Developing an ecosystem of advanced digital services for healthy ageing by a co-creation methodology: preliminary results of the AGAPE project.

Background: Digital solutions can support healthier ageing and better functioning throughout life; the AGAPE project aimed to co-create and implement a digital ecosystem of services to promote Active and Healthy Ageing, with the involvement of Older adults (OAs) and their formal and informal caregivers. The project's co-creation methodology followed five phases: Pre-selection of devices; Focus groups and questionnaires; Workshops and Living Labs; Pre-Pilot; Pilot. Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the first four phases of the project, including the results of the usability study (phases 3-4).

Circulating particles carotenoids are associated with rehabilitation recovery in Parkinson's disease.

Circulating nanoparticles include Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and other circulating EV-like particles that are known mediators of the trafficking of pathologic proteins associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) progression as well as of products of the oxidative damage that characterizes the disease. In the framework of the VIRTREAD-PD trial protocol, circulating particles were isolated from the serum of 30 subjects with PD before and after an intensive rehabilitation program using a treadmill. Raman spectroscopy was used to verify modifications in the biochemistry of circulating particles and proved that an intensive motor rehabilitation program could affect the molecular composition of EV-like particles in the blood of people with PD (pwPD).

Effects of lower limb botulinum toxin injections on gait functional outcomes in stroke survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Spasticity is a relatively common complication of stroke. In the lower limb, it generally involves the ankle and the foot, often leading to equinovarus deformity. Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections are commonly used to manage spasticity, both in the subacute and chronic phase after stroke; however, their effects on function, particularly gait, are uncertain.

A Pilot Study on Blood Concentration of β-Amyloid (40 and 42) and Phospho-Tau 181 in Horses.

In humans, aging is often accompanied by cognitive decline, as seen in Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, the aging process in horses remains poorly characterized. This study aims to explore the presence of blood-based biomarkers associated with cognitive degeneration in this species.

Enhancing Hand Dexterity Assessment Through Protocol Revision and Pilot Evaluation of the Virtual Eggs Test.

Hand function assessment enables the therapist to select the proper rehabilitation therapy as well as to monitor the recovery progress. The Virtual Eggs Test (VET) stands out from the other tests for hand dexterity evaluation since evaluates both gross and fine dexterity. This is achieved by integrating measures of accuracy and speed in transporting objects with increasing fragilities.

Electrophysiological-based automatic subgroups diagnosis of patients with chronic dysimmune polyneuropathies.

Background: Chronic Dysimmune Polyneuropathies (CDP) encompass a group of conditions characterized by autoimmune etiology targeting myelin and/or axonal components. Subgroups include Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and paraproteinemic neuropathies associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, with anti-MAG antibodies (IgM-MGUS anti-MAG+) and without anti-MAG antibodies (IgM-MGUS anti-MAG-). Their identification is crucial for determining the most suitable treatment options, yet it poses significant challenges.

Is a multidimensional robotic rehabilitation approach feasible in Guillain-Barrè syndrome? Report from a clinical case.

We describe the case of a 54-year-old patient, who was admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit with diagnosis of  Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Neurophysiological investigation revealed an axonal polyneuropathy, with impairment of the motor component and preserved sensory function. Despite rapid diagnosis, therapeutic treatment and customized progressive rehabilitation program, nine months after the onset of the disease he presented severe motor sequelae and functional impairment.

Physiological and Behavioral Evaluation of Shelter Dogs During Veterinary Routine Health Checks.

Shelter environments can be inherently stressful for dogs, a highly social species that forms strong attachment bond with humans. This study evaluated stress responses in 26 shelter dogs during routine veterinary examinations, analyzing behavioral scores alongside physiological and hormonal parameters, including heart rate, body temperature, cortisol (CRT), oxytocin (OXT), serotonin (5-HT), tryptophan (TRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A significant negative correlation was observed between OXT and CRT (ρ = -0.

Application and adaptation of the Virtual Eggs Test for assessing hand dexterity in subjects with stroke: a pilot study.

Objectives: To verify the feasibility of the Virtual Eggs Test (VET) and establish the ranges of fragilities of the Virtual Eggs (VEs) for assessing dexterity of stroke subjects and to collect feedback to improve its usability.

Methods: An observational non-profit study, with a pre-market medical device. It was conducted at a hospital neurorehabilitation unit.

Prediction of the functional outcome of intensive inpatient rehabilitation after stroke using machine learning methods.

An accurate and reliable functional prognosis is vital to stroke patients addressing rehabilitation, to their families, and healthcare providers. This study aimed at developing and validating externally patient-wise prognostic models of the global functional outcome at discharge from intensive inpatient post-acute rehabilitation after stroke, based on a standardized comprehensive multidimensional assessment performed at admission to rehabilitation. Patients addressing intensive inpatient rehabilitation pathways within 30 days from stroke were prospectively enrolled in two consecutive multisite studies.

