Exploring the Use of Intracranial and Extracranial (Remote) Photobiomodulation Devices in Parkinson's Disease: A Comparison of Direct and Indirect Systemic Stimulations.

In recent times, photobiomodulation has been shown to be beneficial in animal models of Parkinson's disease, improving locomotive behavior and being neuroprotective. Early observations in people with Parkinson's disease have been positive also, with improvements in the non-motor symptoms of the disease being evident most consistently. Although the precise mechanisms behind these improvements are not clear, two have been proposed: direct stimulation, where light reaches and acts directly on the distressed neurons, and remote stimulation, where light influences cells and/or molecules that provide systemic protection, thereby acting indirectly on distressed neurons.

"Buckets": Early Observations on the Use of Red and Infrared Light Helmets in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Parkinson's disease is a well-known neurological disorder with distinct motor signs and non-motor symptoms. We report on six patients with Parkinson's disease that used in-house built photobiomodulation (PBM) helmets. We used "buckets" lined with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of wavelengths across the red to near-infrared range (i.

Objective measurement in routine care of people with Parkinson's disease improves outcomes.

It is common in medicine to titrate therapy according to target ranges of objectively measured parameters. Objective measurement of motor function is available for Parkinson's Disease (PD), making it possible to optimise therapy and clinical outcomes. In this study, an accelerometry based measurement and predefined target ranges were used to assess motor function in a Northern Tasmania PD cohort managed by a Movement Disorder clinic.

Seasonal variation, hip fracture and vitamin D levels in Southern Tasmania.

Aims: To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in older patients admitted with a hip fracture and to look for seasonal variation in vitamin D levels and hip fracture in Southern Tasmania.

Methods: This was a case series of patients admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania with a hip fracture from July 1996-June 1997. Information was collected on demographic data, functional activity, associated medical disorders and drug history.

Adverse drug events as a cause of hospital admission in the elderly.

Background: Previous studies of adverse drug events (ADE) as a cause of hospital admission in the elderly have often been limited in their ability to assess fully the impact and potential for prevention because they either did not include all categories of ADE and/or did not assess severity and preventability.

Aims: To assess the frequency, severity and preventability of ADE causing emergency medical admissions in the elderly.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 219 patients aged 75 years and over who were consecutive unplanned admissions to acute medical units of the Royal Hobart Hospital in an 8-week period during August and September 1998.

Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism: clinical and biochemical associations in older non-institutionalised Southern Tasmanians.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and associations of vitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency in a sample of older Tasmanian subjects.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of: 109 patients with a mean age of 79 years (range 60-101 years) consecutively admitted to a short stay geriatric rehabilitation ward; 52 community dwelling subjects with a mean age of 75 years (range 64-88 years). Subjects answered a questionnaire, had anthropometric measurements and underwent venepuncture.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients from Western Australia with hip fracture: relationship to type of hip fracture, renal function, and vitamin D deficiency.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in Australian hip fracture patients living in the community.

Patients: A total of 283 consecutive patients with hip fracture admitted over a 15-month period to a university teaching hospital in Western Australia. Included were residents of hostels for the elderly, and excluded were nursing home residents and those with malignant fractures.

Use of patient restraints in four Australian teaching hospitals.

To examine the patterns of use of patient restraints in Australian hospitals and the level of adherence to accepted guidelines, we undertook a point-prevalence study in four teaching hospitals in three different States. This involved ward inspections and review of case notes. Overall, 51 (12.

The use of pamidronate in hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA).

Background: Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) secondary to bronchogenic carcinoma can be associated with severe, disabling pain which is not always responsive to conventional treatment.

Aim: To report on the use of pamidronate to control resistant pain in HPOA in three cases.

Methods: A retrospective review of reported pain, chest X-ray and radionuclide bone scans was made.

The effect of hemiplegia on blood pressure measurement in the elderly.

The blood pressure in both arms of 103 unselected hemiplegic patients was measured using a random-zero sphygmomanometer. Although for the whole sample the mean blood pressure in the paretic and unaffected arm was similar, a significant difference was found when the patients were subdivided according to the tone of the arm. The blood pressure was higher in paretic arms of patients with a spastic stroke and lower in the affected arm if the tone was flaccid.

Measuring blood pressure in the elderly: does atrial fibrillation increase observer variability?

Objective: To compare the interobserver and intraobserver variability of blood pressure measurements in geriatric patients in atrial fibrillation and in sinus rhythm.

Design: Prospective assessment of blood pressure measurements carried out in random order in two groups of elderly patients by five doctors unaware of the aims of the study.

Setting: Acute assessment wards for geriatric medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary.