ABSTRACT
Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is an intractable motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) that increases fall risk and impairs the quality of life. FOG has been associated with anxiety, with experimental support for the notion that anxiety itself provokes FOG. We investigated the effect of acute anxiety reduction via alprazolam on FOG in PD. Methods: In ten patients with PD, FOG, and normal cognition, we administered 0.25 mg alprazolam in one session and placebo in another, in counterbalanced order. At each session, on separate days, patients walked on a pressure-sensitive walkway. Using Oculus Rift virtual-reality goggles, patients walked along a plank that appeared to be (a) level with the floor, in the low-anxiety condition or (b) raised high above the ground, in the high-anxiety conditions. In this way, we assessed the impacts of anxiety and alprazolam (i.e., anxiety reduction) on FOG frequency and other gait parameters. Results: FOG events appeared only in the high-anxiety conditions. Alprazolam significantly reduced subjective and objective measures of anxiety, as well as the prevalence of FOG (p = 0.05). Furthermore, alprazolam improved swing time (p < 0.05) and gait variability in all conditions, particularly during the elevated plank trials. Interpretation. Our results suggest that (1) anxiety induces FOG, and (2) alprazolam concomitantly reduces anxiety and FOG. Alprazolam further improved gait stability (i.e., swing time and gait variability). These findings reveal that anxiety triggers FOG in PD. Treating anxiety can reduce FOG and improve gait stability, potentially offering new therapeutic avenues for this intractable and disabling symptom in PD.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Exomphalos major (EM) is associated with significant morbidity and even mortality with an important risk of long-term pulmonary disease. AIM: To assess the outcomes of exomphalos in a single tertiary pediatric unit and to identify prognostic factors for patients with respiratory insufficiency who still require ventilatory assistance at six months. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All infants admitted to our institution over a 10-year period (2005 to 2015) with exomphalos were retrospectively reviewed. EM was defined when the abdominal wall defect measured >= 5 cm and/or contained liver within the sac. Data were collected on patient demographics, prenatal course and imaging, birth information, immediate and long-term outcomes. Those with long-term respiratory insufficiency were identified as the primary outcome and reviewed to assess prognostic factors. A p value of ≤0.05 was regarded as significant. Data are quoted as median(range). RESULTS: A total of 46 infants were diagnosed with exomphalos during the study period, with most (n = 30, 65%) defined as exomphalos major. Respiratory complications occurred in 16 (35%) with 8 (50%) of these requiring long-term (≥6 months) mechanical ventilation and 5 (31%) required a tracheostomy. On univariate analysis, resuscitation at birth (p = 0.0004), birth weight <3000 g (p = 0.008), use of nitric oxide (p = 0.004), high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) (p = 0.001), pulmonary hypoplasia (p<0.0001) and pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with respiratory insufficiency. The strongest predictive model for ventilation support at six months was resuscitation at birth in combination with PH (OR = 1.57). Five infants (11%) died at 5(1-122) days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with EM, the presence of pulmonary hypertension along with resuscitation at birth are the most important prognostic factors for long-term respiratory insufficiency. Acknowledgement of these factors allows for better parental counselling regarding respiratory outcomes.
