Responsiveness and minimal important change of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in people with chronic low back pain undergoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Background: The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), a widely used tool to assess catastrophizing related to spinal disorders, shows valid psychometric properties in general but the minimal important change (MIC) is still not determined.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess responsiveness and MIC of the PCS in individuals with chronic low back pain (LBP) undergoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Multidisciplinary program based on early management of psychological factors reduces disability of patients with subacute low back pain: one-year results of a randomized controlled study.

Background: Multidisciplinary rehabilitation induces disability improvement, pain reduction and favors return-to-work in patients with subacute low back pain (LBP). Current research advises additional high-quality trials.

Aim: The aim of this study is to test the effect of a multidisciplinary rehabilitative program incorporating cognitive-behavioral interventions compared to general physiotherapy alone to treat subacute LBP, and to appraise its long-term extent.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Undetermined Etiology around the World.

Background: Epidemics of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) are occurring on the Pacific coast of Central America, in Sri Lankan and Indian agricultural communities, and in other hotspots around the world. CKDu primarily affects male agricultural workers, and traditional risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension are not involved in the pathogenesis. Although a causal factor has not yet been identified, culprits include repeated volume depletion-induced kidney injury, as well as exposure to agrichemicals, heavy metals and nephrotoxins contained in drugs, beverages, and traditional medications.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Fremantle Knee Awareness Questionnaire in Italian subjects with painful knee osteoarthritis.

Background And Aim: Growing attention is being given to utilising physical function measures to better understand and manage knee osteoarthritis (OA). The Fremantle Knee Awareness Questionnaire (FreKAQ), a self-reported measure of body-perception specific to the knee, has never been validated in Italian patients. The aims of this study were to culturally adapt and validate the Italian version of the FreKAQ (FreKAQ-I), to allow for its use with Italian-speaking patients with painful knee OA.

Use of Machine Learning to Investigate the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) towards Early Autism Screening.

In the past two decades, several screening instruments were developed to detect toddlers who may be autistic both in clinical and unselected samples. Among others, the Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) is a quantitative and normally distributed measure of autistic traits that demonstrates good psychometric properties in different settings and cultures. Recently, machine learning (ML) has been applied to behavioral science to improve the classification performance of autism screening and diagnostic tools, but mainly in children, adolescents, and adults.

Task-oriented exercises improve disability of working patients with surgically-treated proximal humeral fractures. A randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up.

Background: General physiotherapy is a common means of rehabilitation after surgery for proximal humeral fracture (PHF). Better-targeted exercises seem worthy of investigation and the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a rehabilitation program including task-oriented exercises in improving disability, pain, and quality of life in patients after a PHF.

Methods: By means of a randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up, 70 working patients (mean age of 49 ± 11 years; 41 females), who were selected for open reduction and internal fixation with plates caused by PHF, were randomized to be included in an experimental (n = 35) or control group (n = 35).

Safety and protection in endoscopic services during phase II of COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires appropriate measures for containing infection spreading. Endoscopic procedures are considered at increased risk of infection transmission. We evaluated organizational aspects and personal behaviours in Italian Endoscopic Units during phase II of the pandemic.

A Neurodevelopment Approach for a Transitional Model of Early Onset Schizophrenia.

In the last decades, the conceptualization of schizophrenia has dramatically changed, moving from a neurodegenerative process occurring in early adult life to a neurodevelopmental disorder starting be-fore birth, showing a variety of premorbid and prodromal symptoms and, in relatively few cases, evolving in the full-blown psychotic syndrome. High rates of co-occurring different neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, predating the onset of SCZ, and neurobio-logical underpinning with significant similarities, support the notion of a pan-developmental disturbance consisting of impairments in neuromotor, receptive language, social and cognitive development. Con-sidering that many SCZ risk factors may be similar to symptoms of other neurodevelopmental psychi-atric disorders, transition processes from child & adolescent to adult systems of care should include both high risk people as well as subject with other neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders with different levels of severity.

Construct validity of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale: a factor analytic and Rasch study.

Background: Studies on structural validity of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) showed uncertain unidimensionality.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate dimensionality and internal construct validity of the QBPDS, using advanced psychometric methods.

Design: The design of this study is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional observational study.

Lymphedema quality of life questionnaire (LYMQOL): cross-cultural adaptation and validation in Italian women with upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer.

Purpose: There is growing interest in measures that assess upper-limb lymphedema after breast cancer. Since no validated Italian version of the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire for upper limbs (LYMQOL-UL) exists, we aimed to culturally adapt and validate an Italian version (LYMQOL-UL-IT) in order to allow its use in Italian patients.

Materials And Methods: The LYMQOL-UL-IT was developed by means of forward-backward translation, review by an expert committee and a test of the pre-final version to evaluate its comprehensibility.

Rituximab or Cyclophosphamide in the Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy: The RI-CYCLO Randomized Trial.

Background: A cyclic corticosteroid-cyclophosphamide regimen is the first-line therapy for membranous nephropathy. Compared with this regimen, rituximab therapy might have a more favorable safety profile, but a head-to-head comparison is lacking.

