Machine. Excellent discrimination between MCI and HC (sensitivity 92%; specificity 91%) Highest accuracy reported so far in MCI and promising implementation in clinical routine
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Pagani
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Rome, Italy ; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F De Carli
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Genoa, Italy
| | - S Morbelli
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - J Öberg
- Department of Hospital Physics, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Chincarini
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Genoa, Italy
| | - G B Frisoni
- LENITEM Laboratory of Epidemiology and Neuroimaging, IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio-FBF, Brescia, Italy ; University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Galluzzi
- LENITEM Laboratory of Epidemiology and Neuroimaging, IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio-FBF, Brescia, Italy
| | - R Perneczky
- Neuroepidemiology and Ageing Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Imperial College London of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK ; West London Cognitive Disorders Treatment and Research Unit, London, UK ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - A Drzezga
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - B N M van Berckel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Ossenkoppele
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Didic
- APHM, CHU Timone, Service de Neurologie et Neuropsychologie, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U 1106, Marseille, France
| | - E Guedj
- APHM, CHU Timone, Service de Médecine Nucléaire, CERIMED, INT CNRS UMR7289 , Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - A Brugnolo
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU, San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Picco
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU, San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - D Arnaldi
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU, San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Ferrara
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU, San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Buschiazzo
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - G Sambuceti
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - F Nobili
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Mother-Child health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU, San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
de Medeiros K, Robert P, Gauthier S, Stella F, Politis A, Leoutsakos J, Taragano F, Kremer J, Brugnolo A, Porsteinsson AP, Geda YE, Brodaty H, Gazdag G, Cummings J, Lyketsos C. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician rating scale (NPI-C): reliability and validity of a revised assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Int Psychogeriatr 2010; 22:984-94. [PMID: 20594384 PMCID: PMC3314709 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610210000876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affect almost all patients with dementia and are a major focus of study and treatment. Accurate assessment of NPS through valid, sensitive and reliable measures is crucial. Although current NPS measures have many strengths, they also have some limitations (e.g. acquisition of data is limited to informants or caregivers as respondents, limited depth of items specific to moderate dementia). Therefore, we developed a revised version of the NPI, known as the NPI-C. The NPI-C includes expanded domains and items, and a clinician-rating methodology. This study evaluated the reliability and convergent validity of the NPI-C at ten international sites (seven languages). METHODS Face validity for 78 new items was obtained through a Delphi panel. A total of 128 dyads (caregivers/patients) from three severity categories of dementia (mild = 58, moderate = 49, severe = 21) were interviewed separately by two trained raters using two rating methods: the original NPI interview and a clinician-rated method. Rater 1 also administered four additional, established measures: the Apathy Evaluation Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Index, and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Intraclass correlations were used to determine inter-rater reliability. Pearson correlations between the four relevant NPI-C domains and their corresponding outside measures were used for convergent validity. RESULTS Inter-rater reliability was strong for most items. Convergent validity was moderate (apathy and agitation) to strong (hallucinations and delusions; agitation and aberrant vocalization; and depression) for clinician ratings in NPI-C domains. CONCLUSION Overall, the NPI-C shows promise as a versatile tool which can accurately measure NPS and which uses a uniform scale system to facilitate data comparisons across studies.
