Bone health in neuromyelitis optica: Bone mineral density and fractures.

BACKGROUND: The bone health in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibodies (NMOSD-AQP4) have not been fully evaluated. To evaluate the prevalence of fractures and bone loss in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 compared to healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify the risk factors associated with fractures and low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with NMOSD-AQP4. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with NMOSD-AQP4 were included. The two control groups consisted of 213 age-, sex-, menopause-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (healthy controls) and 41 patients with multiple sclerosis (disease controls). We collected demographic and clinical data related to bone health including BMD and FRAX score. RESULTS: Patients with NMOSD-AQP4 had a higher prevalence of fractures than the healthy control group (OR = 5.40, CI = 2.004-14.524, p = 0.001), with falling, but not steroid use, being associated with an increased risk of fractures after diagnosis with NMOSD-AQP4 (OR = 24.902, CI = 3.086-200.947, p = 0.003). They also had significantly lower BMD than controls (femur neck, p = 0.044; total hip, p < 0.001), which was more prominent in young participants. The BMD in the NMOSD-AQP4 group was associated with cumulative dose of oral steroids, age, sex, BMI, and partly with the prophylactic calcium supplements. Though the patients with NMOSD-AQP4 did not differ significantly from patients with MS in terms of fracture rate and BMD, they had higher risk of fractures as measured by the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (for major osteoporotic fractures, (p = 0.001; for hip fractures, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Patients with NMOSD-AQP4 had a significantly higher risk of fractures that could mostly be attributed to falling. Additionally, low BMD was observed in these patients; it was more prominent among young patients, associated with steroid use, and may partially prevented by the use of prophylactic calcium supplements.

The effect of a whole-body vibration therapy on the sitting balance of subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The use of a whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy has recently been applied and investigated as a rehabilitation method for subacute stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a WBV therapy on recovery of balance in subacute stroke patients who were unable to gain sitting balance. METHODS: The conventional rehabilitation group (CG) received conventional physical therapy, including sitting balance training by a physical therapist, for 30 min a one session, for twice a day for five days a week for two weeks. The whole-body vibration group (VG) received one session of conventional physical therapy, and received WBV therapy instead of conventional physical therapy for 30 min a day for five days a week for two weeks. RESULTS: There were 15 patients in the CG and 15 patients in the VG who completed the two-week therapy. After the two-week therapy, both groups showed functional improvement. Patients in the VG improved functional ambulation categories, Berg balance scale, trunk impairment scale scores. But, no statistically significant correlations between the therapeutic methods and outcomes were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that WBV therapy led to improvement of the recovery in balance recovery for subacute stroke patients. Because the WBV therapy was as effective as conventional physical therapy, we can consider a WBV therapy as a clinical method to improve the sitting balance of subacute stoke patients.

Effect of Fungicides and Plant Extracts on the Conidial Germination of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Causing Mango Anthracnose.

In Northern Bangladesh, generally mango trees are planted as agroforest that gives higher Net Present Value (NPV) than traditional agriculture. Mango anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. is seen as a very destructive and widely distributed disease, which results in poor market value. Five fungicides such as Cupravit, Bavistin, Dithane M-45, Thiovit and Redomil were tested against conidial germination of C. gloeosporioides. Dithane M-45 and Redomil were the most effective when the conidia were immersed for 10~20 minutes at 500~1000 ppm concentrations. Antifungal activities of 13 plant extracts were tested against conidial germination of C. gloeosporioides. Conidial germination of C. gloeosporioides was completely inhibited in Curcuma longa (leaf and rhizome), Tagetes erecta (leaf) and Zingiber officinales (rhizome) after 15 minutes of incubation respectively.