Effects of Action Observation Therapy in Patients Recovering From Total Hip Arthroplasty Arthroplasty: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of action observation therapy (AOT) compared with written information in patients submitted to a physical therapy program after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: We conducted a prospective clinical trial. Twenty-four patients with THA, 62.5% female (aged 69.0 +/- 8.5 years), received AOT in addition to conventional physical therapy (experimental group) or written information in addition to conventional physical therapy (exercise and information group) for 10 sessions. Outcomes used were visual analog scale, hip active and passive range of motion, Barthel Index, Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey, Tinetti Scale, and Lequesne Index measurements. All measures were collected at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine the interventions effects within groups and between groups. Results: No relevant baseline differences were observed between groups. Both treatments produced statistically significant improvements on visual analog scale, active and passive range of motion, Barthel Index, SF-36, Tinetti Scale, and Lequesne Index immediately after the intervention (all, P < .001). SF-36 (physical functioning subscale) revealed a statistically significant intergroups difference (P = .02) after treatment. Conclusions: Both treatments were effective at improving pain, functional status, quality of life, and gait features in patients with primary THA. In addition to conventional physical therapy, AOT improved perceived physical function more than written information

A rotational and vibrational investigation of phenylpropiolonitrile (C6_6H5_5C3_3N)

The evidence for benzonitrile (C$_6$H$_5$CN}) in the starless cloud core TMC-1 makes high-resolution studies of other aromatic nitriles and their ring-chain derivatives especially timely. One such species is phenylpropiolonitrile (3-phenyl-2-propynenitrile, C$_6$H$_5$C$_3$N), whose spectroscopic characterization is reported here for the first time. The low resolution (0.5 cm$^{-1}$) vibrational spectrum of C$_6$H$_5$C$_3$N} has been recorded at far- and mid-infrared wavelengths (50 - 3500 cm$^{-1}$) using a Fourier Transform interferometer, allowing for the assignment of band centers of 14 fundamental vibrational bands. The pure rotational spectrum of the species has been investigated using a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectrometer (6 - 18 GHz), a cavity enhanced FTMW instrument (6 - 20 GHz), and a millimeter-wave one (75 - 100 GHz, 140 - 214 GHz). Through the assignment of more than 6200 lines, accurate ground state spectroscopic constants (rotational, centrifugal distortion up to octics, and nuclear quadrupole hyperfine constants) have been derived from our measurements, with a plausible prediction of the weaker bands through calculations. Interstellar searches for this highly polar species can now be undertaken with confidence since the astronomically most interesting radio lines have either been measured or can be calculated to very high accuracy below 300 GHz.Comment: 7 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in J. Mol. Spe

The effect of pregnancy on subsequent relapse from Graves' disease after a successful course of antithyroid drug therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy and the postpartum (PP) period are associated with profound changes of the immune system, which largely influence the clinical activity of autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pregnancy and/or the PP period in driving a clinical relapse of hyperthyroidism in patients with Graves' disease (GD) who are in remission after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment. Data were retrospectively collected from 150 female patients with GD, who were assigned to two groups according to the occurrence of a successful pregnancy after ATD withdrawal. RESULTS: Relapsing Graves' hyperthyroidism was observed in 70 of 125 patients in group I (no pregnancy after ATD withdrawal) (56.0%) and 21 of 25 patients in group II (pregnancy after ATD withdrawal) (84.0%) (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis (dependent variable: relapse/nonrelapse; covariates: age, positive family history for autoimmune thyroid disease, duration of treatment with ATD, number pregnancies at diagnosis, number of pregnancies after ATD withdrawal) showed a significant effect only for the number of pregnancies after ATD withdrawal [4.257 (1.315-13.782)]. The effect was ascribed to the PP period rather than to pregnancy itself because in 20 of 21 patients of group II (95.2%), the relapse of Graves' hyperthyroidism occurred between 4 and 8 months after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The PP period is significantly associated with a relapse of hyperthyroidism in GD patients being in remission after ATD. We therefore recommend that patients with GD in remission after a course of ATD should have their thyroid function tested at 3 and 6 months after delivery

