Modification of heart rate variability induced by focal muscle vibration in patients with severe acquired brain injury.

Background/purpose: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a biomarker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) reaction in persons with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) who undergo a rehabilitation treatment, such as focal muscle vibration (FMV).This study aims to evaluate if and how FMV can modulate HRV and to compare potential differences in FMV modulation in HRV between patients with sABI and healthy controls.

Methods: Ten patients with sABI and seven healthy controls have been recruited.

Daytime sleepiness and sleep quality in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Background: Sleep abnormalities have been reported in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), but data are scanty. We investigated their presence and correlation in a large CMT patients' series.

Methods: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to CMT patients of the Italian registry and controls.

Focal vibration in dysphagia: A technological treatment for severe acquired brain injury rehabilitation.

Background: A patient with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) may experience impairment in the physiological swallowing process. Many studies in the rehabilitation field have sought to understand the effects of local vibration therapy at various levels of the central nervous system and the possible benefits in neuro-rehabilitation. There are few studies directed towards the use of vibratory energy for improving swallowing and phonatory function.

Community Health Assessment Tools Adoptable in Nursing Practice: A Scoping Review.

The WHO European Region defined the role of a new central professional for primary care, the Family and Community Nurse (FCN). The introduction of an FCN in the framework of health policies highlights a key role of nurses in addressing the needs of families and communities. A scoping review was conducted in order to identify and describe the available tools which have been adopted for the assessment of community health needs by FCNs.

Role of Sport Activity on Quality of Life in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A Patients.

The present study aims to investigate the benefits induced by physical activity/practiced sport in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A). Patients were divided into sport and no-sport groups according to their sports performance habit. Thirty-one patients were enrolled, of which 14 practiced sports and 17 did not.

Frequency, entity and determinants of fatigue in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Background And Purpose: Fatigue, a disabling symptom in many neuromuscular disorders, has been reported also in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The presence of fatigue and its correlations in CMT was investigated.

Methods: The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was administered to CMT patients from the Italian Registry and a control group.

Severe Acquired Brain Injury: Prognostic Factors of Discharge Outcome in Older Adults.

Severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) is a leading cause of disability and requires intensive rehabilitation treatment. Discharge from the rehabilitation ward is a key moment in patient management. Delays in patient discharge can adversely affect hospital productivity and increase healthcare costs.

Anxiety and depression in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: data from the Italian CMT national registry.

Background: There is little information about neuropsychiatric comorbidities in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). We assessed frequency of anxiety, depression, and general distress in CMT.

Methods: We administered online the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS) to CMT patients of the Italian registry and controls.

Homotopic reduction in laser-evoked potential amplitude and laser-pain rating by abdominal acupuncture.

Background: The neural mechanism underlying the analgesic effect of acupuncture is largely unknown. We aimed at investigating the effect of abdominal acupuncture (AA) on the laser-evoked potential (LEP) amplitude and laser-pain rating to stimulation of body parts either homotopic or heterotopic to the treated acupoint.

Methods: Laser-evoked potentials were recorded from 13 healthy subjects to stimulation of the right wrist (RW), left wrist (LW) and right foot (RF).

Pregnancy in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Data from the Italian CMT national registry.

Objective: To collect information on frequency of pregnancy and delivery complications in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and on CMT course during pregnancy.

Methods: Through an ad hoc online questionnaire, we investigated pregnancy and neuropathy course in women with CMT adhering to the Italian CMT Registry. Data were compared to those of controls (recruited among friends and unaffected relatives) and the Italian (or other reference) population.

Comparison of virtual reality rehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare a 6-week virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation programme with a conventional rehabilitation programme in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Design: Prospective, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatients.

Ultrasound guidance increases diagnostic yield of needle EMG in plegic muscle.

Objectives: To increase the specificity of motor unit potential (MUPs) detection by using ultrasound guided electromyography (USG-EMG) in patients with muscle plegia due to traumatic nerve lesions.

Methods: Forty-six patients with recent nerve trauma underwent baseline standard EMG (ST-EMG) evaluation with evidence of absent MUPs. In 41 of them, ST-EMG was repeated after 2-3 months (T1) and the patients were accordingly divided in two groups: ST-EMG+ (if MUPs were detected) or ST-EMG- (MUPs not detected).

ZNRD1-AS and RP11-819C21.1 long non-coding RNA changes following painful laser stimulation correlate with laser-evoked potential amplitude and habituation in healthy subjects: A pilot study.

Background: Non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs that act as regulators of gene expression; they are implicated in various human diseases and have been reported to be involved in the modulation of pain. We aimed to study whether: (a) lncRNAs modifications could be found in an experimental model of pain; (b) there was a correlation between lncRNA changes and laser evoked potential (LEP) amplitude/laser-pain rating.

Methods: Laser evoked potentials were recorded from 11 healthy subjects to both left hand and perioral region stimulation.

Novel sensory paradigms for neuromodulation in disorders of consciousness in traumatic brain injury.

Purpose Of Review: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. In cases of severe TBI, disorders of consciousness (DoC) can occur and therapeutic options for these conditions are few and of limited efficacy. Sensory stimulation, an instrument to improve arousal and awareness, is frequently applied in the neurorehabilitation of DoC, but scientific evidence supporting its efficacy is limited.

Cognitive reserve as a useful variable to address robotic or conventional upper limb rehabilitation treatment after stroke: a multicentre study of the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi.

Background And Purpose: Rehabilitation plays a central role in stroke recovery. Besides conventional therapy, technological treatments have become available. The effectiveness and appropriateness of technological rehabilitation are not yet well defined; hence, research focused on different variables impacting recovery is needed.

Treadmill training in patients affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study.

Background And Purpose: Muscle-strengthening, stretching or proprioceptive treatments may slow symptom progression in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy. The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of treadmill training in CMT1A.

Methods: We planned a multicenter, prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study.

Are novel outcome measures for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease sensitive to change? The 6-minute walk test and StepWatch™ Activity Monitor in a 12-month longitudinal study.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is the most common inherited neuropathy, yet has no available pharmacological therapy. Past pharmacotherapy trials failed to provide positive results, possibly due to a poor choice of outcome measures. We previously performed a study in which we validated the 6-minute walk test and StepWatch™ Activity Monitor in CMT.

Low-Frequency rTMS of the Primary Motor Area Does Not Modify the Response of the Cerebral Cortex to Phasic Nociceptive Stimuli.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique of cortical stimulation. Although the exact mechanism of action is not clearly understood, it has been postulated that rTMS action on pain depends most on stimulation sites and stimulation parameters. Most studies concern high-frequency rTMS of the primary motor cortex (M1).