Challenges to recruitment of participants with MCI in a multicentric neuropsychological study.

BACKGROUND: Data on recruitment of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) samples are seldom reported and this issue can be an important source of research waste. AIM: To describe the recruitment challenges and reasons for non-eligibility faced during a bi-centre clinical study assessing the predictive value of a neuropsychological battery of the progression to dementia. METHODS: Potential MCI participants were identified from databases of the two memory clinics based in Milan (Italy) and invited to the screening assessment. RESULTS: About 50% of the cases initially identified were ineligible according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and the two sites took 22 months to recruit the planned 150 people. The main reasons for non-eligibility were the MMSE score (41%), age (14%), presence of cerebrovascular disorders (9%), perceptual deficits (6%), neurological (6%) or psychiatric (4%) comorbidities and low education (5%). CONCLUSION: Awareness of the reasons for exclusion and of the time needed to recruit the planned sample would provide hints for the planning of future studies on MCI.

Role of Rehabilitation Department for Adult Individuals With COVID-19: The Experience of the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan.

The rapid evolution of the health emergency linked to the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 requires specifications for the rehabilitative management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The symptomatic evolution of patients with COVID-19 is characterized by 2 phases: an acute phase in which respiratory symptoms prevail and a postacute phase in which patients can show symptoms related to prolonged immobilization, to previous and current respiratory dysfunctions, and to cognitive and emotional disorders. Thus, there is the need for specialized rehabilitative care for these patients. This communication reports the experience of the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan and recommends the setup of specialized clinical pathways for the rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19. In this hospital, between February 1 and March 2, 2020, about 50 patients were admitted every day with COVID-19 symptoms. In those days, about 400 acute care beds were created (intensive care/infectious diseases). In the following 30 days, from March 2 to mid-April, despite the presence of 60 daily arrivals to the emergency department, the organization of patient flow between different wards was modified, and several different units were created based on a more accurate integration of patients' needs. According to this new organization, patients were admitted first to acute care COVID-19 units and then to COVID-19 rehabilitation units, post-COVID-19 rehabilitation units, and/or quarantine/observation units. After hospital discharge, telemedicine was used to follow-up with patients at home. Such clinical pathways should each involve dedicated multidisciplinary teams composed of pulmonologists, physiatrists, neurologists, cardiologists, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and nutritionists.

Sensory-motor training with virtual reality as a complementary intervention to manual therapy for persistent non-specific neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Persistent non-specific neck pain (NP) is a widespread condition described as a complex biopsychosocial disorder, characterized by physical and psychological symptoms. Virtual reality (VR) shows promise in NP treatment, potentially reducing pain, kinesiophobia, and improving range of motion (ROM) and motor control. AIM: The primary aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of VR sensorimotor training, combined with manual therapy, in reducing the level of disability in persistent non-specific NP individuals. The secondary aim was to determine if this VR-enhanced approach also contributes to improvement in overall function, pain perception and kinesiophobia. DESIGN: Monocentric, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: We conducted this trial at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, Milan, Italy. POPULATION: Forty NP participants were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into two groups. METHODS: The study involved a 6-week rehabilitation program, comprising 12 sessions of 45 minutes each, twice weekly. Both intervention groups underwent manual therapy as a consistent component of their treatment. The Experimental Group (VRT) was additionally engaged in sensorimotor rehabilitation exercises using Virtual Reality, whereas the Control Group (CT) performed the same exercises without VR. We assessed subjects at baseline (T0) and after six weeks of rehabilitation (T1). The primary outcome was the disability (Neck Disability Index) while the secondary outcomes were: pain perception (Numeric Rating Scale, NP and Disability Scale, Central Sensitization Inventory) function (Cervical Kinematics) and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia). RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant reduction in level of disability, pain perception, and kinesiophobia. Significant advancements in kinematics were observed: VRT group showed enhanced ROM during craniocervical rotation (P=0.039), lateral bending (P=0.001), flexion-extension (P=0.009), and mean velocity across movements (P<0.001), whereas CT group improved in maximal ROM during lateral bending rotation (P=0.001). Between-group analysis, after Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons, revealed that VRT group had significantly better outcomes in ROM during rotation (P=0.040), ratio of the primary over the secondary movement while performing rotation (P=0.021), and mean velocity during lateral bending (P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Sensorimotor training, combined with manual therapy, could enhance kinematic outcomes for NP patients, supporting the potential of VR in rehabilitation. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: This study highlighted that both groups demonstrated significant reduction in level of disability, pain perception, and kinesiophobia after sensorimotor training combined with manual therapy. It is important to underscore that in terms of reducing the level of neck disability, both interventions proved to be equally effective. This parity in efficacy is a critical finding, reaffirming the robustness of our therapeutic approaches for this specific outcome.

