- Email: [email protected]
31. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a mirror of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease
e8
Society Proceedings / Clinical Neurophysiology 126 (2015) e1–e28
to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of both c-VEMPs and oVEMPs in healthy subjects. We examined 21 healthy subjects, 9 M, 12 F, mean age 40,8. c-VEMPs were recorded from electrodes placed over the SCM, with reference placed over the clavicle. o-VEMPs were recorded from the same electrodes placed beneath the eye and reference 2 cm below. For both c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs we used acoustic stimuli (tone burst, 117 dB SPL). We obtained reproducible c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs in all the subjects. Mean latency (ms): c-VEMPs (p13): 13.5 ± 0.8; o-VEMPs (n1): 10.2 ± 0.7. Mean amplitude (lV): c-VEMPs (p13-n23): 138 ± 51; o-VEMPs (onset-n1): 5.2 ± 2.8. Our study confirms that c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs are a reliable test with reproducibility and stability of its components. In association with BAEPs, c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs could help to better diagnose the peripheral and central diseases of the cocleo-vestibular pathways.
function of LVEF. Twenty-five male patients with CAD (13 without [LVEF > 55%] and 12 with [LVEF < 40%] left ventricular dysfunction), and a Mini Mental State Examination score > 25 were enrolled. ERPs were recorded while participants performed a visual word recognition task consisting of a test phase in which they were asked to judge whether visual stimuli were previously presented in a learning phase (‘old’) or not (‘new’). ERPs responses from the test phase were analyzed. A late positive ERP component between 300 and 500 ms was differentially modulated in the two groups: a clear old/new effect (enhanced mean amplitude for old respect to new items) was observed in patients without LVEF dysfunction; whereas patients with overt LVEF dysfunction did not show such old/new effect. These data suggest that ERPs may reveal possible functional brain abnormalities that might be not observed at behavioural levels.
doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.049
doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.051
31. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a mirror of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease—L. Ferrari, F. Vitali, G. Di Maggio, R. Santangelo, E. Houdayer, E. Coppi, G. Magnani, G. Comi, L. Leocani (Milano, Italy)
33. Optical coherence tomography and visual evoked potentials combined use as monitoring tools in Multiple Sclerosis patients— S. Guerrieri, G. Di Maggio, R. Santangelo, L. Ferrari, S. Medaglini, M. Rodegher, B. Colombo, L. Moiola, U. Del Carro, V. Martinelli, G. Comi, L. Leocani (Milano, Italy)
Visual symptoms can often be detected in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Such deficits find their neuropathologic basis in amyloid beta (Ab) deposits in visual cortex and retina. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively new non-invasive imaging technology that provides high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). It is still a matter of debate whether RNFL is reduced in AD indicating optic nerve axonal loss. The aim of our study was to investigate the difference of RNFL thickness between AD subjects and healthy controls (HC), and to evaluate if RNFL thickness may be correlated with disease duration, neuropsychological data and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (tau, p-tau, Ab). We recruited a total of 76 subjects, including 53 patients with mild/moderate untreated AD (33 F, mean age 71.5 ± 6.6 years) and 23 HC (12 F, mean age 66.7 ± 7.4 years). Examination was performed by using spectral domain OCT, considering both eyes per subject. For statistical analysis the significance level was set at p 0.05. We found a significant RNFL thinning, both global and selective for each quadrant in AD compared to HC ( p = 0.05): average 92.09 ± 9.8 lm vs 98.18 ± 5.9 lm; superior quadrant 112.5 ± 17.3 lm vs 121.4 ± 12.5 lm; inferior quadrant 119 ± 16.5 lm vs 125.86 ± 10 lm; temporal quadrant 67.29 ± 12 lm vs 71.41 ± 12.2 lm; nasal quadrant 69.46 ± 12.2 lm vs 73.97 ± 12.7 lm. However, RNFL thickness was not correlated with disease duration, Mini-Mental State Examination or CSF biomarkers. Our data support that neurodegeneration involving distal optic nerve pathways may occur in AD. Further studies are granted aimed at investigating the usefulness of OCT as a biomarker in early diagnosis of AD, in addition to brain MRI, PET and CSF. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.050
