Retrospective Investigator-Initiated Trial on Tocopherol Acetate Vaginal Administration in Pre-and Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Menopause, a natural phase in a woman's life, often adversely affects physical, mental, sexual, and emotional well-being due to low estrogen levels. This study examines the impact of vaginal ovules with tocopherol acetate (Filme Gyno-V® ovules, manufactured by Panin Srl and distributed by Hulka Srl, Italy), 500 mg per ovule, on vaginal health in pre- and menopausal women. METHODS: Fifty women aged 50-70 were divided into menopausal (28) and premenopausal (22) cohorts and treated with the ovules for two weeks, with assessments before and after treatment. RESULTS: The findings showed that distressing symptoms of vaginal atrophy, such as dryness, itching, and pain during intercourse, were resolved post-treatment. A molecular analysis revealed a reduction in Escherichia coli in both cohorts and an increase in three species of Lactobacillus in premenopausal patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that Filme Gyno-V ovules may benefit vaginal health by alleviating atrophy symptoms and promoting healthy vaginal microbiota.

Ultra-Hypofractionated Whole Breast Radiotherapy with Automated Hybrid-VMAT Technique: A Pilot Study on Safety, Skin Toxicity and Aesthetic Outcomes.

Purpose: The most prevalent treatment-related side effect related to adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer is acute skin toxicity in the irradiated area. The purpose of this single-institution pilot study is to provide preliminary clinical results on the feasibility and safety of a breast ultra-hypofractionated radiation treatment delivered using an automated hybrid-VMAT technique. Skin damage was assessed both with clinical examination and objectively using a Cutometer equipment. Patients and Methods: Patients received 26 Gy to the whole breast and 30 Gy to the tumoral bed in 5 fractions using an automated hybrid-VMAT approach with the option for the breath hold technique if necessary. Acute and late toxicities were clinically evaluated at baseline, 1- and 6-months after treatment using the CTC-AE v.5.0 scale. An instrumental evaluation of the skin elasticity was performed using a Cutometer® Dual MP580. Two parameters per patient, R0 (the total skin firmness) and Q1 (the elastic recovery), were registered at the different timelines. Results: From June 2022 to January 2024, 30 patients, stage T1-T2, N0 were enrolled in the study. Four out of 30 (13.3%) patients reported G2 acute skin toxicities. At 6 months, G2 late toxicity was registered in 3 patients (10%). A total of 2160 measures of R0 and Q1 were recorded. At 1 month after treatment, no correlation was found between measured values of R0 and Q1 and clinical evaluation. At 6 months after treatment, clinical late toxicity ≥1 was strongly associated with decreased R0 and Q1 values ≥24% (p = 0.003) and ≥18% (p = 0.022), respectively. Conclusion: Ultra-hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy, when supported by advanced treatment techniques, is both feasible and safe. No severe adverse effects were observed at any of the different timeframes. Acute and late skin toxicities were shown to be lower in contrast to data presented in the literature.

Human breast milk isolated lactic acid bacteria: antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity on the Galleria mellonella burn wound model.

Introduction: Managing burn injuries is a challenge in healthcare. Due to the alarming increase in antibiotic resistance, new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies are being sought. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of live Lactic Acid Bacteria for managing burn infections, using Galleria mellonella larvae as an alternative preclinical animal model and comparing the outcomes with a common antibiotic. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of LAB isolated from human breast milk was assessed in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Additionally, the immunomodulatory effects of LAB were evaluated in vivo using the G. mellonella burn wound infection model. Results and discussion: In vitro results demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria against P. aeruginosa. In vivo results show that their prophylactic treatment improves, statistically significant, larval survival and modulates the expression of immunity-related genes, Gallerimycin and Relish/NF-κB, strain-dependently. These findings lay the foundation and suggest a promising alternative for burn wound prevention and management, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance, enhancing immune modulation, and validating the potential G. mellonella as a skin burn wound model.

