[Purpose] To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of adapted low intensity ergometer
aerobic training for early and severely impaired stroke survivors. [Subjects] The subjects
were forty-eight early stroke survivors. [Methods] Eligible subjects were recruited and
randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Both groups participated
in comprehensive rehabilitation training. Low intensity aerobic training was only
performed by the experimental group. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer motor score,
Barthel index, exercise test time, peak heart rate, plasma glucose level and serum lipid
profiles. [Results] Patients in the experimental group finished 88.6% of the total aerobic
training sessions prescribed. In compliant participants (adherence≥80%), aerobic training
significantly improved the Barthel index (from 40.1±21.1 to 79.2±14.2), Fugl-Meyer motor
score (from 26.4±19.4 to 45.4±12.7), exercise test time (from 12.2±3.62 min to
13.9±3.6 min), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.22±1.16 mmol/L to 7.21±1.36 mmol/L) and
homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (from 1.72±1.01 to
1.28±0.88). [Conclusion] Preliminary findings suggest that early and severely impaired
stroke patients may benefit from low intensity ergometer aerobic training.
Mitochondrial autophagy (Mitophagy), the specific autophagic elimination of mitochondria, has been related with several forms of degenerative disease and mitochondrial dysfunction. It is involved in multiple cellular processes. In addition to one of its established key roles in the maintenance of normal cellular phenotype and function, there is growing interest in the concept that targeted modulation of mitophagy may reduce cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Induction of mitophagy results in selective clearance of damaged mitochondria in cells. In response to stress such as ischaemia/reperfusion, prosurvival and prodeath pathways are concomitantly activated in neuronal cells.
OBJECTIVE:We examined the demographic and clinical profiles of Parkinson's disease in Shanghai, China, to assist in disease management and provide comparative data on Parkinson's disease prevalence, phenotype, and progression among different regions and ethnic groups.METHODS:A door-to-door survey and follow-up clinical examinations identified 180 community-dwelling Han-Chinese Parkinson's disease patients (104 males, 76 females).RESULTS:The average age at onset was 65.16±9.60 years. The most common initial symptom was tremor (112 patients, 62.22%), followed by rigidity (38, 21.11%), bradykinesia (28, 15.56%) and tremor plus rigidity (2, 1.11%). Tremor as the initial symptom usually began in a single limb (83.04% of patients). The average duration from onset to mild Parkinson's disease (Hoehn-Yahr phase 1–2) was 52.74±45.64 months. Progression from mild to moderate/severe Parkinson's disease (phase≥3) was significantly slower (87.07±58.72 months; p<0.001), except for patients presenting initially with bradykinesia (53.83±24.49 months). Most patients (149/180, 82.78%) took levodopa with or without other drugs. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale revealed symptoms of clinical anxiety in 35 patients, and the Hamilton Depression Scale revealed depressive symptoms in 88 patients. The depressed or anxious subgroup (123 patients) demonstrated a significantly younger age at onset (55.54±7.68 years) compared with the overall mean (p<0.05).CONCLUSION:Unilateral limb tremor was the most common initial symptom, and motor function deteriorated slowly over ≈4−9 years. Earlier-onset patients experience greater psychiatric dysfunction.
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