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Geriatr Nurs 2020 Jun 3. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Neurobiology, Neurology and Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, No. 45 Changchun Street, Beijing 100053, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory for Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson Disease Center of Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China; Clinical Center for Parkinson's Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

In this study, we investigated the cross-sectional association of Self-perceived health (SPH) with frailty phenotype. A total of 4632 participants of the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging II (mean age 75.4 ± 6. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Apr 29;10(1):7268. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

GI Sciences, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, School of Medicine Sciences, University of Manchester and the Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK.

Post stroke dysphagia (PSD) is common and associated with poor outcome. The Dysphagia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS), which grades how severe dysphagia is based on fluid and diet modification and supervision requirements for feeding, is used for clinical research but has limited published validation information. Multiple approaches were taken to validate the DSRS, including concurrent- and predictive criterion validity, internal consistency, inter- and intra-rater reliability and sensitivity to change. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Mar 16;21(1):173. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis (OA) has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and physical function is one of the core domains where patients suffer. The Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) is a leading assessment tool for hand OA-related functional impairment. Our objective was to make a Japanese version of FIHOA (J-FIHOA) and validate it among Japanese hand OA patients. Read More

Acad Emerg Med 2020 Mar 9. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

From the, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC.

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is a common reason for patients to present to emergency departments (EDs). Our objective was to describe the associations between depressive symptoms, pain severity, and functional impairment up to 3 months after initial ED presentation for LBP.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis on an observational cohort of adult patients from a high-volume, urban ED. Read More

J Neurol 2020 Jun 13;267(6):1622-1631. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Department of Neurology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Objective: Observational study to evaluate the long-term motor and non-motor effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) on medically refractory dystonia.

Background: Dystonia is a chronic disease affecting mainly young patients with a regular life expectancy and lifelong need for therapy. Pallidal DBS is an established treatment for severe isolated dystonia but long-term data are sparse. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2020 Jan 31:1-18. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

1Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University QEII Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and.

Objective: Despite efforts toward achieving gender equality in clinical trial enrollment, females are often underrepresented, and gender-specific data analysis is often unavailable. Identifying and reducing gender bias in medical decision-making and outcome reporting may facilitate equitable healthcare delivery. Gender disparity in the utilization of surgical therapy has been exemplified in the orthopedic literature through studies of total joint arthroplasty. Read More

J Psychopharmacol 2020 Mar 8;34(3):280-292. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Pfizer Canada, Inc., Kirkland, QC, Canada.

Background: Major depressive disorder is characterized by the presence of at least five of nine specific symptoms that contribute to clinically significant functional impairment. This analysis examined the effect of desvenlafaxine (50 or 100 mg) versus placebo on symptom cluster scores and the association between early improvement in symptom clusters and symptomatic or functional remission at week 8.

Methods: Using data from nine double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of desvenlafaxine for the treatment of major depressive disorder (=4317), the effect of desvenlafaxine 50 or 100 mg versus placebo on scores for symptom clusters based on 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression items was assessed using analysis of covariance. Read More

Clin Gerontol 2020 Jul-Sep;43(4):411-419. Epub 2019 Dec 21.

Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco VA Medical Center , San Francisco, California, USA.

Objectives: Assess the relationship of cognitive impairment to disability, accounting for depression severity and frailty, among older adults with late-life depression (LLD).

Methods: Data were analyzed from 78 community-dwelling older adults with LLD and without dementia (age = 71.9; = 6. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 12 19;12:CD011742. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Taylor's University, School of Medicine, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as motor neuron disease (MND), is a fatal disease associated with rapidly progressive disability, for which no definitive treatment exists. Current treatment approaches largely focus on relieving symptoms to improve the quality of life of those affected. The therapeutic potential of cell-based therapies in ALS/MND has not been fully evaluated, given the paucity of high-quality clinical trials. Read More

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019 Oct 25;35(5):607-612. Epub 2019 Oct 25.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China.

Abstract: Gradation of Disability in Human Body Injuries （hereinafter referred to as Gradation） has been released and used since January 2017, and has become the most widely used standard in forensic science practice. This paper calculates and rates the visual system evaluation provisions of the current domestic disability evaluation criteria represented by the Gradation which used the methods of Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment （hereinafter referred to as GEPI） issued by American Medical Association （AMA）. Through comparing, a good correlation between the provisions in Gradation and whole person impairment rating index in GEPI was shown. Read More

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020 Mar 20;74(3):183-190. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Aim: Acupuncture has benefits in the rehabilitation of neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation plus body acupuncture (DCEAS+BA) in treating poststroke depression (PSD), functional disability, and cognitive deterioration.

Methods: In this assessor- and participant-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 91 stroke patients who initially had PSD were randomly assigned to either DCEAS+BA (n = 45) or minimum acupuncture stimulation as controls (n = 46) for three sessions per week over 8 consecutive weeks. Read More

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020 Apr;75(5):987-994

Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin.

Background: Use of anticholinergic medication is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and/or dementia. Despite this, the impact of continuing medication with anticholinergic properties in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is not clear.

Methods: Analysis of data from NILVAD, an 18-month randomized controlled trial of Nilvadipine in AD. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2019 Nov 19;36:101400. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Department of Rehabilitation, "Mons. L. Novarese" Hospital, Moncrivello (VC), Italy.

Background: The Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) has showed good psychometric properties in reports exploring its validity using Classical Test Theory methods. Findings from recent studies using Item Response Theory methods advance the idea that some aspects of the MSWS-12 does not fully comply with some requirements of sound measurement.

Research Question: The present study investigated whether the measurement properties of the Italian version of the MSWS-12 met the assumptions of the Rasch model. Read More

Health Technol Assess 2019 09;23(51):1-132

Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Background: Fractures of the distal femur are an increasingly common injury; the optimal management of these injuries remains controversial. The two interventions used in UK practice are intramedullary fixation, with a locked retrograde nail, and extramedullary fixation, with a fixed angle plate.

