Design of a Soft Robotic Artificial Cardiac Wall.

Background: In cardiovascular engineering, the recent introduction of soft robotic technologies sheds new light on the future of implantable cardiac devices, enabling the replication of complex bioinspired architectures and motions. To support human heart function, assistive devices and total artificial hearts have been developed. However, the system's functionality, hemocompatibility, and overall implantability are still open challenges.

Mimicking Human Laryngeal Tissues for a Soft Artificial Prosthesis.

The larynx is a vital organ, with three main functions: breathing, swallowing, and phonation. Nevertheless, in the case of advanced laryngeal carcinoma, the total laryngectomy is still the gold standard. This clinical practice causes several physical and social problems to the patient.

Sensorizing objects with soft and flexible sensors based on Laser-Induced Graphene.

Monitoring interaction with objects during manipulation exercises in telerehabilitation allows clinicians to make therapy more personalized and adaptive. In this study we propose to measure the contact pressure, employing a soft, thin, easily fabricated, and cost-effective sensor based on Laser-Induced Graphene. Unlike self-sensorized objects and wearable devices, the proposed sensor can be attached easily to various objects guaranteeing a great variability of exercises without causing discomfort or restricting the hand movement's range.

Epigenetic memory of radiotherapy in dermal fibroblasts impairs wound repair capacity in cancer survivors.

Radiotherapy (RT), a common cancer treatment, unintentionally harms surrounding tissues, including the skin, and hinders wound healing years after treatment. This study aims to understand the mechanisms behind these late-onset adverse effects. We compare skin biopsies from previously irradiated (RT) and non-irradiated (RT) sites in breast cancer survivors who underwent RT years ago.

From diverticulosis to complicated diverticular disease: Progression of myogenic alterations and oxidative imbalance.

Background: The natural history and pathophysiology of diverticular disease (DD) are still uncertain. An ex-vivo human complicated DD (cDD) model has recently shown a predominant transmural oxidative imbalance. The present study aims to evaluate whether the previously described alterations may precede the symptomatic form of the disease.

Importance of integrating mixoplankton into marine ecosystem policy and management-Examples from the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Marine plankton capable of photosynthesis and predation ("mixoplankton") comprise up to 50% of protist plankton and include many harmful species. However, marine environmental management policies, including the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the USEPA, assume a strict dichotomy between autotrophic phytoplankton and heterotrophic zooplankton. Mixoplankton often differ significantly from these two categories in their response to environmental pressures and affect the marine environment in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Multimodal Rehabilitation Management of a Misunderstood Parsonage-Turner Syndrome: A Case Report during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a young adult presented symptoms that were reported at first evaluation to be a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). The patient's history, clinical manifestations related to the onset of pain, unilateral weakness, and physical examination led to a physiotherapy referral. Subsequent instrumental investigations showed an idiopathic brachial neuritis known as Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS).

Wearable accelerometers for measuring and monitoring the motor behaviour of infants with brain damage during CareToy-Revised training.

Background: Nowadays, wearable sensors are widely used to quantify physical and motor activity during daily life, and they also represent innovative solutions for healthcare. In the clinical framework, the assessment of motor behaviour is entrusted to clinical scales, but they are dependent on operator experience. Thanks to their intrinsic objectivity, sensor data are extremely useful to provide support to clinicians.

Effects of Glacial Flour on Marine Micro-plankton: Evidences from Natural Communities of Greenlandic Fjords and Experimental Studies.

Meltwater runoff from glaciers carries particles, so-called glacial flour that may affect planktonic organisms and the functioning of marine ecosystems. Protist microplankton is at the base of marine food webs and thus plays an important role in sustaining important ecosystem services. To assess the effect of glacial flour on photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic microplankton, the spatial distribution of these trophic groups was studied in four Greenlandic fjords during summer.

Supervised versus unsupervised rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are strongly influenced by the adequacy of rehabilitation and the consequent functional recovery. The economic impact of rehabilitation it is not negligible. Inpatient rehabilitation can be 5 to 26 times more expensive than the home-based rehabilitation.

Development of an Innovative Soft Piezoresistive Biomaterial Based on the Interconnection of Elastomeric PDMS Networks and Electrically-Conductive PEDOT:PSS Sponges.

A deeply interconnected flexible transducer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was obtained as a material for the application of soft robotics. Firstly, transducers were developed by crosslinking PEDOT:PSS with 3-glycidyloxypropryl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) (1, 2 and 3% /) and using freeze-drying to obtain porous sponges. The PEDOT:PSS sponges were morphologically characterized, showing porosities mainly between 200 and 600 µm; such surface area dimensions tend to decrease with increasing degrees of crosslinking.

Feasibility of audio-motor training with the multisensory device ABBI: Implementation in a child with hemiplegia and hemianopia.

