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Most patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) will develop an overt α-synucleinopathy over time, with a rate of phenoconversion of 73.5% after 12 years from diagnosis. Several markers of phenoconversion were identified; however, most studies investigated biomarkers separately, with retrospective study designs, in small cohorts or without standardized data collection methods. The risk FActoRs PREdictive of phenoconversion in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder: the Italian STudy (FARPRESTO) is a multicentric longitudinal retrospective and prospective study with a cohort of incident (prospective recruitment) and prevalent (retrospective recruitment) iRBD patients, whose primary aim is to stratify the risk of phenoconversion, through the systematic collection by means of electronic case report forms of different biomarkers. Secondary aims are to (1) describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with iRBD; (2) collect longitudinal data about the development of α-synucleinopathies; (3) monitor the impact of iRBD on quality of life and sleep quality; (4) assess the correlation between phenoconversion, cognitive performance, and loss of normal muscle atony during REM sleep; (5) identify RBD phenotypes through evaluating clinical, biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and imaging biomarkers; and (6) validate vPSG criteria for RBD diagnosis. The FARPRESTO study will collect a large and harmonized dataset, assessing the role of different biomarkers providing a unique opportunity for a holistic, multidimensional, and personalized approach to iRBD, with several possible application and impact at different levels, from basic to clinical research, and from prevention to management. The FARPRESTO has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05262543).

The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of a group of patients who underwent tension-free inguinal hernia repair in light of the possible medicolegal implications. We conducted a retrospective study on the QoL of patients who underwent inguinal hernioplasty. One hundred and fifty patients who answered the SF-36 questionnaire were included in the study. Twenty-six (17.3%) had chronic pain, 18 (12%), sensory deficits, and 106 (70.6%) did not complain of any symptoms. There was no a significant deterioration in QoL compared to the reference population. In the group with chronic pain, 10 patients (38.4%) reported being very limited in performing "physically demanding activities"; 18 (69.2%) reported a deficit of performance in activities of daily living; 8 (30.7%) complained of a reduction of time spent at work because of emotional disorders. In one case the pain was particularly severe and required surgical treatment. The answers obtained through the questionnaire show that tension-free hernioplasty does not degrade patients'QoL. However in the group of patients with chronic pain examined one year after surgery, QoL had deteriorated so much that it affected the employment sphere and the social and relational sphere. Although there is a relatively low incidence and frequency of problems relating to chronic pain following inguinal hernioplasty, chronic pain can sometimes have serious effects on QoL and socio-economic and legal implications.

Background:Research literature suggests that burnout, depression, and a low mental quality of life (QOL) are common among health care workers. Economic crisis might have increased the burden of burnout, depression and low QOL in health care workers.Objectives:To identify depression risk, burnout levels, and quality of life in a sample of workers of an Italian university hospital.Method:Cross sectional study with comparison with two community surveys database results (n = 2000 and 1500, respectively). Overall, 522 workers accepted to take part in the study, representing a 78% response rate (out of 669 individuals).Results:The frequency of positivity at the screener for Major Depressive Disorder among health care workers was more than double than that in the standardized community sample (33.3% vs 14.1%, pi.e.those who do not have contact with patients), showed a statistically higher frequency of positivity for depressive episodes compared to the controls. Among the medical staff, the highest risk was found in the surgeon units, while the lowest one was in the laboratories. Surgeons also were those most exposed to high risk of burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory.Conclusion:Since burnout is linked to patient safety and quality of patient care, and contribute to medical errors, dedicated interventions aimed at reducing poor mental health and low quality of life in medical staff are indicated.