Neospora caninum is not transmissible via embryo transfer, but affects the quality of embryos in dairy cows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate embryo transfer in cattle as a pathway of transmitting neosporosis and to quantitatively and qualitatively compare the embryo production from seropositive and seronegative donors. Superovulatory treatments were performed on eight Girolando donors (four seropositive and four seronegative for N. caninum), resulting in the recovery of ninety-one structures (embryos and non-fertilized structures). Embryos collected and classified as viable were transferred to seronegative recipients and analyzed by PCR to identify N. caninum. No difference was observed in the number of structures collected from seropositive and seronegative donors (40 and 51; P = 0.64). There was a significant difference in the percentages of freezable (25 % and 74 %, P = 0.04) and transferable (27.5 % and 78.4 %, P = 0.003) embryos. The recipients had similar pregnancy rates (60 % and 57.1 %, P = 0.97) and pregnancy loss (50 % and 43.8 %, P = 0.58). There was no change in the serological status of the recipients, and no protozoan DNA was identified in none of the samples. It was concluded that the embryo transfer technique is safe regarding the transmission of neosporosis; however, the quality of embryo production was compromised from donors seropositive for N. caninum.

The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exosomal miRNAs in host pathogen cross-talk as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global threat, affecting one-quarter of the world's population. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 6 million people die annually due to chronic illnesses, a statistic that includes TB-related deaths. This high mortality is attributed to factors such as the emergence of drug-resistant strains and the exceptional survival mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have garnered attention for their crucial role in TB pathogenesis, surpassing typical small RNAs (sRNA) in their ability to alter the host's immune response. For instance, miR-155, miR-125b, and miR-29a have been identified as key players in the immune response to MTB, particularly in modulating macrophages, T cells, and cytokine production. While sRNAs are restricted to within cells, exo-miRNAs are secreted from MTB-infected macrophages. These exo-miRNAs modify the function of surrounding cells to favor the bacterium, perpetuating the infection cycle. Another significant aspect is that the expression of these miRNAs affects specific genes and pathways involved in immune functions, suggesting their potential use in diagnosing TB and as therapeutic targets. This review compiles existing information on the immunomodulatory function of exosomal miRNAs from MTB, particularly focusing on disease progression and the scientific potential of this approach compared to existing diagnostic techniques. Thus, the aim of the study is to understand the role of exosomal miRNAs in TB and to explore their potential for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Investigation of Healthcare-Acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in an Italian Hematology Department before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has made antibiotic resistance (AMR) and healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) increasingly serious problems. Point-prevalence Surveys (PPS) and other surveillance techniques are essential for antimicrobial management and prevention. METHODS: In a hematology department of an Italian hospital, the prevalence of HAI, microbiology, and AMR were examined in this retrospective study in two different periods, namely 2019 and 2021 (pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, respectively). Comparisons were made between patient demographics, hospitalization duration, surveillance swabs, and HAIs. FINDINGS: There was no discernible variation in the prevalence of HAI between 2019 and 2021. Higher rates of HAI were connected with longer hospital stays. Variations in antimicrobial susceptibility and species distribution were found by microbiological analysis. DISCUSSION: The incidence of HAI stayed constant during the epidemic. Nevertheless, shifts in antibiotic susceptibility and microbiological profiles highlight the necessity of continuous monitoring and care. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the difficulties of COVID-19, ongoing surveillance and infection control initiatives are crucial for halting HAIs and battling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare environments. To fully understand the pandemic's long-term impact on the spread of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, more research is required.

Targeting S. aureus Extracellular Vesicles: A New Putative Strategy to Counteract Their Pathogenic Potential.

Long-term inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis is characterized by dry skin, itching, and eczematous lesions. During inflammation skin barrier protein impairment promotes S. aureus colonisation in the inflamed skin, worsening AD patient's clinical condition. Proteomic analysis revealed the presence of several immune evasion proteins and virulence factors in S. aureus extracellular vesicles (EVs), suggesting a possible role for these proteins in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a wall fragment obtained from a patented strain of C. acnes DSM28251 (c40) and its combination with a mucopolysaccharide carrier (HAc40) in counteract the pathogenic potential of EVs produced by S. aureus ATCC 14458. Results obtained from in vitro studies on HaCaT keratinocyte cells showed that HAc40 and c40 treatment significantly altered the size and pathogenicity of S. aureus EVs. Specifically, EVs grew larger, potentially reducing their ability to interact with the target cells and decreasing cytotoxicity. Additionally, the overexpression of the tight junctions mRNA zona occludens 1 (ZO1) and claudin 1 (CLDN1) following EVs exposure was decreased by HAc40 and c40 treatment, indicating a protective effect on the epidermal barrier's function. These findings demonstrate how Hac40 and c40 may mitigate the harmful effects of S. aureus EVs. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying this interaction and explore the potential clinical utility of c40 and its mucopolysaccharide carrier conjugate HAc40 in managing atopic dermatitis.

