The beneficial effect of physiotherapy on the cervical spine mobility of ACDF patients and healthy individuals: An original observational cohort comparison research protocol

Purpose: Population aging and certain behaviors associated with modern life are contributing factors for the increasing incidence of degenerative cervical spine conditions (DCSC), and the number of cervical spine surgeries every year is. Our aim was to determine, with an original research protocol, the impact of ACDF and physiotherapy on the range of motion and EMG parameters of patients suffering from DCSC. Patients and Methods: Two comparable subgroups of 29 patients each were recruited for the present investigation. The first cohort was composed of ACDF patients, whereas the second cohort was composed by healthy subjects. Inclinometry/Range of Motion (RoM) analyses of the neck, and cervical muscles electromyography (EMG) were used to evaluate the neck mobility. We investigated the effects of physiotherapy on ROM and EMG results in order to identify possible significant differences between healthy subjects and ACDF patients. Results: A total of 58 patients were included in the final cohort. Extensive statistical analysis disclosed that higher NDI values were associated with a reduction of the Extension and Rotation movements, NDI scores, were found to be negatively associated to EMG voltages for Rotation, independently of the physiotherapy performed either. Extension, Lateral Bending, and Rotation showed significant improvement after just one session of physiotherapy, whereas Flexion and Extension proved to be those that contributed most to the overall neck mobility. Conclusion: The cervical spine fusion contributes to an overall reduction of cervical mobility. This data is confirmed by inclinometer and EMG parameters. Physiotherapy increases neck mobility thus possibly improving the clinical status of patients

“ Renal aplastic dysplasia and ipsilater ectopic ureter obstructing the seminal via: a possible cause of male infertility” part 2

Few cases of unilateral renal agenesis associated with ipsilateral seminal vesicle ectasia or cyst have been reported. Two cases of unilateral renal aplastic dysplasia and ipsilateral ectopic ureter opening in the ejaculatory ducts associated with infertility secondary to bilateral obstruction of the seminal via are reported. Clinical and physical assessment including transrectal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are proposed as a comprehensive algorithm for the diagnostic evaluation of the pelvic cystic masse

A longitudinal study defined circulating microRNAs as reliable biomarkers for disease prognosis and progression in ALS human patients

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with motor neuron degeneration, muscle atrophy and paralysis. To date, multiple panels of biomarkers have been described in ALS patients and murine models. Nevertheless, none of them has sufficient specificity and thus the molecular signature for ALS prognosis and progression remains to be elucidated. Here we overcome this limitation through a longitudinal study, analyzing serum levels of circulating miRNAs, stable molecules that are recently used as promising biomarkers for many types of human disorders, in ALS patients during the progression of the pathology. We performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis and absolute RT quantification of serum samples of ALS patients and healthy controls. The expression levels of five selected miRNAs were quantitatively analyzed during disease progression in each patient and we demonstrated that high levels of miR-206, miR-133a and miR-151a-5p can predict a slower clinical decline of patient functionality. In particular, we found that miR-206 and miR-151a-5p serum levels were significantly up-regulated at the mild stage of ALS pathology, to decrease in the following moderate and severe stages, whereas the expression levels of miR-133a and miR-199a-5p remained low throughout the course of the disease, showing a diagnostic significance in moderate and severe stages for miR-133a and in mild and terminal ones for miR-199a-5p. Moreover, we found that miR-423\u20133p and 151a-5p were significantly downregulated respectively in mild and terminal stages of the disease. These data suggest that these miRNAs represent potential prognostic markers for ALS disease

Dispositional flow scale 2: validity and reliability of the Italian version and discussion of the applications to different samples

