Physician Focus on Parkinson's
Issue 20 (Winter 2011) - Quarterly CME Newsletter on Parkinson's Disease
To receive CME credit for this activity, please complete the post-test and evaluation below. You must score 70% or better on the post-test in order to receive your CME certificate. Once submitted, a certificate will be issued within two weeks to the email address provided.
Click here to view Issue 20 online.
If you have any questions, please contact intellyst® Medical Education at 720-748-8800.
Target Audience
Neurologists, NPs and PAs specializing in neurology, and other healthcare professionals who treat patients with Parkinson's disease.
Statement of Need
Parkinson’s disease (PD) has traditionally been classified as a movement disorder as its cardinal symptoms include tremor, rigidity, slowed movement and postural instability. However the importance of psychiatric and other non-motor symptoms (NMS) in the detection of disease and their impact on quality of life has forced clinicians to envision PD as a complex disorder that requires careful and thorough evaluation throughout their patients’ lifetimes. It is necessary to understand that NMS often present early in disease, and it is the worsening of these symptoms that may spur individuals to seek medical attention. With disease progression, these symptoms invariably become more debilitating and are a clinical challenge to control over the long run. In addition to dopaminergic therapy, patients may require additional pharmacologic agents to control symptoms, adding to their burden of cost and complexity as they seek to sustain quality of life.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Discuss recent findings regarding the relationship between alpha-synuclein uptake and Lewy body formation
- Describe the rationale for GAD-AAV gene therapy, and the results from the blinded trial
- Describe recent clinical studies:
- the possible clinical consequences of the genetic difference between COMT encoding either valine or methionine
- botulinum toxin type B’s ability to reduce drooling in PD patients
- the rationale for and results from the recent trial of implanted retinal epithelial cells
- evidence for the long-term effectiveness of DBS on PD patients
Robert Hauser, MD (Case Study Contributor)
Gary VanderArk, MD (Independent Reviewer)
Richard Robinson (Medical Writer)
Accreditation Statement
intellyst® Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation
intellyst® Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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| According to a new study, what is the potential significance that neurons take up alpha-synuclein (AS), leading to protein aggregation? |
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| In that study, what was the significance of the release of AS by dying cells? |
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| What is the rationale for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) gene therapy in PD? |
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| According to a study of GAD gene therapy, treatment with GAD-AAV: |
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| According to a study of PD patients on COMT inhibitors, how did COMT genotype affect response to therapy? |
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Based on the results of the COMT genotype study, do you feel it is now appropriate to genotype PD patients before beginning COMT inhibitor therapy?
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| Botulinum toxin therapy may benefit PD patients who drool because: |
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| According to a 10-year follow-up study of deep brain stimulation, symptoms of ______ were the most amenable to stimulation improvement, while ______ were more resistant. |
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| What role does the physicians enthusiasm and encouragement play in a patients decision to get involved in a clinical trial? |
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A newly diagnosed patient asks you whether there are any experimental treatments for PD that would be appropriate for her. What information, resources, and advice would you give the patient?
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Please evaluate the activity objectives by selecting how well each has been met, with 5 indicating excellent and 1 indicating poor.
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| Discuss recent findings regarding the relationship between alpha-synuclein uptake and Lewy body formation | |
| Describe the rationale for GAD-AAV gene therapy, and the results from the blinded trial | |
| Describe recent clinical studies: (1) the possible clinical consequences of the genetic difference between COMT encoding either valine or methionine; (2) botulinum toxin type B’s ability to reduce drooling in PD patients; (3) the rationale for and results from the recent trial of implanted retinal epithelial cells; (4) evidence for the long-term effectiveness of DBS on PD patients | |
Please evaluate the effectiveness of the case study by Dr. Robert Hauser, in both areas listed below, with 5 indicating excellent and 1 indicating poor.
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| Usefulness of information presented. | |
| Objectivity/fair balance of content. | |
| Do you intend to make changes or apply this information to your practice as a result of this activity? |
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Please explain your response to the above question:
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| Commercial bias is defined as information presented in a certified educational activity that attempts to sway participant opinion in favor of a commercial product/device, furthering a commercial entity's business initiatives. Using this definition, please answer the following 2 questions: |
| The therapeutic recommendations presented in this activity did not encourage inappropriate or excessive use of products/devices. |
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If disagree, please describe.
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| The information presented in this activity did not serve to advance a proprietary interest of any commercial entity. |
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If disagree, please describe.
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We are posting an Ask the Expert section of subsequent issues of Physician Focus on Parkinsons. Please take this unique opportunity to ask a question of our editorial board (Lawrence Elmer, MD; Robert Hauser, MD; Lauren Seeberger, MD; Andrew Siderowf, MD). Your question and the expert panel response may be published in the next issue.
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