Advancing public health through technological rehabilitation: insights from a national clinician survey.

Introduction: In the evolving healthcare landscape, technology has emerged as a key component in enhancing system efficiency and offering new avenues for patient rehabilitation. Despite its growing importance, detailed information on technology's specific use, types, and applications in clinical rehabilitation settings, particularly within the Italian framework, remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the use of technology and its needs by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation medical doctors in Italy.

Increased glucosylsphingosine levels and Gaucher disease in GBA1-associated Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Gaucher's disease (GD) is caused by biallelic mutations in the GBA1 gene, leading to reduced glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity and substrate (glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine, GlcSph) accumulation. GBA1 variant carriers are at risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), but only those with biallelic mutations cross the threshold of GCase reduction, leading to substrate accumulation and GD. The link between GBA1 mutations, GD and PD is not fully understood.

Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from an 8-year population-based study in Central Italy based on healthcare utilization databases.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with a high multidimensional burden, with an obscure etiopathogenesis.

Methods: We designed a longitudinal, population-based study of people residing in Central Italy (Marche Region) who were beneficiaries of the National Health System. People with an unprecedented ALS hospitalization (335.

A Robot-Assisted Framework for Rehabilitation Practices: Implementation and Experimental Results.

One of the most interesting characteristics of collaborative robots is their ability to be used in close cooperation scenarios. In industry, this facilitates the implementation of human-in-loop workflows. However, this feature can also be exploited in different fields, such as healthcare.

Health literacy education at the time of COVID-19: development and piloting of an educational programme for university health professional students in 4 European countries.

Background: Health literacy has a strong influence on individual health outcomes and the sustainability of healthcare systems. Healthcare professionals often overestimate patients' health literacy levels and lack adequate competencies to address limited health literacy effectively. Therefore, promoting understanding through effective health communication between professionals and citizens is becoming increasingly important.

Telerehabilitation with ARC Intellicare to Cope with Motor and Respiratory Disabilities: Results about the Process, Usability, and Clinical Effect of the "Ricominciare" Pilot Study.

Background: "Ricominciare" is a single-center, prospective, pre-/post-intervention pilot study aimed at verifying the feasibility and safety of the ARC Intellicare (ARC) system (an artificial intelligence-powered and inertial motion unit-based mobile platform) in the home rehabilitation of people with disabilities due to respiratory or neurological diseases.

Methods: People with Parkinson's disease (pwPD) or post-COVID-19 condition (COV19) and an indication for exercise or home rehabilitation to optimize motor and respiratory function were enrolled. They underwent training for ARC usage and received an ARC unit to be used independently at home for 4 weeks, for 45 min 5 days/week sessions of respiratory and motor patient-tailored rehabilitation.

The Impact of Reduction Mammaplasty on Breast Sensation: A Systematic Review.

Loss of sensation is one of the most feared complications of breast reduction surgery. Although several techniques have been proposed to maximize sensitivity preservation, the scientific literature still reports contradictory findings. This systematic review aimed to assess whether breast reduction mammaplasty is associated with measurable changes in breast sensation.

Towards a Characterization of Late Talkers: The Developmental Profile of Children with Late Language Emergence through a Web-Based Communicative-Language Assessment.

Children acquire language naturally, but there is variation in language acquisition patterns. Indeed, different internal and external variables play a role in acquiring language. However, there are open research questions about the contribution of different variables to language development.

Criteria for identification of advanced Parkinson's disease: the results of the Italian subgroup of OBSERVE-PD observational study.

Background: Frequency of Advanced Parkinson's Disease (APD) and its clinical characteristics are still not well defined. Here, we aimed to assess APD prevalence in the Italian OBSERVE-PD cohort, as well as treatment eligibility to device-aided therapies (DAT), and to compare the APD clinical judgment with the established Delphi criteria.

Methods: This sub-group analysis of the OBSERVE-PD study was performed on patients enrolled by 9 Movement Disorders centers in Italy.

Telehealth for rehabilitation and recovery after stroke: State of the evidence and future directions.

Aims: The aim of this rapid review and opinion paper is to present the state of the current evidence and present future directions for telehealth research and clinical service delivery for stroke rehabilitation.

Methods: We conducted a rapid review of published trials in the field. We searched Medline using key terms related to stroke rehabilitation and telehealth or virtual care.

The Impact of Lifestyle Interventions in High-Risk Early Breast Cancer Patients: A Modeling Approach from a Single Institution Experience.

A healthy lifestyle plays a strategic role in the prevention of BC. The aim of our prospective study is to evaluate the effects of a lifestyle interventions program based on special exercise and nutrition education on weight, psycho-physical well-being, blood lipid and hormonal profile among BC patients who underwent primary surgery. From January 2014 to March 2017, a multidisciplinary group of oncologists, dieticians, physiatrists and an exercise specialist evaluated 98 adult BC female patients at baseline and at different time points.

A Mixed-apprOach program To help women wIth breast cancer stay actiVE (MOTIVE program): A pilot-controlled study.

Given the benefits of physical activity for breast cancer survivals, this pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of the MOTIVE program at achieving and maintaining the recommended physical activity level in women diagnosed and treated breast cancer, over 16 weeks. We conduct a pilot-controlled study of 20 women diagnosed with breast cancer stage I, II or IIIa. In this study, women of Intervention Arm (n = 10) received the MOTIVE program.

