Change in the Parkinson Anxiety Scale correlates with change in other clinical measures of anxiety over time.

The Parkinson's disease (PD)-specific Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) is an anxiety rating scale that has been validated in cross-sectional studies. In a study of buspirone for anxiety in PD, it appears that the PAS may be sensitive to change in anxiety demonstrating moderate-to-high correlation with participant-reported and clinician-administered scales.

A trial of buspirone for anxiety in Parkinson's disease: Safety and tolerability.

INTRODUCTION: In Parkinson's disease (PD), anxiety is common, associated with lower health-related quality of life, and undertreated. The primary objective of this study was to determine the tolerability of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety in PD. METHODS: Individuals with PD and clinically significant anxiety were randomized 4:1 to flexible dosage buspirone or placebo for 12 weeks. Treatment was initiated at 7.5 mg twice daily and titrated based on response and tolerability to an optimal dosage (maximum 30 mg twice daily). The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who failed to complete the study on study drug. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, dosage reductions, motor function, dyskinesias, and anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 21 participants enrolled, 4 were randomized to placebo and 17 to buspirone (mean (SD) age 65.5 (9.8), 76.5% male, 88% on concomitant antidepressant or anxiolytic). In the buspirone group, 7 (41%) failed to complete the study on drug, 5 due to intolerability. The median buspirone dosage was 7.5 mg twice daily. No serious adverse events occurred. A total of 9 (53%) buspirone participants experienced adverse events consistent with worsened motor function. In the buspirone group, mean (SD) improvement from baseline to week 12 in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was -3.9 (3.8) and Parkinson Anxiety Scale -7.1 (6.4). CONCLUSION: Tolerability concerns do not support moving immediately forward with a large-scale efficacy trial. However, concomitant anxiolytics may have affected tolerability and a signal of efficacy was seen suggesting that future studies of buspirone monotherapy be considered.

Systematic review: associations of calcium intake, vitamin D intake, and physical activity with skeletal outcomes in people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The skeletal complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D) include low bone density, poor bone quality and fractures. Greater calcium intake, vitamin D intake, and physical activity are commonly recommended to improve bone health in patients with T1D. However, it is not clear whether these factors are affected by T1D or improve clinical outcomes. METHODS: The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature for evidence of associations between calcium intake, vitamin D intake, and physical activity and skeletal outcomes in T1D. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, twenty-two studies were included in this review. RESULTS: The prevalence of calcium deficiency was high and encompassed greater than 50% of participants in the majority of studies. Despite this finding, there was no clear association between calcium intake and bone density in any study. Calcitriol use was associated with gains in bone density in one study but was not associated with changes in bone turnover markers in a second report. No studies specifically investigated the impact of vitamin D2 or D3 supplementation on bone health. Two studies reported a beneficial effect of physical activity interventions on bone accrual in children. The findings from observational studies of physical activity were mixed. CONCLUSION: There are insufficient data to determine if deficient calcium intake, vitamin D intake, or physical activity contributes to the skeletal complications of T1D. Future studies specifically designed to assess the impact of these interventions on the skeleton in T1D participants are needed.