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Babiloni, C., Del Percio, C., Caroli, A., Salvatore, E., Nicolai, E., Marzano, N., Lizio, R., Cavedo, E., Landau, S., Chen, K., Jagust, W., Reiman, E., Tedeschi, G., Montella, P., De Stefano, M., Gesualdo, L., Frisoni, G.B., Soricelli, A.
Cortical sources of resting state EEG rhythms are related to brain hypometabolism in subjects with Alzheimer's disease: an EEG-PET study
(2016) Neurobiology of Aging, 48, pp. 122-134. 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84988529690&partnerID=40&md5=fa3d0c052405ea9897f1821216fa4146

DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.08.021
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology “Erspamer”, University of Rome “ La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy; 
Institute for Research and Medical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy; 
Department of Integrated Imaging, IRCCS SDN, Napoli, Italy; 
Medical Imaging Unit, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo, Italy; 
Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; 
LENITEM Laboratory of Epidemiology, Neuroimaging, and Telemedicine, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; 
Cognition, Neuroimaging and Brain Diseases Laboratory, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épiniére (CRICM-UMRS 975), Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France; 
Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; 
Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States; 
Department of Neurological Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; 
Dipartimento Emergenza e Trapianti d'Organi (D.E.T.O), University of Bari, Bari, Italy; 
Memory Clinic and LANVIE - Laboratory of Neuroimaging of Aging, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; 
Department of Motor Sciences and Healthiness, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
ABSTRACT: Cortical sources of resting state electroencephalographic (EEG) delta (2–4 Hz) and low-frequency alpha (8–10.5 Hz) rhythms show abnormal activity (i.e., current density) in patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we hypothesized that abnormality of this activity is related to relevant disease processes as revealed by cortical hypometabolism typically observed in AD patients by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Resting state eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 19 AD patients with dementia and 40 healthy elderly (Nold) subjects. EEG frequency bands of interest were delta and low-frequency alpha. EEG sources were estimated in these bands by low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images were recorded only in the AD patients, and cortical hypometabolism was indexed by the so-called Alzheimer's discrimination analysis tool (PALZ) in the frontal association, ventromedial frontal, temporoparietal association, posterior cingulate, and precuneus areas. Results showed that compared with the Nold group, the AD group pointed to higher activity of delta sources and lower activity of low-frequency alpha sources in a cortical region of interest formed by all cortical areas of the PALZ score. In the AD patients, there was a positive correlation between the PALZ score and the activity of delta sources in the cortical region of interest (p < 0.05). These results suggest a relationship between resting state cortical hypometabolism and synchronization of cortical neurons at delta rhythms in AD patients with dementia. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
AUTHOR KEYWORDS: Alzheimer's disease (AD);  Brain hypometabolism;  Electroencephalography (EEG);  Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET);  Low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA)
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: Lizio, R.; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, Italy; email: roberta.lizio@uniroma1.it
DOCUMENT TYPE: Article

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Lanzillo, R., Quarantelli, M., Pozzilli, C., Trojano, M., Amato, M.P., Marrosu, M.G., Francia, A., Florio, C., Orefice, G., Tedeschi, G., Bellantonio, P., Annunziata, P., Grimaldi, L.M., Comerci, M., Brunetti, A., Bonavita, V., Alfano, B., Marini, S., Brescia Morra, V.
No evidence for an effect on brain atrophy rate of atorvastatin add-on to interferon β1b therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (the ARIANNA study)
(2016) Multiple Sclerosis, 22 (9), pp. 1163-1173. 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84979581719&partnerID=40&md5=1efece7e8bacbab087d89b4901da92df
DOI: 10.1177/1352458515611222
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, Italy; 
National Research Council (CNR), Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute (IBB), Naples Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Italy; 
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Italy; 
Department of Neurosciences and Organs of Senses, University of Bari, Italy; 
Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy; 
Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy; 
Multiple Sclerosis Regional Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Antonio Cardarelli, Italy; 
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy; 
IRCCS Neuromed-Pozzilli (IS), Italy; 
Department of Neurological, Neurosurgical and Behavioural Sciences, University of Siena, Italy; 
Neurology Unit, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Italy; 
Department of Biomedical Advanced Sciences, Federico II University, Italy; 
IDC Hermitage Capodimonte, Italy; 
Dimensione Ricerca S.r.l., Italy
ABSTRACT: Background: A previous phase 2 trial has suggested that statins might delay brain atrophy in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin add-on therapy on cerebral atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods: This randomised, placebo-controlled study compared atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo add-on therapy to interferon β1b for 24 months. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, multiple sclerosis functional composite score, Rao neuropsychological battery and expanded disability status scale were evaluated over 24 months. Results: A total of 154 patients were randomly assigned, 75 in the atorvastatin and 79 in the placebo arms, with a comparable drop-out rate (overall 23.4%). Brain atrophy over 2 years was not different in the two arms (-0.38% and -0.32% for the atorvastatin and placebo groups, respectively). Relapse rate, expanded disability status scale, multiple sclerosis functional composite score or cognitive changes were not different in the two arms. Patients withdrawing from the study had a higher number of relapses in the previous 2 years (P=0.04) and a greater probability of relapsing within 12 months. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the combination of atorvastatin and interferon β1b is not justified in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and adds to the body of evidence indicating an absence of significant radiological and clinical benefit of statins in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. © SAGE Publications.
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: Lanzillo, R.; Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, Italy; email: robertalanzillo@libero.it