Objectives: This study assessed the feasibility of a definitive trial and included a process evaluation to understand the generalisability and likely success of a future trial. Read More

Disabil Health J 2020 01 5;13(1):100836. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1212, United States. Electronic address:

Background: The International Symbol of Access (ISA) is recognized world-wide for designating and identifying areas which are wheelchair accessible, however its meaning has evolved to include both restricted use and universal accessibility.

Objective: This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of the ISA in representing individuals of all impairment types.

Methods: A mixed-method survey was disseminated in the U. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2019 11 31;281:112547. Epub 2019 Aug 31.

Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States.

Hypersomnia is common in psychiatric disorders, yet there are few self-report measures that adequately characterize this sleep disturbance. The objective of this study was to validate the Hypersomnia Severity Index (HSI), a tool designed to measure severity, distress and impairment of hypersomnia in psychiatric populations. Psychometric properties were evaluated in an undergraduate Scale Development sample (N = 381) and two psychiatric Scale Validation samples: euthymic bipolar participants with a range of sleep complaints (N = 89), and unmedicated unipolar depressed participants (N = 21) meeting operational criteria for hypersomnolence disorder. Read More

Cardiovasc J Afr 2019 Aug 30;30:1-6. Epub 2019 Aug 30.

Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Centre of Angers, Angers Cedex Angers, France; UMR CNRS 6214, INSERM 1083, Mitovasc Institute, Angers, France. Email:

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing in low-income countries. Various questionnaires to estimate walking capacity in patients are available in multiple languages but they are not suitable for illiterate patients.

Objective: The walking estimated limitation stated by history (WELSH) tool aims at rating individual walking disability using only drawings and four items. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2020 01 26;101(1):95-105. Epub 2019 Aug 26.

Neurology, Public Health, Disability Unit Scientific Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of rehabilitation (physical and cognitive) treatments on the diagnosis severity and Disability Rating Scale (DRS) scores, adjusted for a number of potential confounders measured at baseline, in a large cohort of patients with disorders of consciousness across time.

Design And Setting: An observational, longitudinal (2 evaluations), multicenter project was made in 90 Italian centers.

Participants: Patients (N=364) with a diagnosis of disorders of consciousness. Read More

J Affect Disord 2019 11 30;258:172-178. Epub 2019 Jul 30.

Japan Medical Office, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Evidence is accumulating for the presence of cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The Prospective Epidemiological Research on Functioning Outcomes Related to Major Depressive Disorder in Japan (PERFORM-J) study is a 6-month, non-interventional, prospective, multicenter, epidemiological study. Using baseline data, the relationship between cognitive symptoms and psychosocial function was analyzed in Japanese patients with MDD. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 09 13;66:100-104. Epub 2019 Jul 13.

Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University, Turkey.

Introduction: Dual-task interference (DTI) leads to impairment of hand dexterity in Parkinson's disease (PD). The performance of activities of daily living (ADL) is negatively affected by dexterity in PD. However, the contribution of DTI to dexterity-related ADL disability remains unclear. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2019 08 29;30(3):511-522. Epub 2019 May 29.

SpineCare & Forensic Medicine, PLLC, 5610 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA.

Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States have a disability that affects major life activities. This article provides a brief historical perspective of disability determination, and revisits the conceptual foundation for understanding the current models of disablement and their general application to the major US disability systems and nuances thereof. The expectations placed on the physician-expert examiner and why the physiatrist is ideally equipped to function in this role are discussed. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2019 15;10:321. Epub 2019 May 15.

Institute of Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China.

Stigma of major depressive disorder (MDD) is an important public health problem. This study aimed to examine the level of perceived stigma and its associated factors in MDD patients in five Asian countries, including China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. A total of 547 outpatients with MDD were included from Asian countries. Read More

Front Neurosci 2019 10;13:440. Epub 2019 May 10.

Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," Milan, Italy.

Objective: The notion that cerebellar pathology may contribute to cognitive impairment in ALS, especially in patients with C9orf72 repeated expansion, has been inconsistently reported. This study aimed exploring the relationship between cerebellar involvement, cognitive impairment and C9orf72 repeated expansion of patients with ALS.

Methods: Quantitative assessment of cerebellar lobules has been investigated in 66 non-demented patients with ALS and 28 healthy controls (HCs). Read More

Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2019 05;77(4):248-253

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Belo Horizonte MG, Brasil.

Introduction: Fatigue is one of the most frequent and disabling symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). Central, psychological, and peripheral factors may contribute to the occurrence of fatigue.

Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate potential fatigue determinants in patients with relapsing-remitting MS with a low functional impairment. Read More

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2019 Apr-Jun;33(2):147-153

Division of Neurology, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Center and the Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's disease, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to investigate 4 methods of eliciting subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients without dementia and determine the relationship between their SCC and cognitive performance.

Design: This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Setting: Six North American movement disorder clinics. Read More

Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2019 06 19;41:36-42. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Duke Clinical Research Institute and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, 200 Morris Street, Durham NC 27701, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy (PIPT) aims to identify individuals at high risk for transitioning to chronicity and merge impairment-focused physical therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy principles. Treatment monitoring is an important part of PIPT and involves identifying changes in clinical measures to inform clinical decision making.

Objectives: The purpose of this case series is to describe treatment monitoring using psychological and physical impairment measures for patients identified as 'high-risk' for persistent low back pain (LBP) related disability. Read More

Can J Occup Ther 2019 Apr 12;86(2):87-94. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Background.: Late stroke rehabilitation interventions often target impairment with limited carryover to daily occupation.

Purpose. Read More