Increased interhemispheric functional connectivity after right anodal tDCS in chronic non-fluent aphasia: preliminary findings.

Introduction: Anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, low-cost and environment-friendly brain neuromodulation technique that increases cortical excitability. In post-stroke aphasia, the role of the right hemisphere in language recovery remains debated. In this preliminary study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of excitatory tDCS on the right hemisphere in chronic aphasic patients. Methods: We applied anodal tDCS to the right homologous region of Broca's area in four chronic aphasic patients while performing a one-month naming rehabilitation treatment. Longitudinal data on language assessment and naming performance were collected. Resting-state fMRI images were acquired before and after treatment to measure changes in functional connectivity. Results: Results showed enhanced positive functional connectivity of the right Broca homologous with the left middle frontal and middle temporal gyri. Every patient showed improvements in language functions, but no major changes in naming performance. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that tDCS applied over the unaffected hemisphere may result in longitudinal inter-hemispheric functional neuroplastic changes that could specifically improve language recovery and could potentially be included in therapeutic neurorehabilitative plans.

On the brain struggles to recognize basic facial emotions with face masks: an fMRI study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted public health and our lifestyles, leading to new social adaptations such as quarantine, social distancing, and facial masks. Face masks, covering extended facial zones, hamper our ability to extract relevant socio-emotional information from others' faces. In this fMRI study, we investigated how face masks interfere with facial emotion recognition, focusing on brain responses and connectivity patterns as a function of the presence of a face mask. Methods: A total of 25 healthy participants (13F; mean age: 32.64 ± 7.24y; mean education: 18.28 ± 1.31y) were included. Participants underwent task-related fMRI during the presentation of images of faces expressing basic emotions (joy or fear versus neutral expression). Half of the faces were covered by a face mask. Subjects had to recognize the facial emotion (masked or unmasked). FMRI whole-brain and regions-of-interest analyses were performed, as well as psychophysiological interaction analysis (PPI). Results: Subjects recognized better and faster emotions on unmasked faces. FMRI analyses showed that masked faces induced a stronger activation of a right occipito-temporal cluster, including the fusiform gyrus and the occipital face area bilaterally. The same activation pattern was found for the neutral masked > neutral unmasked contrast. PPI analyses of the masked > unmasked contrast showed, in the right occipital face area, a stronger correlation with the left superior frontal gyrus, left precentral gyrus, left superior parietal lobe, and the right supramarginal gyrus. Discussion: Our study showed how our brain differentially struggles to recognize face-masked basic emotions, implementing more neural resources to correctly categorize those incomplete facial expressions.

Quantitative EEG for early differential diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.

Introduction: Differentiating between the two most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer's dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remains difficult and requires the use of invasive, expensive, and resource-intensive techniques. We aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of electroencephalography quantified using the statistical pattern recognition method (qEEG-SPR) for identifying dementia and DLB. Methods: Thirty-two outpatients and 16 controls underwent clinical assessment (by two blinded neurologists), EEG recording, and a 6-month follow-up clinical assessment. EEG data were processed using a qEEG-SPR protocol to derive a Dementia Index (positive or negative) and DLB index (positive or negative) for each participant which was compared against the diagnosis given at clinical assessment. Confusion matrices were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for identifying dementia and DLB specifically. Results: Clinical assessment identified 30 cases of dementia, 2 of which were diagnosed clinically with possible DLB, 14 with probable DLB and DLB was excluded in 14 patients. qEEG-SPR confirmed the dementia diagnosis in 26 out of the 32 patients and led to 6.3% of false positives (FP) and 9.4% of false negatives (FN). qEEG-SPR was used to provide a DLB diagnosis among patients who received a positive or inconclusive result of Dementia index and led to 13.6% of FP and 13.6% of FN. Confusion matrices indicated a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 89%, a positive predictive value of 92%, a negative predictive value of 72%, and an accuracy of 83% to diagnose dementia. The DLB index showed a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 75%, a negative predictive value of 81%, and an accuracy of 75%. Neuropsychological scores did not differ significantly between DLB and non- DLB patients. Head trauma or story of stroke were identified as possible causes of FP results for DLB diagnosis. Conclusion: qEEG-SPR is a sensitive and specific tool for diagnosing dementia and differentiating DLB from other forms of dementia in the initial state. This non-invasive, low-cost, and environmentally friendly method is a promising diagnostic tool for dementia diagnosis which could be implemented in local care settings.

