"If ongoing studies confirm that remacemide used in conjunction with (levodopa) improves patients' symptoms, it may be the first of a new class of Parkinson's therapies," said Dr. Steven Schwid, a member of the study group from the University of Rochester, New York, in a news release. "Based on its favorable safety profile and several animal studies, further studies of remacemide are warranted as symptomatic therapy in levodopa-treated patients and as a neuroprotective agent," Parkinson Study Group concludes.

Zesiewicz et al; Mov Disord :3000i 15:305-308: Open-label test of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in 10 male PD patients showed significant improvement of sexual function.

Eskander E et al;  J Neurosurg  2000;92:375-383

Two-year followup of 75 successive recipients of unilateral pallidotomy, guided by MRI and macrostimulation but not microelectrode recording, showed the protocol to be safe and effective treatment for advanced-stage PD.

Bei~ni B et~J Neurosurg 2000;92:615-625

They report 12 advanced-PD patients who received bilateral subthalamic neucleus stimulation implants guided by stereotactic MRI, macrostimulatian, and electrophysiological guidance [microelectrode recording]. At 6-month followup, all showed varied but generally good results.

In-H,ome Pesticide Exposure Increases Parkinsonis Risk

SAN DIEGO, CA Pesticide use and exposure in the home and garden increase the risk of developing Parkinson' s disease, according to a study of almost 500 people newly diagnosed with the disease. Researchers announced their findings at a presentation at the American Academy of Neurology's 52nd annual meeting in San Diego, CA, April 29 - May 6, 2000.

"This study is the largest yet of newly diagnosed individuals with Parkinson's disease and it is the first study to show a signiffcant association between home pesticide use and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease." said study lead author Lorene Nelson, PhD, a neuroepidemiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. The preliminary results from this study mirror what is already known about the increased risk of Parkinson's disease associated with occupational exposure to pesticides.

Histories were compiled of 496 people who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about past use of pesticides. The Parkinson's patients' lifetime histories were then compared to 541 people without the disease. Researchers found that people who had been exposed to pesticides were approximately two times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than people not exposed to pesticides.

Academy of Neurology Web site: http:/www.aan.com. For online neurological health and wellness information, visit NeuroVista at http:/www.aan com./neurovista.

AAN: Viagra (sildenafil) may reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's patients

SAN DIEGO, CA -- May 3, 2000 --Sildenafil (Viagra) may provide a nove1 treatment for motor complications in late-stage Parkinson's disease, according to a study presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology held here May 2, 2000. While levodopa is the most effective medication for Parkinson's disease, its long-term use leads to dyskinesias, or abnormal uncontrolled movements, in more than 50 percent of patients within five years.

David Swope, MD, a neurologist at Loma Linda Medical School, has begun to gather evidence that sildenafil may be an effective treatment for dyskinesia.  Dr. Swape treated eight PD  patients, five men and three women, with open-label sildenafil for moderate-to-severe peak-dose dyskinesias. Each patient received 25 mg of sildenafil on two consecutive days in addition to their previously optimized anti-parkinsonian medications (including amantadine, an antiviral drug with some antidyskinetic effects). Five of eight patients reported improvement, with three reporting complete resolution. One of three non-responders went on to try 50 mg, with noted improvement at the higher dose. All responding patients reported benefit for the entire day, with