Are musculoskeletal problems in Parkinson’s disease neglected

Parkinson’s disease – PD patients do not receive adequate treatment for musculoskeletal problems. This was the conclusion reached by Kim YE et al. from the Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The researches found the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was significantly higher in the Parkinson disease (PD) group compared to controls. However these musculoskeletal problems in the PD group tended to receive less treatment than that of the control group despite PD patients having a higher prevalence than in the controls.

Resting-State fMRI pinpoints changes in brain organization after TBI

Evidence from functional MRI findings show the traumatic effect on brain network function of traumatic brain injury (tbi). Writing in Neurology, 04/26/2013 Zhou Y et al. from New York University Langone Medical Center, New York.USA report that RS-fMRI shows a variety of changes in subjects after mild TBI that may be responsible for both physical deficits and behavioral symptoms following traumatic brain injury.

Chronic pain syndromes after ischemic stroke

Chronic pain syndromes after ischemic stroke and are associated with increased functional dependence and cognitive decline.

Writing in Stroke, 05/01/2013 O’Donnell MJ et al from McMaster University Ontario,Canada looks at a large cohort with ischemic stroke. Of these stroke patients ~ 11% reported new chronic post stroke pain, with 3% central post stroke pain and 1.5% with peripheral neuropathic pain and 1.3% with pain from spasticity. The group concluded that Chronic pain syndromes after ischemic stroke and are associated with increased functional dependence and cognitive decline.

 

Telerehabilitation for addressing executive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury

Telerehabilitation allows for the delivery of cognitive training post traumatic brain injury. Writing in Brain Injury, 05/01/2013 Ng EMW et al. from Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network , Toronto, ON look at the delivery of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach (CO-OP) in a telerehabilitation format. Using the Outcome measures included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 Participation Index, and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire the group conclude that Telerehabilitation can be used for addressing executive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury and may help promote community integration of individuals living with TBI.

Patient functioning after traumatic brain injury

Laxe S et al. disucuss International Classification on Functioning in Brain Injury, 05/01/2013.

The group from Brain Injury Unit, Institut Guttmann-Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona Spain report on the use of 23 Brief Core Sets within the International Classification on Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a basic international standard for the multidisciplinary assessment of a TBI patient’s functioning.

 

Neurosteroids as neuroprotectants for the treatment of Parkinsons disease (PD)

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with a massive loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra leading to dopamine hypofunction and alteration of the basal ganglia circuitry. Writing in Experimental Neurologydi Michele F et al from Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy reviews the roles of Neurosteroids – NS acting as neuroprotectants and as GABAA receptor agonists in the physiology and pathophysiology of the basal ganglia. He looks at their impact on dopaminergic cell activity and survival. The review article then considers their potential therapeutic application in PD.

Choreoathetosis and dyskinetic pediatric Cerebral Palsy (CP)

What scales exist to distinguishing between choreoathetosis and dyskinetic movement impairments in pediatric Cerebral Palsy (CP)? Choreoathetos is characterized by irregular involuntary movements that may involve the fa e, neck, trunk, extremities, or respiratory muscles, giving an appearance of restlessness. Onbaliu E et al from Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Belgium discuss the use of the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS) by Physical therapists (PT) in the European Paediatric Neurology Society Journal 04/25/2013.

Motor and non motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

Non motor symptoms NMS of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) include sleep dysfunction, dementia and depression and these are key determinants of patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive degenerative disorder with both motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rest tremor, and rigidity and also non-motor symptoms (NMS). Both motor and NMS contribute to significant morbidity and disability.

Writing in European Journal of Neurology, 04/23/2013 Dr. Martinez and his colleagues from National Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence and Institute of Neurology, Kings College Hospital London, United Kingdom discuss the performance of the Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS–UPDRS): Part I – Non–Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living (nM–EDL) and compare this with the Non–Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS).

Aggressive and comprehensive treatment of older adults following Traumatic brain injury are justified

Looking at Glasgow Outcome Scale scores , among older adults (>60 years) after a traumatic brain injury within one year post-TBI McIntyre A et al from Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Parkwood Hospital, London, ON, Canada discuss pooled data looking at favourable, unfavourable, and fatal outcomes in older tbi patients. They conclude that Aggressive and comprehensive treatment of older adults following Traumatic brain injury are justified.

 

Arm and hand motor usage outcome after stroke

Stroke may result in difficulty in hand movements or reduction in arm use. Patient reported outcomes are compared to standard assessments by Stewart JC et al from the University of California, Irvine Medical Center in Stroke, 04/15/2013.

The standard assessments looked at included the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Scale, and Fugl-Meyer motor scale. The patient reported outcomes included the hand function domain of the Stroke Impact Scale, which looks at difficulty of hand motor usage, and the amount of use portion of the Motor Activity Log, which records amount of arm motor usage.

The investigators saw that many patients classified as having minimal or no impairment or disability by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale or modified Rankin Scale did report difficulty with hand movements by the Stroke Impact Scale score or reduced arm use by the Motor Activity Log score.