Spatial representation is crucial when it comes to everyday interaction with the environment. Different factors influence spatial perception, such as body movements and vision. Accordingly, training strategies that exploit the plasticity of the human brain should be adopted early.

Oxidative imbalance and muscular alterations in diverticular disease.

Background: It is still a matter of debate if neuromuscular alterations reflect a primary event in diverticular disease (DD).

Aims: This study aimed to assess colonic wall layers from both stenotic and non-stenotic complicated DD, bio-phenotypic alterations, inflammatory and oxidative status.

Methods: A systematic analysis of colonic specimens obtained from stenotic and non-stenotic DD specimens was conducted and compared with controls.

Retention of Prey Genetic Material by the Kleptoplastidic Ciliate cf. .

Many marine ciliate species retain functional chloroplasts from their photosynthetic prey. In some species, the functionality of the acquired plastids is connected to the simultaneous retention of prey nuclei. To date, this has never been documented in plastidic species.

Metabolic Reliance on Photosynthesis Depends on Both Irradiance and Prey Availability in the Mixotrophic Ciliate, cf. .

Many species of the ciliate genus can acquire functional chloroplasts from a wide range of algal prey and are thus classified as generalist non-constitutive mixotrophs. Little, however, is known about the influence of irradiance and prey availability on their ability to exploit the photosynthetic potential of the chloroplasts, and how this may explain their spatial and temporal distribution in nature. In this study, inorganic carbon uptake, growth, and ingestion rates were measured for cf.

Robotic hand treatment of patients affected by chronic stroke: a monocentric longitudinal pilot study.

Few studies investigated the effects of a robotic treatment in hand motor recovery after stroke. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment by means of Gloreha Sinfonia® robotic glove in hand motor recovery of a chronic stroke sample of patients with different impairment severity. Thirteen chronic stroke subjects were assigned to either active-assisted robotic treatment or passive robotic treatment according to their ability to actively extend wrist for at least 20 degrees.

The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on breast cancer-related lymphedema: A literature review.

Lymphedema is one of the most dreaded complications related to breast cancer surgery, commonly resulting in upper limb functional, esthetic, and psychological impairment. The necessity to improve the efficacy of conventional treatments and the promising effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on lymphangiogenesis in vitro and animal models, has prompted studies involving women affected by breast cancer-related lymphedema. Since intervention modalities and treatment protocols used are different, a review is necessary to verify the effectiveness of ESWT, evaluating the quality of existing studies and the eventual need for further research.

Locally recurrent extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of the shoulder: a case of complete neoadjuvant radiotherapy response.

Background: Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare soft tissue tumor that typically affects the lower limbs of men between the ages of 50 and 60. EMC of the shoulder is rare with a high risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis. A planned surgical excision in sarcoma referral centers (SRCs) is mandatory to obtain the best outcome.

Prophylactic or therapeutic doses of heparins for COVID-19 infection? A retrospective study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a global outbreak. COVID-19 patients seem to have relevant coagulative abnormalities, even if they are not typical of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) of the kind seen in septicaemia. Therefore, anticoagulant therapy with heparins is increasing in interest for a clinical approach to these patients, particularly if older.

Concurrent validity and inter trial reliability of a single inertial measurement unit for spatial-temporal gait parameter analysis in patients with recent total hip or total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of disability and its frequent hip and knee joint localization requires surgical joint replacement treatment. Patients after total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty often show gait abnormalities, whose comprehension is crucial in order to plan an appropriate rehabilitative treatment. Wearable sensor devices can be a valid tool for gait assessment in clinical practice, being relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

Foot Inertial Sensing for Combined Cognitive-Motor Exercise of the Sustained Attention Domain.

Objective: In the past decade, cognitive training tools have been used to improve brain functioning, and some have been applied to cognitive decline in dementia. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise could play an important restorative role toward cognitive impairments. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to present the innovative use of the SmartWalk tool, which combines aerobic exercise and cognitive protocols traditionally used to stimulate cognitive function.

Antioxidant and Photoprotection Networking in the Coastal Diatom .

Little is known on the antioxidant activity modulation in microalgae, even less in diatoms. Antioxidant molecule concentrations and their modulation in microalgae has received little attention and the interconnection between light, photosynthesis, photoprotection, and antioxidant network in microalgae is still unclear. To fill this gap, we selected light as external forcing to drive physiological regulation and acclimation in the costal diatom .

Actigraph assessment for measuring upper limb activity in unilateral cerebral palsy.

Background: Detecting differences in upper limb use in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is challenging and highly dependent on examiner experience. The recent introduction of technologies in the clinical environment, and in particular the use of wearable sensors, can provide quantitative measurement to overcome this issue. This study aims to evaluate ActiGraph GT3X+ as a tool for measuring asymmetry in the use of the two upper limbs (ULs) during the assessment with a standardized clinical tool, the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) in UCP patients aged 3-25 years compared to age-matched typically developing (TD) subjects.