Usefulness of body composition assessment by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis in subacute post-stroke patients in rehabilitation.

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) is a valuable tool for evaluating hydration and body composition, but its application in subacute post-stroke patients remains unexplored. This study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing BIVA in a cohort of 87 subacute post-stroke patients (42 women, mean age 69 ± 12) undergoing rehabilitation. At admission (T0), diagnosis of malnutrition with GLIM criteria and of sarcopenia with EWGSOP2 was done, and patients were analyzed with BIVA.

Reliability of the Italian Version of the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale Administered Remotely.

Despite the increase in home-based rehabilitation, outcome measures for telerehabilitation are still underdeveloped. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is one of the most widely used tools for evaluating post-stroke motor deficits, with the upper extremity component (FMA-UE) recommended for assessing motor deficits of the arm. This study aims to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Italian version of the FMA-UE, administered remotely via video conferencing during a robotic telerehabilitation program.

Malnutrition Diagnosis and Food Consumption in Subacute Post-Stroke Patients During Rehabilitation.

Background: Stroke survivors frequently encounter malnutrition, adversely impacting clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, malnutrition and food consumption in post-stroke patients have not been frequently assessed, and their correlation with rehabilitation outcomes remains inadequately explored. The objective of this observational study was to evaluate malnutrition at admission in these patients, assess food consumption during a six-week rehabilitation program, and analyze their correlation with rehabilitation outcomes.

Effectiveness of Two Models of Telerehabilitation in Improving Recovery from Subacute Upper Limb Disability after Stroke: Robotic vs. Non-Robotic.

Background/objectives: Finding innovative digital solutions is fundamental to ensure prompt and continuous care for patients with chronic neurological disorders, whose demand for rehabilitation also in home-based settings is steadily increasing. The aim is to verify the safety and the effectiveness of two telerehabilitation (TR) models in improving recovery from subacute upper limb (UL) disability after stroke, with and without a robotic device.

Methods: One hundred nineteen subjects with subacute post-stroke UL disability were assessed for eligibility.

Restoring of Interhemispheric Symmetry in Patients With Stroke Following Bilateral or Unilateral Robot-Assisted Upper-Limb Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Bilateral robotic rehabilitation has proven helpful in the recovery of upper limb motor function in patients with stroke, but its effects on the cortical reorganization mechanisms underlying recovery are still unclear. This pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the effects on the interhemispheric balance of unilateral or bilateral robotic treatments in patients with subacute stroke, using Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG). 19 patients with ischemic stroke underwent a 30-session upper limb neurorehabilitation intervention using a bilateral upper limb exoskeleton.

Systemic Oxidative Stress in Subacute Stroke Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation Treatment.

The imbalance in oxidative stress in acute stroke has been extensively studied; on the contrary, its investigation in the subacute phase is limited. The aim of this study was to analyse the variation in the systemic oxidative status in subacute post-stroke patients before (T0) and after a six-week rehabilitation treatment (T1) and to investigate the relationship between systemic oxidative status and rehabilitation outcomes. We enrolled 109 subjects in two different centres, and we analysed their serum hydroperoxide levels (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant power (BAP), thiol antioxidant components (-SHp), and relative antioxidant capacity (OSI and SH-OSI indices).

Implementation of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation protocol for a customized treatment after stroke: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Many authors have emphasized the need for individualized treatments in rehabilitation, but no tailored robotic rehabilitation protocol for stroke patients has been established yet.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation protocol based on clinical assessment for customized treatment of stroke patients.

Methods: Clinical data from 81 patients with subacute stroke, undergoing an upper limb robot-mediated rehabilitation, were analyzed retrospectively.

Muscle quality improvement in subacute post-stroke patients after rehabilitation: Usefulness of segmental phase angle from bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Background & Aims: During stroke rehabilitation, the whole-body Phase Angle (PhA) from Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is measured to assess whole-body muscle quality, which reflects cellular integrity and function. The segmental BIA is a valuable method for assessing the body composition of specific body segments, such as the arms, legs, and hemisoma. After a stroke insult, patients frequently experience hemiparesis, and segmental PhA from segmental BIA appears to be an appropriate parameter for examining the muscle quality of affected and unaffected limbs separately.

Effects of Upper Limb Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation Compared with Conventional Therapy in Patients with Stroke: Preliminary Results on a Daily Task Assessed Using Motion Analysis.

Robotic rehabilitation of the upper limb has demonstrated promising results in terms of the improvement of arm function in post-stroke patients. The current literature suggests that robot-assisted therapy (RAT) is comparable to traditional approaches when clinical scales are used as outcome measures. Instead, the effects of RAT on the capacity to execute a daily life task with the affected upper limb are unknown, as measured using kinematic indices.

Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Gait Training Combined with Robotic Balance Training in Subacute Stroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Recently, the use of robotic technology in gait and balance rehabilitation of stroke patients has been introduced, with positive results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of robotic gait and trunk rehabilitation compared to robotic gait training alone on balance, activities, and participation measures in patients with subacute stroke. The study was a randomized, controlled, single blind, parallel group clinical trial.

Oxidative Stress Status in Post Stroke Patients: Sex Differences.

