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Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and α-synuclein plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PD. Studies have revealed controversial results regarding the correlation between motor severity and α-synuclein levels in peripheral blood from patients with PD.Objective: We examined α-synuclein levels in plasma or serum in patients with PD and investigated the relationship between plasma or serum α-synuclein level and motor symptom severity.Methods: We recruited 88 participants (48 patients with PD and 40 healthy controls). Clinical information was collected, and venous blood was drawn from each participant to be processed to obtain plasma or serum. The plasma or serum α-synuclein level was detected using monoclonal antibodies with magnetic nanoparticles, and was measured through immunomagnetic reduction. Plasma or serum α-synuclein levels were quantitatively detected.Results: In patients with PD, the means of plasma and serum α-synuclein level were 3.60 ± 2.53 and 0.03 ± 0.04 pg/mL, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of plasma and serum α-synuclein for distinguishing patients with PD from healthy controls were 0.992 and 0.917, respectively. The serum α-synuclein level also showed a significant correlation with patients in H-Y stages 1–3 (r = 0.40, p = 0.025), implying that the serum α-synuclein level may be a potential marker of motor symptom severity in patients with early PD.Conclusions: Our data suggest that the α-synuclein level in serum or plasma can differentiate between healthy controls and patients with PD. Serum α-synuclein levels moderately correlate with motor severity in patients with early PD.

Introduction: This investigation aimed to thoroughly characterize the range of pulmonary function abnormalities present in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to evaluate the effects of levodopa therapy on these respiratory dysfunctions., Methods:  Ninety-five PD patients diagnosed via the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Diagnostic Criteria were recruited, excluding those with a smoking history or unable to perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Severity was assessed using the Hoehn and Yahr Scale. Spirometry-measured PFT parameters (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)) were compared against matched predicted values. The changes in PFT parameters post-levodopa challenge were assessed., Results: Most of the PD patients were aged between 51-60 years, with a mean age of 55.89 ± 8.37 years. Of these, 65.3% were male. A significant proportion of the cohort exhibited restrictive pulmonary patterns (73.7%), while a smaller fraction displayed obstructive (7.4%) or normal (18.9%) pulmonary function patterns. Notably, levodopa treatment correlated with marked improvements in all measured PFT parameters, especially evident in the enhancements from the "off" medication stage to the "on" stage for FVC and FEV1 (P=0.0001). A weak positive correlation between the severity of respiratory restriction and the duration of PD (r = 0.139, P = 0.021) was found, suggesting that PD's progression exerts an increasingly adverse effect on respiratory function over time., Conclusion:  The findings of this study illustrate that restrictive pulmonary abnormalities are more prevalent than obstructive patterns in PD patients and that these patients respond favorably to levodopa therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Mishra et al.)

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and α-synuclein plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PD. Studies have revealed controversial results regarding the correlation between motor severity and α-synuclein levels in peripheral blood from patients with PD. Objective: We examined α-synuclein levels in plasma or serum in patients with PD and investigated the relationship between plasma or serum α-synuclein level and motor symptom severity. Methods: We recruited 88 participants (48 patients with PD and 40 healthy controls). Clinical information was collected, and venous blood was drawn from each participant to be processed to obtain plasma or serum. The plasma or serum α-synuclein level was detected using monoclonal antibodies with magnetic nanoparticles, and was measured through immunomagnetic reduction. Plasma or serum α-synuclein levels were quantitatively detected. Results: In patients with PD, the means of plasma and serum α-synuclein level were 3.60 ± 2.53 and 0.03 ± 0.04 pg/mL, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of plasma and serum α-synuclein for distinguishing patients with PD from healthy controls were 0.992 and 0.917, respectively. The serum α-synuclein level also showed a significant correlation with patients in H-Y stages 1–3 (r = 0.40, p = 0.025), implying that the serum α-synuclein level may be a potential marker of motor symptom severity in patients with early PD. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the α-synuclein level in serum or plasma can differentiate between healthy controls and patients with PD. Serum α-synuclein levels moderately correlate with motor severity in patients with early PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Previous studies have revealed uncertainties concerning the utility of sudoscan in identifying small fiber neuropathy in Parkinson's disease (PD). Patients & methods: We searched for a significant reduction of electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) in 67 PD patients versus 66 controls with similar characteristics. We conducted analysis of the subgroups of PD patients without diabetes using sudoscan technology. Results: There is no discrimination between patients and controls relative to feet ESC, the modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale and/or Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. ESC in patients did not differ significantly according to the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale score. The oldest PD patients with cardiovascular risk factors have more marked small fibers dysfunction. Conclusion: The sudoscan procedure did not show advantage in the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy. Its diagnostic value increases in some subgroups of patients with cardiovascular co-morbidity.