Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period

The body condition score (BCS) represents a practical but subjective method for assessing body fat reserves. Real time ultrasonography (RTU) has been proposed as an accurate method to objectively measure subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness and predict body fat reserves in cows, horses and donkeys. The aim of the present study was to describe RTU measures of SF thickness during periparturient period in jennies. The present prospective cohort study evaluated six dairy jennies. SF RTU were performed at 15 and 7 days before the presumptive delivery, and 2, 15 and 30 days after delivery. A portable ultrasound machine and multifrequency linear transducer (5–7.5 MHz) was used. RTU images were obtained in six sites (S1–S6). Results at each time point were reported as mean ± standard deviation and compared through time. A total of 180 images were evaluated. RTU technique was easy to perform and well tolerated. No statistically significant differences were found of each site during time, except for S2 and S6a: S2 at T2 and S6a at T1 were significatively different to values obtained at T5. The RTU mean values were above those reported by others, suggesting major physio-logical challenges related to energy balance and fat mobilization in pregnant jennies bred for milking production. BCS and sites through observational time have shown a good and reliable association. Our study could give preliminary indications on fat reserves in different body locations evaluated thanks to RTU and it show no significative variation of SF thickness, in pregnant and lactating jennies

Robot-mediated therapy for paretic upper limb of chronic patients following neurological injury

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of robot-mediated therapy targeted at the motor recovery of the upper limb in chronic patients following neurological injury

Radiographic parameters of the digit in a cohort population of amiata donkeys

Background: The most common musculoskeletal conditions reported in donkeys are related to the foot. Radiographic examinations are clinically important in the diagnosis of foot abnormalities and are commonly used. However, few studies have been conducted to establish the normal radiographic appearance of a donkey’s foot. Aim: To determine the radiographic features of the front digit in healthy Amiata donkeys. Methods: Radiographic examinations were performed on 56 forefeet of 28 Amiata donkeys. Three radiographic views of each front foot were taken: lateromedial, dorsopalmar and dorso-65°proximal/palmarodistal oblique. Seventeen angular and linear radiographic parameters and the crena solearis were evaluated in all forefeet, and 18 morphometric parameters were evaluated in 16 out of 56 forefeet. Statistical analysis was carried out on all the measures assessed. Results: The radiographic appearance of the forefoot was ascertained, and data were reported as median ± standard error, minimum and maximum values. No statistical differences were obtained between the right and left forefeet. Conclusion: The normal baseline parameters of the forefeet of Amiata donkeys were recorded and described and compared with other donkey breeds and horses. The findings highlighted that the donkey breed affects the radiographic parameters of the digit

Upper Limb Spasticity Reduction Following Active Training: A Robot-Mediated Study In Patients With Chronic Hemiparesis

sion of the arm. A 3-month follow-up was performed. Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in both groups after treatment. Some differences were found in elbow motor improvement between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Comparison between groups confirms that active movement training does not result in increased hypertonia, but results in spasticity reduction in antagonist muscles by activating the reciprocal inhibition mechanism. Furthermore, robot-mediated therapy contributes to a decrease in motor impairment of the upper limbs in subjects with chronic hemiparesis, resulting in a reduction in shoulder pain

Ultrasonographic Appearance of Elbow Joints in a Population of Amiata Donkeys

Ultrasound (US) is a well-established technique for investigating joint diseases in horses, complementary to radiography. Few studies have been performed on the ultrasonographic aspect of the elbow joint in horses and no reports are available on donkeys. The aim of this study is to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the elbow joint in healthy donkeys. Descriptive cohort study included 34 elbow joints, which were evaluated in 17 donkeys. Inclusion criteria included no lameness or musculoskeletal diseases in the donkeys. The structures evaluated were the lateral and medial collateral ligaments, ulnaris lateralis proximal tendon, distal biceps brachii tendon, triceps brachii tendon, and the articular space. For each structure, one good-quality image was recorded. The structures were retrospectively assessed for echogenicity, fiber orientation, bone appearance, and shape. The prevalence of the visualized structures was calculated. Cohen κ coefficient was calculated for the repeatability (intraoperator agreement), the reproducibility (interoperator agreement), and the influence of the operator's experience in US examination. The US appearance of the structures was described. Statistical analysis showed scarce-to-moderate agreement concerning the repeatability and mostly scarce-to-good agreement concerning the reproducibility of the US examination; finally, low-to-discrete agreement concerning the operator's experience. Technical difficulties precluded an accurate description of the medial collateral ligament. The healthy animals included were limited. The US examination of the elbow joint in donkeys were similar to the features reported in horses. Individual experience partially influences the execution and the assessment of the US images

The failed liberalisation of Algeria and the international context: a legacy of stable authoritarianism

The paper attempts to challenge the somewhat marginal role of international factors in the study of transitions to democracy. Theoretical and practical difficulties in proving causal mechanisms between international variables and domestic outcomes can be overcome by defining the international dimension in terms of Western dominance of world politics and by identifying Western actions towards democratising countries. The paper focuses on the case of Algeria, where international factors are key in explaining the initial process of democratisation and its following demise. In particular, the paper argues that direct Western policies, the pressures of the international system and external shocks influence the internal distribution of power and resources, which underpins the different strategies of all domestic actors. The paper concludes that analysis based purely on domestic factors cannot explain the process of democratisation and that international variables must be taken into more serious account and much more detailed

Effects of the Alternate Combination of Error-Enhancing and Active Assistive Robot-Mediated Treatments on Stroke Patients

This paper aimed at investigating the effects of a novel robotic-aided rehabilitation treatment for the recovery of the upper limb related capabilities in chronic post stroke patients. Eighteen post-stroke patients were enrolled in a six-week therapy program and divided into two groups. They were all required to perform horizontal pointing movements both in the presence of a robot-generated divergent force field (DF) that pushed their hands proportional to the trajectory error and perpendicular to the direction of motion, and according to the typical active assistive (AA) approach used in robotic therapy. We used a crossover experimental paradigm where the two groups switched from one therapy treatment to the other. The hypothesis underlying this paper was that the use of the destabilizing scenario forced the patient to keep the end-point position as close as possible to the ideal path, hence requiring a more active control of the arm with respect to the AA approach. Our findings confirmed this hypothesis. In addition, when the DF treatment was provided in the first therapy cycle, patients also showed straighter and smoother paths during the subsequent AA therapy cycle, while this was not true in the opposite case. In conclusion, the results herein reported provide evidence that the use of an unstable DF field can lead to better recovery outcomes, and therefore it potentially more effective than solely active assistance therapy alone

Terapia robotica e tossina botulinica nel recupero dell’arto superiore nel paziente emiplegico

VIII Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana Riabilitazione Neurologica, 2008, Montecatini (PT