Co-morbidities of persons dying of Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Disease interactions can alter functional decline near the end of life (EOL). Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by frequent occurrences of co-morbidities but data challenges have limited studies investigating co-morbidities across a broad range of diseases. The goal of this study was to describe disease associations with PD. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of death certificate data from 1998 to 2005 in Nova Scotia. All death causes were utilized to select individuals dying of PD and compare with the general population and an age-sex-matched sample without PD. We calculated the mean number of death causes and frequency of disease co-occurrence. To account for the chance occurrence of co-morbidities and measure the strength of association, observed to expected ratios were calculated. RESULTS: PD decedents had a higher mean number of death causes (3.37) than the general population (2.77) and age-sex-matched sample (2.88). Cancer was the most common cause in the population and matched sample but fifth for those with PD. Cancer was one of nine diseases that occurred less often than what would be expected by chance while four were not correlated with PD. Dementia and pneumonia occurred with PD 2.53 ([CI] 2.21-2.85) and 1.83 (CI 1.58-2.08) times more often than expected. The strength of association for both is reduced but remains statistically significant when controlling for age and sex. DISCUSSION: Those with PD have a higher number of co-morbidities even after controlling for age and sex. Individuals dying with PD are more likely to have dementia and pneumonia, which has implications for the provision of care at EOL.

Changes in gait and symptoms after bilateral pallidotomy: a client with Parkinson's disease.

A single-subject, time-series design was used to describe a female with young-onset Parkinson's disease who, after a period of 15 years, was demonstrating long term side effects of medication in addition to the progression of Parkinson's disease. She underwent a bilateral pallidotomy to address these problems. Prior to her surgery, her spatiotemporal gait kinematics were measured at intervals before and after medication ingestion. The identical procedures were undertaken one month and at four months post-pallidotomy. In all three sessions, the Webster Scale scored her symptoms while her medication was not working (Off) and again when effective (On). After surgery, she was interviewed to obtain a qualitative impression of the outcome. Before the surgery, the gait parameters demonstrated a fluctuating profile. Forty-five minutes post-medication, her gait parameters approached normal levels but significant dyskinetic movements were evident. Her Webster Scale scores indicated advanced Parkinson's disease particularly when Off One-month post-pallidotomy, her gait parameters were more consistent with dyskinesias mildly present. Her Webster Scale scores were reduced while both Off and On. Four months post-pallidotomy her gait parameters were entirely consistent and within normal limits. Her Webster Scale scores were the same Off and On and no dyskinesias were detectable. The excellent result was probably enhanced by the patient's dedication to regular exercise designed to minimize secondary physical complications.

Blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) Severity and Yield Loss in Canola in Alberta, Canada.

Blackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, is an important disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in Canada and throughout the world. Severe epidemics of blackleg can result in significant yield losses. Understanding disease-yield relationships is a prerequisite for measuring the agronomic efficacy and economic benefits of control methods. Field experiments were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to determine the relationship between blackleg disease severity and yield in a susceptible cultivar and in moderately resistant to resistant canola hybrids. Disease severity was lower, and seed yield was 120%-128% greater, in the moderately resistant to resistant hybrids compared with the susceptible cultivar. Regression analysis showed that pod number and seed yield declined linearly as blackleg severity increased. Seed yield per plant decreased by 1.8 g for each unit increase in disease severity, corresponding to a decline in yield of 17.2% for each unit increase in disease severity. Pyraclostrobin fungicide reduced disease severity in all site-years and increased yield. These results show that the reduction of blackleg in canola crops substantially improves yields.

Walking with music is a safe and viable tool for gait training in Parkinson's disease: the effect of a 13-week feasibility study on single and dual task walking.

This study explored the viability and efficacy of integrating cadence-matched, salient music into a walking intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-two people with PD were randomised to a control (CTRL, n = 11) or experimental (MUSIC, n = 11) group. MUSIC subjects walked with an individualised music playlist three times a week for the intervention period. Playlists were designed to meet subject's musical preferences. In addition, the tempo of the music closely matched (±10-15 bpm) the subject's preferred cadence. CTRL subjects continued with their regular activities during the intervention. The effects of training accompanied by "walking songs" were evaluated using objective measures of gait score. The MUSIC group improved gait velocity, stride time, cadence, and motor symptom severity following the intervention. This is the first study to demonstrate that music listening can be safely implemented amongst PD patients during home exercise.