The Effect of Etidronate Disodium on Rat's Bone and Soft Tissue

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of etidronate disodium on bone and soft tissue, especially on bone mineral density, and mucosal changes of the aorta and esophagus. METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 separate groups: one with etidronate disodium and one without etidronate disodium. Bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar vertebrae, femur, and a simple X-ray of the whole body were obtained. The abdominal aorta and esophagus were assessed histopathologically in post treatment. RESULTS: In post treatment for 12 weeks, the extent of decrease in BMD of the group with etidronate disodium was less than that of the group without etidronate disodium (p<0.05). There was no evidence of aorta and heart valve calcification in the simple X-ray, nor was there intima-media thickening, atheroma formation and calcification in aorta and esophageal irritation findings in pathologic examinations in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that etidronate disodium had an inhibitory effect on bone mineral loss and had the esophageal tolerability and safety, but no difference in aorta calcification and antiarthrogenic effects, including aorta wall thickness in this study.

Evaluation of Exercise Efficiency with Change in Oxygen Uptake and Work Rate in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate exercise capacity of subacute stroke patients with nonambulatory exercise stress test and to determine whether reduced exercise efficiency is associated with functional performance. METHOD: Experimental design was prospective and observational study. Eighteen patients with moderate to severe impairment after recent stroke performed exercise stress test by repeated knee flexion and extension exercise using isokinetic dynamometer. Work rate, oxygen consumption, heart rate were assessed during exercise stress test. The dynamic response, the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate, was measured for correlation with FIM (Functional Independence Measure) scores. Occupational therapist recorded FIM scores on the day of transfer to inpatient rehabilitation unit and on discharge. Age-matched healthy group also performed exercise stress test in same settings. RESULTS: The patients group who had similar dynamic response with age-matched healthy group showed higher FIM scores than the patients group having higher dynamic response. CONCLUSION: Nonambulatory exercise stress test could be effectively used in subacute stroke patients and the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate was a useful variable to reveal low exercise efficiency in subacute stroke patients who had a abnormal skeletal muscle metabolic capacity.