showing 6 related works from this author
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation and intermittent theta-burst stimulation improve deglutition and swallowing reproducibility in elderly…
2019
Background: Dysphagia in the elderly, known as presbydysphagia, has become a relevant public health problem in several countries. Swallowing disorders may be a consequence of different neurological disorders (secondary presbydysphagia) or the expression of the aging process itself (primary presbydysphagia). We aimed to test the therapeutic potential of two different non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques in subjects with primary or secondary presbydysphagia. Methods: A blinded randomized controlled trial with crossover design was carried out in 42 patients, randomly assigned to anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or intermittent theta-burst stimulation (TBS) grou…
Expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 and their tissue inhibitors in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropat…
2021
Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a heterogeneous family of endopeptidases that play a role in many physiological functions, including the immune response. An imbalance between the activity of MMPs and their physiological tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) has been proposed in the pathophysiology of different autoimmune disorders. We aimed to assess the plasmatic levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and -2 in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Subjects and methods: Twenty patients with CIDP and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were determined by the enzy…
Botulinum Toxin Is Effective in the Management of Neurogenic Dysphagia. Clinical-Electrophysiological Findings and Tips on Safety in Different Neurol…
2017
Background and Aims: Neurogenic dysphagia linked to failed relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) can be treated by injecting botulinum toxin (BTX) into the cricopharyngeal (CP) muscle. We compared the effects of this treatment in different neurological disorders with dysphagia, to evaluate its efficacy over time including the response to a second injection. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven patients with neurogenic dysphagia associated with incomplete or absent opening of the UES (24 with brainstem or hemispheric stroke, 21 with parkinsonian syndromes, 12 with multiple sclerosis, and 10 with spastic-dystonic syndromes secondary to post-traumatic encephalopathy) were treated wi…
Specific patterns of laryngeal electromyography during wakefulness are associated to sleep disordered breathing and nocturnal stridor in multiple sys…
2016
Abstract Background Nocturnal stridor and respiratory abnormalities are important features of multiple system atrophy (MSA) with relevance to patient survival, and they are detected and evaluated mainly through video-polysomnography (video-PSG). Diurnal laryngoscopy seems to yield abnormal findings only in the presence of significant vocal cord (VC) dysfunction. Aim To assess whether specific electrophysiological patterns of diurnal EMG of VC muscles may indicate nocturnal stridor or respiratory dysfunctions in MSA patients. Materials and methods Seventeen patients with probable MSA were examined. A full-night video-PSG to collect standard breathing parameters (apnea/hypopnea index, mean Hb…
Effects of More-Affected vs. Less-Affected Motor Cortex tDCS in Parkinson’s Disease
2017
Objective. To evaluate therapeutic potential of different montages of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients with asymmetric motor symptoms. Materials and Methods. Fourteen patients with asymmetric PD underwent, while on treatment, seven separate sessions including electrophysiological and clinical evaluation at baseline and after anodal, cathodal and sham tDCS of the primary motor cortex (M1) of the two hemispheres. Changes in motor cortical excitability were evaluated by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Effects on motor symptoms were assessed by testing finger tapping and upper limb bradykinesia, and by using the Italian validated Movement Di…
Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. A Preliminary Study
2022
Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have recently been proposed as promising biomarkers in different immune-mediated disorders. We evaluated the plasma levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in a patients’ cohort with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: Plasma concentrations of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were evaluated in 14 patients with generalized MG and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The severity of disease was assessed by the modified Osserman classification. Results: Compared to the healthy subjects, MG patients had increased plasma concentrations of MMP-9, but redu…