Influence of Preoperative Diagnosis of Nutritional Disorders on Short-Term Outcomes After Hip Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study of Older Adults.

: Nutritional disorders may affect short-term recovery after major orthopaedic surgery, but evidence is lacking. This study assessed whether and how different nutritional disorders diagnosed at admission could influence early recovery after hip replacement. : A prospective analytical study was designed to include 60 patients scheduled for elective primary hip replacement and assess their nutritional status to diagnose 5 malnutrition phenotypes: undernutrition, sarcopenia, obesity, sarcopenic obesity, and sarcopenic undernutrition.

The correlations between serum bone biomarkers and those related to metabolic and hormonal profile, low-grade inflammation and redox balance, in lean and overweight PCOS adolescent girls.

Introduction: It has been proven that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and impaired bone metabolism. However, to the best of our knowledge, neither the relationship between indices of bone turnover in adolescent girls was examined, nor were lean and overweight PCOS young females compared in this regard, which were the aims of our study.

Methods: Thirty-nine PCOS subjects, aged 14-18 years, were assigned to one of the two groups: Ov/Ob (overweight/obese group, = 14) and lean (non-overweight/non-obese group, = 25).

Gender difference in cross-sectional area and fat infiltration of thigh muscles in the elderly population on MRI: an AI-based analysis.

Background: Aging alters musculoskeletal structure and function, affecting muscle mass, composition, and strength, increasing the risk of falls and loss of independence in older adults. This study assessed cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration (FI) of six thigh muscles through a validated deep learning model. Gender differences and correlations between fat, muscle parameters, and age were also analyzed.

Health-related reference intervals for heavy metals in non-exposed young adults.

Objectives: Heavy metals (HMs) concentrations vary with living environments, diet, and personal habits. This study aims to establish health-related reference intervals (RIs) for selected HMs in healthy, non-occupationally exposed young adults living in an urban environment.

Methods: The Uni4Me study enrolled 154 healthy university volunteers (median age: 23 years) to assess the concentrations of seven HMs (lead, nickel, cadmium, zinc, chromium, cobalt, and mercury) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-EOS).

The bone-muscle unit: from mechanical coupling to soluble factors-mediated signaling.

Skeletal muscles (SKM) and bones form a morpho-functional unit, interconnected throughout life primarily through biomechanical coupling. This relationship serves as a key reciprocal stimulus, but they also interact via various hormones, such as sex steroids, growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH-IGF1) axis hormones, and adipokines like leptin and adiponectin. Additionally, myokines (released by muscles) and osteokines (released by bones) facilitate dense crosstalk, influencing each other's activity.

New insights in preanalytical quality.

The negative impact of preanalytical errors on the quality of laboratory testing is now universally recognized. Nonetheless, recent technological advancements and organizational transformations in healthcare - catalyzed by the still ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 pandemic) - have introduced new challenges and promising opportunities for improvement. The integration of value-based scoring systems for clinical laboratories and growing evidence linking preanalytical errors to patient outcomes and healthcare costs underscore the critical importance of this phase.

Malnutrition and Disability: A Retrospective Study on 2258 Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery.

: Malnutrition's prevalence and its relationship with functional ability in patients with end-stage spine pathologies, i.e., any disease of the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, and associated joints requiring surgical intervention, are yet to be explored.

Novel biomarkers in bone pathophysiology: Establishing reference intervals and biological variations estimates for serum leptin, sclerostin, lipocalin-2, osteoprotegerin, resistin and Dickkopf-related protein-1 from the European biological variation study (EuBIVAS) populations.

A range of biomarkers of bone metabolism are thought to mediate adipose tissue-bone crosstalk and fulfil a homeostatic role. While considered clinically relevant, their utility and application appears limited by lack of data characterising biological variability and reference intervals rather than by analytical issues. We have therefore studied the biological variation (BV) of these biomarkers.

Circulating biomarkers associated with walking performance in elderly subjects: exploring miRNAs, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers.

Aging phenotype is characterized by musculoskeletal impairment that leads to diminished mobility and physical function. This study investigated whether circulating miRNAs and metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers may reflect the walking performance of the elderly. Elderly hospitalized for an acute condition and recruited from the ReportAge Biobank were grouped, based on their walking performance, in active subjects (n = 23, age: 83.

Efficacy of Kinesiotaping on Functional Outcomes, Pain, and Edema in the Early Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

: The aim of our study was to verify whether the application of Kinesiotaping in addition to the usual treatment was superior to the usual treatment alone regarding functional outcome, pain, and edema in the first 13 days after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. : The study sample ( = 71) comprised 42.3% men and the mean age was 68.

Health literacy: a new challenge for laboratory medicine.

Poor health literacy and inappropriate test prescribing hamper the value of laboratory medicine. The disintermediation between test producers and interpreters may happen both in Point of Care Tests, where doctor mediation is provided, but laboratory expert supervision is not, and in Direct to Consumer Testing, where no medical mediation is provided at all. In these cases, the respect for patient's autonomy must not preclude the principles of non-maleficence (as an individual concern) and justice (as a societal concern), as wrong test interpretation can generate confusion, anxiety, inappropriate social behavior, useless medical examinations and considerable cost increase.

Links between accuracy and effectiveness of laboratory medicine equipment: use of the EUnetHTA core model to compare two analyzers by measuring HbA1c.

Objectives: In the field of Laboratory Medicine, the evolution of knowledge and the innovation of technologies are the basis of analytical and diagnostic progress, leading to the development of new solutions based on innovative technologies. However, these advances must be accompanied by evidence of appropriateness, diagnostic effectiveness, and organizational efficiency, considering the test's first impact on patient outcomes.

