ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to quantitatively compare the effects, on walking performance, of end-effector robotic rehabilitation locomotor training versus intensive training with a treadmill in Parkinson's disease (PD). Fifty patients with PD were randomly divided into two groups: 25 were assigned to the robot-assisted therapy group (RG) and 25 to the intensive treadmill therapy group (IG). They were evaluated with clinical examination and 3D quantitative gait analysis [gait profile score (GPS) and its constituent gait variable scores (GVSs) were calculated from gait analysis data] at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T1) of the treatment. In the RG no differences were found in the GPS, but there were significant improvements in some GVSs (Pelvic Obl and Hip Ab-Add). The IG showed no statistically significant changes in either GPS or GVSs. The end-effector robotic rehabilitation locomotor training improved gait kinematics and seems to be effective for rehabilitation in patients with mild PD.
Subject(s)
Biomechanical Phenomena/physiology , Exercise Therapy/methods , Parkinson Disease/physiopathology , Parkinson Disease/rehabilitation , Robotics/methods , Aged , Female , Gait/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment Outcome , Walking/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The gait of healthy elderly and of subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) displays some common features, suggesting that PD may be a model of ageing. AIM: The aim of the study was to quantify highlight the differences and similarities between the gait patterns of young PD and healthy elderly, to uncover if PD could be assumed as a model of ageing. DESIGN: An optoelectronic system was used for 3D gait analysis evaluation. POPULATION AND METHODS: We compared the gait parameters of 15 young PD (YPD) with the gait of 32 healthy elderly subjects (ES) and 21 healthy subjects age-matched with the PD subjects. RESULTS. Common features between YPD and ES were majorly found in the parameters that reflect the presence of an unstable, uncertain gait, and of corrective strategies employed to reduce instability. On the other side, typical features were present in the gait patterns of PD subjects. CONCLUSION. Our study helped identifying some typical characteristics of the onset disease, and to unravel the symptoms of ageing from those of PD by comparing young PD subjects to elderly healthy subjects. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: This allows a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the gait in ageing and PD.
Subject(s)
Aging , Gait Disorders, Neurologic/physiopathology , Parkinson Disease/physiopathology , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Disability Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/secondary , Dysgerminoma/diagnosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Seminiferous Tubules , Testicular Neoplasms/secondary , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Seminiferous Tubules/pathology , Testicular Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Clinical, pathologic, and ultrastructural features of two cases of adult nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumor) are presented, one in a 77-year-old man who had a large tumor with extracapsular extension and blood vessel invasion. Histologically, it consisted mainly of blastema. The patient died during the first course of postoperative chemotherapy with dactinomycin. The second patient was a 47-year-old woman with a tumor limited to the renal parenchyma. Histologically, the tumor was mainly epithelial. This tumor was discovered incidentally and remained unchanged for 5 years before surgery. The patient underwent nephrectomy and refused further treatment. She was free of disease 2 years after surgery.
