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Beta(2)-adrenoreceptor overexpression is beneficial against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Whether beta-adrenoreceptors are involved in postconditioning (PostC) is unknown. We investigated whether nandrolone-decanoate (ND)-pretreatment can modulate (1) beta-adrenoreceptor expression and (2) post-ischemic cardiac function in response to I/R and PostC. Finally, we tested whether cardioprotection can be prevented by the inhibition of beta(2)-adrenoreceptors. Isolated rat hearts from ND pretreated (15 mg/kg/day i.m., for 14 days) and untreated-animals underwent 30-min ischemia and 120-min reperfusion. In subgroups, at the end of ischemia a PostC protocol (five cycles of 10-s reperfusion and 10-s ischemia) was applied and/or a beta(2)-adrenoreceptor blocker, ICI-118.551 (10 microM), was infused. Left ventricular pressure (LVP) was measured with an electromanometer, and infarct-size was evaluated using nitro-blue-tetrazolium staining. ND-pretreatment increased beta(2)-adrenoreceptor expression, but did not alter cardiac-weight, LVP and maximum rate of increase of LVP (dP/dt(max)). After I/R, infarct-size was smaller in ND-pretreatment than in untreated-animals. Infarct-size was also reduced by PostC, both in untreated and ND-pretreated animals. Contracture was less marked in ND-pretreated animals. PostC reduced contracture in both ND-pretreated and untreated hearts. Moreover, PostC improved post-ischemic recovery of developed LVP and dP/dt(max) much more in earts of ND-pretreated than untreated-animals. ICI-118.551 abolished ND protection and PostC-protection both in ND-pretreated and untreated hearts. Data show that two-weeks ND-pretreatment induces 1) an overexpression of beta(2)-ARs without cardiac hypertrophy and 2) improves the post-ischemic diastolic and systolic cardiac function. Intriguingly, ND-pretreatment potentiates the improvement of systolic function induced by postconditioning via beta(2)-adrenoreceptor activation.

The aim of this study was to underline, given the well-known incidence of beta thalassemia in Calabria, the possibility of establishing a prevention programme based on an increased awareness among the population using information and health education, genetic consultancy to identify high-risk subjects and prenatal diagnosis.Between January 1992 and December 1999, we analysed 181 high-risk couples for beta thalassemia using chorionic villi sampling (CVS) performed with an echoguided transcervical or transabdominal route. A steady rise was observed over the years in the number of couples asking for prenatal diagnosis, thus demonstrating that patients and doctors are increasingly aware of the importance of a correct prenatal diagnosis. The variability of molecular defects found and the number of complications linked to the technique used are underlined.Prenatal diagnosis revealed 46 fetuses with the disease (24.8%), 97 heterozygotes (53.2%) and 41 healthy fetuses (22%). Only one malformation was observed in the 41 healthy fetuses. The authors also report the incidence of complications linked to CVS. In overall terms, 2.2% of pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortions (4 cases) and 2.75% with preterm births (5 cases). These complications could not be correlated with gestational age at the time of biopsy or the number of attempts made to obtain an appropriate sample.

Thanks to the improvement of the techniques of assisted fecundation, of the obstetric management and of the fetal and neonatal monitoring now it's possible for a woman suffering from beta-thalassemia to have a child. Our purpose is to stress the importance to control the high maternal and fetal risk through the monitoring of several scales. The problems, connected with pregnancy of beta-thalassemic women are discussed, emphasizing the connection between pregnancy management and gestational and neonatal outcome. A variety of problems should be considered such as the informed consent about maternal and fetal risks, the problems caused by infectious agents or due to the use of some antiviral; the difficulties connected with heart and endocrine diseases are also discussed. Personal experience, from 1995 to 1999, on 4 beta-thalassemic pregnant women (three with the intermediate type and one with the major type) is reported.

This study want to examine (a) whether neutrophils, the neutrophil-elastase, C-reactive protein and the Interleukin- 6 are modified and how, in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy open cholecystectomy; (b) whether these findings are indicative of an increased risk to develop infectious complications.Circulating Interleukin-6 level, C-reactive protein and neutrophil-elastase were measured in 71 patients (35 underwent open cholecystectomy and 36 laparoscopic cholecystectomy). The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound examination. During hospitalization the patients were not given antispastic drugs, steroids, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID).The increase in the serum Interleukin-6 and neurtophil-elastase, during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was found to be significantly smaller than that during open cholecystectomy and resulted in a smaller extent of postoperative elevations for C-reactive protein. We recorded three cases (8.5%) of postoperative infections in the "open'" group and neutrophil- elastase values normalized later in patient with complications.There were significant associations between the response areas of Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and neutrophil- elastase levels. Neutrophils-elastase level is a more sensible inflammatory marker in comparison to the IL-6 and C-reactive protein. Excessive and prolonged post injury elevations of these mediators are associated with increased morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) often require long periods of having a tracheostomy tube for airway protection and prolonged mechanical ventilation. It has been recognized that fast and safe decannulation improves outcomes and facilitates the recovery process. Nevertheless, few studies have provided evidence for decannulation criteria, despite the high prevalence of ABI subjects with tracheostomies. The aim of our study was to assess which clinical parameters are the best predictors for decannulation in subjects with ABI. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 74 consecutive ABI subjects (mean age 51.52 ± 16.76) with tracheostomy tubes. First, the subjects underwent the original decannulation assessment for cannula removal. Second, they underwent our experimental decannulation protocol. The experimental protocol included: voluntary cough (cough peak flow >160 L/min), reflex cough, tracheostomy tube capping (>72 h), swallowing instrumental assessment (penetration aspiration scale 50%), saturation (SpO2 >95%), and level of consciousness evaluation (Glasgow coma scale >8). The reference standard was clinical removal of the tracheostomy tube within 48 h. RESULTS: Parameters showing the highest values of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were tracheostomy tube capping (80%, 100%), endoscopy assessment of airway patency (100%, 30%), swallowing instrumental assessment (85%, 96%), and the blue dye test (65%, 85%). All these were combined in a clinical cluster parameter, which had higher sensitivity (100%) and specificity (82%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the best clinical prediction rule for decannulation in acquired brain injury subjects is a combination of the following assessments: (1) tracheostomy tube capping, (2) endoscopic assessment of patency of airways, (3) swallowing instrumental assessment, and (4) blue dye test.