Reproductive system morphometry and productive parameters of beef heifers according to morphological classification.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of visual morphological classification based on body structure, maturity, and musculosity on the morphometry of the reproduction system and productive parameters of beef heifers. The study was conducted for 84 days, during winter season in Brazil. Thirty non-pregnant Nellore heifers, with an average body weight 338 kg and average age 18 months, were used for the study. The heifers were housed in collective pens and fed corn silage (70%) and concentrate (30%) twice a day. All heifers were weighed weekly without prior fasting. Morphological evaluation of body structure, maturity, and musculosity was conducted in the third-middle of the experimental period by a trained evaluator, adopting a comparative methodology of visual evaluation on a scale from 1 to 6, and the heifers were classified according to the visual assessment. The effects of visual classification, time, and interactions were analyzed, considering significant effects was detected (p < 0.05). The significant (p < 0.05) results obtained were compared using Tukey test. Morphological classification did not influence the morphometry of the reproductive system or implied on time interactions. Body structure, maturity, and musculosity had no effect on dry matter intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass dressing. However, body weight and feed efficiency were influenced by the experimental time. For both variables, significant variations were detected after 63 days of finishing in the feedlot (p < 0.001), indicating that maximum productive efficiency of feedlot-finished Nellore beef heifers was achieved at a mean body weight of 424 kg.

On the reliability of single-camera markerless systems for overground gait monitoring.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Motion analysis is crucial for effective and timely rehabilitative interventions on people with motor disorders. Conventional marker-based (MB) gait analysis is highly time-consuming and calls for expensive equipment, dedicated facilities and personnel. Markerless (ML) systems may pave the way to less demanding gait monitoring, also in unsupervised environments (i.e., in telemedicine). However,scepticism on clinical usability of relevant outcome measures has hampered its use. ML is normally used to analyse treadmill walking, which is significantly different from the more physiological overground walking. This study aims to provide end-users with instructions on using a single-camera markerless system to obtain reliable motion data from overground walking, while clinicians will be instructed on the reliability of obtained quantities. METHODS: The study compares kinematics obtained from ML systems to those concurrently obtained from marker-based systems, considering different stride counts and subject positioning within the capture volume. RESULTS: The findings suggest that five straight walking trials are sufficient for collecting reliable kinematics with ML systems. Precision on joint kinematics decreased at the boundary of the capture volume. Excellent correlation was found between ML and MB systems for hip and knee angles (0.92

Urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and uric acid in healthy infants and young children. Influence of feeding practices in early infancy.

BACKGROUND: Reference values for urinary calcium (Ca) and other solutes/creatinine (Cr) ratios in infants and young children are scarce. Its variation with type of lactation administered, breastfed (BF) or formula (F), is incompletely known. METHODS: A total of 511 spot urine samples from 136 children, aged 6 days to < 5 years, was collected. Urine was collected no fasting in infants < 18 months and first morning fasting in children aged 2.5-4 years. Urinary osmolality, Cr, urea, Ca, phosphate (P), magnesium (Mg), and uric acid (UA) were determined. Values are expressed as solute-to-Cr ratio. RESULTS: Urinary values were grouped according to the child's age: 6-17 days (G1), 1-5 months (G2), 6-12 months (G3), 13-18 months (G4), and 2.5-4 years (G5). G1 was excluded; Ca/Cr and UA/Cr (95th percentile) decreased with age (G2 vs. G5) from 1.64 to 0.39 and 2.33 to 0.83 mg/mg, respectively. The P/Cr median rises significantly with age from 0.31 (G2) to 1.66 mg/mg (G5). Mg/Cr was similar in all groups (median 0.20, 95th percentile 0.37 mg/mg). Ca/Cr (95th percentile) of BF infants was 1.80 mg/mg (< 3 months) and 1.63 mg/mg (3-5 months), much higher than F infants (0.93 and 0.90 mg/mg, respectively). P/Cr and P/Ca were lower in BF infants. CONCLUSIONS: Values for urinary Ca/Cr, P/Cr, Mg/Cr, and UA/Cr in infants and children < 5 years were updated. BF infants < 6 months showed higher Ca/Cr and lower P/Cr than F infants. New cutoff values to diagnose hypercalciuria in infants < 6 months, according to the type of lactation, are proposed.

