Empowering beyond Pain: Pain Neuroscience Education Interventions in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care.

Chronic pain is a common consequence of breast cancer (BC) and its treatments. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is a non-pharmacological intervention that adopts a biopsychosocial approach and has already been proven to be effective for different chronic pain syndromes. The present review aims to critically assess clinical trials comparing the efficacy of PNE to traditional biomedical education (BME) in reducing BC-related pain and improving quality of life.

Impact of Cannabidiol and Exercise on Clinical Outcomes and Gut Microbiota for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors: A Case Report.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains a clinical challenge for up to 80% of breast cancer survivors. In an open-label study, participants underwent three interventions: standard care (duloxetine) for 1 month (Phase 1), oral cannabidiol (CBD) for 2 months (Phase 2), and CBD plus multi-modal exercise (MME) for another 2 months (Phase 3). Clinical outcomes and gut microbiota composition were assessed at baseline and after each phase.

Empowerment, Pain Control, and Quality of Life Improvement in Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients through Pain Neuroscience Education: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study Protocol (EMPOWER Trial).

The treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) has improved patients' prognosis but often leads to adverse events and sequelae affecting quality of life (QoL). Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention in this field. Preliminary data have shown the beneficial effect of PNE in BC survivors.

Double tendon transfer for massive rotator cuff tear: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Repairing massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs) can often be technically challenging due to tendon retraction, bursal fibrosis, and muscular fatty infiltration that usually occurs, often resulting in poor outcomes and an unpredictable prognosis. Although some other surgical management options have been reported, there is a lack of literature supporting tendon transfers in the presence of combined anterior and posterior-superior irreparable rotator cuff tears. We describe a case where a combined transfer of the latissimus dorsi and lower trapezius tendons was employed to treat an MRCT affecting the anterior and posterior superior portions of the rotator cuff.

Italian translation and cultural adaptation of the Agitated Behavior Scale (ABS-I) in patients with acquired brain injuries.

Objective: The objective of this study was to produce a cross-cultural adaptation in Italian of the Agitated Behavior Scale (ABS), originally developed in English, as the first of two stages that also include cross-cultural validation and allow a clinical scale to be used in the proper setting such as rehabilitation units.

Methods: In order to adapt the ABS scale to a different cultural environment, five consecutive steps were performed: (1) forward translations (n = 8), (2) synthesis of the 8 forward translations to obtain a first shared italian version (ABS_I_trial), (3) back translations (n = 3), (4) creation of an expert committee to evaluate forward and back translations and finally (5) the cognitive debriefing.

Results: After the five steps, including forward translations and back translations, the process of committee verification and judgement and the evaluative step of cognitive debriefing, high comprehensibility of all items was found, resulting in an Italian translation version of ABS suitable for application in a clinical setting.

Spectral exponent assessment and neurofilament light chain: a comprehensive approach to describe recovery patterns in stroke.

Introduction: Understanding the residual recovery potential in stroke patients is crucial for tailoring effective neurorehabilitation program We propose using EEG and plasmatic Neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels as a model to depict longitudinal patterns of stroke recovery.

Methods: We enrolled 13 patients (4 female, mean age 74.7 ± 8.

Neurophysiological investigations in a case of primary paroxysmal hemicrania-tic syndrome.

Background: The association between paroxysmal hemicrania (PH) and trigeminal neuralgia-the so-called PH-tic syndrome-has rarely been described. However, a correct diagnosis is crucial since both disorders require specific treatments. Little is known about pathophysiological mechanisms, and, to date, there are no electrophysiological studies in patients with PH-tic syndrome.

Complications and clinical outcomes with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique for midshaft clavicle fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Clavicle fractures are among the most common upper limb fractures in adults, with the midshaft region being the most frequently affected site. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) has emerged as an alternative to the traditional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) technique, offering potential advantages. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to explore the results of this technique in the existing literature, with emphasis on the occurrence of surgical complications and functional outcomes and also to provide a comprehensive comparison of MIPO and ORIF in the management of midshaft clavicle fractures.

Dissociations between spontaneous electroencephalographic features and the perturbational complexity index in the minimally conscious state.

The analysis of spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) is a cornerstone in the assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). Although preserved EEG patterns are highly suggestive of consciousness even in unresponsive patients, moderately or severely abnormal patterns are difficult to interpret. Indeed, growing evidence shows that consciousness can be present despite either large delta or reduced alpha activity in spontaneous EEG.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Quadripulse rTMS over the Visual Cortex: A Proof-of-Concept Study in Healthy Volunteers and Chronic Migraine Patients with Medication Overuse Headache.

In chronic migraine with medication overuse (CM-MOH), sensitization of visual cortices is reflected by (i) increased amplitude of stimulus-evoked responses and (ii) habituation deficit during repetitive stimulation. Both abnormalities might be mitigated by inhibitory transcranial neurostimulation. Here, we tested an inhibitory quadripulse repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS-QPI) protocol to decrease durably visual cortex excitability in healthy subjects (HS) and explored its therapeutic potential in CM-MOH patients.