Collapse
|
4
|
Girtler N, Casari EF, Brugnolo A, Cutolo M, Dessi B, Guasco S, Olmi C, De Carli F. Italian validation of the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale: a perspective to rheumatic diseases. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010; 28:669-678. [PMID: 20822709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/22/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studying the characteristics of resilience may help to explain how, in the face of a chronic disease, people are able to cope in productive and effective ways. The Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (RS) is an appropriate instrument to study resilience and has already been translated from the original English version into several languages. The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the RS, a 25-item scale ranging from 25 to 175 where higher scores indicate stronger resilience. METHODS The Minimal Translation Criteria were followed to translate the scale which was then filled out by 1090 students to assess the reliability, stability, internal consistency and concurrent validity. RESULTS Time stability was assessed in a sample of 117 students (M age=20.18 yr, SD 1.25) by test-retest correlation (r=0.78). RS reliability was evaluated in a second sample of 973 students (M age=16.95 yr, SD 1.50) with RS mean of 126.6 (SD 17.4). Concurrent validity was assessed by correlation with General Health Questionnaire (r=-0.51), Ego-Resilience Scale (r=0.63) and Beck Depression Inventory (r=-0.45). Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach alpha (α=0.84). Principal component analysis was performed on 24 out of the 25 items and resulted in six components. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicated that the 24-item Italian version of the RS scale can be considered a useful instrument to measure resilience and can be used by healthcare staff to help patients cope effectively with stressful situations such as rheumatic and other chronic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Girtler
- Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, DINOG University of Genova, and IRCCS, Gaslini Children Hospital, Genova, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pagani M, Dessi B, Morbelli S, Brugnolo A, Salmaso D, Piccini A, Mazzei D, Villavecchia G, Larsson S, Rodriguez G, Nobili F. MCI Patients Declining and Not-Declining at Mid-Term Follow-Up: FDG-PET Findings. Curr Alzheimer Res 2010; 7:287-94. [DOI: 10.2174/156720510791162368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 07/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
6
|
Brugnolo A, Morbelli S, Dessi B, Girtler N, Mazzei D, Famà F, Barbieri P, Cabassi G, Koulibaly PM, Sambuceti G, Rodriguez G, Nobili F. The reversed clock drawing test phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease: A perfusion SPECT study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2010; 29:1-10. [PMID: 20093833 DOI: 10.1159/000270898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To unveil a brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) pattern in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, showing a reversed clock drawing test (CDT) phenomenon. PATIENTS AND METHODS Among 1,005 consecutive subjects, 9 AD patients who drew a reversed CDT (AD-R) underwent SPECT, which was analysed (SPM2) versus a group of 10 AD patients performing the CDT correctly (AD+) and versus 15 controls (CTR). Brain SPECT in 11 AD patients who mistook the CDT in a common way (AD-) was compared with AD+ and CTR groups. RESULTS Relative hypoperfusion was found in AD-R versus CTR in right medial frontal, parahippocampal and subcallosal gyri, and in left insula and superior temporal gyrus. Hypoperfusion was found in AD-R versus AD+ in the right uncus, superior temporal and parahippocampal gyri. In the AD- versus CTR comparison, hypoperfusion was found in left hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and superior parietal lobule. In AD-R versus AD+ and CTR merged together, the analysis showed hypoperfusion in the right parahippocampus, medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and uncus, in the left insula and superior temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION Fronto-temporal dysfunction, especially in the right hemisphere, plays a role in the reversed CDT phenomenon in AD patients, whereas matched AD patients mistaking the CDT in a common way show left posterior temporo-parietal hypoperfusion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Brugnolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pagani M, Dessi B, Morbelli S, Brugnolo A, Salmaso D, Piccini A, Mazzei D, Villavecchia G, Larsson SA, Rodriguez G, Nobili F. MCI Patients Declining and Not-Declining at Mid-Term Follow-Up: FDGPET Findings. Curr Alzheimer Res 2010. [DOI: 10.2174/1567210199392282050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
8
|
Brugnolo A, Nobili F, Barbieri M, Dessi B, Ferro A, Girtler N, Palummeri E, Partinico D, Raiteri U, Regesta G, Servetto G, Tanganelli P, Uva V, Mazzei D, Donadio S, De Carli F, Colazzo G, Serrati C, Rodriguez G. The factorial structure of the mini mental state examination (MMSE) in Alzheimer's disease. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2009; 49:180-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2008.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2008] [Revised: 07/15/2008] [Accepted: 07/17/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
9
|
Morbelli S, Rodriguez G, Mignone A, Altrinetti V, Brugnolo A, Piccardo A, Pupi A, Koulibaly PM, Nobili F. The need of appropriate brain SPECT templates for SPM comparisons. Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2008; 52:89-98. [PMID: 18043545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) is used worldwide to compare brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data. The default template within the SPM package used for SPECT image normalization includes images of a group of healthy subjects studied with [(99m)Tc]HMPAO. Since [(99m)Tc]HMPAO and [(99m)Tc]ECD have shown to distribute differently in SPECT studies, we formulated the hypothesis that comparing set of [(99m)Tc]ECD data normalized by means of a [(99m)Tc]HMPAO template may lead to incorrect results. METHODS A customized [(99m)Tc]ECD template was built with SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of 22 neurologically healthy women. Then, two sets of subjects, i.e. a group of patients with very early Alzheimer's disease (eAD) and a matched control group, studied by means of [(99m)Tc]ECD SPECT, were chosen for comparisons. The same statistical approach (t-test between eAD patients and controls and correlation analysis between brain SPECT and a cognitive score) was applied twice, i.e. after normalization with either the default [(99m)Tc]HMPAO template or the customized [(99m)Tc]ECD template. RESULTS In the comparison between eAD and controls, a cluster of difference in the posterior cingulate gyrus of both hemispheres was only highlighted when using the customized [(99m)Tc]ECD template, but was missed when using the default [(99m)Tc]HMPAO template. In the correlation between brain perfusion and a cognitive score, the significant cluster was more significant and far more extended, also including the right superior temporal gyrus, using the customized [(99m)Tc]ECD template than using the default [(99m)Tc]HMPAO template. CONCLUSION These data suggest the need of customized, radiopharmaceutical-matched SPECT templates to be used within the SPM package. The present customized [(99m)Tc]ECD template is now freely available on the web.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Morbelli
- Nuclear Medicine Unit , S. Martino University, Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Nobili F, Koulibaly PM, Rodriguez G, Benoit M, Girtler N, Robert PH, Brugnolo A, Darcourt J. 99mTc-HMPAO and 99mTc-ECD brain uptake correlates of verbal memory in Alzheimer's disease. Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2007; 51:357-63. [PMID: 17220817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime ((99m)Tc-HMPAO) and technetium-99m N,N-1,2-ethylene diylbis-Lcysteine diethyl ester dihydrochloride ((99m)Tc-ECD) SPECT are widely used in Dementia Clinics for early and differential diagnosis. They have been shown to perform differently in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the impact of such differences on both research and clinical work is unknown. We investigated the differences between the 2 compounds in research work by assessing correlation between performance on a verbal memory task and cerebral perfusion in 2 matched groups of AD patients. METHODS Nineteen pairs of patients with mild to moderate AD undergoing SPECT with either 99mTc-HMPAO or (99m)Tc-ECD were retrospectively selected in a Memory Clinic. Patients were matched for sex, age (+/-3 years) and the Mini-Mental State Examination score (+/-2 points) with a case-control procedure, thus obtaining 2 well-matched groups. The score on the Grober-Buschke selective reminding test (SRT) was correlated with SPECT in each group by means of statistical parametric mapping 99 (height threshold: P<0.01). RESULTS (99m)Tc-HMPAO SPECT yielded 3 significant correlation clusters involving inferior and middle frontal gyri, para-hippocampal gyrus and putamen in the right hemisphere; the middle and superior temporal gyri, insula and claustrum in the left hemisphere. (99m)Tc-ECD gave a significant cluster of correlation in left postcentral gyrus and inferior parietal lobule. CONCLUSION (99m)Tc-HMPAO SPECT correlation sites seem more consistent than (99m)Tc-ECD ones with the neurophysiological models of verbal memory, as designed both in normal individuals and in pathological conditions. The demonstration of such relevant differences introduces a source of variability among studies performed with either of the 2 compounds, which must be considered when interpreting results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Nobili
- Clinical Neurophysiology, S.Martino General Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Murialdo G, Casu M, Falchero M, Brugnolo A, Patrone V, Cerro PF, Ameri P, Andraghetti G, Briatore L, Copello F, Cordera R, Rodriguez G, Ferro AM. Alterations in the autonomic control of heart rate variability in patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa: correlations between sympathovagal activity, clinical features, and leptin levels. J Endocrinol Invest 2007; 30:356-62. [PMID: 17598965 DOI: 10.1007/bf03346310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Changes in body composition, hormone secretions, and heart function with increased risk of sudden death occur in eating disorders. In this observational clinical study, we evaluated sympathovagal modulation of heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiovascular changes in response to lying-to-standing in patients with anorexia (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) to analyze: a) differences in autonomic activity between AN, BN, and healthy subjects; b) relationships between autonomic and cardiovascular parameters, clinical data and leptin levels in patients with eating disorders. HRV, assessed by power spectral analysis of R-R