Continuity of care for patients with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic: flexibility and integration between in-person and remote visits.

Introduction: During the pandemic, the Cognitive Disorders Unit of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) offered patients the opportunity to undergo neuropsychological evaluations and cognitive training through telemedicine. Method: We conducted an investigation to assess how patients responded to this option and to determine if telemedicine could ensure continuity of care. Results: Between October 2019 and May 2022, a total of 5,768 telemedicine appointments and 8,190 in-person outpatient appointments were conducted, resulting in an increase in the rate of telemedicine activity from 16.81% in January 2020 to 23.21% in May 2022. Peaks in telemedicine activity reached 85.64% in May 2020 and 83.65% in February 2021, both representing a significant portion of the total activity. Interestingly, there was a notable positive correlation between telemedicine activity and the worsening of the Italian pandemic (r = 0.433, p = 0.027). Discussion: During the peaks of contagion, the total number of visits remained stable, highlighting that telemedicine effectively served as a valuable and efficient tool to ensure continuity of care for vulnerable patients. This was evident from the integration of remote visits with in-person appointments.

SARCOPENIA IS A FREQUENT DISEASE IN SARS-COV-2 INFECTION.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the clinical symptoms and specific care requirements of SARS-CoV-2 patients who were admitted to a COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit while still infectious for SARS-CoV-2 and in the subacute phase of the disease. Methods: Patients admitted to our COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit from March 2020 to December 2020 were evaluated for sarcopenia, and they also completed the following assessments: functional independence measure, short physical performance battery and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Age and body mass index and symptoms of dysosmia or dysgeusia were also recorded. Results: A total of 126 patients were enrolled (50 women, median age 72 years, 18.7 years), of whom 82% of patients presented with low grip strength. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 52 patients. Sarcopenic patients were older than non-sarcopenic ones (median age 73.4 years, IQR 13.2 vs 63.9 years, IQR 14.5, respectively, p = 0.014). Sarcopenia was associated with the presence of depression (p = 0.008), was more common in women (p = 0.023) and was associated with greater functional deficits (functional independence measure and short physical performance battery analyses, p < 0.05). Sarcopenic patients also had a lower body mass index than other patients (p < 0.01). Conclusion: More than 40% of our patients suffered from sarcopenia, which was associated with ageing, depression, low body mass index, reduction in functional autonomy and being a woman. Such data provide evidence for the need to assist hospitalized COVID-19 patients by means of a multidisciplinary specialist team.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Older Patients in Rehabilitation Wards.

The multidisciplinary assessment of hospitalized patients via validated scales and tools has become crucial in the early identification of sarcopenia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and its related factors in patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the neurological rehabilitation departments of cognitive motor disorders and functional motor rehabilitation at the IRCCS Hospital San Raffaele in Milan. Using the algorithm reported by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients was investigated from 2019-2020. Definite sarcopenia was detected in 161 of 336 recruited patients (47.9%). Age was significantly higher in sarcopenic patients than in those without sarcopenia (median 81 vs. 79 years, p < 0.001) and height, weight, and body mass index were lower (p < 0.001 for all). The malnutrition screening test (MUST) was higher but still negative in most sarcopenic patients (47.8% vs. 20.6%, p < 0.001). Patients with sarcopenia had significantly reduced life autonomy (by Barthel index, median 55 vs. 60 points, p < 0.001) and increased mental impairment (tested by MMSE and MOCA, p < 0.005 for both). In conclusion, sarcopenic patients were more cognitively impaired and less autonomous in their daily life, but the majority presented with a negative malnutrition screening test.

Obstructive sleep apnea: brain structural changes and neurocognitive function before and after treatment.

RATIONALE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly associated with neurocognitive impairments that have not been consistently related to specific brain structure abnormalities. Knowledge of the brain structures involved in OSA and the corresponding functional implications could provide clues to the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and its reversibility in this disorder. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cognitive deficits and the corresponding brain morphology changes in OSA, and the modifications after treatment, using combined neuropsychologic testing and voxel-based morphometry. METHODS: A total of 17 patients treatment-naive to sleep apnea and 15 age-matched healthy control subjects underwent a sleep study, cognitive tests, and magnetic resonance imaging. After 3 months of treatment, cognitive and imaging data were collected to assess therapy efficacy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Neuropsychologic results in pretreatment OSA showed impairments in most cognitive areas, and in mood and sleepiness. These impairments were associated with focal reductions of gray-matter volume in the left hippocampus (entorhinal cortex), left posterior parietal cortex, and right superior frontal gyrus. After treatment, we observed significant improvements involving memory, attention, and executive-functioning that paralleled gray-matter volume increases in hippocampal and frontal structures. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive and structural deficits in OSA may be secondary to sleep deprivation and repetitive nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia. These negative effects may be recovered by consistent and thorough treatment. Our findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and successful treatment of this disorder.

