239 research outputs found

    Maintaining Oral Health with Parkinson’s disease and Arthritis.

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    PosterObjective: The objective of this case presentation is to discuss the modifications of dental care for a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Background: A 72 year old Caucasian male presented to the dental hygiene clinic for a periodontal maintenance appointment. Significant findings in the medical history include current treatment of Parkinson’s disease, arthritis in the hands and feet, and medications Omeprazole, Fluoxetine, Gemfibrozil, Gabapentin, Levodopa, and Clonazepam. Assessment: Patient presents with generalized moderate plaque induced gingivitis evidenced by reddish-pink gingiva, 60% BOP, bulbous, spongy papillae. Clinically the patient presented with generalized 4-8mm clinical attachment levels. Radiographically, the patient presented with generalized mild to moderate bone loss evidenced by 3-5mm from the CEJ. The primary contributing factor to the gingival inflammation was the plaque score of 97%. The patient struggles with oral hygiene due to his Parkinson’s disease and arthritis in hands. DH Care Plan: patient received full mouth debridement, instruction on a modified floss holder with clay, product recommendations of xylitol gum and toothpaste to reduce xerostomia. Results: Oral health indicators from previous appointments showed minimal or no improvements due to the patient’s medical condition. Conclusions: Since last recall a few sites had improved including probing depths by 1-2mm. Patient was referred to a comprehensive care clinic for extraction of tooth number four, and an implant is treatment planned for replacement. It is recommended that the patient continue on 3 month intervals to monitor his oral health status and identify dental disease earl

    Sensorimotor speech disorders in Parkinson's disease: Programming and execution deficits.

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    Introduction: Dysfunction in the basal ganglia circuits is a determining factor in the physiopathology of the classic signs of Parkinson's disease (PD) and hypokinetic dysarthria is commonly related to PD. Regarding speech disorders associated with PD, the latest four-level framework of speech complicates the traditional view of dysarthria as a motor execution disorder. Based on findings that dysfunctions in basal ganglia can cause speech disorders, and on the premise that the speech deficits seen in PD are not related to an execution motor disorder alone but also to a disorder at the motor programming level, the main objective of this study was to investigate the presence of sensorimotor disorders of programming (besides the execution disorders previously described) in PD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 60 adults matched for gender, age and education: 30 adult patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD (PDG) and 30 healthy adults (CG). All types of articulation errors were reanalyzed to investigate the nature of these errors. Interjections, hesitations and repetitions of words or sentences (during discourse) were considered typical disfluencies; blocking, episodes of palilalia (words or syllables) were analyzed as atypical disfluencies. We analysed features including successive self-initiated trial, phoneme distortions, self-correction, repetition of sounds and syllables, prolonged movement transitions, additions or omissions of sounds and syllables, in order to identify programming and/or execution failures. Orofacial agility was also investigated. Results: The PDG had worse performance on all sensorimotor speech tasks. All PD patients had hypokinetic dysarthria. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics found suggest both execution and programming sensorimotor speech disorders in PD patients

    Education associated with a delayed onset of terminal decline

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    Background: the terminal decline hypothesis suggests an acceleration in the rate of loss of cognitive function before death. Evidence about the association of educational attainment and the onset of terminal decline is scarce. Objective: to investigate the association of education with the onset of terminal decline in global cognitive function measured by Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores. Subjects: deceased participants of the Cambridge City over 75 Cohort Study who were interviewed at about 2, 7, 9, 13, 17 and 21 years after baseline. Methods: regular and Tobit random change point growth models were fitted to MMSE scores to identify the onset of terminal decline and assess the effect of education on this onset. Results: people who left school at an older age had a delayed onset of terminal decline. Thus better educated individuals experience a slightly shorter period of faster decline before death. Conclusion: an important finding emerging from our work is that education does appear to delay the onset of terminal decline, although only by a limited amount

    Metaflammasome components in the human brain: a role in dementia with alzheimer's pathology?

