When should a rare inherited connective tissue disorder be suspected in bicuspid aortic valve by primary-care internists and cardiologists? Proposal of a score.

Size threshold for aortic surgery in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is debated. Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are claimed as a clinical turning point, suggesting early surgery in BAV patients with CTD. Thus, we aimed at developing a score to detect high risk of carrying CTDs in consecutive BAVs from primary care.

[Results of a vertebral deformity screening in the students of the district of Florence (Tuscany Region, Central Italy)].

Objectives: to observe the prevalence of vertebral deformities in an adolescent population in the 178 schools of the District of Florence (Tuscany Region, Central Italy), correlating these results with clinical aspects as ligamentous laxity and verifying if these data are in agreement with what emerged in literature in studies of the same type.

Design: prevalence study.

Setting And Participants: report of the results of a school screening for vertebral deformities in an adolescent population of 11,820 students of the Schools of District of Florence held between November 2010 and June 2013.

Lower limbs heterometry correction in patients with osteoporosis and increased risk of falls.

Osteoporotic fractures are associated with a significant increase in morbidity, mortality and medical costs. There is also a strong link between fractures and increased mortality. Among effective measures for the prevention of falls, instability treatment surely plays a crucial role.

Successful treatment of rotator cuff tear using Fascial Manipulation in a stroke patient.

Rotator cuff tear is a common disease affecting patients after stroke. It's a cause of pain and dysfunction that may compromise normal stroke rehabilitation. For many cases there is still controversy between whether to use surgical or conservative intervention.

Conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: comparison between laser therapy and Fascial Manipulation(®).

The etiopathogenesis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is multifactorial and most cases are classified as idiopathic (Thurston 2013). A randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effectiveness of Fascial Manipulation(®) (FM) and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for CTS. This prospective trial included 42 patients (70 hands with symptoms) with clinical and electroneuromyographic diagnosis of CTS.

Dural ectasia and FBN1 mutation screening of 40 patients with Marfan syndrome and related disorders: role of dural ectasia for the diagnosis.

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue caused by mutations in the gene encoding fibrillin-1 (FBN1), a matrix component of microfibrils. Dural ectasia, i.e.

Evaluation with stabilometric platform of balance disorders in osteoporosis patients. A proposal for a diagnostic protocol.

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease with reduced bone mass and qualitative alterations of the bone, associated to increased risk of fracture. Pathogenesis of osteoporosis fractures is multifactorial. Main risk factor is falls (except for vertebral fragility fractures which occurs often in absence of trauma).

Rehabilitation in osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Vertebral fractures occur particularly in osteoporotic patients due to an increased bone fragility. Vertebral fractures influence the quality of life, mobility and mortality. Preventive training exercises and proprioception reeducation can be utilised for improving posture, balance and level of daily function and for decreasing pain.