After a cerebral stroke insult, there is an overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which overcome the antioxidant defenses, causing further tissues damage. The status of oxidative stress in stroke patients over time, particularly in those undergoing rehabilitation treatments, has been poorly investigated. We analyzed the oxidative stress status in 61 subacute stroke patients (33 females and 28 males) admitted to our rehabilitation center by measuring, in serum: hydroperoxides levels (d-ROMs), antioxidant activity (BAP test), and the relative antioxidant capacity (OSI index).

Long-term follow-up of a randomized trial comparing concurrent single agent cisplatin, cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy, or hydroxyurea during pelvic irradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Purpose: We report the long-term survival and toxicity of a randomized phase III study comparing cisplatin alone with cisplatin, flurouracil, and hydroxyurea versus hydroxyurea concurrent with pelvic irradiation for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer with pathologically negative para-aortic nodes.

Patients And Methods: Comparisons of progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between treatment arms utilized Kaplan-Meier and log-rank statistics. Relative risk estimates adjusting for prognostic factors were determined using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease without polyglutamine inclusions in a child.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare and heterogeneous group of slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the widespread presence of eosinophilic neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NII) accompanied by a more restricted pattern of neuronal loss. We report here the pathologic findings in a 13-year-old boy who died after a 6-year clinical history of progressive ataxia, extrapyramidal manifestations, and lower motor neuron abnormalities. Histological evaluation of the brain revealed widespread NII in most neurons.

Cerebral embolism from atrial myxoma in pediatric patients.

We describe 2 children with cerebrovascular events caused by emboli from left atrial myxomas and review 7 other pediatric cases from the literature. Transient cutaneous eruptions involving the extremities preceded the cerebrovascular events and were most likely attributable to fragmentation of the atrial tumor with peripheral embolization. Our first case demonstrates the more common presentation with acute hemiplegia caused by cerebral infarction and the second case a transient ischemic attack manifested by more subtle features as a result of involvement of the vertebrobasilar circulation.

Concurrent cisplatin-based radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Background And Methods: On behalf of the Gynecologic Oncology Group, we performed a randomized trial of radiotherapy in combination with three concurrent chemotherapy regimens -- cisplatin alone; cisplatin, fluorouracil, and hydroxyurea; and hydroxyurea alone -- in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Women with primary untreated invasive squamous-cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma of the cervix of stage IIB, III, or IVA, without involvement of the para-aortic lymph nodes, were enrolled. The patients had to have a leukocyte count of at least 3000 per cubic millimeter, a platelet count of at least 100,000 per cubic millimeter, a serum creatinine level no higher than 2 mg per deciliter (177 micromol per liter), and adequate hepatic function.

Amphicrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

A case of amphicrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix is described in a 27-year-old woman whose initial cervical biopsy specimen showed small cell undifferentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. Despite an initial complete clinical response to VP-16 and carboplatin, residual tumor was noted in the cervical cone biopsy specimen and she was treated with external-beam irradiation and cesium implants. The neoplasm subsequently metastasized and required additional VP-16 and carboplatin for control.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to sarcoidosis.

An episode of unilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to sarcoidosis is described. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in prompt and complete resolution of the obstruction and associated lymphadenopathy. We believe this represents the first reported case of ureteral obstruction secondary to sarcoidosis.

Postmortem methemoglobin concentrations and their significance.

Small concentrations of methemoglobin are present in the blood of normal individuals. Increased concentrations of methemoglobin can be formed by the action of certain chemicals or drugs, or in individuals with specific genetic defects. There is little information available concerning the validity of postmortem methemoglobin concentration as an indicator of antemortem methemoglobinemia.

Stage A prostatic carcinoma and repeat transurethral resection: a reappraisal 5 years later.

The treatment of patients with stage A prostatic carcinoma demands precise pathological review. In an attempt to evaluate these patients thoroughly earlier reports from our institution recommended repeat transurethral biopsy. Recent studies have reaffirmed the benign nature of stage A1 disease.

Benign testis tumors.

Benign testis tumors are reported to be extraordinarily rare. Recent clinical experience has shown a high prevalence (7 of 12 patients) of these tumors, which, although small, is much higher than other reports. We herein present 4 illustrative cases and a practical categorization of the varied pathologic events causing these tumors.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia with prominent azurophilic granulation and punctate acidic nonspecific esterase and phosphatase activity.

Cytochemical, ultrastructural, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase determinations in three cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia with azurophilic granules and punctate alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE), and acid phosphatase (AP) activities further described a cytochemical and morphologic variant of acute lymphocytic leukemia. The ANAE, ANBE, and AP activities appeared specially localized within cytoplasmic granules. Electron microscopy substantiated a prominence of membrane-bound dense-core cytoplasmic granules.

"Carcinoid" tumor of the breast. A variant of conventional breast cancer?

A breast tumor with the morphologic features of a carcinoid tumor and containing large amounts of estrogen receptor protein was associated with areas of typical in situ and infiltrating lobular carcinoma. The carcinoid areas were argyrophilic and ultrastructurally contained electron dense granules on which silver grains were localized. Of 21 other examples of ordinary breast cancer, five showed histologic similarities to carcinoid tumors.