Positive effects of robotic exoskeleton training of upper limb reaching movements after stroke.

This study, conducted in a group of nine chronic patients with right-side hemiparesis after stroke, investigated the effects of a robotic-assisted rehabilitation training with an upper limb robotic exoskeleton for the restoration of motor function in spatial reaching movements. The robotic assisted rehabilitation training was administered for a period of 6 weeks including reaching and spatial antigravity movements. To assess the carry-over of the observed improvements in movement during training into improved function, a kinesiologic assessment of the effects of the training was performed by means of motion and dynamic electromyographic analysis of reaching movements performed before and after training.

First measurements of inclusive muon neutrino charged current differential cross sections on argon.

The ArgoNeuT Collaboration presents the first measurements of inclusive muon neutrino charged current differential cross sections on argon. Obtained in the NuMI neutrino beam line at Fermilab, the flux-integrated results are reported in terms of outgoing muon angle and momentum. The data are consistent with the Monte Carlo expectation across the full range of kinematics sampled, 0°<θ(μ)<36° and 0 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Surgical treatment of tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

Background: Most patients affected by spinal tuberculosis can be successfully treated conservatively with chemotherapy, external bracing and prolonged rest. Nevertheless, kyphotic deformity, spinal instability and neurological deficit remain a common complication associated with conservative approach.

Aim: To illustrate different indications and treatment modalities for tuberculous spondylodiscitis, focusing on the role of surgery as an adjuvant of effective chemotherapy in the management of selected patients.

Post-operative spondylodiscitis.

Postoperative spine infections (PSIs) are a frequent and dreaded complication of spine surgery. Although different studies have been published, the prevalence of PSIs is thought to be about 5% for most spine surgical procedures. Different risk factors have been identified for PSIs.

Epidemiological and clinical features of pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) is an uncommon but important infection, that represents 3-5% of all cases of osteomyelitis. The annual incidence in Europe has been estimated to be from 0.4 to 2.

Networking properties of cyclodextrin-based cross-linked polymers probed by inelastic light-scattering experiments.

An integrated experimental approach, based on inelastic light-scattering techniques, has been here employed for a multilength scale characterization of networking properties of cyclodextrin nanosponges, a new class of cross-linked polymeric materials built up from natural oligosaccharides cyclodextrins. By using Raman and Brillouin scattering experiments, we performed a detailed inspection of the vibrational dynamics of these polymers over a wide frequency window ranging from gigahertz to terahertz, with the aim of providing physical descriptors correlated to the cross-linking degree and elastic properties of the material. The results seem to suggest that the stiffness of cross-linked polymers can be successfully tuned by acting on the type and the relative amount of the cross-linker during the synthesis of a polymer matrix, predicting and controlling their swelling and entrapment properties.

Cortical source of blink-related delta oscillations and their correlation with levels of consciousness.

Recently, blink-related delta oscillations (delta BROs) have been observed in healthy subjects during spontaneous blinking at rest. Delta BROs have been linked with continuous gathering of information from the surrounding environment, which is classically attributed to the precuneus. Furthermore, fMRI studies have shown that precuneal activity is reduced or missing when consciousness is low or absent.

Excitonic recombination in superstoichiometric nanocrystalline TiO2 grown by cluster precursors at room temperature.

Unprecedented room temperature excitonic emissions are achieved from TiO(2) nanocrystals synthesized at 300 K by supersonic cluster beams. Transmission electron microscopy studies show the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter ranging from 5 to 30 nm. All the samples show mixed rutile and anatase phases as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.

Coenzyme Q metabolism is disturbed in high fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

Oxidative stress is believed to be a major contributory factor in the development of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder worldwide. In this study, the effects of high fat diet-induced NAFLD on Coenzyme Q (CoQ) metabolism and plasma oxidative stress markers in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a standard low fat diet (control) or a high fat diet (57% metabolizable energy as fat) for 18 weeks.

Predictive models for mutations in mismatch repair genes: implication for genetic counseling in developing countries.

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common form of inherited predisposition to colorectal cancer (CRC), accounting for 2-5% of all CRC. LS is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by mutations in the mismatch repair genes mutL homolog 1 (MLH1), mutS homolog 2 (MSH2), postmeiotic segregation increased 1 (PMS1), post-meiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2) and mutS homolog 6 (MSH6). Mutation risk prediction models can be incorporated into clinical practice, facilitating the decision-making process and identifying individuals for molecular investigation.

Quality of life of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between different measures of quality of life (QoL), functional status and mood status in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A sample of 40 patients with ALS was recruited and scales for the evaluation of health-related QoL (SF36), patient-centered QoL (SEIQoL), functional status (ALSFRS) and depression (ZDS) have been administered to them. All the correlations (Pearson's r) between the scores have been considered and the t-test was performed in order to compare male with female patients.

Design and implementation of a training strategy in chronic stroke with an arm robotic exoskeleton.

