Minimal clinically important difference of the functional independence measure in older adults with hip fracture.

Purpose: To investigate the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) from a clinician's perspective in hip-fractured elderly undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.

Materials And Methods: Data of 701 hip-fractured elderly admitted to our rehabilitation institute were retrospectively collected. Ten hypotheses were formulated.

Effects of Aerobic Training in Patients with Subacute COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Many clinical practice recommendations indicate rehabilitation as essential for patients with sequelae of severe or critical COVID-19 and suggest the prompt initiation of a multicomponent rehabilitation program focused on aerobic and endurance training. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding aerobic exercise are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the addition of aerobic training to standard rehabilitation in subjects with subacute COVID-19.

Age Diversity Climate Affecting Individual-Level Work-Related Outcomes.

The present study answers the call for more studies to investigate the age diversity climate's effect on individual-level outcomes. Building on the social identity approach and social exchange theory, we surveyed 110 Italian employees aged between 18 and 61 years old ( = 46.10, = 10.

Rapid Review on COVID-19, Work-Related Aspects, and Age Differences.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the labor market and multiple aspects of work and workers' life. The present rapid review analyzes this impact considering the effects that COVID-19 pandemic had on employment and work-related aspects across different age groups. A comprehensive literature search was performed on scientific contributions published between 2019 and March 2021, resulting in 36 papers pertinent to the scope of this review.

Addition of aerobic training to conventional rehabilitation after hip fracture: a randomized, controlled, pilot feasibility study.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility and safety of aerobic training with an arm crank ergometer and its effectiveness in improving functional capacity and gait in patients with recent hip fracture.

Design: Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded pilot study, with intention-to-treat analysis.

Setting: Inpatients, rehabilitation department.

Viral dynamics among HCV infected patients with different genotypes treated with genotypic specific or pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral agent combinations.

Background: New hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapies have improved efficacy, allowed pangenotypic applications, increased barriers to drug resistance and shortened therapy duration.

Methods: Patients infected with different HCV genotypes were divided into two groups: group 1 included 169 patients receiving genotypic specific regimens (GSR), while group 2 included 186 patients receiving pan-genotypic regimens (PGR). Patient's HCV RNA was quantified and sequenced.

Maternal singing of lullabies during pregnancy and after birth: Effects on mother-infant bonding and on newborns' behaviour. Concurrent Cohort Study.

Background: Mother-infant bonding is of great importance for the development and the well-being of the baby. The aim of this Concurrent Cohort Study was to investigate the effects of mothers singing lullabies on bonding, newborns' behaviour and maternal stress.

Methods: Eighty-three (singing cohort) and 85 (concurrent cohort) women were recruited at antenatal classes at 24 weeks g.

Temperament and character traits associated with health-related quality of life in cancer patients.

Background: There is an increase in the attention to factors influencing the quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate temperament and character traits related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer.

Methods: Two hundred and three inpatients from three Italian oncology departments filled in the Temperament Character Inventory (TCI-140) based on Cloninger's personality model, the SF-36 questionnaire assessing HRQoL, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Assessment of psychological distress in cancer patients: a pivotal role for clinical interview.

Objective: The evaluation of psychological distress in cancer patients recently entered oncologic clinical practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of clinical interview within psycho-oncologic assessment.

Methods: Questionnaires assessing distress (PDI), psychopathology (MHQ, HADS) and needs (NEQ) and a subsequent clinical interview were proposed to 320 consecutive inpatients from the Oncology Department of Careggi Hospital in Florence.

Clinical impact of a new automated system employed for peripheral blood stem cell collection.

At the moment, PBSC collections can be performed using semi-automated or automated cell separator devices. The automated methods offer the advantages of a decreased working load for dedicated personnel and high standardization of the collection procedure. Herein we report our single institutional experience in 80 PBSC collections employing the new automated COM.

Immunomagnetic cell selection performed for HLA haploidentical transplants with the CliniMACS device: effect of additional platelet removal on CD34+ cell recovery.

Immunomagnetic CD34+ cell selection (ICS) is a widely employed technology in autotransplant and allotransplant settings. When an haploidentical transplant is performed, a high dose of purified CD34+ cells together with efficient T and B cell depletion are required to minimize the risks of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related lymphoma. To ameliorate the performances of the CliniMACS (Miltenyi Biotec) ICS device, we compared 73 ICS performed following the manufacturer's recommended platelet depletion versus 48 performed after adjunctive centrifugations to increase platelet depletion of the leukapheresis (LKF) product.

Impact of leukapheresis cell composition on immunomagnetic cell selection with the Baxter Isolex 300i device: a statistical analysis.

Immunomagnetic cell selection (ICS) of CD34(+) cells is increasingly adopted in allogeneic and autologous transplant settings. Because many variables can affect the final results of ICS, we focused our study toward the influence exerted by the leukapheresis (LKF) cell composition on recovery, purity, and log of T and B depletion of the immunoselected cells. A total of 39 consecutive CD34(+) ICS were performed with the Isolex 300i (Baxter) device on 39 LKF from 9 HLA haploidentical donors and 20 patients.

A new automated cell washer device for thawed cord blood units.

Background: The current available techniques to wash out DMSO from thawed umbilical cord blood (UCB) units are based essentially on standard centrifugation in an open system with various degrees of cell loss.

Study Design And Methods: We evaluated the capacity of a new automated closed device (Cytomate, Baxter, IL) to wash out the DMSO from thawed UCB units, saving at the same time the progenitor and accessory cells in terms of CD34+ cells and MNCs. We modified the standard software of the device and calculated the cell recovery on 25 UCB units.

Expression of p53, bcl-2 and ras oncoproteins and apoptosis levels in acute leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes.

We analysed by immunocytochemistry the expression of p53, bcl-2 and ras proteins in bone marrow blasts from 59 patients with acute leukaemia (AL), 36 myeloid (AML) and 23 lymphoid (ALL), and from 22 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS); our aim was to examine if abnormalities in their expression were associated with peculiar biological and clinical findings, or with an altered apoptosis rate, as measured by TUNEL technique. The oncoproteins were expressed with extreme variability, without significant differences among the various morphological or immunological AL subtypes. The mean percentages of bcl-2+ blasts were significantly higher in AML than in MDS (p = 0.