Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by severe locomotor deficits and is commonly treated with the dopamine (DA) precursor l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), but its prolonged use causes dyskinesias referred to as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LIDs). Recent studies in animal models of PD have suggested that dyskinesias are associated with the overactivation of G protein-mediated signalin...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have implicated the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A pathway as well as FosB and dynorphin-B expression mediated by dopamine D1 receptor stimulation in the development of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia. The magnitude of these molecular changes correlates with the intensity of dyskinesias. The calcium-binding protein downstrea...

2012; 27: 339–40. Cerasa A, Messina D, Pugliese P, Morelli M, Lanza P, Salsone M, et al. Increased prefrontal volume in PD with levodopa-induced dyskinesias: a voxel-based morphometry study. Mov Disord 2011; 26: 807–12. Cerasa A, Pugliese P, Messina D, Morelli M, Gioia MC, Salsone M, et al. Prefrontal alterations in Parkinson’s disease with levodopainduced dyskinesia during fMRI motor task. Mov...

BACKGROUND Pharmacologic studies have implicated dopamine D1-like receptors in the development of dopamine precursor molecule 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesias and associated molecular changes in hemiparkinsonian mice. However, pharmacologic agents for D1 or D2 receptors also recognize other receptor family members. Genetic inactivation of the dopamine D1 or D2 receptor...

BACKGROUND The seed powder of the leguminous plant, Mucuna pruriens has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for diseases including parkinsonism. We have assessed the clinical effects and levodopa (L-dopa) pharmacokinetics following two different doses of mucuna preparation and compared them with standard L-dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD). METHODS Eight Parkinson's disease patients ...

OBJECTIVES New treatments are now becoming available for the management of levodopa induced dyskinesias in Parkinsons's disease. However, assessment of their efficacy is limited by the inadequacies of current methods of dyskinesia measurement. The objective was to develop and validate a portable device capable of objectively measuring dyskinesias during normal daily activities. METHODS A port...

In humans, the control of voluntary movement, in which the corticobasal ganglia (BG) circuitry participates, is mainly lateralized. However, several studies have suggested that both the contralateral and ipsilateral BG systems are implicated during unilateral movement. Bilateral improvement of motor signs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has been reported with unilateral lesion or high...