Rosa Yáñez Baña

Bio: Rosa Yáñez Baña is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Safinamide & Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 4 publications receiving 8 citations.

Safinamide Improves Non-Motor Symptoms Burden in Parkinson's Disease: An Open-Label Prospective Study.

Abstract: Some studies observed a benefit of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients after treatment with safinamide in some non-motor symptoms (NMSs). The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of safinamide on NMS burden in PD. SAFINONMOTOR (an open-label study of the effectiveness of safinamide on non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients) is a prospective open-label single-arm study conducted in five centers from Spain. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline (V1) to the end of the observational period (6 months) (V4) in the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) total score. Between May/2019 and February/2020 50 patients were included (age 68.5 ± 9.12 years; 58% females; 6.4 ± 5.1 years from diagnosis). At 6 months, 44 patients completed the follow-up (88%). The NMSS total score was reduced by 38.5% (from 97.5 ± 43.7 in V1 to 59.9 ± 35.5 in V4; p < 0.0001). By domains, improvement was observed in sleep/fatigue (-35.8%; p = 0.002), mood/apathy (-57.9%; p < 0.0001), attention/memory (-23.9%; p = 0.026), gastrointestinal symptoms (-33%; p = 0.010), urinary symptoms (-28.3%; p = 0.003), and pain/miscellaneous (-43%; p < 0.0001). Quality of life (QoL) also improved with a 29.4% reduction in the PDQ-39SI (from 30.1 ± 17.6 in V1 to 21.2 ± 13.5 in V4; p < 0.0001). A total of 21 adverse events in 16 patients (32%) were reported, 5 of which were severe (not related to safinamide). Dyskinesias and nausea were the most frequent (6%). Safinamide is well tolerated and improves NMS burden and QoL in PD patients with severe or very severe NMS burden at 6 months.

Effectiveness of Safinamide over Mood in Parkinson's Disease Patients: Secondary Analysis of the Open-label Study SAFINONMOTOR.

Abstract: Mood disorders are frequent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a favorable effect of safinamide on mood has been observed. We aimed to analyze the effectiveness of safinamide on mood as a secondary objective from the SAFINONMOTOR (an open-label study of the effectiveness of SAFInamide on NON-MOTOR symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease) study. SAFINONMOTOR is a prospective open-label single-arm study conducted in five centers from Spain. Patients with PD were required to have at baseline a Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score of at least 40. In this analysis, the changes from V1 (baseline) to V4 (6 months ± 1 month) in the BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory-II), NMSS mood/apathy domain, and PDQ-39 (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39) emotional well‐being domain were analyzed. Depression was identified and classified (DSM-IV and Judd criteria) at baseline and at the end of follow-up as major depression (MD), minor depression (mD), subthreshold depression (subD), and non-depression (nonD). Fifty patients with PD were included (age 68.5 ± 9.12 years; 58% women; 6.4 ± 5.1 years from diagnosis) and 44 patients (88%) completed the follow-up at 6 months. The BDI-II total score was reduced by 35.9% (from 15.88 ± 10.46 at V1 to 10.18 ± 6.76 at V4; p < 0.0001). A significant decrease in the NMSS mood/apathy domain and PDQ-39 emotional well‐being domain was observed as well (p < 0.0001). At baseline, 52% of the patients presented MD, 34% mD, 12% subD, and 2% nonD whereas at V4 the percentages were 31.8%, 34.1%, 22.7%, and 11.4%, respectively (p = 0.029). Safinamide improves mood in patients with PD at 6 months.

Pain Improvement in Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Safinamide: Results from the SAFINONMOTOR Study.

Abstract: Background and objective: Pain is a frequent and disabling symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Our aim was to analyze the effectiveness of safinamide on pain in PD patients from the SAFINONMOTOR (an open-label study of the effectiveness of SAFInamide on NON-MOTOR symptoms in Parkinson´s disease patients) study. Material and Methods: SAFINONMOTOR is a prospective open-label single-arm study conducted in five centers from Spain. In this analysis, a secondary objective of the study, the score in the KPPS (King´s Parkinson´s Disease Pain Scale) at V1 (baseline) and V4 (6 months ± 1 month) were compared. Wilcoxon´s rank sum test was performed to test the changes from V1 to V4. Results: Forty-four (88%) out of 50 PD patients (age 68.5 ± 9.12 years; 58% women; 6.4 ± 5.1 years from diagnosis) completed the study. The KPPS total score was reduced by 43.6% (from 40.04 ± 36.18 in V1 to 22.60 ± 21.42 in V4; p < 0.0001). By domains, improvement was observed in musculoskeletal (−35.9%; p = 0.009), fluctuation-related (−51.7%; p = 0.020), nocturnal (−46.1%; p = 0.001), discoloration and/or edema/swelling (−50.4%; p = 0.009) and radicular pain (−40.1%; p = 0.048). A total of 21 adverse events in 11 patients (22%) were reported, five being severe, but not related to safinamide. Conclusion: Safinamide is well tolerated and improves pain in PD patients at 6 months. Future studies are necessary to analyze the possible beneficial effect of safinamide on pain in PD patients.

