Neurological conditions and community-based physical activity: physical therapists' belief and actions.

Introduction: Physical therapists (PTs) are key actors in physical activity (PA) promotion. However, it remains unclear whether PTs in community settings promote community-based PA such as adapted physical activity (APA) and adaptive sports (AS) to their patients with neurological conditions (NCs). The main purposes were to evaluate the beliefs PTs have of APA and AS, and to explore actions they undertake to promote it to their patients with NCs.

New technologies promoting active upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: an overview and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: The primary aim of this work was to summarize and compare the effects of active rehabilitation assisted by new technologies (virtual reality [VR], robot-assisted therapy [RAT] and telerehabilitation [TR)) on upper limb motor function and everyday living activity during the subacute and chronic phases of stroke. The secondary aims were to compare the effects of these technologies according to the intervention design (in addition to or in substitution of conventional therapy), the duration of active rehabilitation and the severity of patients' motor impairments.

Evidence Acquisition: Several databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane Library, were searched.

Clinical and Molecular Spectrum Associated with COL6A3 c.7447A>G p.(Lys2483Glu) Variant: Elucidating its Role in Collagen VI-related Myopathies.

Background: Dominant and recessive autosomal pathogenic variants in the three major genes (COL6A1-A2-A3) encoding the extracellular matrix protein collagen VI underlie a group of myopathies ranging from early-onset severe conditions (Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy) to milder forms maintaining independent ambulation (Bethlem myopathy). Diagnosis is based on the combination of clinical presentation, muscle MRI, muscle biopsy, analysis of collagen VI secretion, and COL6A1-A2-A3 genetic analysis, the interpretation of which can be challenging.

Objective: To refine the phenotypical spectrum associated with the frequent COL6A3 missense variant c.

The Effect of Adaptive Sports on Individuals with Acquired Neurological Disabilities and Its Role in Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

The aims of this systematic review were to report on the feasibility of adaptive sports for individuals with acquired central neurological lesion; to analyze the effects of this approach according to the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF); and to emit guiding points for future research. Two authors searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Pedro, and SPORTdiscus for eligible trials. Data concerning demographics, outcome measures, results, and conclusions were extracted, and a qualitative synthesis was performed.

A Spatial Decision Eye-Tracking Task in Patients with Prodromal and Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

Background/objective: Performances on spatial decision eye-tracking tasks are known to be impaired in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the clinical relevance of this deficit during earlier stages of AD remains unclear.

Methods: This study recruited patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI, prodromal AD), patients with mild AD, and age-matched controls from three French memory clinics. Participants' ability to make spatial judgments and decisions was assessed with an eye-tracking system, and cognitive performance on conventional neuropsychological tests was evaluated.

Deep Vein Thrombosis: An Independent Poor Prognosis Factor of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Background/aim: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is frequently associated with venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Although the prognostic value of VTEs remains controversial, these events can darken the prognosis. In contrast, because they necessitate anticoagulant therapy, some authors found that VTEs improved the prognosis.

A posttraumatic pontomedullary rent with good outcome.

Posttraumatic pontomedullary rents have been described mainly as postmortem histopathological findings in patients who died immediately or within the first hours after trauma. To the best of our knowledge, no long-term survivors of this condition have been described, and those surviving initially were always severely impaired. We present the first patient with this condition and with corresponding lesions on imaging who survived longer than 3 months.

Dissolution properties of co-amorphous drug-amino acid formulations in buffer and biorelevant media.

Co-amorphous formulations, particularly binary drug-amino acid mixtures, have been shown to provide enhanced dissolution for poorly-soluble drugs and improved physical stability of the amorphous state. However, to date the dissolution properties (mainly intrinsic dissolution rate) of the co-amorphous formulations have been tested only in buffers and their supersaturation ability remain unexplored. Consequently, dissolution studies in simulated intestinal fluids need to be conducted in order to better evaluate the potential of these systems in increasing the oral bioavailability of biopharmaceutics classification system class II drugs.

Does acetaminophen activate endogenous pain inhibition in chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis? A double-blind randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Background: Although enhanced temporal summation (TS) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM), as characteristic for central sensitization, has been proved to be impaired in different chronic pain populations, the exact nature is still unknown.

Objectives: We examined differences in TS and CPM in 2 chronic pain populations, patients with both chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and comorbid fibromyalgia (FM) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in sedentary, healthy controls, and evaluated whether activation of serotonergic descending pathways by acetaminophen improves central pain processing.

Study Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial with cross-over design.

[Cytomegalovirus and systemic lupus: severe infection and difficult diagnosis].

Introduction: There are a few reports only on cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in lupus. Diagnosis of this infection is difficult and can be associated with of a poor outcome. We report three cases of infection with CMV that occurred in patients with lupus and review the literature.

