Effects of Motor Rehabilitation on Balance and Functional Activities in Elderly Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy and Recurrent Falls.

To date, little is known about the effects of motor rehabilitation in peripheral neuropathy (PN) patients with a history of recurrent falls (RFH). This study aimed to assess balance and the activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly lower limb PN patients with and without RFH and to verify the effects of motor rehabilitation on balance and ADLs in these patients. We collected data from 64 lower limb PN patients, who underwent a conventional motor rehabilitation program: 35 patients had a history of recurrent falls, and 29 did not.

Functional ability before and after rehabilitation in elderly patients with shortening and/or rotational deformity of the lower limb after hip fracture.

Background: Shortening and rotational deformity of the lower limb (SRD) is a major complication of hip fracture surgery. It causes not only hip joint dysfunction but also functional impairments due to abnormal gait parameters, decreased gait velocity, and poor balance. Despite a number of previous studies, the effect of SRD on the postsurgical recovery of these patients is still not clear.

Determinants of improvement in functional abilities in peripheral neuropathy patients undergoing rehabilitation: the role of Berg Balance Scale items.

Purpose: This prospective observational cohort study aimed to verify whether single Berg Balance Scale (BBS) items were important determinants of improvement in functional abilities in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN).

Methods: Data were collected in 75 older patients with PN performing a standard motor rehabilitation program. Backward stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of outcome measures.

Predictive factors of functional abilities in older patients with peripheral neuropathy.

Background And Aims: Little is known about the outcome predictors in peripheral neuropathy (PN). This prospective observational study aimed to identify possible factors predicting the functional abilities in older patients with PN undergoing motor rehabilitation.

Methods: Data were collected in 80 PN patients, aged over 65 years, performing a standard inpatient motor rehabilitation program.

Predictors of balance in older hip fracture patients undergoing standard motor rehabilitation.

Purpose: Little is known about the factors predicting balance in hip fracture patients. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to assess balance before and after inpatient rehabilitation and, secondarily, to identify factors predicting the balance levels in older hip fracture patients after motor rehabilitation.

Methods: Data were collected in 124 hip fracture patients over a 2-year period.

Use of inhaled devices during a hospital exacerbation of COPD: a summary of an interdisciplinary audit held at ICS Maugeri Pavia, Italy (March-June 2019).

To date treatment protocols in Respiratory and or Internal departments across Italy for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at hospital admission with relapse due to exacerbation do not find adequate support in current guidelines. Here we describe the results of a recent clinical audit, including a systematic review of practices reported in literature and an open discussion comparing these to current real-life procedures. The process was dived into two 8-hour-audits 3 months apart in order to allow work on the field in between meeting and involved 13 participants (3 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 2 internists and 7 pulmonologists).

Functional recovery in hip fracture patients: the role of pharmacotherapy.

Background And Aim: The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to verify the relationship between number of drugs used and functional outcome in hip fracture patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: This study was conducted on 139 patients with hip fracture who underwent a rehabilitation program. Efficiency rate in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and length of stay (LOS) were the outcome measures.

Determinants of functional outcome in hip fracture: the role of comorbidity.

Background And Aims: Executed studies did not clearly identify which index of comorbidity was an independent outcome determinant. The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to address this issue.

Methods: We analyzed 200 consecutive patients with hip fracture.

Osteopathic Manual Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Background: Current interventions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are focused on supporting quality of life (QoL) and easing pain with a multidisciplinary approach.

Objective: Primary aim of this pilot work assessed feasibility, safety, tolerability and satisfaction of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) in 14 ALS outpatients.

Methods: Patients were randomized according to an initial single-blind design (12 weeks, T0-T1), in order to receive OMT (weekly for 4 weeks, and fortnightly for the following 8 weeks) versus usual-care (n=7 each group), followed by an OMT open period (T1-T2, once a week for 8 weeks, n=10).

Aphasia and activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Background: Few studies have investigated the relationships between aphasia and activities of daily living (ADLs) in stroke patients.

Aim: This study was aimed firstly to determine which task within the ADLs has poorer functional recovery in stroke patients with aphasia after rehabilitation, second to identify which specific task is related to aphasia.

Design: This is a prospective and observational study.

Biodex Fall Risk Assessment in the Elderly With Ataxia: A New Age-Dependent Derived Index in Rehabilitation: An Observational Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the Biodex Fall Risk Assessment could provide an age-adjusted index useful for classifying patients at "risk of fall."This was a cohort study conducted on 61 chronic patients, in stable conditions, having a history of ataxia, difficulty in walking or loss of balance, and aged >64 years. These patients were coming from home to our Institute undergoing a period of in-hospital standard rehabilitation.

Determinants of functional outcome in hip fracture patients: the role of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Background: The correlation between single neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional outcome in hip fracture patients is little investigated in the literature, and it is not yet established which neuropsychiatric symptoms are the most important determinants of functional outcome.

