Achilles tendon morpho-mechanical parameters are related to triceps surae motor unit firing properties.

Recent studies combining high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) and ultrasound imaging have yielded valuable insights into the relationship between motor unit activity and muscle contractile properties. However, limited evidence exists on the relationship between motor unit firing properties and tendon morpho-mechanical properties. This study aimed to determine the relationship between triceps surae motor unit firing properties and the morpho-mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon (AT).

Voluntary co-contraction of ankle muscles alters motor unit discharge characteristics and reduces estimates of persistent inward currents.

Motoneuronal persistent inward currents (PICs) are facilitated by neuromodulatory inputs but are highly sensitive to local inhibitory circuits. Estimates of PICs are reduced by group Ia reciprocal inhibition, and increased with the diffuse actions of neuromodulators released during remote muscle contraction. However, it remains unknown how motoneurons function in the presence of simultaneous excitatory and inhibitory commands.

Integrated sustainability assessment of wood building products: The case of larch and chestnut cascading systems in Northern Italy.

Wood is increasingly being appreciated in construction due to its valuable environmental attributes. This paper explores the environmental and market performance of two wood supply chains in Northern Italy. Larch and chestnut wood are extracted and processed to obtain beams, planks, MDF panels and energy.

The weekend factor: the effect on healthcare quality. A medico-legal, retrospective study.

Background: In the healthcare system, in the last 30 years, the prognostically negative value of the so-called Weekend Effect (WE) has been internationally recognized. The WE is regarded as the increased risk a patient might incur when hospitalized during non-working days, of enduring severe complications in comparison to the same hospitalization that occur on working days. The aim of this study was to retrospectively verify whether, once a mistake was made during weekends or on holidays, in comparison to a mistake occurred on workdays, it subsequently implied a higher risk of complications, death included, in a statistical and medico-legal way.

Effect of Direct Acting Antiviral Drugs on the Occurrence and Recurrence of Intra- and Extra-Hepatic Malignancies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

The use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has drastically changed the management of HCV-infected patients by achieving a 95-98% sustained virologic response (SVR) and reducing morbidity and mortality in this population. However, despite their effectiveness, controversy exists concerning the occurrence of oncologic events following DAA therapy. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from the Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study, a prospective cohort involving patients with positive HCV viremia upon inclusion, enrolled in various Swiss centers from September 2000 to November 2021.