Concordance between Pressure Platform and Pedigraph

[Abstract] Objectives: Determine the concordance between two methods of obtaining the plantar footprint (pedigraph and pressure platform). Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study of prevalence was carried out in the social center of Cariño (Coruña), Spain (n = 65 participants). Older people without amputations or the presence of dysmetria were included. The variables studied were: sociodemographic (age, sex), anthropometric (body mass index) and footprint measurement variables. These measurements were made by obtaining the plantar footprint using two methods: pedigraph and pressure platform. Results: The mean age of the sample was 37.42 ± 15.05 years, with a predominance of the female gender (61.54%). Positive linear correlation between pedigraph and platform was observed in both feet in the Chippaux and Staheli indices (correlation coefficient > 0.3, p < 0.001 in each comparison). The reliability was good or moderate in relation with the Chippaux and Staheli index. Slightly lower coefficients were observed in the dimensions of the foot. Conclusions: A positive linear correlation between pedigraph and platform was observed in both feet in the Chippaux and Staheli indices. Significant differences were observed between pedigraph and platform in relation to the width and length of the foot. It is probably due to the fact that the pressure platform provides more exhaustive, detailed and accurate information of the foot. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study of prevalence was carried out in the social center of Cariño (Coruña), Spain (n = 65 participants). Older people without amputations or the presence of dysmetria were included. The variables studied were: sociodemographic (age, sex), anthropometric (body mass index) and footprint measurement variables. These measurements were made by obtaining the plantar footprint using two methods: pedigraph and pressure platform. Results: The mean age of the sample was 37.42 ± 15.05 years, with a predominance of the female gender (61.54%). Positive linear correlation between pedigraph and platform was observed in both feet in the Chippaux and Staheli indices (correlation coefficient > 0.3, p < 0.001 in each comparison). The reliability was good or moderate in relation with the Chippaux and Staheli index. Slightly lower coefficients were observed in the dimensions of the foot. Conclusions: A positive linear correlation between pedigraph and platform was observed in both feet in the Chippaux and Staheli indices. Significant differences were observed between pedigraph and platform in relation to the width and length of the foot. It is probably due to the fact that the pressure platform provides more exhaustive, detailed and accurate information of the foot

Gone with the wind: huts or tree wind-throws at Late Prehistoric open-air settlements of NW Iberia

Until the 80’s of the 20th century, the archaeological research from Neolithic to Bronze Age in NW Iberia was focused on burial sites and rock art. Since then, several research projects and rescue excavations brought new data on housing and domestic contexts during Late Prehistory. In some of the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age open-air settlements studied, together with pits, post holes, hut floors and anthropic hedges, excavations have been recorded oval or circular hollows measuring 1.9 to 3.5 metres wide and 1metre of depth, usually with an irregular section. These have been considered huts remains built on perishable materials. These structures were commonly filled with two different deposits, an organic and dark brownish layer, and another light and inorganic. From the organic deposits there has been recovered a high concentration of fungal sclerotia that have a symbiotic relationship with roots of trees or bushes. Finally, we would like to highlight that inside these openings are uncommon archaeological evidences, such as sherds or lithic artefacts. The morphology of the hollows and the lack of archaeological evidences related to these structures, together with the repeated absence of hearths inside them or in their immediate surroundings, lead us to question their anthropic origin. For that reason, new interpretations must be proposed. In fact, in terms of sedimentological events, there is a great similarity between these structures and natural features, such as wind-throw hollows (Dziegielewski 2007; Goldberg and Macphail 2006; Langohr 1993). The archaeobotanical assemblages recovered from these contexts, also can provide valuable information to interpret them as natural features and to understand the natural processes involved in their formation (Schiffer 1987). There have been developed sedimentological and archaeobotanical studies of samples recovered from hollows related to tree wind-throws. Their results have been compared to the supposed anthropogenic contexts. The distinction between natural and anthropic features in these open-air settlements is crucial to avoid any interpretative distortions of these contexts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identifying comorbidities and lifestyle factors contributing to the cognitive profile of early Parkinson's disease