Aim: To determine which neuropsychiatric symptoms are the most important determinants of functional outcome.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in 204 consecutive patients with primary diagnosis of hip fracture admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit for a course of rehabilitation.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with hip fracture.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between functional recovery and neuropsychiatric symptoms in hip fracture patients undergoing in-hospital rehabilitation. Very few studies have extensively evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms in hip fracture patients, and the relationship between these symptoms and rehabilitation outcome is not yet clearly defined.

Design: This study was conducted on 200 patients with hip fracture who underwent a rehabilitation program.

[Rehabilitative and economic effectiveness of an outpatient rehabilition practice].

Unlabelled: Up to date studies have assessed costs and outcomes of rehabilitation in outpatients. Aim of the current prospective study was to evaluate the rehabilitative and economical effectiveness of an outpatient rehabilitative practice.

Methods: The study was performed in 349 patients admitted for rehabilitation due to sequelae of orthopaedic surgery (repair of rotator cuff tear, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction), limbs fracture (should, wrist, foot), whiplash neck pain, and chronic spinal pain (low back pain and neck pain).

A case of very rapid progressive ataxia in rehabilitation setting.

Aim: To describe the unusual course of a patient with cerebellar ataxia who underwent rehabilitation.

Method: At admission, the patient underwent motor rehabilitation and assessment by Tinetti Assessment, Klockgether Score, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Trunk Control Test, Fugl-Meyer Scale, Barthel Index, and Mini Mental State Examination.

Results: The patient showed very rapid and severe decline of motor and functional tests during the first month of hospitalization and complete dependence in <2 months, despite rehabilitation.

Effects of corticosteroids injection in rotator cuff tears.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraarticular injections of corticosteroids (triamcinolone) in patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears (RCT).

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: Rehabilitation unit.

Predicting outcome after stroke: the role of aphasia.

Objective: Very few studies have investigated the predictive value of functional outcome, social outcome and discharge destination in patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with aphasia. The aim of this study was to verify whether aphasia is predictor for outcome in patients with stroke with aphasia.

Methods: The study was carried out in 262 patients with primary diagnosis of CVA and aphasia, included over a 6-year period (2001-2007): 131 with and 131 without aphasia.

Rehabilitation length of stay in patients suffering from aphasia after stroke.

Background And Purpose: Few studies have assessed the relationship between aphasia and rehabilitation length of stay (LOS). The aim of the current prospective study was to evaluate LOS in patients with aphasia and its relation to functional improvement.

Methods: The study was performed in 252 patients admitted for rehabilitation follow-up of their first stroke (126 patients with aphasia and hemiparesis [aphasia group] and 126 patients with hemiparesis but without aphasia [control group]).

Increased prevalence of silent myocardial ischaemia and severe ventricular arrhythmias in untreated patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment without overt coronary artery disease.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of silent myocardial ischaemia (SMI) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their relationships with QT interval dispersion (QTD).

Methods: Thirty-three subjects with AD, 39 subjects with MCI, and 29 cognitive healthy control subjects matched for demographic characteristics, hypertensive condition, smoking habits, and laboratory parameters were enrolled. Each subject underwent clinical and cognitive examination, a structural brain imaging study, electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-h ECG recording, 24-h blood pressure monitoring, and echocardiogram.

QT dispersion and left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly hypertensive and normotensive patients.

Inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization as detected by QT dispersion may be a potential leading mechanism of sudden death in hypertensive and normotensive (age related) left ventricular hypertrophy. Aim of this study was to investigate QT dispersion, ventricular arrhythmias, and left ventricular mass index in elderly hypertensive and normotensive patients. Study population consisted of 60 consecutive patients (sex: 34 men/26 women; age: 63 +/- 11 years) with essential arterial hypertension and 48 age and sex-matched control subjects (24 men/24 women; 64 +/- 16 years).

Long-term non-invasive ventilation increases chemosensitivity and leptin in obesity-hypoventilation syndrome.

Background: Long-term nocturnal non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is an effective treatment for obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), improving central carbon dioxide (CO(2)) sensitivity. Leptin might contribute to sustain adequate ventilation in obesity. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of leptin in the OHS pathogenesis looking at its relationship to CO(2) sensitivity before and after NIMV in OHS patients.

QT dispersion and heart rate variability abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease and in mild cognitive impairment.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of cardiovascular changes (i.e., QT interval, QT dispersion (QTD), heart rate variability (HRV), and other cardiovascular measures) in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Microvascular damage and platelet abnormalities in early Alzheimer's disease.

Accumulating evidence from epidemiological and clinical studies suggests that vascular risk factors may be involved in Alzheimer disease (AD). Although the precise contribution of vascular disturbances to the pathogenesis of AD is still unclear, various biochemical and neuropathological data strengthen the view that cerebrovascular deficiencies such as reduced blood supply to the brain and disrupted microvascular integrity in brain parenchyma play a direct or intermediate role in the chain of events ending with a dementia syndrome. The present review focuses on platelet abnormalities and hemostatic alterations in AD.