Effects of non-pharmacological or pharmacological interventions on cognition and brain plasticity of aging individuals.

Brain aging and aging-related neurodegenerative disorders are major health challenges faced by modern societies. Brain aging is associated with cognitive and functional decline and represents the favourable background for the onset and development of dementia. Brain aging is associated with early and subtle anatomo-functional physiological changes that often precede the appearance of clinical signs of cognitive decline. Neuroimaging approaches unveiled the functional correlates of these alterations and helped in the identification of therapeutic targets that can be potentially useful in counteracting age-dependent cognitive decline. A growing body of evidence supports the notion that cognitive stimulation and aerobic training can preserve and enhance operational skills in elderly individuals as well as reduce the incidence of dementia. This review aims at providing an extensive and critical overview of the most recent data that support the efficacy of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions aimed at enhancing cognition and brain plasticity in healthy elderly individuals as well as delaying the cognitive decline associated with dementia

A Case Report of a Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Maxillary Sinus

A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a benign neoplasm, firstly described as a mesenchymal tumor of the pleura. Its incidence range in the head and neck region is about 5\u201327%, but only rarely does it affect paranasal sinuses. The differential diagnosis is challenging, owing to its erosive growth pattern and immuno-histochemical features. SFTs have an aggressive behavior and an important recurrence potential. Therefore, a radical surgical excision is the gold standard therapeutic procedure. A rare SFT originating from the right maxillary sinus is reported here. The 37-year-old patient presented to the outpatient clinic with a painful expansive lesion in the whole right maxillary region. The overlying skin was inflamed and the patient had no epistaxis episodes. The 1.5 dentary element tested negative for vitality; however, a puncture of the lesion led to a hematic spill and no purulent discharge. An endoscopic-guided biopsy was suggestive either of SFT or hemangioperictoma, excluding a malignant neoplasm. A multi-equipe surgical team was activated. The lesion was embolized in order to achieve a good hemostatic control and, after 48 h, the neoplasm was radically excised with a combined open and endoscopic approach. The patient was disease-free at 12-month radiological and clinical follow-up. Given the rarity of this lesion and the delicacy required in addressing head and neck neoplasms, we believe that the present case report might be of help in further understanding how to approach cranio-facial SFTs

More gain less pain: balance control learning shifts the activation patterns of leg and neck muscles and increases muscular parsimony

International audienc

Muscle performance and ankle joint mobility in long-term patients with diabetes-1

G of a patient: the knee has already been fixed to the metallic fork; the forefoot has already been fixed to link 6 of the device; the rearfoot has been inserted in the mould, and it only needs to be further fixed with Velcro stripes; the shank has already been aligned with link 0 of the device. . Detail of a completed foot fixing.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Muscle performance and ankle joint mobility in long-term patients with diabetes"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/9/99</p><p>BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2008;9():99-99.</p><p>Published online 4 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2453126.</p><p></p

Muscle performance and ankle joint mobility in long-term patients with diabetes-0

Th the patient's shank, link 6 with his/her foot. . 2 DOF* metallic fork to maintain the knee in a fixed position. . 3 DOF* adjustable seat, with bowable back. (a: flexion-extension axis; b: pronation-supination axis; c: internal-external rotation axis). * DOF = Degrees Of Freedom<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Muscle performance and ankle joint mobility in long-term patients with diabetes"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/9/99</p><p>BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2008;9():99-99.</p><p>Published online 4 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2453126.</p><p></p

Testicular metastasis of signet ring cell tumour of unknown origin: Diagnostic features of a tricky case

We introduce the diagnostic complexity of a testicular metastasis by signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. Testicular metastases are a rare event but, particular after 50 years of age, a testicular mass could represent a metastasis. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

A nationwide survey of hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency in Italy

Introduction: Hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE type I) or dysfunction (C1-INH-HAE type II) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent episodes of edema with an estimated frequency of 1:50,000 in the global population without racial or gender differences. In this study we present the results of a nationwide survey of C1-INH-HAE patients referring to 17 Italian centers, the Italian network for C1-INH-HAE, ITACA. Methods: Italian patients diagnosed with C1-INH-HAE from 1973 to 2013 were included in the study. Diagnosis of C1-INH-HAE was based on family and/or personal history of recurrent angioedema without urticaria and on antigenic and/or functional C1-INH deficiency. Results: 983 patients (53% female) from 376 unrelated families were included in this survey. Since 1973, 63 (6%) patients diagnosed with C1-INH-HAE died and data from 3 patients were missing when analysis was performed. Accordingly, the minimum prevalence of HAE in Italy in 2013 is 920:59,394,000 inhabitants, equivalent to 1:64,935. Compared to the general population, patients are less represented in the early and late decades of life: men start reducing after the 5th decade and women after the 6th. Median age of patients is 45 (IQ 28-57), median age at diagnosis is 26 years (IQ 13-41). C1-INH-HAE type 1 are 87%, with median age at diagnosis of 25 (13-40); type 2 are 13% with median age at diagnosis of 31 (IQ 16-49). Functional C1INH is ≤50% in 99% of patients. Antigen C1INH is 50% is 95%. This parameter should be therefore considered for initial screening in differential diagnosis of angioedema