Search

Clinical observations in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suggested an increased chocolate consumption. Chocolate contains high contents of various biogenic amines potentially influencing brain monoamine metabolism. 498 PD patients and their partners were evaluated by a structured self-questionnaire asking for consumption of chocolate and non-chocolate sweets, changes in chocolate consumption during the disease course, and depressive symptoms. Questionnaires from 274 patients (55 %) and 234 controls were eligible for further analysis. Consumption of chocolate was significantly higher in PD patients compared to controls, while consumption of non-chocolate sweets was similar in both groups. Our study suggests that chocolate consumption is increased in PD independent of concomitant depressive symptoms measured by BDI-1. Although reasons for increased chocolate consumption in PD remain elusive, it may hypothetically be a consequence of the high content of various biogenic amines and/or caffeine analogues with potential antiparkinsonian effects.

We report on a patient with a history of colon carcinoma and clinical presentation of recurrent cardiac emboli despite oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. On delayed transoesophageal echocardiography, finally a left atrial myxoma was suspected. Surgery, however, revealed a left atrial metastatic tumour with histopathological features of a colon adenocarcinoma. Metastases of colorectal adenocarcinoma invading cardiac structures are rare. Isolated literature reports describe metastatic masses detected in the right atrium reflecting natural haematogenous spreading of cancer, but none in the left heart.

Martin Wolz a, , Julia Hauschild , Jan Koy , Mareike Fauser , Lisa Klingelhofer , Gabriele Schackert , Heinz Reichmann , Alexander Storch a, d, * a Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany b Department of Neurosurgery, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany c Department of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany d German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Research Site Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany

A 69-year-old man presented with acute deterioration of consciousness and tetraparesis. Bacterial endocarditis following mitral valve reconstruction was established 4 weeks prior to the onset of his …