Clinical and electrophysiological investigation of spastic muscle overactivity in patients with disorders of consciousness following severe brain injury.

Objective: The clinical and electrophysiological profile of spastic muscle overactivity (SMO) is poorly documented in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) following severe cortical and subcortical injury. We aim at investigating the link between the clinical observations of SMO and the electrophysiological spastic over-reactivity in patients with prolonged DOC.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled adult patients with DOC at least 3 months post traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury.

Exercise and Education Program After Breast Cancer: Benefits on Quality of Life and Symptoms at 3, 6, 12, and 24 Months' Follow-up.

Background: Various clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of physical training offered during and/or after breast cancer treatments. However, given the variety of adverse events that may be encountered, physical training could be combined with psychologic, relational, and social guidance. This kind of multidisciplinary program, as well as its long-term effects, have been little studied so far.

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation program after breast cancer: benefits on physical function, anthropometry and quality of life.

Background: Different clinical trials show beneficial effects of physical training offered during and/or after breast cancer treatment. However, given the variety of side effects that may be encountered, physical training could be combined with psychological, relational and social guidance. This kind of multidisciplinary program has been little studied so far.

A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Trial to Assess the Impact of a Monthly Administration of 50,000 IU of Vitamin D3 for 6 Months on Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Healthy Young Adults.

In this double blind, unicentre, randomized, placebo controlled study, we evaluated the changes in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels in 150 young Belgian adults (18-30 years), monthly supplemented with 50,000 IU of vitamin D (VTD) or placebo for 6 months, from November 2010 to May 2011. At T0, 30% of the population presented 25(OH)D serum levels below 20 ng/mL. In the VTD-treated group, mean serum levels increased from 21.

Post-traumatic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Background: To evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic management and outcome of 27 cases of post-traumatic thoracic outlet syndrome (PT TOS).

Methods: Retrospective chart analysis.

Results: Nineteen women and eight men were included in this study.

Sudden dysphagia in an elderly, quadriparetic patient.

Clinical Case: We report the case of a 92-year-old quadriparetic patient who suddenly presented a major swallowing disorder following trauma to the neck. A diagnosis of myasthenia gravis was suggested by single-fibre EMG of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. In view of the continued absence of dysphagia after 6 months of pyridostigmine treatment, this diagnosis was considered as definitive.

An isokinetic eccentric programme for the management of chronic lateral epicondylar tendinopathy.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis represents a frequent overuse injury. In spite of many conservative treatment procedures, prolonged symptoms and relapse are frequently observed.

Objective: To compare the outcome of patients performing an isokinetic eccentric training with that of age-, gender-, activity-matched patients receiving a non-strengthening classical rehabilitation.

[Thoracic outlet syndrome].

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is due to compression/irritation of brachial plexus elements ("neurogenic TOS") and/or subclavian vessels ("vascular TOS") in their passage from the cervical area toward the axilla. The usual site of entrapment is the interscalenic triangle. TOS is a highly controversial subject in regard to its incidence, diagnostic criteria and optimal treatment.

Predegenerated nerve allografts versus fresh nerve allografts in nerve repair.

This study reevaluated the possibility of using predegenerated nerves as donor nerve allografts for nerve repair and compared the results of functional recovery to those obtained after standard, fresh nerve allograft repair. Twenty donor rats underwent a ligature/ section of the left sciatic nerve 4 weeks before nerve graft harvesting. Forty recipient rats underwent severing of the left sciatic nerve leaving a 15-mm gap between the nerve stumps.

Sciatic nerve regeneration through venous or nervous grafts in the rat.

This study analyses the interest of isologous venous grafts filled with saline or with Schwann cells versus nerve grafts as guides for regeneration of the sciatic nerve in 35 Wistar rats. Electrophysiological parameters (conduction velocities and distal latencies of motor responses) and the functional index of De Medinacelli were measured several times from 1 month to 1 year after surgery. An histological analysis was performed on 2 control rats and on 3 rats killed 6 or 12 months after surgery: the total number of fibers was counted on a montage photoprint of the whole nerve, and the diameters of axons and the thickness of the myelin sheath were measured on digitized images.