Innovative Phospholipid Carriers: A Viable Strategy to Counteract Antimicrobial Resistance.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria strains, usually associated with poorer patient outcomes and higher costs. In order to preserve the usefulness of these life-saving drugs, it is crucial to use them appropriately, as also recommended by the WHO. Moreover, innovative, safe, and more effective approaches are being investigated, aiming to revise drug treatments to improve their pharmacokinetics and distribution and to reduce the onset of drug resistance. Globally, to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), guidelines and indications have been developed over time, aimed at narrowing the use and diminishing the environmental spread of these life-saving molecules by optimizing prescriptions, dosage, and times of use, as well as investing resources into obtaining innovative formulations with better pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic results. This has led to the development of new nano-formulations as drug delivery vehicles, characterized by unique structural properties, biocompatible natures, and targeted activities such as state-of-the-art phospholipid particles generally grouped as liposomes, virosomes, and functionalized exosomes, which represent an attractive and innovative delivery approach. Liposomes and virosomes are chemically synthesized carriers that utilize phospholipids whose nature is predetermined based on their use, with a long track record as drug delivery systems. Exosomes are vesicles naturally released by cells, which utilize the lipids present in their cellular membranes only, and therefore, are highly biocompatible, with investigations as a delivery system having a more recent origin. This review will summarize the state of the art on microvesicle research, liposomes, virosomes, and exosomes, as useful and effective tools to tackle the threat of antibiotic resistance.

Experimental protocol to investigate cortical, muscular and body representation alterations in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis. AIS is a three-dimensional morphological spinal deformity that affects approximately 1-3% of adolescents. Not all factors related to the etiology of AIS have yet been identified. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this experimental protocol is to quantitatively investigate alterations in body representation in AIS, and to quantitatively and objectively track the changes in body sensorimotor representation due to treatment. METHODS: Adolescent girls with a confirmed diagnosis of mild (Cobb angle: 10°-20°) or moderate (21°-35°) scoliosis as well as age and sex-matched controls will be recruited. Participants will be asked to perform a 6-min upright standing and two tasks-named target reaching and forearm bisection task. Eventually, subjects will fill in a self-report questionnaire and a computer-based test to assess body image. This evaluation will be repeated after 6 and 12 months of treatment (i.e., partial or full-time brace and physiotherapy corrective postural exercises). RESULTS: We expect that theta brain rhythm in the central brain areas, alpha brain rhythm lateralization and body representation will change over time depending on treatment and scoliosis progression as a compensatory strategy to overcome a sensorimotor dysfunction. We also expect asymmetric activation of the trunk muscle during reaching tasks and decreased postural stability in AIS. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitatively assess the body representation at different time points during AIS treatment may provide new insights on the pathophysiology and etiology of scoliosis.

Self-isolation of an Italian long-term care facility during COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison study on care-related infectious episodes.

The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to understand if and how much the preventive self-isolation approach might have been a valid model to avoid care-related infection, not only from COVID-19 but also from other non-viral infectious diseases. From March to May 2020, the healthcare and management staff of the Villa Santa Maria long-term care facilities, located in the village of Montenero di Bisaccia (Campobasso, Molise, Italy), decided to carry out a preventive self-isolation plan to safeguard the residents from SARS-CoV-2. The impact on other infectious diseases was evaluated by analyzing the antibiotic therapies prescription trend among the inpatients. Our data showed that although self-isolation protected residents and caregivers from SARS-CoV-2, it can also be associated with mobility reduction, leading to an increase in bedridden pathologies, namely, pressure ulcers and pressure sores. The simultaneous isolation of residents and caregivers in the same location significantly reduced any outside influence as a cause of possible infections.