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    Epidemiological and genetic studies have identified metabolic disorders and inflammation as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evidence in obesity and type-2 diabetes suggests a role for a metabolic inflammasome (“metaflammasome”) in mediating chronic inflammation in peripheral organs implicating IKKβ (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta), IRS1 (insulin receptor substrate 1), JNK (c-jun N-terminal kinase), and PKR (double-stranded RNA protein kinase). We hypothesized that these proteins are expressed in the brain in response to metabolic risk factors in AD. Neocortex from 299 participants from the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies was analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the phosphorylated (active) form of IKKβ [pSer176/180], IRS1 [pS312], JNK [pThr183/Tyr185] and PKR [pT451]. The data were analyzed to investigate whether the proteins were expressed together and in relation with metabolic disorders, dementia, Alzheimer's pathology and APOE genotype. We observed a change from a positive to a negative association between the proteins and hypertension according to the dementia status. Type-2 diabetes was negatively related with the proteins among participants without dementia; whereas participants with dementia and AD pathology showed a positive association with JNK. A significant association between IKKβ and JNK in participants with dementia and AD pathology was observed, but not in those without dementia. Otherwise, weak to moderate associations were observed among the protein loads. The presence of dementia was significantly associated with JNK and negatively associated with IKKβ and IRS1. Cognitive scores showed a significant positive relationship with IKKβ and a negative with IRS1, JNK and PKR. The proteins were significantly associated with pathology in Alzheimer's participants with the relationship being inverse or not significant in participants without dementia. Expression of the proteins was not related to APOE genotype. These findings highlight a role for these proteins in AD pathophysiology but not necessarily as a complex

    The effects of daily cold-water recovery and postexercise hot-water immersion on training-load tolerance during 5 days of heat-based training

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    PURPOSE: To examine the effects of daily cold- and hot-water recovery on training load (TL) during 5 days of heat-based training. METHODS: Eight men completed 5 days of cycle training for 60 minutes (50% peak power output) in 4 different conditions in a block counter-balanced-order design. Three conditions were completed in the heat (35°C) and 1 in a thermoneutral environment (24°C; CON). Each day after cycling, participants completed 20 minutes of seated rest (CON and heat training [HT]) or cold- (14°C; HTCWI) or hot-water (39°C; HTHWI) immersion. Heart rate, rectal temperature, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected during cycling. Session-RPE was collected 10 minutes after recovery for the determination of session-RPE TL. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression in a Bayesian framework; Cohen d was calculated, and for session-RPE TL, the probability that d > 0.5 was also computed. RESULTS: There was evidence that session-RPE TL was increased in HTCWI (d = 2.90) and HTHWI (d = 2.38) compared with HT. The probabilities that d > 0.5 were .99 and .96, respectively. The higher session-RPE TL observed in HTCWI coincided with a greater cardiovascular (d = 2.29) and thermoregulatory (d = 2.68) response during cycling than in HT. This result was not observed for HTHWI. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that cold-water recovery may negatively affect TL during 5 days of heat-based training, hot-water recovery could increase session-RPE TL, and the session-RPE method can detect environmental temperature-mediated increases in TL in the context of this study.</p

    Microinfarcts in an older population-representative brain donor cohort (MRC CFAS): Prevalence, relation to dementia and mobility, and implications for the evaluation of cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

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    INTRODUCTION: Microinfarcts, small ischaemic foci common in ageing brain, are associated with dementia and gait dysfunction. We determined their relationship with dementia, mobility and cerebrovascular disease in an older population-representative brain donor cohort. These data on microinfarcts were evaluated in relation to pathological assessments of clinically significant cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). METHODS: Microinfarcts were assessed in the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (n = 331). Nine brain areas were staged according to the number of areas affected. RESULTS: 36% of brains showed at least 1 microinfarct. Higher cortical microinfarct stage was associated with dementia at death (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02; 1.96, P = 0.038), whilst cortical and subcortical microinfarct stages were associated with impaired mobility (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.74; P 0.018) and falls (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.11-3.43; P = 0.02). Adding data on microinfarcts to a definition of SVD, based on white matter lesions (WMLs), lacunes and significant arteriosclerosis, were assessed by comparing area under ROC curve (AUC) with and without microinfarcts. SVD was significantly related to dementia status with or without inclusion of microinfarcts. Modelling potential pathological definitions of SVD to predict dementia or impaired mobility indicated optimal prediction using combined assessment of WMLs, lacunes and microinfarcts. CONCLUSION: Cortical (dementia) and subcortical microinfarcts (impaired mobility) are related to diverse clinical outcomes. Optimal pathological assessment of significant SVD in brain ageing is achieved based on WMLs, lacunes and microinfarcts and may not require subjective assessment of the extent and severity of arteriosclerosis

    Functionalising carbon nanotubes

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    The impact of environmental temperature deception on perceived exertion during fixed-intensity exercise in the heat in trained-cyclists