The distinguishing features of active exoskeletons are the capability of guiding arm movement at the level of the full kinematic chain of the human arm, and training full 3D spatial movements. We have specifically developed a PD sliding mode control for upper limb rehabilitation with gain scheduling for providing "assistance as needed", according to the force capability of the patient, and an automatic measurement of the impaired arm joint torques, to evaluate the hypertonia associated to the movement during the execution of the training exercise. Two different training tasks in Virtual Reality were devised, that make use of the above control, and allow to make a performance based evaluation of patient's motor status.

Changes on EMG activation in healthy subjects and incomplete SCI patients following a robot-assisted locomotor training.

The aim of this study was to understand and measure the lower limbs muscular activation patterns both in healthy and spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects during robot-assisted locomotor exercise. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of four leg's muscles (rectus and biceps femoris, tibialis anterioris and gastrocnemius) was recorded and analyzed at two different percentages of body weight support, three stepping velocities and three different modalities. SCI subjects were recorded also after four weeks training to evaluate the effectiveness of lower limb robot-assisted rehabilitative treatment.

EEG complexity drug-induced changes in disorders of consciousness: a preliminary report.

The goal of this work is to investigate EEG (ElectroEncephaloGram) dynamics after drug intake in patients being in states of Disorders Of Consciousness (DOC) after brain injury. Four patients were involved in the study. All the patients exhibit cerebral lesions located in the same anatomical region.

New advances in titanium-mediated free radical reactions.

Titanium complexes have been widely used as catalysts for C‑C bond-forming processes via free-radical routes. Herein we provide an overview of some of the most significant contributions in the field, that covers the last decade, emphasizing the key role played by titanium salts in the promotion of selective reactions aimed at the synthesis of multifunctional organic compounds, including nucleophilic radical additions to imines, pinacol and coupling reactions, ring opening of epoxides and living polymerization.

The clinical presentation and surgical management of adnexal torsion in the pediatric and adolescent population.

Study Objective: To determine the history, clinical presentation, physical exam, and laboratory findings of ovarian and/or tubal torsion in the pediatric and adolescent population and to examine the surgical management of adnexal torsion.

Design: Descriptive, retrospective chart review.

Setting: Academic children's hospital.

Multicolor core/shell silica nanoparticles for in vivo and ex vivo imaging.

Biocompatible highly bright silica nanoparticles were designed, prepared and tested in small living organisms for both in vivo and ex vivo imaging. The results that we report here demonstrate that they are suitable for optical imaging applications as a possible alternative to commercially available fluorescent materials including quantum dots. Moreover, the tunability of their photophysical properties, which was enhanced by the use of different dyes as doping agents, constitutes a very important added value in the field of medical diagnostics.

Identification of an active dimeric intermediate populated during the unfolding process of the cambialistic superoxide dismutase from Streptococcus mutans.

Superoxide dismutases are enzymes that protect biological systems against oxidative damage caused by superoxide radicals. In this paper, a detailed characterization is presented on the stability of SmSOD, the dimeric cambialistic superoxide dismutase from the dental pathogenic microorganism Streptococcus mutans, towards temperature and guanidine hydrochloride. Thermal and chemical denaturations were investigated by means of circular dichroism, fourth-derivative UV spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements.

Embryo banking between induction and consolidation chemotherapy in women with leukemia.

Objective: To report the results of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) after long-acting GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) and chemotherapy for the purposes of embryo cryopreservation.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University medical center.

Metabolic and cardiac autonomic effects of high-intensity resistance training protocol in Wistar rats.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of metabolic and autonomic nervous control on high-intensity resistance training (HRT) as determined by pancreatic glucose sensitivity (GS), insulin sensitivity (IS), blood lactate ([La]), and heart rate variability (HRV) in rats. Thirty male, albino Wistar rats (292 ± 20 g) were divided into 3 groups: sedentary control (SC), low-resistance training (LRT), and HRT. The animals in the HRT group were submitted to a high-resistance protocol with a progressively increasing load relative to body weight until exhaustion, whereas the LRT group performed the same exercise regimen with no load progression.

Breakpoint characterization of a novel large intragenic deletion of MUTYH detected in a MAP patient: case report.

Background: MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) is a recessive, hereditary, colorectal cancer-predisposing syndrome caused by biallelic mutations in the MUTYH gene. Most MUTYH pathogenic variants are missense mutations, and until recently no gross genomic deletions had been described.

Case Presentation: We have identified a large deletion in the MUTYH gene: a > 4.

Effect of a bacterial lipopolysaccharide treatment on rabbit testis and ejaculated sperm.

In a previous study, we reported the short- and long-term effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on rabbit sperm quality. This study was aimed at exploring the spermatogenesis of the rabbit model focussing on the possible damages occurring to the testis and ejaculated sperm. Twenty New Zealand White rabbit bucks were divided into two groups.

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam.

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector.

Risk perception among Brazilian individuals with high risk for colorectal cancer and colonoscopy.

Background: Risk perception is considered a motivating factor for adopting preventive behaviors. This study aimed to verify the demographic characteristics and cancer family history that are predictors of risk perception and to verify if risk perception is a predictor of colonoscopy adherence.

Methods: Individuals with a family colorectal cancer history as indicated by a proband with cancer were interviewed by telephone.