Symbiotic Wolbachia in mosquitoes and its role in reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases: updates and prospects.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, Zika fever, and filariasis have the greatest health and economic impact. These mosquito-borne diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Due to the lack of effective vector containment strategies, the prevalence and severity of these diseases are increasing in endemic regions. Nowadays, mosquito infection by the endosymbiotic Wolbachia represents a promising new bio-control strategy. Wild-infected mosquitoes had been developing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), phenotypic alterations, and nutrition competition with pathogens. These reduce adult vector lifespan, interfere with reproduction, inhibit other pathogen growth in the vector, and increase insecticide susceptibility of the vector. Wild, uninfected mosquitoes can also establish stable infections through trans-infection and have the advantage of adaptability through pathogen defense, thereby selectively infecting uninfected mosquitoes and spreading to the entire population. This review aimed to evaluate the role of the Wolbachia symbiont with the mosquitoes (Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex) in reducing mosquito-borne diseases. Global databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and pro-Quest were accessed to search for potentially relevant articles. We used keywords: Wolbachia, Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and mosquito were used alone or in combination during the literature search. Data were extracted from 56 articles' texts, figures, and tables of the included article.

Detection of Water Contaminants by Organic Transistors as Gas Sensors in a Bottom-Gate/Bottom-Contact Cross-Linked Structure.

Detecting volatile organic compounds is a fundamental step in water quality analysis. Methylisoborneol (MIB) provides a lousy odor to water, whereas geosmin (GEO) is responsible for its sour taste. A widely-used technique for their detection is gas-phase chromatography. On the other hand, an electronic nose from organic thin-film transistors is a cheaper and faster alternative. Poly(2,5-bis(3-tetradecyl-thiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (PBTTT-C14) features semiconducting properties suitable for organic electronics. However, in order to expose the active layer in a bottom-gate transistor structure with photolithographically patterned electrodes, a cross-linked dielectric such as poly(4-vinyl phenol) (PVP) is necessary. In this work, the cross-linking was demonstrated using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, as well as high-k capacitors with a dielectric constant of 5.3. The presence of enhanced crystallinity with terrace formation in the semiconducting film was confirmed with UV-visible spectrophotometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Finally, for the first time, a PBTTT-C14 transistor on cross-linked PVP was shown to respond to isoborneol with a sensitivity of up to 6% change in mobility per ppm. Due to its similarity to MIB, a system comprising these sensors must be investigated in the future as a tool for sanitation companies in real-time water quality monitoring.

Exoskeleton Training Modulates Complexity in Movement Patterns and Cortical Activity in Able-Bodied Volunteers.

Robot-aided gait training (RAGT) plays a crucial role in providing high-dose and high-intensity task-oriented physical therapy. The human-robot interaction during RAGT remains technically challenging. To achieve this aim, it is necessary to quantify how RAGT impacts brain activity and motor learning. This work quantifies the neuromuscular effect induced by a single RAGT session in healthy middle-aged individuals. Electromyographic (EMG) and motion (IMU) data were recorded and processed during walking trials before and after RAGT. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded during rest before and after the entire walking session. Linear and nonlinear analyses detected changes in the walking pattern, paralleled by a modulation of cortical activity in the motor, attentive, and visual cortices immediately after RAGT. Increases in alpha and beta EEG spectral power and pattern regularity of the EEG match the increased regularity of body oscillations in the frontal plane, and the loss of alternating muscle activation during the gait cycle, when walking after a RAGT session. These preliminary results improve the understanding of human-machine interaction mechanisms and motor learning and may contribute to more efficient exoskeleton development for assisted walking.

A Wall Fragment of Cutibacterium acnes Preserves Junctional Integrity Altered by Staphylococcus aureus in an Ex Vivo Porcine Skin Model.

