Parkinsonics: A Randomized, Blinded, Cross-Over Trial of Group Singing for Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently causes communication difficulties due to various voice impairments and there are few treatment options for vocal/communication complaints. We assessed the effects of weekly group singing on PD patients' objective vocal and motoric function, cognition, mood, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Methods: Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to either a singing group or a facilitated discussion group weekly over 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, participants crossed over for an additional 12 weeks. Evaluations were performed at baseline and every six weeks for 30 weeks. Objective voice measures included volume/loudness (decibels), held vowel duration, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio. Additional outcome measures included patient-centered quality of life, voice-related quality of life, MDS-UPDRS, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and questionnaires assessing depression, self-efficacy, and overall well-being. Results: Twenty-six participants (16 M/10F; Hoehn & Yahr stage 2.3 (range 2-3); and age 68.6 (55-89)) completed the study. Across participants in both groups (intention-to-treat analyses), there was significant improvement from baseline in average loudness on the Cookie Theft picture description at 24 weeks (end of interventions), corresponding with improved minimal reading volumes at 24 weeks and 30 weeks (end of study). Similarly, there were improvements in minimal loudness on Rainbow passage reading at 24 and 30 weeks. There were improvements observed in the Emotional Well-Being (mean delta -12.7 points, p = 0.037) and Body Discomfort (mean delta -18.6 points, p = 0.001) domains of the PDQ-39 from baseline to week 24 in the overall cohort and greater improvement in the Communication domain for Group S than Group D after 12 weeks of singing (delta -12.9 points, p = 0.016). Baseline differences between the participant groups (age, gender, Hoehn & Yahr stage, and several voice loudness measures) and observed improvements during the weekly discussion group period limited our ability to attribute all of the above results specifically to singing (per-protocol analyses). No significant changes in other assessed outcome measures were found. Conclusions: Weekly group singing may improve some aspects of conversational voice volume and quality of life in PD. Some improvements were sustained at least six weeks after interventions ended. Further investigations of the mechanism of benefit and randomized controlled studies (without crossover) to assess the longitudinal effects of singing in PD are necessary.

Essential tremor & Parkinson disease: Recognizing the differences.

Tremor is a common movement disorder in adults and older adults. There are many different types of tremor and many conditions that present with tremor as a symptom. This article discusses the causes of tremor, and through the use of a case study, helps NPs understand the assessment of tremor and differentiate two common neurologic disorders that can present with tremor: essential tremor and Parkinson disease.

The Cure PSP Care Guide: A Telephonic Nursing Intervention for Individuals and Families Living With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare, progressive, and terminal neurodegenerative disease characterized by problems with ambulation, balance, mobility, vision, speech, swallowing, and behavior during the 7- to 10-year course of the illness. Substantial evidence in the nursing literature supports the benefits of patient education, self-management, chronic disease management, telehealth, and nurse navigation programs, which enhance patient and caregiver knowledge, improve day-to-day management by developing an awareness of resources, decrease dependence on services, and address caregiver needs. The Cure PSP Care Guide is a targeted telehealth nursing intervention aimed at providing knowledge, guidance, and resources to the vulnerable individuals and families living with PSP; identifying local resources; and building community. During the course of two telephone calls, individuals and their caregivers are assessed to develop a Cure PSP Care Guide designed to provide guidance along the trajectory. A knowledge assessment, self-efficacy scale, and Caregiver Strain Index are administered before and after the intervention to determine the program intervention effect. Caregiver knowledge assessments improved after the intervention, whereas strain scores were static. Qualitative data show the ability of the intervention to address caregiver needs for knowledge and support, daily management tips, and resource identification. The preliminary quantitative and qualitative data collected on this pilot project justify further exploration of the use of telehealth to remotely deliver nurse case management to the vulnerable individuals and families living with PSP.

Peripheral Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease Progression and Pioglitazone Effects.

Pioglitazone, an oral hypoglycemic agent, recently failed to show promise as a disease-modifying agent in a 44-week phase 2 placebo-controlled study in 210 Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects. We analyzed peripheral biomarkers, including leukocyte PGC-1α and target gene expression, plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) as a marker of inflammation, and urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) as a marker of oxidative DNA damage. Baseline or changes from baseline in biomarker levels were not associated with the rate of progression of PD. Pioglitazone did not significantly alter biomarker levels. Other agents that more effectively target these mechanisms remain of potential interest as disease modifying therapies in PD.

The dying child: should we tell the truth?

Children and young people who are dying after having lived with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition will often be aware of their impending death. Whether that awareness is acknowledged and talked about will depend on the child, the parents and the professionals involved. A review of these three perspectives on truth telling reveals some of the many factors that influence openness, communication and truthfulness. Creation of a truthful care environment requires development of appropriate skills and attitudes in professionals, use of research evidence, ongoing assessment of the child and family's communication needs and support for members of the multidisciplinary care team.