The effects of exergames on upper extremity performance, trunk mobility, gait, balance, and cognition in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, game-based exercises have been included more in the rehabilitation programs of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and positive effects have been observed. AIM: This study aims to investigate the effects of innovative games particularly designed for neurological patients on upper extremity performance, trunk mobility and cognition in patients with PD. METHOD: Twenty-three patients were enrolled in this randomized controlled study and randomly allocated into two groups: Exergames Program (EP) and Conventional Exercise Program (CP). Both groups received supervised physiotherapy sessions for 3 days a week and 8 weeks in total (24 sessions). Each session lasted 1 h. Evaluations were applied before and after the treatment: 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in the analysis because of the dropouts. Our findings showed that both groups improved significantly in 9-HPT dominant side, MMDT, TIS, MDS-UPDRS, TUG, FRT, and PDQ-39 (p < 0.05). MoCA scores of EP group improved significantly (p < 0.05) while CP group's did not (p > 0.05). It was found that EP group had better improvements in 9-HPT dominant side, MMDT turning test, and MoCA than CP group when the differences in the changes within the groups were compared (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Game-based training can be a useful rehabilitation tool to improve upper extremities performance, trunk mobility, cognition, functional mobility, balance, and quality of life and may have superiority over conventional exercises in improving cognition and upper extremity functions. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT05235880. Release Date: April 1, 2022.

The factors that are associated with itching in chronic kidney patients and evaluation of itching with the 5d itch scale.

OBJECTIVE: Uremic pruritus is a distressing complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), associated with mortality, and negatively impacts quality of life. The 5D-Itch Scale (5D-IS) is an easy-to-apply technique that evaluates 5 different dimensions of itching such as duration, severity, course, disability, and prevalence. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of itching in different CKD stages using the 5D-IS and to investigate the factors associated with itching in CKD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 5D-IS was used to evaluate itching in chronic hemodialysis (HD) and Stage 3-5 CKD patients. Total itching score and sub-scores consist of duration, severity, course, disability and distribution were obtained. Itching scores and prevalence according to CKD stages were investigated. Also the relationships between itching scores and some laboratory and clinical parameters such as iPTH, Ca, P, CRP levels were examined. RESULTS: 158 CKD patients included in the study included (110 Stage 3-5 and 48 HD). The frequency of itching was higher in HD patients than in predialysis patients (62.5% vs 46.4%; p = 0.04). The total itching score increased along with CKD stages 3 to 5 (7.75 ± 3.39, 7.82 ± 4.11 and 9.08 ± 5.12 respectively; p = 0.14). The severity, duration and course scores of itching were similar between the groups, but the distribution scores increased as the CKD stage increased. The laboratory and clinical characteristics of patients with and without itching were not different. Even if a significant positive correlation was detected between the parathyroid hormone levels and both the total 5D-IS scores and all of the sub-scores, Ca and P values were not correlated with itching scores. In the multiple regression analysis, the only parameter that had an effect on the total 5D-IS Score was the parathyroid hormone level. CONCLUSION: In CKD, itching affects 40-70% of patients from the early stages. As the CKD stage increases, itching spreads throughout the body. The only parameter that seems to be associated with itching is the PTH level.

Comparison of the gut microbiome composition among individuals with acute or long-standing spinal cord injury vs. able-bodied controls.

Objective: Compare the gut microbiome composition among individuals with acute spinal cord injury (A-SCI), long-standing SCI (L-SCI), vs. able-bodied (AB) controls.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: The University of Alabama at Birmingham.Participants: Seven adults with A-SCI (36 ± 12 years, 2F/5M, C4-T10, and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale [AIS] A-D), 25 with L-SCI (46 ± 13 years, 6F/19M, C4-L1, and AIS A-D), and 25 AB controls (42 ± 13 years, 9F/16M).Methods: Stool samples were collected after a median of 7 days and 18 years after injury in the A-SCI and L-SCI groups, respectively. Gut microbiome composition was analyzed using the 16S rRNA sequencing technique and QIIME software. The abundances of bacteria communities among groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test adjusted for age.Results: Several alpha diversity indices were different among groups (Chao1, Observed species, and Phylogenetic Diversity), but not others (Shannon and Simpson). Beta diversity differed among each pair of groups (P < 0.05). A number of microbial communities were differentially abundant among the groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Our results revealed differences in the gut microbiome composition among groups. Compared to the AB controls, the SCI groups demonstrated microbiome profiles that shared features linked to metabolic syndrome, inflammation-related bowel disorders, depressive disorders, or antibiotics use, whereas the L-SCI group's microbiome included features linked to reduced physical activity compared to the A-SCI and AB controls. Our results provided preliminary data and a scientific foundation for future studies investigating the impact of the gut microbiome composition on long-term health in individuals with SCI.