(1) Background alteration of the skin microbiota, dysbiosis, causes skin barrier impairment resulting in disease development. Staphylococcus aureus, the main pathogen associated with dysbiosis, secretes several virulence factors, including α-toxin that damages tight junctions and compromises the integrity of the skin barrier. The use of members of the resident microbiota to restore the skin barrier, bacteriotherapy, represents a safe treatment for skin conditions among innovative options. The aim of this study is the evaluation of a wall fragment derived from a patented strain of Cutibacterium acnes DSM28251 (c40) alone and conjugated to a mucopolysaccharide carrier (HAc40) in counteracting S. aureus pathogenic action on two tight junction proteins (Claudin-1 and ZO-1) in an ex vivo porcine skin infection model. Methods: skin biopsies were infected with live S. aureus strains ATCC29213 and DSM20491. Tissue was pre-incubated or co-incubated with c40 and HAc40. (3) Results: c40 and HAc40 prevent and counteract Claudin-1 and Zo-1 damage (4) Conclusions: c40 and the functional ingredient HAc40 represent a potential non-pharmacological treatment of skin diseases associated with cutaneous dysbiosis of S. aureus. These findings offer numerous avenues for new research.

Efficacy and Microbiota Modulation Induced by LimpiAL 2.5%, a New Medical Device for the Inverse Psoriasis Treatment.

(1) Inverse psoriasis (IP), also known as intertriginous, typically affects the groin, armpits, navel, intergluteal fissure, and external genitalia. Skin lesions are erythematous plaques of inflammatory nature, smooth, well-delimited, non-scaly, and non-infiltrated. Lesions may be accompanied by itching, pain, or burning sensation. The aim of this study is both to investigate the modulation of the skin microbiota induced by IP and, on the other hand, to test the effectiveness of the new biotechnological product LimpiAL 2.5%. (2) Patients affected by IP were recruited in a private practice and treated for 4 weeks with LimpiAL 2.5% exclusively. The clinical effects on the lesion skin were evaluated, and the skin microbiotas before and after treatment were compared. (3) The clinical outcomes reveled a significant beneficial effect of the tested product. At the same time, LimpiAL increased the biological diversity of the skin microbiota and exerted a significant decrease of some Corynebacterium species, and the increase of some Staphylococcus species. (4) Together, the clinical outcomes and the microbiota analysis suggest that LimpiAL treatment improves the skin condition of affected patients, basically restoring the eubiosis conditions of the affected sites and modulating the bacterial composition of the resident microbiota.

Camera- and Viewpoint-Agnostic Evaluation of Axial Postural Abnormalities in People with Parkinson's Disease through Augmented Human Pose Estimation.

Axial postural abnormalities (aPA) are common features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and manifest in over 20% of patients during the course of the disease. aPA form a spectrum of functional trunk misalignment, ranging from a typical Parkinsonian stooped posture to progressively greater degrees of spine deviation. Current research has not yet led to a sufficient understanding of pathophysiology and management of aPA in PD, partially due to lack of agreement on validated, user-friendly, automatic tools for measuring and analysing the differences in the degree of aPA, according to patients' therapeutic conditions and tasks. In this context, human pose estimation (HPE) software based on deep learning could be a valid support as it automatically extrapolates spatial coordinates of the human skeleton keypoints from images or videos. Nevertheless, standard HPE platforms have two limitations that prevent their adoption in such a clinical practice. First, standard HPE keypoints are inconsistent with the keypoints needed to assess aPA (degrees and fulcrum). Second, aPA assessment either requires advanced RGB-D sensors or, when based on the processing of RGB images, they are most likely sensitive to the adopted camera and to the scene (e.g., sensor-subject distance, lighting, background-subject clothing contrast). This article presents a software that augments the human skeleton extrapolated by state-of-the-art HPE software from RGB pictures with exact bone points for posture evaluation through computer vision post-processing primitives. This article shows the software robustness and accuracy on the processing of 76 RGB images with different resolutions and sensor-subject distances from 55 PD patients with different degrees of anterior and lateral trunk flexion.