The Central Biobank and Virtual Biobank of BIOMARKAPD: A Resource for Studies on Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Biobanks are important resources for biomarker discovery and assay development. Biomarkers for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (BIOMARKAPD) is a European multicenter study, funded by the EU Joint Programme-Neurodegenerative Disease Research, which aims to improve the clinical use of body fluid markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective was to standardize the assessment of existing assays and to validate novel fluid biomarkers for AD and PD.

Global Multimorbidity Patterns: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based, Multi-Country Study.

Background: Population ageing challenges health care systems due to the high prevalence and impact of multimorbidity in older adults. However, little is known about how chronic conditions present in certain multimorbidity patterns, which could have great impact on public health at several levels. The aim of our study was to identify and describe multimorbidity patterns in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

Bitemporal epilepsy: A specific anatomo-electro-clinical phenotype in the temporal lobe epilepsy spectrum.

Purpose: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with bilateral ictal involvement (bitemporal epilepsy, BTLE) is an intriguing form of TLE whose characteristics need to be carefully identified as BTLE patients are not good surgical candidates. The purpose of this study was to define the anatomo-electro-clinical features differentiating BTLE from unilateral TLE (UTLE).

Methods: Forty-eight BTLE patients underwent long-term video-EEG monitoring (VEEG) and experienced seizures with bilateral temporal lobe involvement.

Understanding the Impact of Brain Disorders: Towards a 'Horizontal Epidemiology' of Psychosocial Difficulties and Their Determinants.

Objective: To test the hypothesis of 'horizontal epidemiology', i.e. that psychosocial difficulties (PSDs), such as sleep disturbances, emotional instability and difficulties in personal interactions, and their environmental determinants are experienced in common across neurological and psychiatric disorders, together called brain disorders.

Antiepileptic drugs and intrauterine death: A prospective observational study from EURAP.

Objective: To compare the risk of spontaneous abortions and stillbirth associated with maternal use of different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

Methods: The EURAP registry is an observational international cohort study primarily designed to determine the risk of major congenital malformations (MCMs) after prenatal AED exposure. Using EURAP data, we prospectively monitored pregnancies exposed to the 6 most common AED monotherapies and to polytherapy.

Dose-dependent teratogenicity of valproate in mono- and polytherapy: an observational study.

Objective: To assess the risk of major congenital malformations (MCMs) in association with maternal use of valproic acid (VPA) in monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, and its relationship with dose.

Methods: The analysis was based on prospectively acquired data from EURAP, a registry enrolling women treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in early pregnancy, in which the primary outcome is presence of MCMs at 1 year after birth. Exposure was defined as type and dose of AEDs at time of conception.

Head and Neck Veins of the Mouse. A Magnetic Resonance, Micro Computed Tomography and High Frequency Color Doppler Ultrasound Study.

To characterize the anatomy of the venous outflow of the mouse brain using different imaging techniques. Ten C57/black male mice (age range: 7-8 weeks) were imaged with high-frequency Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Angiography and ex-vivo Microcomputed tomography of the head and neck. Under general anesthesia, Ultrasound of neck veins was performed with a 20 MHz transducer; head and neck Magnetic Resonance Angiography data were collected on 9.

The MITOS system predicts long-term survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: The choice of adequate proxy for long-term survival, the ultimate outcome in randomised clinical trials (RCT) assessing disease-modifying treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a key issue. The intrinsic limitations of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), including non-linearity, multidimensionality and floor-effect, have emerged and its usefulness argued. The ALS Milano-Torino staging (ALS-MITOS) system was proposed as a novel tool to measure the progression of ALS and overcome these limitations.

Longitudinal changes in functioning and disability in patients with disorders of consciousness: the importance of environmental factors.

Disorders of consciousness are neurological conditions associated with low levels of functioning which pose a serious challenge to public health systems. The current study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in functioning in patients with disorders of consciousness and to identify associated biopsychosocial factors using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. An Italian sample of 248 patients was assessed longitudinally.

Caregivers of patients with disorder of consciousness: burden, quality of life and social support.

Objective: To evaluate quality of life (QoL) and its predictors, psychological burden and level of perceived social support in caregivers of patients with disorder of consciousness.

Materials & Methods: World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF), State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire, Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and the Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) were administered. One-sample t-tests were performed to compare WHOQOL-BREF, STAI-Y and STAXI-2 mean scores to the respective normative sample (NS).

Informal caregivers of patients with disorders of consciousness: experience of ambiguous loss.

Primary Objective: This study aimed at better understanding of the complex psychological process underlying the demanding situation of taking care of a relative with disorder of consciousness (DOCs).

Research Design: This is a qualitative study based on the grounded theory constant comparative method.

Methods And Procedures: Narratives of informal caregivers were collected through in-depth interviews with a psychologist.

Paroxysmal phenomena in severe disabled children with refractory seizures. From clinical to long-video-EEG processing data to re-examine suspect events.

To provide an estimate of the occurrence of misdiagnosis in paroxysmal events in institutionalized children with severe disabilities and refractory epilepsy. A multi-step diagnostic survey, from observational to long-term video-EEG monitoring was performed in 46 severe disabled children. Multirater Kappa statistic was used to assess agreement between investigators and to individualize children who remained with dubious events.

Long term natural history data in ambulant boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: 36-month changes.

The 6 minute walk test has been recently chosen as the primary outcome measure in international multicenter clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy ambulant patients. The aim of the study was to assess the spectrum of changes at 3 years in the individual measures, their correlation with steroid treatment, age and 6 minute walk test values at baseline. Ninety-six patients from 11 centers were assessed at baseline and 12, 24 and 36 months after baseline using the 6 minute walk test and the North Star Ambulatory Assessment.

Factors associated with active aging in Finland, Poland, and Spain.

Background: Continuous population aging has raised international policy interest in promoting active aging (AA). AA theoretical models have been defined from a biomedical or a psychosocial perspective. These models may be expanded including components suggested by lay individuals.

Risk factors for mortality in 600 patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states.

A significant proportion of patients who survive traumatic or nontraumatic severe acquired brain injuries experiences disorders of consciousness. The vegetative state and the minimally conscious state may have different prognoses, and while some patients regain awareness, others have negative outcomes and die. The aim of this work is to identify age-related, medical and behavioural risk factors for mortality in those patients.

Usefulness of ICF-CY to define functioning and disability in very low birth weight children: a retrospective study.

Background: Preterm birth is associated with variable degrees of brain injury, adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and continuing special health care needs.

Study And Aims: This observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study aims to describe the functional features of VLBW infants using the ICF-CY classification and to identify the association between gender, twinship, birth weight, gestational age, adjusted age and functioning as defined by the ICF biopsychosocial model.

Sample: 56 VLBW infants (corrected age of 12-24 months) were consecutively enrolled.

Physical and mental health, anxiety and depressive symptoms in caregivers of patients in vegetative state and minimally conscious state.

Unlabelled: Caregivers of patients in vegetative state and minimally conscious state play a crucial role in the process of taking care and, as previous studies reported, they can suffer of high burden and negative health outcomes. The aim of this national cross-sectional study was to assess whether physical and mental health of caregivers, considering gender differences, is related to the presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, age and patient's disease duration. Four-hundred and eighteen caregivers, 294 women and 124 men, completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, Beck Depression Inventory, second version and Short Form-12.

The Italian version of the Nociception Coma Scale.

Pain assessment and management represent a crucial issue in planning rehabilitative programmes and pharmacological therapies in chronic patients. In noncompetent and nonverbally communicative individuals, as for patients in a vegetative state or minimally conscious state, the evaluation of the presence and intensity of pain is often complex. Validated scales and instruments to standardize the observation of patients' behavioural and motor responses to noxious stimuli are needed.

Burnout in healthcare professionals working with patients with disorders of consciousness.

Objective: Healthcare and social professionals working with patients with chronic diseases such as disorders of consciousness (DOCs) are at risk for developing burnout, a stress-induced occupational syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate burnout among professionals working with patients with DOCs in post-acute and long-term care institutions.

Participants And Methods: Healthcare and social professionals were enrolled in 78 Italian institutions and completed the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which investigates emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA).

Functioning and disability of children and adolescents in a vegetative state and a minimally conscious state: identification of ICF-CY-relevant categories.

Children in a vegetative state (VS) and a minimally conscious state (MCS) experience severe limitations as a consequence of nervous system deficits and require consistent environmental support. However, disability in VS and MCS children has never been described following a model that accounts for the presence of the symptoms, limitations and the support required. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to describe the functioning and disability of children in VS and MCS using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - version for Children and Youth (ICF-CY).

Burden and needs of 487 caregivers of patients in vegetative state and in minimally conscious state: results from a national study.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the burden of caregivers of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOCs), considering psychosocial difficulties, health condition and financial aspects.

Design: This is an observational multi-centre study. Four hundred and eighty-seven participants were assessed using the Caregiver Needs Assessment, Family Strain Questionnaire, Short Form 12, Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y, Beck Depression Inventory, Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire and Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences.

Burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative state and minimally conscious state.

Objectives: To assess differences in the burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS).

Materials And Methods: The Family Strain Questionnaire, Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences, Caregiver Needs Assessment, Short Form-12, Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Differences in psychological condition between caregivers of VS and MCS patients, with different disease duration and hosting facility were assessed with Kruskall-Wallis test and factors associated with the overall levels of burden with UNIANOVA.

The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model in mental health: a research critique.

Engel applied the term biopsychosocial to medicine to emphasize the need to take into account the psychologic and social aspects of medical practice. After an overview of the history of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model, we review criticisms of the model to reformulate its deficiencies and then analyze its application in mental health care. The objectives of this paper are 4-fold: (1) to examine the use of the BPS model since Engel's 1977 article to the present; (2) to examine the reasons for the popularity of the BPS model as well as the problems it faces when applied to mental health care; (3) to introduce two instruments, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health and the INTERMED, which implement the BPS model; and (4) to show why the BPS model is not yet a model of mental health practice.

Functioning and disability in persons with epilepsy.

Objective: This study aimed to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) to describe the functioning of people with epilepsy. The main questions we asked were as follows: what are the difficulties that people with epilepsy face on the body level and in daily activities? What are the most relevant environmental factors needed to describe disability in patients with epilepsy?

Design: Data collected using the ICF checklist are presented.

Results: Forty-nine patients were interviewed.