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    Purpose This study examined the effect of environmental temperature deception on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during 30 min of fixed-intensity cycling in the heat. Methods Eleven trained male cyclists completed an incremental cycling test and four experimental trials. Trials consisted of 30 min cycling at 50% Pmax, once in 24 °C (CON) and three times in 33 °C. In the hot trials, participants were provided with accurate temperature feedback (HOT), or were deceived to believe the temperature was 28 °C (DECLOW) or 38 °C (DECHIGH). During cycling, RPE was recorded every 5 min. Rectal and skin temperature, heart rate and oxygen uptake were continuously measured. Data were analysed using linear mixed model methods in a Bayesian framework, magnitude-based inferences (Cohens d), and the probability that d exceeded the smallest worthwhile change. Results RPE was higher in the heat compared to CON, but not statistically different between the hot conditions (mean [95% credible interval]; DECLOW: 13.0 [11.9, 14.1]; HOT: 13.0 [11.9, 14.1]; DECHIGH: 13.1 [12.0, 14.2]). Heart rate was significantly higher in DECHIGH (141 b·min−1 [132, 149]) compared to all other conditions (DECLOW: 138 b·min−1 [129, 146]; HOT: 138 b·min−1 [129, 145]) after 10 min; however, this did not alter RPE. All other physiological variables did not differ between the hot conditions. Conclusion Participants were under the impression they were cycling in different environments; however, this did not influence RPE. These data suggest that for trained cyclists, an awareness of environmental temperature does not contribute to the generation of RPE when exercising at a fixed intensity in the heat

    Neuropsychological profiles of vascular disease and risk of dementia: implications for defining vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCI-ND)

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    Background\textbf{Background} vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCI-ND) defines a preclinical phase of cognitive decline associated with vascular disorders. The neuropsychological profile of VCI-ND may vary according to different vascular conditions. Objective\textbf{Objective} to determine the neuropsychological profile of individuals with no dementia and vascular disorders, including hypertension, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes and stroke. Risk of 2-year incident dementia in individuals with disease and cognitive impairment was also tested. Methods\textbf{Methods} participants were from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study. At baseline, 13,004 individuals aged ≥65 years were enrolled into the study. Individuals were grouped by baseline disorder status (present, absent) for each condition. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Dementia was assessed at 2 years. Results\textbf{Results} in the cross-sectional analysis, hypertension, PVD and CHD were not associated with cognitive impairment. Stroke was associated with impaired global (MMSE) and CAMCOG sub-scale (including memory and non-memory) scores. Diabetes was associated with impairments in global cognitive function (MMSE) and abstract thinking. In the longitudinal analysis, cognitive impairments were associated with incident dementia in all groups. Conclusion\textbf{Conclusion} the neuropsychological profile in individuals with vascular disorders depends on the specific condition investigated. In all conditions cognitive impairment is a risk factor for dementia. A better understanding of which cognitive domains are affected in different disease groups could help improve operationalisation of the neuropsychological criteria for VCI-ND and could also aid with the development of dementia risk prediction models in persons with vascular disease.MRC CFAS has been funded by the Medical Research Council (G9901400) and Department of Health

    Core temperature responses to cold-water immersion recovery: A pooled-data analysis

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    © 2018 Human Kinetics, Inc. Purpose: To examine the effect of postexercise cold-water immersion (CWI) protocols, compared with control (CON), on the magnitude and time course of core temperature (Tc) responses. Methods: Pooled-data analyses were used to examine the Tc responses of 157 subjects from previous postexercise CWI trials in the authors’ laboratories. CWI protocols varied with different combinations of temperature, duration, immersion depth, and mode (continuous vs intermittent). Tc was examined as a double difference (ΔΔTc), calculated as the change in Tc in CWI condition minus the corresponding change in CON. The effect of CWI on ΔΔTc was assessed using separate linear mixed models across 2 time components (component 1, immersion; component 2, postintervention). Results: Intermittent CWI resulted in a mean decrease in ΔΔTc that was 0.25°C (0.10°C) (estimate [SE]) greater than continuous CWI during the immersion component (P = .02). There was a significant effect of CWI temperature during the immersion component (P = .05), where reductions in water temperature of 1°C resulted in decreases in ΔΔTc of 0.03°C (0.01°C). Similarly, the effect of CWI duration was significant during the immersion component (P = .01), where every 1 min of immersion resulted in a decrease in ΔΔTc of 0.02°C (0.01°C). The peak difference in Tc between the CWI and CON interventions during the postimmersion component occurred at 60 min postintervention. Conclusions: Variations in CWI mode, duration, and temperature may have a significant effect on the extent of change in Tc. Careful consideration should be given to determine the optimal amount of core cooling before deciding which combination of protocol factors to prescribe
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