32. Event-related potential correlates of word recognition memory in patients with coronary artery disease—F. Giovannelli, D. Simoni, S. Baldasseroni, F. Tarantini, A. Pratesi, N. Bartoli, A. Foschini, F. Giganti, M. Cincotta, M.P. Viggiano (Firenze, Italy) The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cognitive performance in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) without overt heart failure is still under debate. In the present study we combine behavioural measures and event-related potentials (ERPs) to verify whether electrophysiological correlates of recognition memory (Old/New effect) is modulated differently as a
In Multiple Sclerosis-MS, optical coherence tomography-OCT is used to measure retinal nerve fiber layer-RNFL thickness as a marker of axonal loss and visual evoked potentials-VEPs as an indicator of demyelination. However, no clear indications are available on their combined use in MS monitoring. 80 MS patients underwent neurological and neurophysiological evaluation with OCT and VEPs, with routine clinical and MRI monitoring for a mean period of 1 year. Additional OCT-VEPs follow-up was obtained in 50 patients. Comparing eyes with and without previous ON, VEP latency and RNFL thickness were respectively significantly higher (131.2 ms Vs 118.8 ms, p = 0.008) and lower (78,15 lm Vs 90,00 lm, p < 0.001) in the first subgroup. No significant differences were found between the two subgroups when analyzing VEP latency and RNFL thickness evolution during the follow-up period. However, eyes with baseline recent ON had significant reduction in VEP latency ( 15,3 ms) and RNFL thickness ( 7,7 lm) at follow-up. No significant correlation was found between OCT-VEPs parameters and disease activity. Similar results were found when considering only RR and CIS patients. The main role for OCT and VEPs in short-to-medium term followup programs would consist in monitoring neural damage after acute ON. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.052
34. Flash visual evoked potentials in infant with congenital microphthalmia—C.M. Ministeri, E. Salzano, I. Maccora, S. Maccora, D. Vecchio, E. Piro, G. Corsello (Palermo, Italy) Congenital microphthalmia (CM) is a rare developmental defect of the primary optic vesicle. The estimated incidence is around 1.5–19/10 000 births and it may be unilateral or bilateral, usually associated with other ocular anomalies. The morphogenetic defect can be due to external gestational factors (infection or drugs), or to a primary genetic abnormality, occurring as an isolated finding or as a part of a generalized syndrome. Flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs) can be useful in assessing acuity and detect any optic nerve dysfunction in patients with CM at an early age. Here we describe the FVEPs findings of five infants of age ranged between birth and 6 months with unilateral CM. The FVEPs were recorded according to ISCEV standard 2010; the amplitude and peak latency of the main
Society Proceedings / Clinical Neurophysiology 126 (2015) e1–e28
to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of both c-VEMPs and oVEMPs in healthy subjects. We examined 21 healthy subjects, 9 M, 12 F, mean age 40,8. c-VEMPs were recorded from electrodes placed over the SCM, with reference placed over the clavicle. o-VEMPs were recorded from the same electrodes placed beneath the eye and reference 2 cm below. For both c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs we used acoustic stimuli (tone burst, 117 dB SPL). We obtained reproducible c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs in all the subjects. Mean latency (ms): c-VEMPs (p13): 13.5 ± 0.8; o-VEMPs (n1): 10.2 ± 0.7. Mean amplitude (lV): c-VEMPs (p13-n23): 138 ± 51; o-VEMPs (onset-n1): 5.2 ± 2.8. Our study confirms that c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs are a reliable test with reproducibility and stability of its components. In association with BAEPs, c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs could help to better diagnose the peripheral and central diseases of the cocleo-vestibular pathways.
function of LVEF. Twenty-five male patients with CAD (13 without [LVEF > 55%] and 12 with [LVEF < 40%] left ventricular dysfunction), and a Mini Mental State Examination score > 25 were enrolled. ERPs were recorded while participants performed a visual word recognition task consisting of a test phase in which they were asked to judge whether visual stimuli were previously presented in a learning phase (‘old’) or not (‘new’). ERPs responses from the test phase were analyzed. A late positive ERP component between 300 and 500 ms was differentially modulated in the two groups: a clear old/new effect (enhanced mean amplitude for old respect to new items) was observed in patients without LVEF dysfunction; whereas patients with overt LVEF dysfunction did not show such old/new effect. These data suggest that ERPs may reveal possible functional brain abnormalities that might be not observed at behavioural levels.
doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.049
doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.051
31. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a mirror of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease—L. Ferrari, F. Vitali, G. Di Maggio, R. Santangelo, E. Houdayer, E. Coppi, G. Magnani, G. Comi, L. Leocani (Milano, Italy)
33. Optical coherence tomography and visual evoked potentials combined use as monitoring tools in Multiple Sclerosis patients— S. Guerrieri, G. Di Maggio, R. Santangelo, L. Ferrari, S. Medaglini, M. Rodegher, B. Colombo, L. Moiola, U. Del Carro, V. Martinelli, G. Comi, L. Leocani (Milano, Italy)
Visual symptoms can often be detected in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Such deficits find their neuropathologic basis in amyloid beta (Ab) deposits in visual cortex and retina. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively new non-invasive imaging technology that provides high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). It is still a matter of debate whether RNFL is reduced in AD indicating optic nerve axonal loss. The aim of our study was to investigate the difference of RNFL thickness between AD subjects and healthy controls (HC), and to evaluate if RNFL thickness may be correlated with disease duration, neuropsychological data and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (tau, p-tau, Ab). We recruited a total of 76 subjects, including 53 patients with mild/moderate untreated AD (33 F, mean age 71.5 ± 6.6 years) and 23 HC (12 F, mean age 66.7 ± 7.4 years). Examination was performed by using spectral domain OCT, considering both eyes per subject. For statistical analysis the significance level was set at p 0.05. We found a significant RNFL thinning, both global and selective for each quadrant in AD compared to HC ( p = 0.05): average 92.09 ± 9.8 lm vs 98.18 ± 5.9 lm; superior quadrant 112.5 ± 17.3 lm vs 121.4 ± 12.5 lm; inferior quadrant 119 ± 16.5 lm vs 125.86 ± 10 lm; temporal quadrant 67.29 ± 12 lm vs 71.41 ± 12.2 lm; nasal quadrant 69.46 ± 12.2 lm vs 73.97 ± 12.7 lm. However, RNFL thickness was not correlated with disease duration, Mini-Mental State Examination or CSF biomarkers. Our data support that neurodegeneration involving distal optic nerve pathways may occur in AD. Further studies are granted aimed at investigating the usefulness of OCT as a biomarker in early diagnosis of AD, in addition to brain MRI, PET and CSF. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.050
32. Event-related potential correlates of word recognition memory in patients with coronary artery disease—F. Giovannelli, D. Simoni, S. Baldasseroni, F. Tarantini, A. Pratesi, N. Bartoli, A. Foschini, F. Giganti, M. Cincotta, M.P. Viggiano (Firenze, Italy) The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cognitive performance in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) without overt heart failure is still under debate. In the present study we combine behavioural measures and event-related potentials (ERPs) to verify whether electrophysiological correlates of recognition memory (Old/New effect) is modulated differently as a
In Multiple Sclerosis-MS, optical coherence tomography-OCT is used to measure retinal nerve fiber layer-RNFL thickness as a marker of axonal loss and visual evoked potentials-VEPs as an indicator of demyelination. However, no clear indications are available on their combined use in MS monitoring. 80 MS patients underwent neurological and neurophysiological evaluation with OCT and VEPs, with routine clinical and MRI monitoring for a mean period of 1 year. Additional OCT-VEPs follow-up was obtained in 50 patients. Comparing eyes with and without previous ON, VEP latency and RNFL thickness were respectively significantly higher (131.2 ms Vs 118.8 ms, p = 0.008) and lower (78,15 lm Vs 90,00 lm, p < 0.001) in the first subgroup. No significant differences were found between the two subgroups when analyzing VEP latency and RNFL thickness evolution during the follow-up period. However, eyes with baseline recent ON had significant reduction in VEP latency ( 15,3 ms) and RNFL thickness ( 7,7 lm) at follow-up. No significant correlation was found between OCT-VEPs parameters and disease activity. Similar results were found when considering only RR and CIS patients. The main role for OCT and VEPs in short-to-medium term followup programs would consist in monitoring neural damage after acute ON. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.10.052
34. Flash visual evoked potentials in infant with congenital microphthalmia—C.M. Ministeri, E. Salzano, I. Maccora, S. Maccora, D. Vecchio, E. Piro, G. Corsello (Palermo, Italy) Congenital microphthalmia (CM) is a rare developmental defect of the primary optic vesicle. The estimated incidence is around 1.5–19/10 000 births and it may be unilateral or bilateral, usually associated with other ocular anomalies. The morphogenetic defect can be due to external gestational factors (infection or drugs), or to a primary genetic abnormality, occurring as an isolated finding or as a part of a generalized syndrome. Flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs) can be useful in assessing acuity and detect any optic nerve dysfunction in patients with CM at an early age. Here we describe the FVEPs findings of five infants of age ranged between birth and 6 months with unilateral CM. The FVEPs were recorded according to ISCEV standard 2010; the amplitude and peak latency of the main