Safinamide improves sleep and daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease: results from the SAFINONMOTOR study.

Abstract: Some studies observed a benefit of PD patients after treatment with safinamide in some non-motor symptoms. Our aim was to analyze the effectiveness of safinamide on sleep and daytime sleepiness in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. SAFINONMOTOR is a prospective open-label single-arm study conducted in 5 centers from Spain. In this analysis, a secondary objective of the study, the score in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) at V1 (baseline) and V4 (6 months ± 1 month) were compared. Fifty patients were included between May/2019 and February/2020 (age 68.5 ± 9.12 years; 58% women; 6.4 ± 5.1 years from diagnosis). At 6 months, 44 patients completed the follow-up (88%). The PSQI total score was reduced by 19.8% (from 10.43 ± 4.02 at V1 to 8.36 ± 4.41 at V4; p = 0.001). By domains, improvement was observed in subjective sleep quality (PSQI-C1; − 23.9%; p = 0.009), sleep latency (PSQI-C2; − 25%; p = 0.025), sleep duration (PSQI-C3; − 40%; p = 0.001), and habitual sleep efficiency (PSQI-C4; − 25.9%; p = 0.023). A significant reduction (− 24.7%) in the ESS total score from V1 to V4 was observed as well (from 9.20 ± 5.64 to 6.93 ± 5.11; p = 0.012). Specifically, the improvement in daytime sleepiness was observed in sitting and reading (p = 0.024) and sitting inactive in a public space (p = 0.027). A total of 21 adverse events in 11 patients (22%) were reported, 5 of which were severe (not related to safinamide). Safinamide was well-tolerated and improved sleep and daytime sleepiness in PD patients at 6 months.

Monoamine Oxidase-B Inhibitors for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract: Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors are commonly used for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). MAO-B inhibitor monotherapy has been shown to be effective and safe for the treatment of early-stage PD, while MAO-B inhibitors as adjuvant drugs have been widely applied for the treatment of the advanced stages of the illness. MAO-B inhibitors can effectively improve patients' motor and non-motor symptoms, reduce "OFF" time, and may potentially prevent/delay disease progression. In this review, we discuss the effects of MAO-B inhibitors on motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients, their mechanism of action, and the future development of MAO-B inhibitor therapy.

A critical appraisal of MAO-B inhibitors in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Abstract: Since the 1980s, the MAO-B inhibitors have gained considerable status in the therapy of the Parkinson's disease. In addition to the symptomatic effect in mono- and combination therapies, a neuroprotective effect has repeatedly been a matter of some discussion, which has unfortunately led to a good many misunderstandings. Due to potential interactions, selegiline has declined in significance in the field. For the MAO-B inhibitor safinamide, recently introduced to the market, an additional inhibition of pathological release of glutamate has been postulated. At present, rasagiline and selegiline are being administered in early therapy as well as in combination with levodopa. Safinamide has been approved only for combination therapy with levodopa when motor fluctuations have occurred. MAO-B inhibitors are a significant therapeutic option for Parkinson's disease, an option which is too often not appreciated properly.

Future Therapeutic Strategies for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common and challenging clinical symptom in Parkinson's disease. In this review, we summarise the recent insights into freezing of gait and highlight the strategies that should be considered to improve future treatment. There is a need to develop individualised and on-demand therapies, through improved detection and wearable technologies. Whilst there already exist a number of pharmacological (e.g., dopaminergic and beyond dopamine), non-pharmacological (physiotherapy and cueing, cognitive training, and non-invasive brain stimulation) and surgical approaches to freezing (i.e., dual-site deep brain stimulation, closed-loop programming), an integrated collaborative approach to future research in this complex area will be necessary to systematically investigate new therapeutic avenues. A review of the literature suggests standardising how gait freezing is measured, enriching patient cohorts for preventative studies, and harnessing the power of existing data, could help lead to more effective treatments for freezing of gait and offer relief to many patients.