Efficacy of dance for Parkinson's disease: a pooled analysis of 372 patients.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that presents with motor and nonmotor symptoms such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, postural instability, and cognitive and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Dance therapy or complex motor activity, besides pharmacological treatment, may have benefits in PD patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of dance in patients with PD. METHODS: We searched for clinical trials in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and Cochrane till April 2020 using relevant keywords. Data were extracted and pooled as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) by Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Fourteen randomized controlled trials with 372 patients were included. Dance showed a significant improvement over the control group in term of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III) after three (MD = - 4.49, 95% CI [- 6.78, - 2.21], p = 0.00001), six, (MD = - 5.96, 95% CI [- 8.89, - 3.02], p < 0.0001), and 12 months (MD = - 14.58, 95% CI [- 24.76, - 4.4], p = 0.005), and Mini-BES test after 12 months. Compared to exercise, dance showed a significant improvement in Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Mini-BES test. CONCLUSION: In comparison to other types of exercise or no activity, dance improves the symptoms and outcomes in patients with PD, especially motor symptoms. Dance also has positive effects on balance, functional mobility, and cognition.

Ischio-anal fossa hydatid cyst.

Extrahepatic hydatid disease has been reported in several locations, including the pelvis, and it often poses a diagnostic challenge. There are very few reported cases of primary perineal ischio-anal fossa hydatid cysts. We present a case of a 46-year-old female who had complained of painless left perianal mass for 8 months. The first clinical and radiological diagnosis was a cystic lesion of the perianal region. However, surgical and pathological examination revealed the diagnosis of hydatid disease of ischio-anal fossa. The patient underwent surgical excision. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was disease-free. Hydatid disease of the perianal area, although rare, must be kept in the differential diagnosis of pathologies of any perianal mass or lump.