The purpose of this paper was to present the validation process of the Italian Version of the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2; Jackson & Eklund, 2002). The scales developed by the authors convey Csikszentmihaly\u2019s idea of flow as a componential construct that can be measured as a state or as a trait. Namely DFS-2 is designed to assess flow both as a general trait (tendency to experience flow in a variety of activities) and a domain-specific trait (tendency to experience it in particular tasks). Following the guidelines for test adaptation, the scale was translated with the method of back translation; particular efforts were devoted to avoid cultural and context biases. The 36 item thus obtained were used in a first pretest (n = 100), following which specific terms included in some items were modified. Subsequently we conducted a second pretest (n = 100) that allowed us to identify the 36 final items. The scale was administered to 843 individuals (60.69% females), between 15 and 74 years. The sample was balanced between workers and students. The main activities described by the subjects led to divide the sample into three categories: students, workers, and sports practitioners (professionals and semi-professionals). The confirmatory factor analysis made using the MLM, showed acceptable fit indices. Reliability and validity were verified and structural invariance was verified on 6 areas described by participants as source of flow (sports, socio-relational, experiential, intellectual/study, work, art and creative activities). Correlation analysis showed significant high values between the nine dimensions considered as components of Flow. The findings of this study provided strong support for the validity and reliability of the DFS-2 in assessing flow experiences for Italian adults, young adults and adolescents. The Italian version of the scale proved suitable for the evaluation of subjective tendency to experiencing flow as a trait characteristic not only in sports but also, and with equal success, in other areas such as study and work. The results are discussed with reference to procedural and cultural issues. The scale revealed to be a useful tool for evaluating well-being of individuals in several research fields of psychology, that can be conveniently included in a battery of tests due to its conciseness. It can certainly be a fruitful resource in cross-cultural researches, and its validity supports existing data in the literature about the invariance of the construct of flow across languages and cultures

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in sport science: a commentary

The aim of this commentary is to provide a brief overview of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and highlight how this technique can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the central nervous system to exercise. We characterise the neuromuscular responses to TMS and discuss how these measures can be used to investigate the mechanisms of fatigue in response to locomotor exercise. We also discuss how TMS might be used to study the corticospinal adaptations to resistance exercise training, with particular emphasis on the responses to shortening/lengthening contractions and contralateral training. The limited data to date suggest that TMS is a valuable technique for exploring the mechanisms of central fatigue and neural adaptation

Dissociation of Motor Task-Induced Cortical Excitability and Pain Perception Changes in Healthy Volunteers

Background: There is evidence that interventions aiming at modulation of the motor cortex activity lead to pain reduction. In order to understand further the role of the motor cortex on pain modulation, we aimed to compare the behavioral (pressure pain threshold) and neurophysiological effects (transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced cortical excitability) across three different motor tasks. Methodology/Principal Findings Fifteen healthy male subjects were enrolled in this randomized, controlled, blinded, cross-over designed study. Three different tasks were tested including motor learning with and without visual feedback, and simple hand movements. Cortical excitability was assessed using single and paired-pulse TMS measures such as resting motor threshold (RMT), motor-evoked potential (MEP), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short intracortical inhibition (SICI), and cortical silent period (CSP). All tasks showed significant reduction in pain perception represented by an increase in pressure pain threshold compared to the control condition (untrained hand). ANOVA indicated a difference among the three tasks regarding motor cortex excitability change. There was a significant increase in motor cortex excitability (as indexed by MEP increase and CSP shortening) for the simple hand movements. Conclusions/Significance: Although different motor tasks involving motor learning with and without visual feedback and simple hand movements appear to change pain perception similarly, it is likely that the neural mechanisms might not be the same as evidenced by differential effects in motor cortex excitability induced by these tasks. In addition, TMS-indexed motor excitability measures are not likely good markers to index the effects of motor-based tasks on pain perception in healthy subjects as other neural networks besides primary motor cortex might be involved with pain modulation during motor training

Mechanisms and therapeutic applications of electromagnetic therapy in Parkinson's disease

© 2015 Vadalà et al. Electromagnetic therapy is a non-invasive and safe approach for the management of several pathological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative pathology caused by abnormal degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta in the midbrain resulting in damage to the basal ganglia. Electromagnetic therapy has been extensively used in the clinical setting in the form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy which can also be used in the domestic setting. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and therapeutic applications of electromagnetic therapy to alleviate motor and non-motor deficits that characterize Parkinson's disease