Methods: The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a valid management tool to support Laboratory Medicine professionals in assessing technologies and which is the most appropriate to adopt.

Chronotype, sleep hygiene, and sleep characteristics among athletes of different disciplines.

The objective of the study was to assess chronotype, sleep hygiene, and sleep characteristics of Italian athletes in order to identify differences among sport disciplines (team- vs individual-sports), level of competition (Elite vs Non-Elite) and sexes. Moreover, correlations between chronotype, sleep hygiene and sleep quality were evaluated. Two hundred eighty Italian athletes (Females:113; Males:167) participated in the study.

Undernutrition, Sarcopenia, Sarcopenic Obesity, and Sarcopenic Undernutrition: A Cross-sectional View on Patients Before Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Diagnostic criteria of malnutrition phenotypes have been recently updated. Uncovering the prevalence of these conditions in patients undergoing hip replacement may be crucial in order to apply the most appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic paths to the right patient at the right time. Sixty patients aged between 60 and 85 undergoing elective hip replacement were recruited.

The role of patient-reported experiences in disclosing genetic prenatal testing: Findings from a large-scale survey on pregnant women.

Introduction: Pregnant women can choose from different prenatal genetic tests throughout their maternity journey. We aim to investigate the clinical, societal, and economic determinants influencing the selection of different options (non-invasive, invasive, or both).

Methods: A systematic survey focusing on maternity pathways was launched by the Region of Tuscany, Italy, to collect data on pregnant women's experience, outcomes and satisfaction levels.

Health Technology Assessment for Fast-Track Elective Knee and Hip Arthroplasty in a High-Volume Orthopaedic Hospital in Italy.

Objective: The objective of the analysis presented is to assess the efficacy of a fast-track pathway for elective hip and knee arthroplasty, compared to the traditional approach, adopted within a research hospital located in Milan (Italy), in terms of length of stay reduction and related direct medical costs.

Methods: A monocentric observational retrospective study was implemented considering adult subjects who underwent elective primary total hip or knee replacement, with a diagnosis of primary or secondary osteoarthritis. Exclusion criteria were subjects admitted via emergency department, subjects undergoing knee or hip replacement because of fractures or prosthesis revision.

A Digital Platform for Home-Based Exercise Prescription for Older People with Sarcopenia.

Digital therapeutics refers to smartphone applications, software, and wearable devices that provide digital solutions to improve healthcare delivery. We developed a digital platform to support the GYM (Grow Your Muscle) study, an ongoing 48-week randomized, controlled trial on reduction of sarcopenia through a home-based, app-monitored physical exercise intervention. The GYM platform consists of a smartphone application including the exercise program and video tutorials of body-weight exercises, a wearable device to monitor heart rate during training, and a website for downloading training data to remotely monitor the exercise.

Long non-coding and circular RNAs in osteoporosis: Translation to clinical practice.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) belong to a class of untranslated nucleic acids involved in regulation of gene expression. ncRNAs are categorized as small (<200 ribonucleotides in length), i.e.

Sleep Characteristics, Magnetic Resonance Imaging- and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry-Based Morphological Parameters, Muscle Strength, and Risk of Falls in Sedentary Older Subjects.

Background: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to (a) assess actigraphy-based sleep parameters (total sample and gender differences), (b) assess differences in morphological parameters and physical function between short- versus normal-sleepers and poor- versus good-sleepers, and (c) assess the possible correlations between sleep variables and morphological and physical function parameters in older subjects.

Methods: This study enrolled 42 healthy older participants (60-80 years). Participants completed the following clinical evaluations: (1) whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index; (2) magnetic resonance imaging acquisition to determine the cross-sectional muscle area of thigh muscles and intermuscular adipose tissue; (3) risk of fall assessment through the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test; (4) strength assessment: (a) chair stand test and (b) handgrip strength test; (5) sleep monitoring by actigraphy to assess total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, fragmentation index, mobile time, and subjective sleep quality.

Second opinion machine learning for fast-track pathway assignment in hip and knee replacement surgery: the use of patient-reported outcome measures.

Background: The frequency of hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries has been rising steadily in recent decades. This trend is attributed to an aging population, leading to increased demands on healthcare systems. Fast Track (FT) surgical protocols, perioperative procedures designed to expedite patient recovery and early mobilization, have demonstrated efficacy in reducing hospital stays, convalescence periods, and associated costs.

Risk Factors for Bone Microarchitecture Impairments in Older Men With Type 2 Diabetes-The MrOS Study.

Context: Impaired bone microarchitecture, assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), may contribute to bone fragility in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) but data on men are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the association between T2DM and HR-pQCT parameters in older men.

Methods: HR-pQCT scans were acquired on 1794 participants in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study.

C-Reactive Protein and Brain Natriuretic Peptides Harmonization.

The harmonization of laboratory biomarkers is pivotal in ensuring consistent and reliable diagnostic outcomes across different clinical settings. This systematic review examines the harmonization of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements, both of which are jointly utilized in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases. To identify relevant studies, we searched the PubMed electronic database using specific medical subject headings and keywords such as C-Reactive Protein, CRP, high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, and NT-proBNP, focusing on publications from June 1 to September 26, 2021.

Value-Based Health Care Implementation: The Case Study of mTBI Biomarkers.

Traumatic brain injury is a significant global health issue, affecting approximately 69 million people annually. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management, and biomarkers provide a promising approach to identifying traumatic brain injury in various settings. This study investigates the perceived usefulness of biomarker testing in two distinct contexts: emergency departments and sports settings.