Isokinetic strength of knee extension and flexion was measured at two speeds of movement in 23 patients with Parkinson’s disease, to clarify whether muscle weakness is inherent to the disease. To counteract normal variation among subjects, we selected patients with symptoms completely or largely confined to one side and compared sides for each patient. The affected side was weaker than the other in both slow and fast movements early in the disease. In more advanced disease, the difference between sides diminished at the slow speed but remained significant at the faster speed. These observations suggest that weakness is inherent to Parkinson’s disease and influenced by movement speed.

We measured isokinetic muscle strength of knee extension and flexion in 18 patients with Parkinson's disease who showed marked laterality in symptom severity and compared strength between the sides in the same patient. In all patient groups, the maximum peak torque of the more affected side was significantly less than for the less affected side at 15 revolutions per minute (r.p.m.) and 30 r.p.m. with the difference between the sides being larger at 30 r.p.m. than at 15 r.p.m., while at 5 r.p.m. there were no significant differences between sides. In the Yahr stage I group, the maximum peak torque in both extension and flexion at each velocity showed no significant difference between the sides. In contrast, in the stage II and III groups the maximum peak torque at 5 r.p.m. showed no significant difference between the sides, while at 15 r.p.m. and 30 r.p.m. these values showed a tendency and a significant difference between the sides, respectively, with the more affected side being weaker. These results suggest that muscle weakness in patients with Parkinson's disease increases with performance velocity, especially as the disease progresses.

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Abstract:A new genus and species of the Japanese Sarcophagidae, Papesarcophaga kisarazuensis gen. & sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Honshu, Japan. Practical keys to the Japanese 43 genera and 122 species are provided including this new species. A check list and data of specimens examined are also provided.

Abstract:A new species of the flesh fly, Papesarcophaga tainanensis sp. nov. from Tainan, Taiwan, is described and illustrated. Keys to the 32 genera of Sarcophagidae are provided to include this new species, and an updated check-list is provided.