Mobile application tool for remote rehabilitation after discharge from coronavirus disease-19 rehabilitation unit.

A smartphone application (Medico-Amico) has been developed by the collaboration of San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Khymeia Group S.R.L. with the aim of providing physical exercises and communicating with patients after their hospitalization in a coronavirus disease (COVID)-rehabilitation unit. Thirty patients used the application for remote rehabilitation for 4 weeks. They were prescribed personalized motor exercises to perform three times a week. Clinicians could interact with each patient by an encrypted video call in order to give encouragement, mental support, modify intensity during training sessions, or to prescribe new exercises. Patients were asked to perform motor exercises and also to monitor their vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, inserting scores in a specific section of the application. After 4 weeks of remote rehabilitation patients showed improvements in independence during activity of daily living and strength. Also, satisfaction and mobile application usability scores reached patients' appreciation and enjoyment.

Learning from other people's experience: a neuroimaging study of decisional interactive-learning.

Decision-making is strongly influenced by the counterfactual anticipation of personal regret and relief, through a learning process involving the ventromedial-prefrontal cortex. We previously reported that observing the regretful outcomes of another's choices reactivates the regret-network. Here we extend those findings by investigating whether this resonant mechanism also underpins interactive-learning from others' previous outcomes. In this functional-Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging study 24 subjects either played a gambling task or observed another player's risky/non-risky choices and resulting outcomes, thus experiencing personal or shared regret/relief for risky/non-risky decisions. Subjects' risk-aptitude in subsequent choices was significantly influenced by both their and the other's previous outcomes. This influence reflected in cerebral regions specifically coding the effect of previously experienced regret/relief, as indexed by the difference between factual and counterfactual outcomes in the last trial, when making a new choice. The subgenual cortex and caudate nucleus tracked the outcomes that increased risk-seeking (relief for a risky choice, and regret for a non-risky choice), while activity in the ventromedial-prefrontal cortex, amygdala and periaqueductal gray-matter reflected those reducing risk-seeking (relief for a non-risky choice, and regret for a risky choice). Crucially, a subset of the involved regions was also activated when subjects chose after observing the other player's outcomes, leading to the same behavioural change as in a first person experience. This resonant neural mechanism at choice may subserve interactive-learning in decision-making.

Cognitive and Emotional Disturbances Due to COVID-19: An Exploratory Study in the Rehabilitation Setting.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) can cause neurological, psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial impairments. Literature regarding cognitive impact of COVID-19 is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive deficits and emotional distress among COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients who required functional rehabilitation. Specifically, this study explored and compared cognitive and psychological status of patients in the subacute phase of the disease (COVID-19 group) and patients in the postillness period (post-COVID-19 group). Forty patients admitted to rehabilitation units were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups according to the phase of the disease: (a) COVID-19 group (n = 20) and (b) post-COVID-19 group (n = 20). All patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment including Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). A larger part of the COVID group showed neuropsychological deficits in the total MMSE (35%) compared to the post-COVID group (5%), whereas the majority of both groups (75-70%) reported cognitive impairments in the total MoCA. The post-COVID group reported significantly higher score in MMSE subtests of language (p = 0.02) and in MoCA subtests of executive functions (p = 0.05), language (p = 0.01), and abstraction (p = 0.02) compared to the COVID group. Regarding emotional disturbances, ~40% of patients presented with mild to moderate depression (57.9-60%). The post-COVID-19 group reported significantly higher levels of distress at the IES-R compared to the COVID group (p = 0.02). These findings highlight the gravity of neuropsychological and psychological symptoms that can be induced by COVID-19 infection and the need for tailored rehabilitation, including cognitive training and psychological support.

