The value of GRE, ADC and routine MRI in distinguishing Parkinsonian disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To study different radiological signs and sequences including apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and gradient echo (GRE) to differentiate degenerative parkinsonian syndromes. BACKGROUND: Multiple system atrophy (MSA), Parkinson's disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CbD) differ in the pattern of neurodegeneration and cellular damage. Measuring the ADC, GRE sequences for paramagnetic substances and simple anatomical assessments have been reported individually to assist in separating some of these disorders, but have not been compared. METHODS: brain MRIs from May 2002 to February 2008 were retrospectively evaluated by raters blinded to the clinical diagnosis for predefined MRI signs on T1, T2 and GRE sequences. ADC values were quantitatively measured. Medical records were objectively analyzed using standard clinical criteria for different parkinsonian syndromes. RESULTS: 195 cases comprising of 61 PD, 15 MSA-P, 7 MSA-C, 21 PSP, 6 Corticobasal syndrome, 21 not fitting criteria and 64 controls were evaluated. 73% of patients with MSA-P had hypointensity of the putamen (compared to the pallidum) on GRE. The specificity of this sign to diagnose MSA-P was 90% versus PD and 76% versus PSP. When GRE hypointensity was combined with atrophy of the putamen the specificity improved to 98% (versus PD) and 95% (versus PSP) without altering the sensitivity. The ADC values were significantly higher in the middle cerebellar peduncle in cases with MSA-C versus controls, PD and PSP (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of hypointensity and atrophy of the putamen on GRE is useful in differentiating MSA-P from other parkinsonian syndromes.

"We have a lot of home deliveries" A qualitative study on the impact of COVID-19 on access to and utilization of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health care among refugee women in urban Eastleigh, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how pregnant refugee women, and the frontline health care workers who serve them, are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of health, and health service access. Women refugees are classified as a vulnerable group with regard to pregnancy outcomes and access to maternal care, and may be disproportionally at risk for COVID-19 infection as they are likely to face unique barriers to information and access to reproductive health services during the pandemic. Few studies identify gaps that could inform potential interventions to improve service uptake for refugee women, particularly in the context of COVID-19. Yet, understanding how pregnant refugees are impacted in the context of the pandemic is critical to developing and implementing strategies and measures that can help in their care and the delivery of health services. AIMS: This study aimed to improve understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on women refugees' access to and utilisation of antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care in Eastleigh, Kenya. METHODS: The study was conducted in Eastleigh, a semi-urban centre in Nairobi. We conducted 25 in-depth interviews with facility and community health care staff (n = 10) and women attending antenatal (n = 10) and postnatal care services (n = 5) in October 2020. Data was analysed using NVIVO 12 software. FINDINGS: Our findings suggest that within the first eight months of COVID-19, preferences for home deliveries by refugee women increased and health care workers reported having observed reduced utilisation of services and delayed care. Fear, economic challenges and lack of migrant-inclusive health system policies were key factors influencing home deliveries and delayed and low uptake of facility-based care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need to mitigate and lower barriers that prevent refugee women from seeking care at health facilities. One approach includes the development of refugee-inclusive public health policies, particularly during a pandemic, and the need to tailor health care services for refugees at facilities and in the communities.

Community-based cluster surveys on treatment preferences for diarrhoea, severe diarrhoea, and dysentery in children aged less than five years in two districts of Ghana.

Hospital-based surveillance for severe diarrhoea has been recommended to assess the burden of disease due to rotavirus. However, information on healthcare-seeking patterns of residents in the hospital catchment area is needed first to obtain the burden of disease in the community using the hospital data. A community-based cluster survey was conducted in two districts of Ghana, each served by a single district hospital, to determine the prevalence of severe diarrhoea among and treatment preferences for children aged less than five years. Caretakers of 619 children in Tema, an urban district, and caretakers of 611 children in Akwapim South, a rural district, were interviewed. During the month preceding the survey, the prevalence of severe diarrhoea in children aged less than five years was similar in the two districts (13.6% urban and 12.9% rural), as was the proportion of mothers who sought care outside the home (69.0% urban and 70.9% rural). 48.8% of urban mothers of children with severe diarrhoea visited public/private clinics, 9.5% pharmacies, and 3.6% the district hospital. Whereas, 22.8% of rural mothers visited public/private clinics, 19.0% pharmacies, and 13.9% the district hospital. Results of the study suggest that rotavirus surveillance should be guided by community studies on healthcare-use patterns. Where hospital use is low for severe diarrhoea, rotavirus surveillance should include other health facilities.

Ipratropium bromide spray as treatment for sialorrhea in Parkinson's disease.

Sialorrhea is a significant problem in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Current treatment options include systemic anticholinergics which frequently cause side effects. We hypothesized that sublingual application of ipratropium bromide spray, an anticholinergic agent that does not cross the blood brain barrier, may reduce drooling without systemic side effects. We performed a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 17 subjects with PD and bothersome drooling. Patients were randomized to receive ipratropium bromide or placebo (one to two sprays, maximum of four times per day) for 2 weeks followed by a 1 week washout and crossover for further 2 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome was an objective measure of weight of saliva production. Secondary outcomes were subjective rating of severity and frequency of sialorrhoea using home diaries, United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part II salivation subscore, parkinsonian disability using UPDRS, and adverse events. Ipratropium bromide spray had no significant effect on weight of saliva produced. There was a mild effect of treatment on subjective measures of sialorrhea. There were no significant adverse events. Ipratropium bromide spray was well tolerated in subjects with PD. Although it did not affect objective measures of saliva production, further studies in parkinsonism may be warranted.

Unilateral versus bilateral tasks in early asymmetric Parkinson's disease: differential effects on bradykinesia.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have an impaired ability to perform two different simultaneous bimanual tasks. The differential effects of unilateral versus bilateral identical tasks on the bradykinesia scores of the more and less affected limbs in PD have not been examined. Twenty-seven patients with early and asymmetric PD underwent blinded, videotaped assessment, independently for each limb, using the bradykinesia items of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Part III, Motor subscale (mUPDRS) and a Modified Bradykinesia Rating Scale (MBRS), which assessed amplitude, speed, and rhythm of movements. We found that the score for finger tapping in mUPDRS and MBRS, the score of amplitude of finger tapping in MBRS, and the lateralized scores of mUPDRS (sum of Items 23 to 25) of the most affected side significantly improved during the bimanual task. The improvement was associated with longer duration of illness, higher total scores in mUPDRS, and higher lateralized bradykinesia scores of the most affected side. There was a simultaneous deterioration of the lateralized bradykinesia scores in MBRS (sum of Items 23 to 25) and Item 25 of mUPDRS (rapid alternating movements) of the least affected side in bimanual tasks. In conclusion, identical bimanual tasks facilitate movement of the most affected side in early asymmetric PD at the cost of motor degradation in the least affected side. This observation also highlights the need to perform tasks of bradykinesia in one limb at a time for best accuracy.

The physical finding of stress urinary incontinence among African women in Ghana.

The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of women with the physical sign of stress urinary incontinence in a sample of Ghanaian women. Two hundred randomly selected women from attendants at a convenience selected ultrasound clinic were interviewed about symptoms of urinary incontinence. A paper towel test was performed to objectively demonstrate the physical sign of stress urinary incontinence as leakage on coughing. Forty-two percent of the women had a positive paper towel test. The two major symptoms reported by the women with positive paper towel test were (1) loss of urine while waiting to use the toilet (48.2%) and (2) loss of urine on coughing (43.4%) in daily life. The physical sign of stress urinary incontinence could be present in up to 42% of Ghanaian women.