This study reported the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in postmenopausal women and its influence on the reduction of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in a typical population referring to the physiatrist for musculoskeletal disorders.
The aim of this study was to construct a solid basis for developing a crop wild relatives (CWR) and wild harvested plants (WHP) conservation strategy at the European and national levels. To this end we (i) worked out an annotated and synonymized Working Database of the Italian Vascular Plants, (ii) worked out a full CWR–WHP checklist for Italy, (iii) worked out a prioritized CWR and WHP inventory, (iv) identified native taxa with an ascertained utility for breeding, and (v) on the basis of a gap analysis case study on two Brassica taxa, outlined the first steps to be taken immediately to develop their in situ and ex situ conservation strategy. The Working Database of the Italian Vascular Plants includes a total of 11,710 taxa. Of those, 92.0% form the CWR–WHP checklist. On the basis of the importance of the related crops, their status, and their need of protection and/or monitoring, 1118 taxa were prioritized. Of these, 129 taxa deserve the highest priority in planning a conservation strategy, including 16 that currently have a practical use in breeding. The case study showed that little is still known about relic CWR populations and that not all of them are adequately protected in situ and ex situ. Since information on their abundance, location, distribution, ecological conditions, census, and current conservation is lacking, initiatives should be put into action immediately for developing a national and European conservation strategy.
The aim of the present study was the validation of an instrument for evaluating balance, applied to the Tinetti test. Trunk inclination was measured by inclinometers during the Tinetti test in 163 healthy participants scoring 28/28 in the Tinetti scale (controls: 92 women, 71 men; age 19-85 years), and 111 residents in old people's homes, able to autonomously perform the test, but scoring less than 28/28 (test group: 78 women, 33 men; age 55-96 years). Trunk inclination was quantified by 20 parameters, whose standardized values were summed and provided an overall performance index (PTOT). PTOT reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha, and its validity by item scale correlation, discriminant validity and concurrent validity. Influence of age and sex was assessed by a logistic regression model. Repeatable and consistent measurements were obtained (Cronbach's alpha=0.88). Parameter distribution was significantly different in controls and patients (P<0.001). Optimal PTOT threshold for discriminating between normal and abnormal performance (153.9/200) corresponded to sensitivity of 88.3%, specificity of 84.7% and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.93. PTOT correlated with the Tinetti scale score, its partial, balance-related score and Barthel's Index, but not with the Mini Mental State score. PTOT correlated with age and level of performance but not with sex; correlation with age did not prevent the possibility of discriminating between different levels of performance and between normal and abnormal performance. The instrument provided objective discrimination between different performance levels, in particular, between normal and altered performance.
Resilience plays a significant role in reaching optimal functional recovery in hip-fractured elderly people. Results suggest the introduction of early routine assessment of resilience in future outcome studies in rehabilitation.
Tumor-induced osteomalacia is an osteomalacic syndrome caused by a mesenchymal origin’s tumor. The diagnostic procedure takes time and extensive investigations because of the characteristics of these tumors usually small dimensioned, slowly growing, non-invasive and therefore hard to locate. The differential diagnosis is determined by a bone biopsy. Tumor’s surgical removal is the treatment of choice that leads up to a complete regression of the oncogenic malacic syndrome. In the clinical course of these patients we can often see multiple episodes of pathological fractures, peri-prosthesis fractures or prosthesis mobilizations, due to the malacic picture: surgical procedures are often widely demolitive and requires mega-prosthetic implant. The rehabilitative procedure used to take care of these patients, is described in the following case report and based on the collaboration between surgical and rehabilitative teams. Rehabilitative pathway after hip mega-prosthesis does not find references in medical literature: the outcomes analyzed in this case report demonstrate the efficacy of the rehabilitative procedure applied.
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