Computerized Analysis of Postural Instability in Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using computerized posturography. METHOD: Twenty subjects with PD group (10 men, 10 women) and 20 control group (10 men, 10 women) were matched for age and sex. Average Hoehn-Yahr stage of PD group was 2.3+/-0.3. Sensory dysfunction, voluntary motor impairments and functional limitation were measured by determining the subject's response to reduced or altered sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. RESULTS: PD subjects demonstrated wider area of sway (degrees) under eye closed condition in modified sensory organization test and lower directional control (%) in right/left rhythmic weight shift (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed for sit to stand. Wider area of turn sway (degrees) and longer turn time (sec) during left step/quick turn were demonstrated in PD subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Computerized posturography shows that sensory dysfunction scores, voluntary motor impairment scores and functional limitation test scores were reduced in patients with PD.

The Prevalence of Anemia in Recreational Runner

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in the long distance runners. METHOD: Subjects included 61 long distance runners and 40 control. The 61 subjects averaged 39.9+/-4.5 years of age. Long distance runners has been training for at least 6 months. Hemoglobin, iron, total iron binding capacity, reticulocyte count, peripheral blood smear, urine hemosiderin were evaluated. WHO criteria cut off value of hemoglobin for the diagnosis of anemia was used, 13 g/dl in men and 12 g/dl in women. Iron deficiency was defined as the percent transferrin saturation less than 15. The percent transferrin saturation was calculated by dividing the serum iron level by the total iron-binding capacity. RESULTS: Anemia occurred in only 2.0% and 9.0% of the male and female long distance runners respectively and other laboratory findings supported diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. The percentage of iron deficiency anemia was lower than normal control. Iron deficiency was evident in 6.0% and 18.1% of the male and female long distance runners respectively. CONCLUSION: Recreational long distance runners were at no greater risk for developing a frank anemia than the non-exercising population.