intervals, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were studied by tilt-table test in 34 patients with AN, 16 with BN and 30 healthy controls. Autonomic and cardiovascular findings were correlated with clinical data, and serum leptin levels. Leptin levels were lowered in AN vs BN and healthy subjects (p<0.0001), but both AN and BN patients showed unbalanced sympathovagal control of HRV due to relative sympathetic failure, prevalent vagal activity, impaired sympathetic activation after tilting, independently from their actual body weight and leptin levels. No significant correlations were obtained between HRV data vs clinical data, BP and HR findings, and leptin levels in eating disorders. Body mass indices (BMI) (p<0.02), and leptin levels (p<0.04) correlated directly with BP values. Our data showed alterations of sympathovagal control of HRV in eating disorders. These changes were unrelated to body weight and BMI, diagnosis of AN or BN, and leptin levels despite the reported effects of leptin on the sympathetic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Murialdo
- Department of Endocrine and Medical Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vitali P, Minati L, Chiarenza G, Brugnolo A, Girtler N, Nobili F, De Leo C, Rosati P, Rodriguez G. The Von Restorff effect in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease. Neurol Sci 2006; 27:166-72. [PMID: 16897628 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-006-0662-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2006] [Accepted: 05/26/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Von Restorff effect in normal ageing and in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A shortened paradigm was administered to three groups of subjects: young volunteers, elderly volunteers and patients with early-stage AD (MMSE>20). Each subject was presented with 25 lists of 10 words each, the target word appearing in double font size. A free recall phase followed the presentation of each list; after completion of the battery, a size recognition test was administered and subjects were inquired regarding the strategy employed and perception of target words. The total number of recalled words differed significantly among the three groups (young volunteers 144.4+/-38.6, elderly volunteers 86.5+/-17.6, patients 44.2+/-14.6). A significant difference in percentage of recall was found between target and non-target words in young (60.0+/-13.8% vs. 45.7%+/-15.0%, p<0.001) and in elderly (31.2+/-11.4% vs. 20.2+/-6.9%, p<0.001) volunteers, but not in patients (10.7+/-6.9% vs. 11.8+/-7.3%). The present study highlights that the Von Restorff effect can be detected in healthy elderly subjects, and that it is significantly reduced in patients in the early stage of AD. On the basis of the findings of the present study it is not possible to disentangle the contribution of visual-perceptual and encoding impairment, both of them potentially contributing to the observed reduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Vitali
- Clinical Neurophysiology, Di.M.I., University of Genova, V.le Benedetto XV 6, I-16132 Genova, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rodriguez G, Morbelli S, Brugnolo A, Calvini P, Girtler N, Piccardo A, Dougall NJ, Ebmeier KP, Baron JC, Nobili F. Global cognitive impairment should be taken into account in SPECT-neuropsychology correlations: the example of verbal memory in very mild Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2005; 32:1186-92. [PMID: 15931515 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-005-1831-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2005] [Accepted: 04/04/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the impact of severity of global cognitive impairment on SPECT-neuropsychology correlations, we correlated a verbal memory test with brain perfusion in patients with very mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), taking into account the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score as an index of global cognitive impairment. METHODS Twenty-nine outpatients (mean age 78.2+/-5.5 years) affected by very mild, probable AD underwent brain SPECT with 99mTc-ethylcysteinate dimer and a word list learning test. SPM99 was used for voxel-based correlation analysis after normalisation to mean cerebellar counts (height threshold: p<0.01). In a first analysis, only age and years of education were inserted as nuisance covariates, while in a second analysis the MMSE score was inserted as well. RESULTS In the first analysis, two clusters of significant correlation were found in both hemispheres, mainly including regions of the right hemisphere, such as the inferior parietal lobule, the middle temporal gyrus and the posterior cingulate. Significant correlation in the left hemisphere was observed in the lingual lobule, the parietal precuneus and the posterior cingulate. After taking into consideration the MMSE, the largest cluster of correlation was found in the left hemisphere, including the parietal gyrus angularis, the posterior cingulate and the middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION The wide differences observed between the correlations achieved with and without taking into account the MMSE score indicate that severity of global cognitive impairment should be considered when searching for brain perfusion-neuropsychology correlations. In the present case, this strategy resulted in correlations that more closely matched neuropsychological models of verbal memory deficit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Rodriguez
- Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|