Multicentre registry of brain-injured patients with disorder of consciousness: rationale and preliminary data.

Diagnostic accuracy and reliable estimation of clinical evolution are challenging issues in the management of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). Longitudinal systematic investigations conducted in large cohorts of patients with DoC could make it possible to identify reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers. On the basis of this consideration, we devised a multicentre prospective registry for patients with DoC admitted to ten intensive rehabilitation units.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Functional Outcome After Stroke Rehabilitation: The Maugeri Model.

Background And Purpose: Prediction of outcome after stroke rehabilitation may help clinicians in decision-making and planning rehabilitation care. We developed and validated a predictive tool to estimate the probability of achieving improvement in physical functioning (model 1) and a level of independence requiring no more than supervision (model 2) after stroke rehabilitation.

Methods: The models were derived from 717 patients admitted for stroke rehabilitation.

Supplementation of essential amino acids may reduce the occurrence of infections in rehabilitation patients with brain injury.

Background: To investigate whether supplementation with oral essential amino acids (EAAs) may reduce the occurrence of nosocomial infection among patients with brain injury (BI: stroke, trauma, anoxic coma).

Methods: Patients (n = 125; 77 men, 48 women; mean age 63 ± 15 years) with stroke (68.8%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (17.

Urodynamic findings suggesting two-stage development of idiopathic detrusor underactivity in adult men.

Objectives: To assess the evolution of bladder voiding dynamics from the onset of symptoms to the final diagnosis of idiopathic detrusor underactivity (DUA) in men with storage and voiding lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and otherwise normal clinical findings.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the urodynamic findings in two patient groups of 25 men each. Group A, with storage and voiding LUTS and otherwise normal clinical findings, had an inconclusive urodynamic test at time 1 and were re-assessed after a mean (+/- SD) of 17 +/- 5 months for worsened symptom severity (time 2).

In situ demonstration of improvement of liver mitochondria function by melatonin after cold ischemia.

In a previous investigation, reperfusion with a melatonin-containing medium was demonstrated to enhance bile production and tissue ATP levels in rat livers, cold-preserved with University of Wisconsin (UW) or Celsior solutions, with respect to melatonin-free reperfusion; lipid peroxidation products in the perfusate were not influenced by the indole. This was ascribed to an increased efficiency of the hepatocyte mitochondria induced by melatonin. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) normally leak from the electron transfer chain in mitochondria and excessive ROS production is presumed to mediate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damage.