Translation of the Fugl-Meyer assessment into Romanian: Transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations and clinical validation.

Purpose: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, which is widely used and highly recommended, is an appropriate tool for evaluating poststroke sensorimotor and other possible somatic deficits. It is also well-suited for capturing a dynamic rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to first translate the entire sensorimotor FMA scale into Romanian using the transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations of its official afferent protocols and to validate it using the preliminary clinical evaluation of inter- and intra-rater reliability and relevant concurrent validity.

Physical Therapy and Nusinersen Impact on Spinal Muscular Atrophy Rehabilitative Outcome.

Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurological disease with autosomal recessive transmission that affects motor neurons, causing their loss and resulting in muscle waste and motor deficiency. Nusinersen, the first SMN2 pre-mRNA targeted therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, has demonstrated high efficacy in improving motor function, as well as respiratory and nutritional statuses.

Materials And Methods: We observed 55 patients (children/adolescents) diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), who received nusinersen therapy.

Cellular and Molecular Targets for Non-Invasive, Non-Pharmacological Therapeutic/Rehabilitative Interventions in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Cerebral circulation delivers the blood flow to the brain through a dedicated network of sanguine vessels. A healthy human brain can regulate cerebral blood flow (CBF) according to any physiological or pathological challenges. The brain is protected by its self-regulatory mechanisms, which are dependent on neuronal and support cellular populations, including endothelial ones, as well as metabolic, and even myogenic factors.

Non-invasive, non-pharmacological/bio-technological interventions towards neurorestoration upshot after ischemic stroke, in adults-systematic, synthetic, literature review.

Considering its marked life-threatening and (not seldom: severe and/or permanent) disabling, potential, plus the overall medico-psycho-socio-economic tough burden it represents for the affected persons, their families and the community, the cerebrovascular accident (CVA)-including with the, by far more frequent, ischemic type-is subject to considerable scientific research efforts that aim (if possible) at eliminating the stroke induced lesions, and consist, as well, in ambitious-but still poorly transferable into medical practice-goals such as brain neuroregeneration and/or repair, within related corollary/upshot of neurorestoration. We have conducted, in this respect, a systematic and synthetic literature review, following the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)" concept. Accordingly, we have interrogated five internationally renowned medical data bases: Elsevier, NCBI/PubMed, NCBI/PMC, PEDro, and ISI Web of Knowledge/Science (the last one to check whether the initially identified articles are published in ISI indexed journals), based on a large (details in the body text) number of most appropriate, to our knowledge, key word combinations/"syntaxes"-used contextually-and subsequently fulfilling the related, on five steps, filtering/selection methodology.

Modulated Neuroprotection in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: We aimed to assess the effects of modulated neuroprotection with intermittent administration in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 60 patients divided into two groups, with and without neuroprotective treatment with Actovegin, Cerebrolysin, pyritinol, L-phosphothreonine, L-glutamine, hydroxocobalamin, alpha-lipoic acid, carotene, DL-α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, Q 10 coenzyme, and L-carnitine alongside standard treatment.

Main Outcome Measures: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) after TBI, Extended Glasgow Coma Scale (GOS E), Disability Rankin Scale (DRS), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), all assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TBI.

Motor demyelinating tibial neuropathy in COVID-19.

Ten patients suffering from residual symptoms after the resolution of COVID-19, which manifested as fatigue in the lower limbs, have been submitted to nerve conduction studies. Motor demyelinating neuropathy features mainly of the tibial nerves but also the peroneal, median, and ulnar nerves were objectified. These findings might be considered as new neurological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy versus Ultrasound Therapy in Adult Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shockwave and ultrasound therapies in adult patients with idiopathic scoliosis in terms of pain, disability, and quality of life.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into three groups of 16: shockwave, ultrasound, and control. The patients were evaluated at admission (day one) and at discharge (day 14) for pain, by using the visual analogue scale; for disability, by using the Oswestry disability index; and for the quality of life, with short form-36.

Nerve conduction study and electromyography findings in patients recovering from Covid-19 - Case report.

• Three patients with recent sequelae after Corona Virus Disease (COVID)-19 such as fatigue and myalgia of both calves underwent electrophysiological examinations, nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG). NCS shows, as common elements, the presence of a partial or complete conduction block on several nerves, slightly prolonged latency of the tibial nerve, and rare or absent F-waves, all suggesting a demyelinating polyneuropathy due to SARS−COV-2. The short duration and low amplitude of the motor unit action potential with early full recruitment on interference pattern on EMG, typical for myopathy, suggest a direct action of COVID-19 on muscular fibers, especially in the lower limbs.

Interferential electrical stimulation for improved bladder management following spinal cord injury.

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with neurogenic bladder (NB) represent a major medical problem, which initiated the search for a non-invasive and effective treatment that is easy to apply and without side effects. A study was performed using interferential medium frequency current electrical stimulation (IMFC ES) on 332 patients shortly after SCI diagnosed with NB dysfunction. All subjects received standard care and patients of the experimental group additionally received IMFC ES.

Mobile Mechatronic/Robotic Orthotic Devices to Assist-Rehabilitate Neuromotor Impairments in the Upper Limb: A Systematic and Synthetic Review.

This paper overviews the state-of-the-art in upper limb robot-supported approaches, focusing on advancements in the related mechatronic devices for the patients' rehabilitation and/or assistance. Dedicated to the technical, comprehensively methodological and global effectiveness and improvement in this inter-disciplinary field of research, it includes information beyond the therapy administrated in clinical settings-but with no diminished safety requirements. Our systematic review, based on PRISMA guidelines, searched articles published between January 2001 and November 2017 from the following databases: Cochrane, Medline/PubMed, PMC, Elsevier, PEDro, and ISI Web of Knowledge/Science.

Evolution of traumatic spinal cord injury in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in a Romanian rehabilitation clinic.

The ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic, multi-factorial, chronic rheumatic disease. Patients are highly susceptible to vertebral fractures with or without spinal cord injury (AS-SCI), even after a minor trauma. The study is a retrospective descriptive survey of post-acute, traumatic AS-SCI patients, transferred from the neurosurgical department and admitted in a Romanian Neurorehabilitation Clinic, during 2010-2014.