A general model for the identification of specific PAHs in the far-IR

Context. In the framework of the interstellar PAH hypothesis, far-IR skeletal bands are expected to be a fingerprint of single species in this class. Aims. A detailed model of the photophysics of interstellar PAHs is required for such single-molecule identification of their far-IR features in the presently available Infrared Space Observatory data and in those of the forthcoming Herschel Space Observatory mission. Methods. We modelled the detailed photophysics of a vast sample of species in different radiation fields, using a compendium of Monte-Carlo techniques and quantum-chemical calculations. This enabled us to validate the use of purely theoretical data and assess the expected accuracy and reliability of the resulting synthetic far-IR emission spectra. Results. We produce positions and intensities of the expected far-IR features which ought to be emitted by each species in the sample in the considered radiation fields. A composite emission spectrum for our sample is computed for one of the most favourable sources for detection, namely the Red Rectangle nebula. The resulting spectrum is compared with the estimated dust emission in the same source, to assess the dependence of detectability on key molecular parameters. Conclusions. Identifying specific PAHs from their far-IR features is going to be a difficult feat in general, still it may well be possible under favourable conditions.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures + 18 pages of online appendix. Accepted for publication in A&A (09/06/2006

Inhalation of the prodrug PI3K inhibitor CL27c improves lung function in asthma and fibrosis

PI3K activation plays a central role in the development of pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling. PI3K inhibitors may thus offer an improved therapeutic opportunity to treat non-resolving lung inflammation but their action is limited by unwanted on-target systemic toxicity. Here we present CL27c, a prodrug pan-PI3K inhibitor designed for local therapy, and investigate whether inhaled CL27c is effective in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Mice inhaling CL27c show reduced insulin-evoked Akt phosphorylation in lungs, but no change in other tissues and no increase in blood glycaemia, in line with a local action. In murine models of acute or glucocorticoid-resistant neutrophilic asthma, inhaled CL27c reduces inflammation and improves lung function. Finally, inhaled CL27c administered in a therapeutic setting protects from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, ultimately leading to significantly improved survival. Therefore, local delivery of a pan-PI3K inhibitor prodrug reduces systemic on-target side effects but effectively treats asthma and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis

Personalized at-home neurofeedback compared with long-acting methylphenidate in an european non-inferiority randomized trial in children with ADHD

Neurofeedback (NF) has gained increasing interest among non-pharmacological treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). NF training aims to enhance self-regulation of brain activities. The goal of the NEWROFEED study is to assess the efficacy of a new personalized NF training device, using two different protocols according to each child's electroencephalographic pattern, and designed for use at home. This study is a non-inferiority trial comparing NF to methylphenidate. The study is a prospective, multicentre, randomized, reference drug-controlled trial. One hundred seventy-nine children with ADHD, aged 7 to 13 years will be recruited in 13 clinical centres from 5 European countries. Subjects will be randomized to two groups: NF group (Neurofeedback Training Group) and MPH group (Methylphenidate group). Outcome measures include clinicians, parents and teachers' assessments, attention measures and quantitative EEG (qEEG). Patients undergo eight visits over a three-month period: pre-inclusion visit, inclusion visit, 4 "discovery" (NF group) or titration visits (MPH group), an intermediate and a final visit. Patients will be randomized to either the MPH or NF group. Children in the NF group will undergo either an SMR or a Theta/Beta training protocol according to their baselineTheta/Beta Ratio obtained from the qEEG. This is the first non-inferiority study between a personalized NF device and pharmacological treatment. Innovative aspects of Mensia Koala™ include the personalization of the training protocol according to initial qEEG characteristics (SMR or Theta/Beta training protocols) and an improved accessibility of NF due to the opportunity to train at home with monitoring by the clinician through a dedicated web portal. NCT02778360 . Date registration (retrospectively registered): 5-12-2016. Registered May 19, 2016

Adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines and outcomes in the hospitalized elderly with different types of pneumonia

Background: Few studies evaluated the clinical outcomes of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP) in relation to the adherence of antibiotic treatment to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in hospitalized elderly people (65 years or older). Methods: Data were obtained from REPOSI, a prospective registry held in 87 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia (ICD-9 480-487) or prescribed with an antibiotic for pneumonia as indication were selected. The empirical antibiotic regimen was defined to be adherent to guidelines if concordant with the treatment regimens recommended by IDSA/ATS for CAP, HAP, and HCAP. Outcomes were assessed by logistic regression models. Results: A diagnosis of pneumonia was made in 317 patients. Only 38.8% of them received an empirical antibiotic regimen that was adherent to guidelines. However, no significant association was found between adherence to guidelines and outcomes. Having HAP, older age, and higher CIRS severity index were the main factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines was poor, particularly for HAP and HCAP, suggesting the need for more adherence to the optimal management of antibiotics in the elderly with pneumonia