Methods: We randomly assigned 74 adults with membranous nephropathy and proteinuria >3.

Scale Shortening and Decrease in Measurement Precision: Analysis of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and Its Short Forms in an Italian-Speaking Population With Neck Pain Disorders.

Objective: Short (2- and 4-item) forms of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) have been proposed, but their measurement precision at the individual level is unclear.The purpose of this study was to analyze the Rasch psychometric characteristics of PSEQ and its 3 short forms (one 4-item and two 2-item versions) in an Italian-speaking population with neck pain (NP) disorders and compare their measurement precision at the individual level through calculation of the test information function (TIF).

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a prospective single-group observational study was conducted.

Review article: safety of new biologic agents for inflammatory bowel disease in the liver.

New biologic agents (vedolizumab, ustekinumab and tofacitinib) represent an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases and have been recently approved. However, with a rapidly evolving complement of advanced targeted therapies, new concerns about their potentially undesirable effects on liver function emerge. In particular, little is known about safety data in patients with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus chronic infections, cirrhosis and in transplanted patients who are accumulating.

The effectiveness of biofeedback for improving pain, disability and work ability in adults with neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Biofeedback is used to optimise muscle activation patterns in people with neck pain.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of electromyographic and pressure biofeedback on pain, disability and work ability in adults with neck pain.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Multimodal exercises integrated with cognitive-behavioural therapy improve disability of patients with failed back surgery syndrome: .

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of multimodal exercises integrated with cognitive-behavioural therapy on disability, pain, and quality of life in patients suffering from failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and to appraise its extent in the long term.

Methods: By means of a parallel-group superiority-controlled trial, 150 outpatients were randomly assigned to a 10-week individual-based multimodal programme of task-oriented exercises integrated with cognitive-behavioural therapy (experimental group, 75 patients) or individual-based general physiotherapy (control group, 75 patients). Before treatment, 10 weeks later (post-treatment), and 12 months after the end of treatment, the Oswestry Disability Index (primary outcome), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Pain Catastrophising Scale, a pain intensity numerical rating scale and the Short-Form Health Survey were evaluated.

Effect of Muscular Exercise on Patients With Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.

Muscular dystrophy causes weakness and muscle loss. The effect of muscular exercise in these patients remains controversial. To assess the effects of muscular exercise vs.

A further Rasch analysis of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire in adults with chronic low back pain suggests the revision of its rating scale.

Background: Low-back pain (LBP) is a common health problem and one of the leading causes of activity limitation and work absence. LBP determines high societal burdens, as it is the most common cause of medically certified sick leave and early retirement, with economic impacts similar to other high-cost conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and its two subscales, in subjects with chronic low back pain (LBP).

Editorial: Two Centimeters More or Less. How Much Does It Matter to an Adolescent or a Young Adult With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Stimulants are the first-line medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and methylphenidate (MPH) is the first choice in Europe, with good efficacy and acceptable tolerability in a short-term course during childhood and adolescence. ADHD is, however a chronic condition, and patients can receive pharmacological treatment for a long period of time with understandable concerns related to long-term risks. Beside the well-known mild and transient adverse effects (ie, sleep disturbance, nervousness, anorexia, headache, and abdominal pain), in the last decade, emphasis has been placed on several less common, but potentially more serious, effects occurring with prolonged use, and in particular on a possible drug-related impact of medications on growth and pubertal maturation.

Rasch analysis of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short version (IIQ-7) in women with urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a clinical condition that can negatively affect activities, psychosocial well-being, and health-related quality of life. The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short version (IIQ-7) is useful to quantify quickly the urinary incontinence-related life-impact. Previous psychometric studies on the IIQ-7, using classical test theory methods, demonstrated good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and a substantial unidimensionality of the tool.

Protective role of DJ-1 in endotoxin-induced acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of sepsis and an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A cornerstone of sepsis-associated AKI is dysregulated inflammation, leading to increased tissue oxidative stress and free radical formation, which leads to multiple forms of cell death. DJ-1 is a peroxiredoxin protein with multiple functions, including its ability to control cellular oxidative stress.

Reading-writing disorder in children with idiopathic epilepsy.

Several studies have documented learning disabilities (LDs) in subjects with epilepsy, who have been shown to be at greater risk of mild neuropsychological damage, with the consequent risk of academic failure. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the peculiarities of reading and writing disorders in subjects with idiopathic epilepsy. The reading and writing performance of 35 children affected by reading and writing disorders and idiopathic epilepsy (R/WD + E group) has been compared with the performance of 37 children with only reading and writing disorders (R/WD group).

A SIGE-SINGEM-AIGO technical review on the clinical use of esophageal reflux monitoring.

Patients with esophageal symptoms potentially associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, or cough represent one of the most frequent reasons for referral to gastroenterological evaluation. The utility of esophageal reflux monitoring in clinical practice is: (1) to accurately define reflux burden, (2) to segregate patients according to reflux monitoring results as true GERD, reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn, and (3) to establish a treatment plan. With this in mind, in the last decade, investigations and technical advances, with the introduction of impedance-pH monitoring and wireless pH capsule, have enhanced our understanding and management of GERD.