Action observation activates the same motor areas as those involved in the performance of the observed actions and promotes functional recovery following stroke. Movement observation is now considered a promising tool for motor rehabilitation, by allowing patients to train their motor functions when voluntary movement is partially impaired. We asked chronic-stroke patients, affected by either left (LHD) or right hemisphere (RHD) lesions, to observe either a left or right hand, while grasping a small target (eliciting a precision grip) or a large target (eliciting a whole hand grasp directed towards a target object). To better understand the effects of action observation on damaged motor circuits, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to induce motor evoked potentials (MEP) from two muscles of the unaffected hand in 10 completely hemiplegic participants. Results revealed that LHD patients showed MEP facilitation on the right (contralesional) M1 during action observation of hand-object interactions. In contrast, results showed no facilitation of the left (contralesional) M1 in RHD patients. Our results confirm that action observation might have a positive influence on the recovery of motor functions after stroke. Activating the motor system by means of action observation might provide a mechanism for improving function, at least in LHD patients.

The paper deals with a specific kind of BCI application implemented with the aim of recovering the reaching ability of mild impaired stroke survivors. The overall idea is to take advantage of the plasticity of the brain to make the subject artificially learn alternative neural paths to control the arm movement again, by-passing the injured area thanks to a BCI system with an EEG-related force provided as a real-time feedback during the training period. Preliminary results have shown improvements in the kinematics of the upper limb motion of a first patient that performed this experimental rehabilitative program. Then, this BCI application is expected to enter soon the daily clinical practise as a useful tool besides the standard rehabilitation therapy.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has been used for rehabilitation after stroke and there are a number of reports involving stroke patients in BCI-feedback training. Most publications have demonstrated the efficacy of BCI technology in post-stroke rehabilitation using output devices such as Functional Electrical Stimulation, robot, and orthosis. The aim of this review is to focus on the progress of BCI-based rehabilitation strategies and to underline future challenges. A brief history of clinical BCI-approaches is presented focusing on stroke motor rehabilitation. A context for three approaches of a BCI-based motor rehabilitation program is outlined: the substitutive strategy, classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Furthermore, we include an overview of a pilot study concerning a new neuro-forcefeedback strategy. This pilot study involved healthy participants. Finally we address some challenges for future BCI-based rehabilitation.

Brain Computer Interface is a system that offers also a support to the patients with neuromuscular diseases as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In this paper are presented some works with the aim to integrate brain computer interfaces and mobile robots. The two aim of this project are: (i) to test an improved BCI experience through the help of a physical robot, so that brain signals are stronger stimulate. (ii) to use a remote robot controlled by a highly paralyzed patient via a BCI through a friendly Graphic User. Some preliminary experiments are presented in this paper about one of the possible application: a robotic museum guide (PeopleBot and Pioneer3 robot), that can transmit remote visual perceptions to the patient

The effect of Dexamethasone (DEX) on cell division and macromolecular synthesis was investigated in a line (McCoy cells, A 9) of synovial fibroblast-like cells derived from human osteoarthritic joints. DEX markedly reduced the proliferation of McCoy cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. The maximal inhibition (45%) was found at 500 nM DEX 24 h after incubation and was accompanied by the appearance of giant macrophage-like cells. After DEX treatment cells showed increased content of DNA, proteins and RNA together with the reduction of [3H]-thymidine incorporation into the TCA-precipitable fraction.

Rehabilitative interventions may be provided to disabled people at home by means of telerehabilitation. We evaluated the effects of a telerehabilitation program designed for ameliorating motor deficits in post-stroke patients with arm impairment. We also compared the effects of home-based traditional rehabilitation provided by physiotherapists. We selected 24 patients suffering from mild/intermediate arm motor impairments due to a long-lasting ischemic stroke in the territory of middle cerebral artery. A new virtual reality (vr) based system working on Internet connections provided adequate motor tasks to the patients from a remote rehabilitation facility. Both, the home-based traditional and the telerehabilitation programs, lasted four weeks. Before, at the end of the therapies and one month thereafter, we assessed the motor deficit and the functional activities of the upper extremity with the Fugl-Meyer scale and the Abilhand scale. In addition, the spasticity of the arm was determined with the Ashworth scale. Finally, we examined at the same evaluation times the mean linear velocity and the duration of 30 consecutive reaching movements. Both the rehabilitative therapies improved significantly the Fugl-Meyer mean score and the Abilhand scale score. The clinical outcomes were not different between the two groups. In the telerehabilitation treated group, mean duration and mean velocity of the reaching movements improved by 20.5 % and by 16.3%, respectively. These results supported the observations that some post stroke patients may benefit from a home-based telerehabilitation program to improve their motor deficits. This fact may favor an early discharge from hospital and have beneficial effects on the quality of life. In addition, telerehabilitation program may spare the available resources since allows physiotherapists and physicians to rehabilitate and monitor the patients remotely from rehabilitation facilities. © 2006 IEEE.