: Although treatments using thermal water have yielded beneficial effects in respiratory tract infections, the effects of thermal water under experimental conditions similar to those triggered by SARS-CoV-2 have yet to be evaluated. This study aimed to assess whether thermal water could interfere with the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and host cells and influence inflammatory factors. : Human nasal epithelial primary cells (HNEpCs) were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the presence or absence of thermal water or tap water.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lymphedema represents a frequent cause of disability for patients undergoing oncological treatments and, being a chronic, non-reversible pathology, requires targeted and continuous rehabilitation treatments. To date, the studies available on the use of ultrasound in patients with lymphedema mainly report descriptive data; therefore, with this study, we wanted to describe in a more objective way the typical ultrasound alterations found in these patients, measuring the thickness of the different superficial structures, and defining subcutis echogenicity.
Methods: 14 patients affected by secondary lymphedema of the upper limbs were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study (12 had breast cancer and 2 with melanoma as their primary diagnosis).
Unlabelled: Background and Clinical Significance: Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss and fat infiltration, poses a significant health burden for aging populations. Quantitative Color 2D and 3D radiodensitometry provides a powerful tool to monitor muscle quality and quantity through CT imaging. This study assessed the impact of a ten-year-long home-bed gym exercise intervention on muscle quality in an elderly subject using CT-derived radiodensitometric analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScoliosis is a three-dimensional spinal deformity characterized by a lateral deviation of at least 10° Cobb, categorized into idiopathic and non-idiopathic forms, caused by identifiable factors like congenital abnormalities, neuromuscular conditions, or genetic syndromes. This case report discusses a 15-year-old girl with growth delay and growth hormone (GH) deficiency who experienced rapid scoliosis progression. Initial evaluations were normal, and electroencephalography (EEG) showed nonspecific alterations, but further assessment revealed a MYH3 gene variant associated with scoliosis, short stature, and distinct facial features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/objectives: Lymphedema, a common source of disability among oncology patients, necessitates continuous targeted rehabilitation. Recent studies have revealed the role of connective tissue in this pathology; however, despite existing research on ultrasound (US) use in lymphedema, no studies have specifically addressed the use of ultrasound to assess fasciae in patients with lymphedema. This study aims to provide a more objective characterization of typical US alterations in these patients by quantifying the thickness of superficial and deep fasciae and comparing them with those of healthy volunteers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMega scientific conferences increasingly suffer from the need for short and poster presentations without discussion. An alternative is to organize workshops in hotels large enough to accommodate all participants. This significantly increases the opportunities for constructive discussion during breakfasts, lunches, dinners and long evenings that can bring together experts of scientific and clinical sub-specialties and young fellows.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Transl Myol
September 2024
We appreciate the insightful comments provided by Josef Finsterer regarding our article on the first evidence on the effects of the Home Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol as a potential intervention to mitigate age-related muscle loss based on the preliminary positive results of a Padua prospective observational study.1 We acknowledge the importance of the points raised and would like to address them in this response. At the University of Padua, we conducted a study aimed at evaluating the impact of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol on various outcomes in elderly individuals, which was published in 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aims to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the adherence to conservative AIS treatment. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine of at least 10 degrees. Compliance rates in conservative treatments are influenced by various factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex clinical challenge resulting in functional disability. Neurological recovery does not always ensure functional recovery, as extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations affect muscle function. This study evaluates hyaluronan (HA) and collagen concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) in unilateral lower limb PNI rats to explore systemic ECM alterations following PNI and their impacts on functional recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report the gelation propensity of three gelators derived from l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-Dopa), where the amino group is derivatized with three different fatty acids (lauric acid, palmitic acid, and azelaic acid). The long aliphatic side chains should introduce additional van der Waals interactions among the molecules, contributing to the self-assembly process. The hydrogels have been prepared with the pH change method, and both the hydrogels and the corresponding aerogels have been analyzed using several techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We wanted to identify prevalent symptoms and patterns of Long COVID syndrome, assess the impact on health-related quality of life, and explore factors linked to lower quality of life, including vaccination status and symptom count, in a real-life cohort.
Design: observational retrospective study.
Results: We assessed 133 patients and 85 completed the evaluations.
Objective: Exoband (by Moveo, Padova, Italy) functions as a walking brace, comprising a belt and two leg loops connected by a mechanism that stores energy during the initial phase of the gait cycle and releases it in the subsequent phase. This enhances hip flexor thrust, leading to functional improvement in walking for individuals with conditions characterized by proximal weakness. It has been approved as a passive wearable device for individuals with impaired walking abilities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Transl Myol
May 2024
Background: Foot drop syndrome (FDS), characterized by severe weakness and atrophy of the dorsiflexion muscles of the feet, is commonly found in patients with severe acquired brain injury (ABI). If the syndrome is unilateral, the cause is often a peroneal neuropathy (PN), due to compression of the nervous trunk on the neck of the fibula at the knee level; less frequently, the cause is a previous or concomitant lumbar radiculopathy. Bilateral syndromes are caused by polyneuropathies and myopathies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypothalamic dysfunction, hypotonia, cognitive deficits, and hyperphagia, primarily resulting from genetic abnormalities on chromosome 15. Among its varied manifestations, musculoskeletal issues, notably scoliosis, pose important challenges in management. This study aims to investigate differences in postural-motor development and spinal range of movement between preadolescents and adolescents with PWS, with and without scoliosis, while also exploring the potential impact of scoliosis on caregiving burden, an aspect yet to be thoroughly explored in existing literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: In post-stroke patients with equinovarus foot deformity (EVFD), soft tissue rearrangements may contribute to muscle overactivity when a muscle is stretched or tension is applied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of surgically restoring the triceps surae (TS) length and lengthening ability on TS spasticity.
Methods: This retrospective study included chronic post-stroke patients who underwent neuro-orthopedic surgery inclusive of TS lengthening.
Scientific conferences increasingly suffer from the need for short presentations in which speakers like to dwell on the details of their work. A mitigating factor is to encourage discussion and planning of collaborations by organizing small meetings in a hotel large enough to host all attendees. This extends discussions' opportunities during morning breakfasts, lunches, dinners and long evenings together.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) often suffer from walking-related pain (WRP), muscle weakness, foot deformities, and reduced ankle dorsiflexion (DF), which affects their ability to walk and daily activities. Functional surgery (FS) can restore foot deviations, affecting the loading ability during gait. We assessed the short-term effects of FS in patients with CMT on WRP, foot and ankle structure, and function, along with patients' perceived improvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the last year, Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), a web software based on artificial intelligence has been showing high potential in every field of knowledge. In the medical area, its possible application is an object of many studies with promising results. We performed the current study to investigate the possible usefulness of ChatGPT in assessing low back pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Phys Rehabil Med
February 2024
Introduction: Periodic increases in West Nile virus (WNV) infections have been documented. Proper rehabilitative management is essential for these patients, who may experience limitations in daily activities even after the resolution of the acute infection. Since there are currently no globally accepted guidelines, our aim is to conduct a best-evidence synthesis on rehabilitative management for patients with neuroinvasive WNV.
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