Parkinsonian diseases, caused by environmental or occupational exposure to neurotoxins such as manganese or pesticides, are characterized by increased bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, or posture difficulties. Key issues in clinical intervention include the lack of reliable means for diagnosis, as clinical signs and symptoms are not specific for each etiology, and the lack of therapeutic strategies. Thus, the translational research possesses the paramount importance for clinical management of neurotoxin-induced movement disorders. The purpose of this Workshop is to address, mainly from the clinical point of view, the current understanding of causes and therapeutic strategies in dealing with chemical-induced parkinsonian diseases, by using advanced clinical techniques and improved animal models. The Workshop first discusses the challenge of identifying patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) and manganism by an occupational neurologist, followed by discussion on the similarities and disparities of various toxicant-induced animal PD models and the possible uses of these models in searching for new treatments for PD. Recent advancement in developing biomarkers for IPD by proteomic technique is then to be discussed. The cases of clinical application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of asymptomatic Mn parkinsonism is presented. Finally, the efficacy, application, and perspectives of metal chelating agents in treatment of manganism with regard to the disease state is discussed. Not only does the workshop offer rationalized advice for researchers on diagnosis and treatment of chemical-induced parkinsonian diseases, but more importantly it reveals theories underlying these advancements and thus suggests the future direction in environmental PD research. The Workshop is of interest to those who are engaged in pesticide toxicology, metal toxicology, neuroscience, neurotoxicology, risk assessment, regulatory management, occupational health, and toxicology education.
Advances in Causation, Diagnosis and Therapy of Parkinson and Parkinson-like Movement Disorders: Views from Toxicologists and Clinicians
PIRA, Enrico;
2007-01-01
Abstract
Parkinsonian diseases, caused by environmental or occupational exposure to neurotoxins such as manganese or pesticides, are characterized by increased bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, or posture difficulties. Key issues in clinical intervention include the lack of reliable means for diagnosis, as clinical signs and symptoms are not specific for each etiology, and the lack of therapeutic strategies. Thus, the translational research possesses the paramount importance for clinical management of neurotoxin-induced movement disorders. The purpose of this Workshop is to address, mainly from the clinical point of view, the current understanding of causes and therapeutic strategies in dealing with chemical-induced parkinsonian diseases, by using advanced clinical techniques and improved animal models. The Workshop first discusses the challenge of identifying patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) and manganism by an occupational neurologist, followed by discussion on the similarities and disparities of various toxicant-induced animal PD models and the possible uses of these models in searching for new treatments for PD. Recent advancement in developing biomarkers for IPD by proteomic technique is then to be discussed. The cases of clinical application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of asymptomatic Mn parkinsonism is presented. Finally, the efficacy, application, and perspectives of metal chelating agents in treatment of manganism with regard to the disease state is discussed. Not only does the workshop offer rationalized advice for researchers on diagnosis and treatment of chemical-induced parkinsonian diseases, but more importantly it reveals theories underlying these advancements and thus suggests the future direction in environmental PD research. The Workshop is of interest to those who are engaged in pesticide toxicology, metal toxicology, neuroscience, neurotoxicology, risk assessment, regulatory management, occupational health, and toxicology education.
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