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Lower extremity isokinetic muscle strength in patients with Parkinson’s disease

We evaluated lower extremity isokinetic muscle strength to determine affected muscle groups and their dependence on movement velocity, and to establish the relationship between muscle strength and clinical severity, as well as muscle strength and falls, in Parkinsons disease (PD). Twenty-five patients diagnosed with PD and 24 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Lower extremity muscle strength was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Each participants clinical status was examined in accordance with the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale; fall history was also recorded. We observed a significant decrease in isokinetic muscle strength in the patient group, especially in both hip and knee flexors and extensors. Decreased muscle strength was independent of velocity, and correlated with clinical severity and falls. Movement velocity-independent lower extremity isokinetic muscle weakness has been observed in patients with PD, especially in the knee and hip joints. The evaluation of isokinetic muscle strength may be a useful tool for the assessment of clinical severity and falls in PD.

Is there a relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and idiopathic Parkinson's disease?

Abstract Idiopathic Parkinsons disease defines a group of Parkinsons disease (PD) of which the aetiology is unknown but an underlying brain disease is suspected. We selected patients of this subgroup of PD and investigated the seropositivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody by Sabin–Feldman dye test (SFDT). By measuring seropositivity in PD patients, we searched for a probable relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and idiopathic PD incidence. Fifty patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Blood samples were taken from all 100 participants and anti-T. gondii antibody titres were investigated using SFDT. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected at a titre of ≥1/16 in 25 of the 50 patients (50%) and in 20 of the control group (40%). No higher antibody titre was found in the control group. In conclusion, despite the emerging literature on a possible relationship between T. gondii infection and neurological disease, and the high anti-T. gondii seropositivity found in our PD patients, we did not detect any statistically significant association between T. gondii and idiopathic PD.

What are the Predictors of Death in Patients With Cranio-Cervical Artery Dissection?

INTRODUCTION Few studies have reported the predictive factors related to mortality in patients with cranio-cervical artery dissections (CCAD). Our aim was to investigate the predictors related to in-hospital mortality in patients with CCAD and its subgroups. METHODS Sixty-seven patients diagnosed with carotid artery dissection (CAD) or vertebral artery dissection (VAD), admitted to our clinic between 2000 and 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, modified Rankin Scale scores (pre-stroke and at admission), clinical presentation type, location of the dissection, risk factors, and treatments were analyzed as mortality-related prognostic factors. Of the 67 patients, 12 (17.9%) died, five (7.46%) with CAD and seven (10.44%) with VAD. We compared the prognostic characteristics of the surviving versus deceased patients with CCAD and in the subgroups with CAD and VAD. RESULTS Age above 45 years, severe disability at admission, presentation with stroke, and intracranial VAD occurred more frequently in deceased patients and were independent variables related to mortality in patients with CCAD and its subgroup with VAD. Severe disability at admission alone was related to mortality in patients with CAD. Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were independent variables related to mortality in patients with CCAD. CONCLUSION Severe disability at admission was a mortality predictor in both CAD and VAD. Although the initial severity of stroke is reportedly related to poor outcomes in patients with CCAD, it has not previously been directly identified as a predictor of mortality in patients with CAD or VAD.

Mortality-related factors in ischemic stroke patients 80/INS; years of age and older

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate mortality-related factors in ischemic stroke patients 80 years of age and older. MATERIAL and METHODS: We reviewed all ischemic stroke patients admitted to our clinic between January 2010 and January 2012. The patients’ database information was retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and ten patients aged older than 80 years with ischemic stroke were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on survival. Age, gender, recurrent stroke, risk factors, clinical syndrome, etiology, radiographic localization, duration of hospitalization, and presence of systemic complications were accepted as mortality-related prognostic factors. The groups were compared according to these prognostic factors. RESULTS: In the clinical follow-up, 58 (52.7%) patients died; 65.5% died of neurological causes, and 31% died of systemic complications. No significant differences existed between the two groups in age, gender, risk factors, recurrent stroke, or etiology. The frequency of total anterior circulation infarct syndrome was much higher in deceased than living patients (50% and 36.5% respectively;p<0.05). Deceased patients had a statistically significantly higher incidence of total MCA infarct and systemic complications than did living patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: To date, many variables that affect the early and late prognosis in stroke patients have been reported. Many of these factors cannot be changed, such as oldest age. It is important to determine the changeable and non-changeable factors related to disability and death in the oldest age groups. Starting appropriate treatment and care initiatives as soon as possible is also very necessary in the oldest stroke patients.