Neuroimaging markers of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in patients with migraine with aura.

Background: The Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a transient neurological disturbance characterized by sensory distortions most frequently associated with migraine in adults. Some lines of evidence suggest that AIWS and migraine might share common pathophysiological mechanisms, therefore we set out to investigate the common and distinct neurophysiological alterations associated with these conditions in migraineurs.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study acquiring resting-state fMRI data from 12 migraine patients with AIWS, 12 patients with migraine with typical aura (MA) and 24 age-matched healthy controls (HC).

Cancer symptom burden negatively affects health-related quality of life in patients undergoing prehabilitation prior to liver resection: results from a 12-week randomized controlled trial.

Cancer symptoms negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer awaiting liver resection. Prehabilitation maintained HRQoL after surgery. Future studies should test whether relieving cancer symptoms can improve HRQoL.

Imaging Correlates between Headache and Breast Cancer: An [F]FDG PET Study.

This study aimed to examine brain metabolic patterns on [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in breast cancer (BC), comparing patients with tension-type headache (TTH), migraine (MiG), and those without headache. Further association with BC response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was explored. In this prospective study, BC patients eligible for NAC performed total-body [F]FDG PET/CT with a dedicated brain scan.

Electrophysiological findings in migraine may reflect abnormal synaptic plasticity mechanisms: A narrative review.

Background: The cyclical brain disorder of sensory processing accompanying migraine phases lacks an explanatory unified theory.

Methods: We searched Pubmed for non-invasive neurophysiological studies on migraine and related conditions using transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials. We summarized the literature, reviewed methods, and proposed a unified theory for the pathophysiology of electrophysiological abnormalities underlying migraine recurrence.

Where do we look for the next breakthrough in sleep research?

The wakefulness-sleep cycle sets the pace of our life. Sleep research examines the transition between wakefulness and sleep, its hormonal regulation, and its pathological disruption. Understanding sleep mechanisms would improve quality-of-life well beyond sleep itself.

The Role of Female Reproductive Hormones in the Association between Migraine and Breast Cancer: An Unanswered Question.

Accumulating epidemiological studies have investigated a possible interconnection between migraine (Mi) and breast cancer (BC) because of the strong link between these diseases and female reproductive hormones. This review aims to consolidate findings from epidemiological studies and explore biologically plausible hypothetical mechanisms related to hormonal pathways. Current evidence suggests a protective role of Mi in BC development, particularly in case-control studies but not in cohort ones.

Profiling the Spectrum of Headache Disorders on 440 Breast Cancer Patients: Highlights on Clinical and Pathological Mechanisms.

Although widely studied, the association between migraines (M) and breast cancer (BC) risk remains evasive. In this prospective single-center study, 440 early or locally advanced BC patients were enrolled at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital. Clinical and demographical data were collected.

Medical cannabis is effective for cancer-related pain: Quebec Cannabis Registry results.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis (MC) in reducing pain and concurrent medications in patients with cancer.

Methods: This study analysed data collected from patients with cancer who were part of the Quebec Cannabis Registry. Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) questionnaires, total medication burden (TMB) and morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) recorded at 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month follow-ups were compared with baseline values.

Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness in akinetic mutism? Insights from a multimodal longitudinal exploration.

The clinical assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) relies on the observation of behavioural responses to standardised sensory stimulation. However, several medical comorbidities may directly impair the production of reproducible and appropriate responses, thus reducing the sensitivity of behaviour-based diagnoses. One such comorbidity is akinetic mutism (AM), a rare neurological syndrome characterised by the inability to initiate volitional motor responses, sometimes associated with clinical presentations that overlap with those of DoC.

Beyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness.

Neurophysiological markers can overcome the limitations of behavioural assessments of Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). EEG alpha power emerged as a promising marker for DoC, although long-standing literature reported alpha power being sustained during anesthetic-induced unconsciousness, and reduced during dreaming and hallucinations. We hypothesized that EEG power suppression caused by severe anoxia could explain this conflict.

Habituation deficit of visual evoked potentials in migraine patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Objectives: Migraine is one of the most frequent clinical manifestations of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). The comorbidity between these two diseases has been only partially investigated. We aimed to observe whether neurophysiological alterations described in migraineurs in visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were present in hEDS patients with migraine.

Quality of life changes over time and predictors in a large head and neck patients' cohort: secondary analysis from an Italian multi-center longitudinal, prospective, observational study-a study of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) head and neck working group.

Purpose: The present study examined the longitudinal trajectories, through hierarchical modeling, of quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer, specifically symptoms burden, during radiotherapy, and in the follow-up period (1, 3, 6, and 12 months after completion of radiotherapy), through the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Head and Neck questionnaire, formed by three factors.

Narrative Review and Analysis of the Use of "Lifestyle" in Health Psychology.

Lifestyle is a complex and often generic concept that has been used and defined in different ways in scientific research. Currently, there is no single definition of lifestyle, and various fields of knowledge have developed theories and research variables that are also distant from each other. This paper is a narrative review of the literature and an analysis of the concept of lifestyle and its relationship to health.