A systematic review that is ``rapid'' and ``living'': A specific answer to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to describe "rapid living" systematic reviews, an innovative methodological design used to systematically synthesize emerging evidence in the field of rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design And Setting: A methodological paper, with a formative approach to rapid living systematic reviews.

Results: Based on our experience, we propose the following definition of rapid living SR: ``A dynamic method of knowledge synthesis that allows for the constant updating of new emerging evidence and refinement of its methodological quality.

Endovascular treatment and cognitive outcome after anterior circulation ischemic stroke.

The impact of reperfusion therapies on cognition has been poorly explored and little knowledge exists. We explored the influence of endovascular treatment (EVT) on cognitive outcome in patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Patients presenting with ischemic stroke due to anterior large vessel occlusion who underwent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) alone or EVT plus IVT were recruited.

Is cell-based therapy more efficacious for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease than placebo or no treatment? - A Cochrane review summary with commentary.

Background: Even if there is sparse evidence of efficacy of stem cell administration for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in preclinical studies, the clinical use of cell-based therapy is yet to be defined.

Objective: To assess the efficacy, feasibility and safety of cell-based therapy in people with ALS/MND, compared with placebo or no treatment.

Methods: A Cochrane Review on the topic was summarized with comments.

Does the Degree of Trunk Bending Predict Patient Disability, Motor Impairment, Falls, and Back Pain in Parkinson's Disease?

Postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) form a spectrum of functional trunk misalignment, ranging from a "typical" parkinsonian stooped posture to progressively greater degrees of spine deviation. To analyze the association between degree of postural abnormalities and disability and to determine cut-off values of trunk bending associated with limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), motor impairment, falls, and back pain. The study population was 283 PD patients with ≥5° of forward trunk bending (FTB), lateral trunk bending (LTB) or forward neck bending (FNB).

Cash, Card or Smartphone: The Neural Correlates of Payment Methods.

Information technology innovations have pushed toward the digitalization of payments. We carried out an exploratory study to understand if and how brain activity can be modulated by the method of payment (cash, card, and smartphone) or the amount of paid money (10€, 50€, 150€), or both. Sixteen healthy, right-handed, volunteers (eight females) underwent a fMRI session, during which 3 runs were presented with block-designed protocol.

Validity of the wall goniometer as a screening tool to detect postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Software-based measurements of postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) are the gold standard but may be time-consuming and not always feasible in clinical practice. Wall goniometer (WG) is an easier, quicker, and inexpensive instrument for screening patients with postural abnormalities, but no studies have investigated its validity so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of the WG to measure postural abnormalities.

Fostering the highest educational standards in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine: The European PRM board strategy for ensuring overall quality of rehabilitation education and care.

The harmonization of staff education is a key element for ensuring the highest standard of rehabilitation care across Europe. With this aim, the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) has created a Common Training Framework, which consists of a common set of knowledge, skills and competencies for postgraduate medical training. As a body linked to the Physical and Rehabilitation (PRM) Section of the UEMS, the European PRM Board is committed to promoting the harmonization of PRM physicians qualifications.

Postural Abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease: An Epidemiological and Clinical Multicenter Study.

Introduction: The overall frequency of postural abnormalities (PA) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown. We evaluated the overall prevalence of PA and assessed the association with demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: For this multicenter, cross-sectional study, consecutive PD outpatients attending 7 tertiary Italian centers were enrolled.

Clinical effects of robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training for Parkinson's disease. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although gait disorders strongly contribute to perceived disability in people with Parkinson's disease, clinical trials have failed to identify which task-oriented gait training method can provide the best benefit. Freezing of gait remains one of the least investigated and most troublesome symptoms.

Objective: We aimed to compare the effects of robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training on endurance and gait capacity in people with Parkinson disease; the secondary aim was to compare the effect of the treatments in people with freezing and/or severe gait disability and assess changes in overall disease-related disability and quality of life.

The KIMORE Dataset: KInematic Assessment of MOvement and Clinical Scores for Remote Monitoring of Physical REhabilitation.

This paper proposes a free dataset, available at the following link,named KIMORE, regarding different rehabilitation exercises collected by a RGB-D sensor. Three data inputs including RGB, depth videos, and skeleton joint positions were recorded during five physical exercises, specific for low back pain and accurately selected by physicians. For each exercise, the dataset also provides a set of features, specifically defined by the physicians, and relevant to describe its scope.

The predictive dysphagia score (PreDyScore) in the short- and medium-term post-stroke: a putative tool in PEG indication.

Purpose: We performed an evaluation of dysphagia in an unselected series of strokes to identify factors causing persisting dysphagia at 1 month after onset and to formulate a predictive score.

Methods: We evaluated the association between dysphagia and clinical aspects (univariate analysis) at the 7th and 30th days after admission. We performed a multivariate logistic regression at the 30th day on the factors that were significant.

An Early Tailored Approach Is the Key to Effective Rehabilitation in the Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of an evidence-based rehabilitation care pathway in the intensive care unit (ICU) in different patient populations.

Design: Observational prospective cohort study, with retrospective controls.

Setting: ICUs of a university hospital.