The Growing Use of Virtual Reality in Cognitive Rehabilitation: Fact, Fake or Vision? A Scoping Review.

Objective: This review aims to evaluate the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in cognitive rehabilitation of different neurological diseases, and the accessibility to healthcare systems providing this type of treatment.

Method Of Research: Studies performed between 2003 and 2017 and fulfilling the selected criteria were found on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Sciences databases. The search combined the terms VR rehabilitation with different neurological disease.

Impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review on risk factors and pathophysiology.

Aim: Purpose of this review is to evaluate the potential risk factors that may predispose to the development of Impulse control disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, including the effects of dopaminergic therapy.

Methods: This descriptive review was conducted to identificate risk factors that could cause impulsive control disorders in PD. Studies were found on PubMed (2010-2018), Web Of Science (January 2010-July 2018) and Cochrane (2010-2018) databases.

Is bupropion useful in the treatment of post-stroke thalamic apathy? A case report and considerations.

Post-stroke apathy is considered to be one of the clinical consequences of lesions affecting the structures of the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and limbic system. However, there is no current consensus on the treatment of post-stroke apathy, which mainly depends on the underlying etiology and comorbidities. A 62-year-old man, affected by hemorrhagic stroke in the left thalamus, presented with mood depression, anhedonia, hyporexia and marked apathy.

Virtual Reality and Cognitive Rehabilitation in People With Stroke: An Overview.

Objective: This review evaluates the use of virtual reality (VR) tools in cognitive rehabilitation of stroke-affected individuals.

Methods: Studies performed between 2010 and 2017 that fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. The search combined the terms "VR," "rehabilitation," and "stroke.

Towards Improving Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction by Using Nutriceuticals: Lessons from a Case Study.

Post-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sexual dysfunction (PSSD) is a new clinical entity occurring after the antidepressant intake, and it is characterized by the fact that patients continue to present sexual side effects after the discontinuation of the drugs. PSSD mainly consists of hypo-anesthesia of the genital area, loss of libido, and erectile dysfunction. Although different management options have been proposed, there is no consensus on the treatment for this syndrome.

Malignant extrapleural solitary fibrous tumor arising in the sublingual gland: A case report and review of literature.

Solitary fibrous tumor is an uncommon neoplasm with unpredictable clinical behavior. Malignant solitary fibrous tumor is a rare morphological variant with more aggressive behavior and higher rates of local recurrences and distant metastasis, exceeding rare in oral cavity; our case occurred in the floor of the mouth in the sublingual gland.

Cognitive rehabilitation in patients with traumatic brain injury: A narrative review on the emerging use of virtual reality.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a clinical condition characterized by brain damage due to an external, rapid and violent force. TBI causes attention, memory, affectivity, behaviour, planning, and executive dysfunctions, with a significant impact on the quality of life of the patient and of his/her family. Cognitive and motor rehabilitation programs are essential for clinical recovery of TBI patients, improving functional outcomes and the quality of life.

A novel anti-cancer L19-interleukin-12 fusion protein with an optimized peptide linker efficiently localizes in vivo at the site of tumors.

Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins are a class of biopharmaceuticals, with the potential to modulate the activity of the immune system at the site of disease. The molecular format used to connect antibody moiety and cytokine payload can have a profound influence on biological activity and pharmacokinetic properties. The optimization of fusion protein format is particularly challenging for heterodimeric cytokines, since various molecular arrangements can be considered.

A novel use of virtual reality in the treatment of cognitive and motor deficit in spinal cord injury: A case report.

Rationale: Aim of this study is to evaluate the cognitive and motor outcomes after a combined rehabilitative training using a standard cognitive approach and virtual reality (VR), in a patient with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Patient's Concerns: A 60-year-old right-handed man, affected by incomplete cervical SCI, came to our observation for a moderate tetraparesis, mainly involving the left side, after about 6-months from the acute event. The neurological examination showed imbalance with upper limb incoordination, besides the paresis mainly involving the left side.

Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT on survival in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in terms of survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who had undergone surgery preceded by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Moreover, the existence of correlation between Overall Survival (OS) and Disease Free Survival (DFS) with pathological staging ((y)pTNM and TRG) was evaluated.

Patients And Methods: A total of 58 patients with biopsy-proven of LARC were included.

Effect of the laser beam on implant site preparation: a preliminary pilot study.

The aim of this preliminary study is to histologically evaluate the effects of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser on soft and hard tissues during implant bed preparation, in comparison with bur and cutter in order to observe the following aspects: (i) the shape of the cavity, (ii) the presence of debris, and (iii) structural modification of the cell architecture. Bone temperature changes during the preparation of the implant bed were also measured in order to evaluate thermal damage on soft and hard tissues. Er:YAG laser, Fotona X-Runner scanner and circular cutter of 5 mm diameter were compared using an in vitro model.

What About the Role of Virtual Reality in Parkinson Disease's Cognitive Rehabilitation? Preliminary Findings From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a virtual reality training with BTS Nirvana (BTS-N) system in the cognitive and behavioral recovery in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The BTS-N is a semi-immersive therapy system used for motor and cognitive rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases, by creating virtual scenarios with which the patient may interact.

Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with PD undergoing neurorehabilitation.

Changes in sexual functioning following traumatic brain injury: An overview on a neglected issue.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any damage to the skull and/or the brain and its frameworks due to an external force. Following TBI, patients may report cognitive, physiological and psychosocial changes with a devastating impact on important aspects of the patient's life, such as sexual functioning. Although sexual dysfunction (SD) occurs at a significantly greater frequency in individuals with TBI, it is not commonly assessed in the clinical setting and little information is available on this crucial aspect of patients' quality of life.

Mechanisms of N-oleoyldopamine activation of central histaminergic neurons.

Histaminergic (HA) neurons located in the tuberomamillary nucleus (TMN) of the posterior hypothalamus fire exclusively during waking and support many physiological functions. We investigated the role of the endovanilloid N-oleoyldopamine (OLDA) in TMN, where dopamine synthesis and its conjugation with oleic acid likely occur. We show that several known targets of OLDA including TRPV1 and cannabinoid receptors are expressed in HA neurons.

Self-Efficacy, Poststroke Depression, and Rehabilitation Outcomes: Is There a Correlation?

Background: The sudden live changes of stroke survivors may lead to negative psychological and behavioral outcomes, including anxiety and depressive mood, which may compromise the rehabilitation process. Some personality features, such as self-efficacy, could play an important role in mediating the degree of post-stroke depression. Aim of this study is to investigate the possible correlation between specific psychological dimensions, such as poststroke depression and self-efficacy, and rehabilitation outcomes.

Personal computer-based cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a case study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is best managed by a combination of medication and regular physiotherapy. PD's main symptoms involve the motor system, but cognitive disorders can be very severe as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the computerized rehabilitative tool Esercizi di Riabilitazione Cognitiva (ERICA) in the cognitive recovery of a patient with PD.

A novel dual-cytokine-antibody fusion protein for the treatment of CD38-positive malignancies.

A novel dual-cytokine-antibody fusion protein, consisting of an antibody directed against CD38 [a tumor-associated antigen mainly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma (MM) cells], simultaneously fused to both tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 10 (TRAIL) and interleukin-2 (IL2), was designed, expressed and purified to homogeneity. The novel fusion protein, termed IL2-αCD38-αCD38-scTRAIL, was able to selectively recognize its cognate antigen expressed on the surface of MM and lymphoma cell lines, as evidenced by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, the targeted version of TRAIL was able to induce cancer cell death in vitro, both with MM cell lines and with fresh isolates from the bone marrow of MM patients.

Potentiation of PD-L1 blockade with a potency-matched dual cytokine-antibody fusion protein leads to cancer eradication in BALB/c-derived tumors but not in other mouse strains.