Phase II trial of gemcitabine in refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial 1597.

Purpose: Gemcitabine has shown a broad range of activity in solid tumors, including previously untreated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The objective of this phase II trial was to investigate the activity of gemcitabine in patients with relapsed SCLC.

Patients And Methods: SCLC patients with measurable disease who had experienced treatment failure with one prior chemotherapy regimen were considered eligible.

Statistical methodology of phase III cancer clinical trials: advances and future perspectives.

The methodology for conducting cancer clinical trials has undergone enormous changes over the past 25-30 years since the EORTC Data Center was created. The purpose of this paper is to highlight and to provide a historical perspective for the main methodological concepts, both practical and theoretical, which form the basis for the design and analysis of phase III cancer clinical trials within the EORTC Data Center. Some statistical aspects of other associated topics such as quality of life, health economics, meta-analysis and treatment outcome will also be briefly discussed.

Treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of Dana-Farber ALL Consortium Protocol 87-01.

Purpose: To improve efficacy and reduce toxicity of treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Patients And Methods: Patients from all risk groups, including infants and those with T-cell disease, were treated between 1987 and 1991. Standard-risk (SR) patients did not receive cranial irradiation, whereas high-risk (HR) and very high-risk (VHR) patients participated in a randomized comparison of 18 Gy of cranial irradiation conventionally fractionated versus two fractions per day (hyperfractionated).

Improved outcome for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of Dana-Farber Consortium Protocol 91-01.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Consortium Protocol 91-01 was designed to improve the outcome of children with newly diagnosed ALL while minimizing toxicity. Compared with prior protocols, post-remission therapy was intensified by substituting dexamethasone for prednisone and prolonging the asparaginase intensification from 20 to 30 weeks. Between 1991 and 1995, 377 patients (age, 0-18 years) were enrolled; 137 patients were considered standard risk (SR), and 240 patients were high risk (HR).

Results of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Consortium protocols for children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (1981-1995).

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL consortium has been conducting clinical trials in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since 1981. The treatment backbone has included intensive, multi-agent remission induction, early intensification with weekly, high-dose asparaginase, cranial radiation for the majority of patients, frequent vincristine/ corticosteroid pulses during post-remission therapy, and for high-risk patients, doxorubicin during intensification. Between 1981 and 1995, 1,255 children with newly diagnosed ALL were evaluated on four consecutive protocols: 81-01 (1981-1985), 85-01 (1985-1987), 87-01 (1987-1991) and 91-01 (1991-1995).

Immune markers in fibromyalgia: comparison with major depressed patients and normal volunteers.

Background: There is a high degree of comorbidity between fibromyalgia and major depression. The latter is characterized by signs of immune activation, whereas the immune status in fibromyalgia is not yet elucidated. The aims of the present study were to examine (i) neopterin and biopterin excretion in 24-h urine of patients with fibromyalgia compared with normal volunteers and patients with major depression; and (ii) the effects of subchronic treatment with sertraline (11 weeks) on the urinary excretion of neopterin and biopterin.

Herpes zoster myelitis occurring during treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus.

A woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with a zoster eruption. Transverse myelitis developed at the site of the dermatomal distribution of the rash. SLE and varicella zoster virus (VZV) can both cause myelitis, and are difficult to differentiate.

Radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia: experience in 302 patients.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in 302 consecutive patients with drug refractory atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia. Fast pathway ablation was attempted in 167 patients and was successful in 161 patients (96.4%).

Expression of CD5 and CD23 on B cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. Relationship with disease activity and treatment.

CD5+ and CD23+ lymphocytes were determined in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 56), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 20) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) (n = 21). No definite correlation between the numbers of CD5+ or CD23+ cells and most of the parameters of disease activity was found. A significant correlation (r = 0.

Significantly increased expression of T-cell activation markers (interleukin-2 and HLA-DR) in depression: further evidence for an inflammatory process during that illness.

1. Recently, the authors have reported that severe depression may be accompanied by a systemic immune activation with an increase in the number of T cells expressing activation receptors. 2.

Immune disorders in depression: higher T helper/T suppressor-cytotoxic cell ratio.

This study investigated the leukocyte T helper and T suppressor-cytotoxic cell (sub)set profile of minor, simple major and melancholic depressives versus normal controls. Using both monoclonal antibody staining and flow cytometry, we determined the absolute numbers and percentages of the following T cell immune subsets: T helper (CD4+), T virgin (CD4+CD45+), T memory (CD4+CD45-), T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+), CD8+ T suppressor (CD8+CD57-) and CD8+ T cytotoxic (CD8+CD57+) cells. After computing the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, we detected a significantly increased ratio in depressed patients as compared with healthy controls.