The trunk control: Which scale is the best in very acute stroke patients?

Background: It is important to evaluate trunk control, given that it is one of the indicators of adequate functional and motor recovery in patients following a stroke. The assessment should be feasible and adequate in clinical conditions in the acute phase. Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect the most appropriate scale used for trunk control assessment in very acute stroke patients in terms of time and ease of implementation. Methods: Sixty-five patients with very acute stroke were included in the study. The patients were assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale-1 (VTIS), the Trunk Impairment Scale-2 (FTIS), the Motor Assessment Scale trunk subscale (T-MAS) and the Trunk Control Test (TCT), and Functional Impairment Measure (FIM). Floor/ceiling effects, reliability, validity responsiveness of all trunk control scales analyzed. The correlation between all scales and FIM were calculated. Results: All scales had similar reliability, responsiveness and construct validity level. T-MAS and TCT were more advantageous than other scales according to time. TCT and VTIS showed floor effect. The best predictive validity values were observed for the T-MAS and TCT. Conclusions: Four scales investigated in this study can also be used to evaluate the patients with very acute stroke. On the other hand, the advantages and disadvantages of the scales should be thoroughly assessed and researchers can use one of four scales considering their aim, patient populations and clinical characteristics of patients.

Investigating the dynamic plantar pressure distribution and loading pattern in subjects with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder affecting subjects by multiple system impairments. Gait problems are common in subjects with MS and various factors such as; ataxia, hypertonic muscles or/and seconder musculoskeletal system deformities affect the normal plantigrade contact by disturbing accommodation of foot to the ground while walking. The aim of this study was investigating the dynamic plantar pressure distribution and time of maximum pressure in subjects with MS and determining the differences from healthy subjects (HS). METHODS: Fifty-five subjects with MS (110 foot) and 20 HS (40 foot) were the participants of the study. The dynamic pedobarograph was utilized for evaluation of dynamic loading parameters; maximum pressure (N/cm2) and time of maximum pressure (ms) collected from heel medial, heel lateral, midfoot, heads of first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones. RESULTS: There were differences between the groups in maximum pressure of heel medial (p < .001) and heel lateral (p < .001) was higher in HS. Also, there were differences between the groups the time of maximum pressure of all metatarsal head areas, midfoot, heel medial and heel lateral (p < .001). Subjects with MS spent lesser time to reach maximum pressure for forefoot loading and longer time for hindfoot loading. CONCLUSION: The study provided basic data about foot pressure distribution and time of maximum pressure in subjects with MS. Results of the study showed that the hindfoot loading was disrupted and inappropriate timing during load transfer from hindfoot to forefoot is exist in subjects with MS.

Validity and reliability of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in multiple sclerosis patients with ataxia.

BACKGROUND: Ataxia is an extremely common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Thus, appropriate scales are required for detailed assessment of this issue. The aim of our study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), which are widely used in ataxia evaluation in the context of other cerebellar diseases. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 80 MS patients with Kurtzke cerebellar functional system score (C-FSS) greater than zero and slight pyramidal involvement. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), C-FSS, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were administered. SARA and ICARS were assessed on first admission by two physical therapists. Seven days later, second assessments were repeated in same way for reliability. RESULTS: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were found to be high for both ICARS and SARA (p< 0.001) The Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.922 and 0.921 for SARA (reviewer 1 and reviewer 2 respectively) and 0.952 and 0.952 for ICARS (reviewer 1 and reviewer 2, respectively). There were no floor or ceiling effects determined for either scale except for item 17 of ICARS (p= 0.055). The EDSS total score had significant correlations with both SARA and ICARS (rho: 0.557 and 0.707, respectively). C-FSS had moderate correlation with SARA and high correlation with ICARS (rho: 0.469 and 0.653, respectively). BBS had no significant correlation with SARA and ICARS. (rho: -0.048 and -0.008 respectively). According to the area under the curve (AUC) value, ICARS is the best scale to discriminate mild and moderate ataxia. (AUC: 0.875). Factor analyses of ICARS showed that the rating results were determined by five different factors that did not coincide with the ICARS sub-scales. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that ICARS and SARA are both reliable in MS patients with ataxia. Although ICARS has some structural problems, it seems to be more valid given its high correlations with EDSS and C-FSS. SARA also can be preferred as a brief assessment.