Predictors of Recovering Full Consciousness: Results From a Prospective Multisite Italian Study.

Background: Improving prognostication in patients with a prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDoC) is among the most challenging issues in neurorehabilitation. The aim of this Italian multisite prospective longitudinal study was to identify valuable predictors of the complete recovery of consciousness (emergence from Minimally Conscious State, eMCS) at 3 months (T1) from the admission in intensive rehabilitation units (IRUs) in pDoC (T0).

Methods: Patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) or MCS admitted within 3 months of injury to 4 Italian IRUs were included.

Does Nutritional Therapy Reduce Disability and Improve Activities of Daily Living After a Stroke? - A Cochrane Review Summary with Commentary.

BackgroundMalnutrition can severely impact post-stroke functional recovery, but the effects of nutritional therapy (NT) on disability and activities of daily living (ADL) after stroke are not thoroughly investigated.Objectivesthe aim of the Cochrane Review by Sakai et al. (2023) was to evaluate the effectiveness of NT in reducing disability and improving ADL after stroke.

It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late: The Potential of Health Behaviors for Cardiovascular Health in Nonagenarians. Data From the Mugello Study.

Background: The Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a composite metric including 4 health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep) and 4 health factors (body mass index, nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure). This study aimed to describe the cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics promoted by LE8 in nonagenarians and to investigate their relationship with mortality at 5 and 10 years.

Methods: This study was conducted within the framework of the Mugello Study, a longitudinal survey on nonagenarians living in the Mugello area (Tuscany, Italy).

Cross-cultural adaptation and multicentric validation of the Italian version of the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs).

Introduction: The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) is the recommended tool to assess consciousness in patients with prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (pDoC). However, the time needed to administer it may limit its use. A shorter tool has been validated: the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs).

Cognitive Bias in Adult Zebrafish (): A Systematic Review.

Objective: In recent years, the use of zebrafish () as laboratory models has significantly increased. Ensuring their welfare is crucial, with the cognitive bias test emerging as a valuable tool to assess their emotional state. This systematic review examines the application of the cognitive bias test in zebrafish research.

Development of the Italian version of the Motricity Index and evaluation of its reliability in adults with stroke.

Background: The Motricity Index (MI) is a commonly used method of measuring muscle strength in post-stroke hemiparesis. This study aimed to produce the MI Italian version (MI-IT) and assess its reliability in subjects with stroke.

Methods: Phase-1: stepwise approach to MI-IT production and pilot-testing with 10 health professionals to ensure clarity of each item and instructions for administration and scoring.

Multiple imputation integrated to machine learning: predicting post-stroke recovery of ambulation after intensive inpatient rehabilitation.

Good data quality is vital for personalising plans in rehabilitation. Machine learning (ML) improves prognostics but integrating it with Multiple Imputation (MImp) for dealing missingness is an unexplored field. This work aims to provide post-stroke ambulation prognosis, integrating MImp with ML, and identify the prognostic influential factors.

Stroke-related epilepsy in the rehabilitation setting: Insights from the inpatient post-stroke rehabilitation study - RIPS.

In stroke survivors, persistent seizure activity could be associated with poor functional outcomes. At the same time, antiepileptic over-treatment could hamper post-stroke recovery. We systematically investigated the occurrence of seizures, the prevalence of epileptic discharges, and delta slow waves on electroencephalogram (EEG) and anti-seizure medication (ASM) management in relation to clinical manifestations and EEG abnormalities.

The Minimal assessment Protocol for Cerebral Stroke 2020 (PMIC2020): a multicenter feasibility study in post-stroke inpatient rehabilitation.

Background: In 2008, a Working Group of the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the first minimum protocol for assessing stroke patients (PMIC) to define functional needs and outcomes. The recent PMIC revision (PMIC2020) introduces a document for all rehabilitation settings, incorporating updated measurement tools.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the PMIC2020 feasibility and administration time (AT) in post-stroke inpatients and to examine the influence of demographic and clinical variables on AT.

Early predictors of long-term participation in patients with severe acquired traumatic injury discharged from Intensive Rehabilitation Unit.

Background: Participation represents the most relevant indicator of successful functioning after a severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), since it correlates with a higher perceived quality of life by patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, studies on Italian population are lacking.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term participation and its early predictors in patients after a sTBI.

A neurophysiological profiling of the heartbeat-evoked potential in severe acquired brain injuries: A focus on unconsciousness.

Unconsciousness in severe acquired brain injury (sABI) patients occurs with different cognitive and neural profiles. Perturbational approaches, which enable the estimation of proxies for brain reorganization, have added a new avenue for investigating the non-behavioural diagnosis of consciousness. In this prospective observational study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the topological patterns of heartbeat-evoked potentials (HEP) between patients experiencing a prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDoC) and patients emerging from a minimally consciousness state (eMCS).