Literature Review on the Effects of tDCS Coupled with Robotic Therapy in Post Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation.

Today neurological diseases such as stroke represent one of the leading cause of long-term disability. Many research efforts have been focused on designing new and effective rehabilitation strategies. In particular, robotic treatment for upper limb stroke rehabilitation has received significant attention due to its ability to provide high-intensity and repetitive movement therapy with less effort than traditional methods.

The efficacy and safety of a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate and bio-curcumin with exercise in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) conservative treatment aims to delay cartilage degeneration; chondroprotective agents are a valid approach in this sense. A commercially available dietary supplement, CartiJoint Forte, containing glucosamine hydrochloride (GH), chondroitin sulfate (CS) and Bio-Curcumin BCM-95®, was used in this trial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of CartiJoint Forte combined with physical therapy in treating subjects with knee OA.

Rationale and clinical benefits of an intensive long-term pulmonary rehabilitation program after oesophagectomy: preliminary report.

Patients who undergo oesophagectomy for oesophagealcancer (OC) usually have an overall poor prognosis and, still more preoccupying, an unsatisfactory quality of life (QoL). Considering that, as already noted, post-operative pulmonary function has a strong correlation with the long-term outcome and QoL after surgery, we have assumed and speculated on the clinical benefits of an intensive long-term pulmonary post-operative rehabilitation program in this particular subset of patients.Herein, we report the preliminary results of a comparative retrospective analysis in a series of 58 patients who underwent radical oesophagectomy and post-operative chest physical therapy (CPT) under two different protocols, from October 2006 to January 2011.

How best to assess the quality of life in long-term survivors after surgery for NSCLC? Comparison between clinical predictors and questionnaire scores.

Background: The determinants and predictors of QOL in lung cancer survivors who have received surgery remain defined vaguely and still debated. We evaluate clinical, surgical, and pulmonary function characteristics as predictors of QOL in long-term lung cancer survivors who received surgery.

Methods: Quality of life was evaluated 5 years after surgery in 67 lung cancer patients using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL Core Questionnaire, its lung cancer-specific module QLQ LC-13, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire.

Quantitative evaluation of upper-limb motor control in robot-aided rehabilitation.

This paper is focused on the multimodal analysis of patient performance, carried out by means of robotic technology and wearable sensors, and aims at providing quantitative measure of biomechanical and motion planning features of arm motor control following rehabilitation. Upper-limb robotic therapy was administered to 24 community-dwelling persons with chronic stroke. Performance indices on patient motor performance were computed from data recorded with the InMotion2 robotic machine and a magneto-inertial sensor.

[Evaluation of the rehabilitation program in a patient submitted to pleuropneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma].

Objective: The purpose of this study is to test a rehabilitation program for the patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) subordinates to pleuropneumonectomy.

Materials And Methods: A single patient was evaluated at baseline (TI) and at the end of the pulmonary rehabilitation (T2), by undergoing spirometric measurements, emogasanalisys and 6-Minute Walking Test (6-MWT). Outcome evaluation were administered with Visual Analogic Scales (VAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Short 36 Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36).

[Effects of the thymectomy in a rehabilitation program and in quality of life in patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of a rehabilitation program on patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) subordinates to thymectomy.

Materials And Methods: Patients were evaluated at baseline (T1) and at the end of the pulmonary rehabilitation. (T2), by undergoing spirometric measurements, 6-Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), Berg Balance Scales (BBS), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and Short 36 Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2).

Dysphagia following treatment for esophageal cancer: rehabilitation strategies.

Dysphagia represents one of the first possible presenting symptoms of tumors of the esophagus and is one of the main consequences of surgical intervention performed on these tumors. Its treatment is based on accurate evaluation of the residual functional deficit (as well as of the possible pre-existing deglutition deficit) and on implementing both general and specific rehabilitation treatment. These interventions should be carried out by a team of professionals who work together in an integrated and coordinated approach to the global caregiving of patients undergoing esophagectomy, taking into consideration the diverse physical and psychological problems associated with tumor pathology and its treatment modality.

Rehabilitation and quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer.

The impact of esophageal cancer surgery, postoperatively as well as on quality of life (QoL) is still largely unknown. Clinical experience and the scarce existing literature concur that these patients show difficulty in returning to their original lifestyles and previous social activities, not just due to the difficulties common to all tumor pathologies but also for the specific dietary and digestive disturbances which characterize esophageal cancer therapy. As specific rehabilitation protocols are nonexistent in the literature, in this study a rehabilitation planning program, is proposed based on evaluation of postoperative and long-term problems which can be tackled with rehabilitation.

Cancer-related fatigue: evaluation and treatment.

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and disabling conditions referred by patients with neoplastic diseases. However, it is one of the symptoms related to cancer and its treatment, oncologists largely underestimate. The guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network on the diagnosis and treatment of this multifactorial pathology are illustrated.

Pulmonary rehabilitation: pre-and postoperative treatment.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women and men in the United States. Since 1987, mortality due to lung cancer surpassed death caused by breast cancer in women. Equally discouraging is the fact that survival at five years for all lung cancer patients is only 15%.