OBJECTIVE Among Parkinsonian syndromes, pyramidal signs suggesting cortico-spinal impairment are a hallmark of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Although it is crucial to diagnose correctly this disease to choose the appropriate treatment, the available diagnostic criteria lack sensitivity. Cortical excitability patterns assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) do not differentiate Park...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test whether the association between primary care and income inequality on all-cause, heart disease and cancer mortality at county level differs in urban (Metropolitan Statistical Area-MSA) compared with non-urban (non-MSA) areas. STUDY DESIGN The study consisted of a cross-sectional analysis of county-level data stratified by MSA and non-MSA areas...

Background: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by a rapidly progressive course. The clinical presentation can include autonomic failure, parkinsonism, and cerebellar signs. Differentiation from Parkinson’s disease (PD) is difficult if there is levodoparesponsive parkinsonism, rest tremor, lack of cerebellar ataxia, or mild/delayed autonomic...

BACKGROUND Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease, and its pathological hallmark is the accumulation of α-synuclein proteins. Homocysteine (Hcy) is an intermediate amino acid generated during the metabolism of methionine. Hcy may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Vitamin B12 and folate are cofactors necessary for the methylation of homocysteine...

Murine monoclonal antibody 3E1.2, made against human breast cancer cells, detects a glycoprotein (Mr greater than 300,000) called mammary serum antigen (MSA) which is elevated in the serum of patients with breast cancer. An enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect MSA in human serum and used to detect MSA in subjects with breast cancer and other diseases. Raised levels of MSA (greater than 30...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Several studies have reported that diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is able to help discriminate a Parkinson variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-p) from Parkinson's disease (PD) on the basis of the increased regional apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC). We analyzed the usefulness of DWI by using the rADC for differential diagnosis between MSA-p and PD and investigat...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Methylseleninic acid (MSA) is an artificially developed selenium compound. It has been proven that MSA could inhibit growth and metastasis on many tumor cells. This study investigated whether MSA has an impact on the growth and metastasis of L9981-Luc lung cancer transplanted model in nude mice or not. METHODS A transplantated tumor model was established in nude mice....

BACKGROUND Respiratory stridor, sleep-disordered breathing, and respiratory insufficiency are part of the clinical spectrum of multiple-system atrophy (MSA). We have encountered cases where these were presenting symptoms, with the diagnosis of MSA being initially unrecognized. OBJECTIVE To describe cases in which breathing difficulties were the initial and primary manifestation of MSA. DESI...

OBJECTIVES Urinary dysfunction is a prominent autonomic feature in Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), which is not only troublesome but also a cause of morbidity in these disorders. Recent advances in investigative uroneurology offer a better insight into the underlying pathophysiology and appropriate management for urinary dysfunction. METHODS twenty one patients wit...

The Acheulean to Middle Stone Age (MSA) transition is examined from an evolutionary perspective. The replacement of Acheulean handaxes by MSA points represents a shift from hand-held to hafted technology, but the timing and nature of this process are poorly understood due to the rarity of sites from the early MSA (EMSA), here defined as the portion of the MSA predating 130,000 years ago. The we...