We have recently described a novel therapeutic antibody product (IL2-F8-TNF), featuring the simultaneous fusion of murine IL2 and of a TNF mutant with scFv(F8), an antibody specific to the alternatively-spliced extra domain A of fibronectin (EDA). Here, we report on the in vivo characterization of the anti-cancer activity of IL2-F8-TNF in four immunocompetent murine models of cancer, CT26, WEHI-164, F9 teratocarcinoma and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC), using the product alone or in combination with a monoclonal antibody specific to murine PD-L1. All four models exhibited a strong expression of EDA-fibronectin, which was confined to vascular structures for F9 tumors, while the other three malignancies exhibited a more stromal pattern of staining.

Clinical efficacy of nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Pancreatic carcinoma is the neoplasia with the major mortality, and main standard treatments in this cancer increase survival but do not lead to complete recovery of the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) in Italian patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 80 patients.

Scanning electron microscopy evaluation of the root canal morphology after Er:YAG laser irradiation.

The current limits of the endodontic disinfection strategies are not only a result of bacterial biofilm growth mode inside the root canals, they are equally due to the anatomical complexity of the root canal system, of its structure, of the dentin composition and of the factors associated with chemical disinfectants. One of the major problems is the fact that a great part of the endodontic anatomy remains uninstrumented after conventional treatment and even the accessible parts of the root canals are covered in smear layer, which results as a by-product of the instrumentation and acts as a barrier for irrigants, medication and even influencing the quality of the endodontic filling. Therefore, strategies in advanced disinfection in endodontics are developed and tested in order to meet these challenges.

Knowledge of gestational alcohol drinking risks: results from a survey among Italian secondary school students.

Introduction: Ethanol is the most widely used drug worldwide. Its consumption has been increasing, and it is reported even during childbearing. Prenatal exposure to ethanol can lead to irreversible damages of the fetus.

Computerized Training in Poststroke Aphasia: What About the Long-Term Effects? A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Poststroke aphasia is a very disabling disorder, which may affect speech expression, comprehension, and reading or writing. Treatment of aphasia should be initiated as soon as possible after the brain injury; however, the improvement of language functions can occur also in the chronic phase.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (17 patients) treated with computerized rehabilitation training (Power-Afa, Maddaloni, Campania, Italy) or a control group (15 patients), submitted to conventional speech therapy.

Progression-free survival as a surrogate endpoint of overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: In many clinical trials designed to assess the efficacy of anticancer treatments, overall survival (OS) is often used as a primary endpoint despite its several points of weakness.

Methods: This study evaluated the role of progression-free survival (PFS) in the first three lines of treatment as a potential surrogate endpoint of OS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). One hundred and twenty patients with MCRC were enrolled in this study.

Is there a correlation between family functioning and functional recovery in patients with acquired brain injury? An exploratory study.

Background: Acquired Brain injury (ABI) is a very critical event in a family, as it is a highly distressing and traumatic experience, imposing a very deep reorganization of the whole family.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the possible correlation between the family aspects and the patients' functional outcomes after rehabilitation.

Methods: Fifteen patient-caregiver pairs were enrolled in the study.

Genetic Activation, Inactivation, and Deletion Reveal a Limited And Nuanced Role for Somatostatin-Containing Basal Forebrain Neurons in Behavioral State Control.

Recent studies have identified an especially important role for basal forebrain GABAergic (BF) neurons in the regulation of behavioral waking and fast cortical rhythms associated with cognition. However, BF neurons comprise several neurochemically and anatomically distinct subpopulations, including parvalbumin-containing BF neurons and somatostatin-containing BF neurons (BF neurons), and it was recently reported that optogenetic activation of BF neurons increases the probability of a wakefulness to non-rapid-eye movement (NREM) sleep transition when stimulated during the rest period of the animal. This finding was unexpected given that most BF neurons are not NREM sleep active and that central administration of the synthetic somatostatin analog, octreotide, suppresses NREM sleep or increases REM sleep.