Background: Identifying modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment in the early stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) and estimating their impact on cognitive status may help prevent dementia (PDD) and the design of cognitive trials. Methods: Using a standard approach for the assessment of global cognition in PD and controlling for the effects of age, education and disease duration, we explored the associations between cognitive status, comorbidities, metabolic variables and lifestyle variables in 533 PD participants from the COPPADIS study. Results: Among the overall sample, 21% of participants were classified as PD-MCI (n = 114) and 4% as PDD (n = 26). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia was significantly higher in cognitively impaired patients while no between-group differences were found for smoking, alcohol intake or use of supplementary vitamins. Better cognitive scores were significantly associated with regular physical exercise (p < 0.05) and cognitive stimulation (< 0.01). Cognitive performance was negatively associated with interleukin 2 (Il2) (p < 0.05), Il6 (p < 0.05), iron (p < 0.05), and homocysteine (p < 0.005) levels, and positively associated with vitamin B12 levels (p < 0.005). Conclusions: We extend previous findings regarding the positive and negative influence of various comorbidities and lifestyle factors on cognitive status in early PD patients, and reinforce the need to identify and treat potentially modifiable variables with the intention of exploring the possible improvement of the global cognitive status of patients with PD

Staging Parkinson’s Disease According to the MNCD (Motor/Non-motor/Cognition/Dependency) Classification Correlates with Disease Severity and Quality of Life

Background: Recently, a novel simple classification called MNCD, based on 4 axes (Motor; Non-motor; Cognition; Dependency) and 5 stages, has been proposed to classify Parkinson's disease (PD). Objective: Our aim was to apply the MNCD classification in a cohort of PD patients for the first time and also to analyze the correlation with quality of life (QoL) and disease severity. Methods: Data from the baseline visit of PD patients recruited from 35 centers in Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016 to November 2017 were used to apply the MNCD classification. Three instruments were used to assess QoL: 1) the 39-item Parkinson's disease Questionnaire [PDQ-39]); PQ-10; the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8). Results: Four hundred and thirty-nine PD patients (62.05 +/- 7.84 years old; 59% males) were included. MNCD stage was: stage 1, 8.4% (N = 37); stage 2, 62% (N = 272); stage 3, 28.2% (N = 124); stage 4-5, 1.4% (N = 6). A more advanced MNCD stage was associated with a higher score on the PDQ39SI (p < 0.0001) and a lower score on the PQ-10 (p < 0.0001) and EUROHIS-QOL8 (p < 0.0001). In many other aspects of the disease, such as disease duration, levodopa equivalent daily dose, motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and autonomy for activities of daily living, an association between the stage and severity was observed, with data indicating a progressive worsening related to disease progression throughout the proposed stages. Conclusion: Staging PD according to the MNCD classification correlated with QoL and disease severity. The MNCD could be a proper tool to monitor the progression of PD

Staging Parkinson's Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life.

Introduction: In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson's disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr's motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient's quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0-20; B: NMSS = 21-40; C: NMSS = 41-70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale. Results: A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (p < 0.0001). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (p < 0.005; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [n = 15] vs 2A [n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the HΨ Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden

Drivers of N2O Emissions from Natural Forests and Grasslands Differ in Space and Time

Understanding the drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is one of the most critical global environmental challenges to mitigate the increasing global temperature. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are highly variable in space and time and are controlled by multiple proximal drivers, that is, those that affect N2O emissions directly and in short timescales, and distal or indirect drivers that influence emissions over long timescales. Here we present a quantification of N2O emissions in grasslands and forests throughout the Pampas and the Semiarid Chaco in Argentina and reveal distal and proximal drivers, analyzing them in both spatial and temporal models. We measured N2O emissions, soil and climate variables monthly in nine sites over two years. Mean annual temperature and the following soil properties: phosphorous availability, carbon:nitrogen ratio, clay and sand percentages were the main distal drivers controlling N2O emissions in the spatial model, while among proximal drivers, only soil nitrate contents were positively related to N2O emissions. When considering the seasonal variability of N2O emissions (temporal model), we found that emissions were positively related to proximal drivers, such as soil nitrate and soil temperature. Our results show that soil N2O emission drivers differ between spatial and temporal models in natural grasslands and forests, explaining up to 85 and 56% of variations in N2O emissions, respectively. Temperature increased N2O emissions in both spatial and temporal models; therefore, future global warming may increase background emissions from natural ecosystems with important positive feedbacks on the earth system warming.Fil: Araujo, Patricia Inés. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piñeiro Guerra, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Yahdjian, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Acreche, Martin Moises. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Salta-Jujuy. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Cecilia Ines. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Córdoba. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Carina Rosa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Costantini, Alejandro Oscar. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Suelos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chalco Vera, Jorge Elías. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Salta-Jujuy. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; ArgentinaFil: De Tellería, J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Della Chiesa, Tomás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Climatología y Fenologías Agrícolas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Lewczuk, Nuria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Petrasek, Marcos René. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piccinetti, Carlos Fabián. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Picone, Liliana Inés. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Portela, Silvina Isabel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Posse, Graciela Raquel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Clima y Agua; ArgentinaFil: Seijo, M.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Videla, C.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Piñeiro, Gervasio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Ecología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentin

Staging Parkinson's Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life

Altres ajuts: Fundació La Marató De TV3In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson's disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr's motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient's quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage. Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0-20; B: NMSS = 21-40; C: NMSS = 41-70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale. A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (p < 0.0001). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (p < 0.005; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [ n = 15] vs 2A [ n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8; p < 0.0001). The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the H&Y. Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden

Staging Parkinson's disease according to the MNCD classification correlates with caregiver burden

Abstract Background and objective Recently, we demonstrated that staging Parkinson's disease (PD) with a novel simple classification called MNCD, based on four axes (motor, non‐motor, cognition, and dependency) and five stages, correlated with disease severity and patients’ quality of life. Here, we analyzed the correlation of MNCD staging with PD caregiver's status. Patients and methods Data from the baseline visit of PD patients and their principal caregiver recruited from 35 centers in Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016 to November 2017 were used to apply the MNCD total score (from 0 to 12) and MNCD stages (from 1 to 5) in this cross‐sectional analysis. Caregivers completed the Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZCBI), Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II), PQ‐10, and EUROHIS‐QOL 8‐item index (EUROHIS‐QOL8). Results Two hundred and twenty‐four PD patients (63 ± 9.6 years old; 61.2% males) and their caregivers (58.5 ± 12.1 years old; 67.9% females) were included. The frequency of MNCD stages was 1, 7.6%; 2, 58.9%; 3, 31.3%; and 4–5, 2.2%. A more advanced MNCD stage was associated with a higher score on the ZCBI (p < .0001) and CSI (p < .0001), and a lower score on the PQ‐10 (p = .001), but no significant differences were observed in the BDI‐II (p = .310) and EUROHIS‐QOL8 (p = .133). Moderate correlations were observed between the MNCD total score and the ZCBI (r = .496; p < .0001), CSI (r = .433; p < .0001), and BDI‐II (r = .306; p < .0001) in caregivers. Conclusion Staging PD according to the MNCD classification is correlated with caregivers’ strain and burden

Predictors of Loss of Functional Independence in Parkinson’s Disease: Results from the COPPADIS Cohort at 2-Year Follow-Up and Comparison with a Control Group

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to compare the progression of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients versus a control group, as well as to identify predictors of disability progression and functional dependency (FD). Patients and Methods: PD patients and control subjects, who were recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort between January 2016 and November 2017 (V0), were included. Patients and subjects were then evaluated again at the 2-year follow-up (V2). Disability was assessed with the Schwab &amp; England Activities of Daily Living Scale (S&amp;E-ADLS) at V0 and V2. FD was defined as an S&amp;E-ADLS score less than 80%. Results: In the PD group, a significant decrease in the S&amp;E-ADLS score from V0 to V2 (N = 507; from 88.58 ± 10.19 to 84.26 ± 13.38; p &lt; 0.0001; Cohen’s effect size = −0.519) was observed but not in controls (N = 124; from 98.87 ± 6.52 to 99.52 ± 2.15; p = 0.238). When only patients considered functional independent at baseline were included, 55 out of 463 (11.9%) converted to functional dependent at V2. To be a female (OR = 2.908; p = 0.009), have longer disease duration (OR = 1.152; p = 0.002), have a non-tremoric motor phenotype at baseline (OR = 3.574; p = 0.004), have a higher score at baseline in FOGQ (OR = 1.244; p &lt; 0.0001) and BDI-II (OR = 1.080; p = 0.008), have a lower score at baseline in PD-CRS (OR = 0.963; p = 0.008), and have a greater increase in the score from V0 to V2 in UPDRS-IV (OR = 1.168; p = 0.0.29), FOGQ (OR = 1.348; p &lt; 0.0001) and VAFS-Mental (OR = 1.177; p = 0.013) (adjusted R-squared 0.52; Hosmer and Lemeshow test = 0.94) were all found to be independent predictors of FD at V2. Conclusions: In conclusion, autonomy for ADL worsens in PD patients compared to controls. Cognitive impairment, gait problems, fatigue, depressive symptoms, more advanced disease, and a non-tremor phenotype are independent predictors of FD in the short-term