COVID-19 cognitive deficits after respiratory assistance in the subacute phase: A COVID-rehabilitation unit experience.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 complications can include neurological, psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial impairments. Little is known on the consequences of SARS-COV-2 on cognitive functions of patients in the sub-acute phase of the disease. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions of patients admitted to the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit of the San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 87 patients admitted to the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit from March 27th to June 20th 2020 were included. Patients underwent Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Data were divided in 4 groups according to the respiratory assistance in the acute phase: Group1 (orotracheal intubation), Group2 (non-invasive ventilation using Biphasic Positive Airway Pressure), Group3 (Venturi Masks), Group4 (no oxygen therapy). Follow-ups were performed at one month after home-discharge. RESULTS: Out of the 87 patients (62 Male, mean age 67.23 ± 12.89 years), 80% had neuropsychological deficits (MoCA and MMSE) and 40% showed mild-to-moderate depression. Group1 had higher scores than Group3 for visuospatial/executive functions (p = 0.016), naming (p = 0.024), short- and long-term memory (p = 0.010, p = 0.005), abstraction (p = 0.024), and orientation (p = 0.034). Group1 was younger than Groups2 and 3. Cognitive impairments correlated with patients' age. Only 18 patients presented with anosmia. Their data did not differ from the other patients. FIM (<100) did not differ between groups. Patients partly recovered at one-month follow-up and 43% showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe functional impairments had important cognitive and emotional deficits which might have been influenced by the choice of ventilatory therapy, but mostly appeared to be related to aging, independently of FIM scores. These findings should be integrated for correct neuropsychiatric assistance of COVID-19 patients in the subacute phase of the disease, and show the need for long-term psychological support and treatment of post-COVID-19 patients.

Effectiveness of an Innovative Cognitive Treatment and Telerehabilitation on Subjects With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Multicenter, Randomized, Active-Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the potential usefulness of cognitive training procedures in normal aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have received increased attention. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the face-to-face cognitive virtual reality rehabilitation system (VRRS) and to compare it to that of face-to-face cognitive treatment as usual for individuals with MCI. Moreover, we assessed the possibility of prolonging the effects of treatment with a telerehabilitation system. METHODS: A total of 49 subjects with MCI were assigned to 1 of 3 study groups in a randomized controlled trial design: (a) those who received face-to-face cognitive VRRS (12 sessions of individualized cognitive rehabilitation over 4 weeks) followed by telerehabilitation (36 sessions of home-based cognitive VRRS training, three sessions for week); (b) those who received face-to-face cognitive VRRS followed by at-home unstructured cognitive stimulation (36 sessions of home-based unstructured cognitive stimulation, three sessions for week); and (c) those who received face-to-face cognitive treatment as usual (12 sessions of face-to-face cognitive treatment as usual). RESULTS: An improvement in memory, language and visuo-constructional abilities was observed after the end of face-to-face VRRS treatment compared to face-to-face treatment as usual. The application of home-based cognitive VRRS telerehabilitation seems to induce more maintenance of the obtained gains than home-based unstructured stimulation. DISCUSSION: The present study provides preliminary evidence in support of individualized VRRS treatment and telerehabilitation delivery for cognitive rehabilitation and should pave the way for future studies aiming at identifying optimal cognitive treatment protocols in subjects with MCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03486704.

COVID-19 rehabilitation units are twice as expensive as regular rehabilitation units.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant motor, cognitive, psychological, neurological and cardiological disabilities in many infected patients. Functional rehabilitation of infectious COVID-19 patients has been implemented in the acute care wards and in appropriate, ad hoc, multidisciplinary COVID-19 rehabilitation units. However, because COVID-19 rehabilitation units are a clinical novelty, clinical and organizational benchmarks are not yet available. The aim of this study is to describe the organizational needs and operational costs of such a unit, by comparing its activity, organization, and costs with 2 other functional rehabilitation units, in San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. METHODS: The 2-month activity of the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit at San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy, which was created in response to the emergency need for rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients, was compared with the previous year's activity of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Motor Rehabilitation Units of the same institute. RESULTS: The COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit had the same number of care beds as the other units, but required twice the amount of staff and instrumental equipment, leading to a deficit in costs. DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit was twice as expensive as the 2 other units studied. World health systems are organizing to respond to the pandemic by expanding capacity in acute intensive care and sub-intensive care units. This study shows that COVID-19 rehabilitation units must be organized and equiped according to the clinical and rehabilitative needs of patients, following specific measures to prevent the spread of infection amongs patients and workers.

Rehabilitative of COVID-19 patients with acute lower extremity Ischemia and amputation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and rehabilitation management of patients who undergo amputation for COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data for 3 patients were analysed and their rehabilitative management discussed. RESULTS: The medical records of 3 patients who had undergone amputation due to acute lower extremity ischaemia and who were provided with rehabilitation in our COVID-19 unit were reviewed. CONCLUSION: Coagulation changes related to SARS-CoV-2 may complicate recovery from this devastating disease. The rehabilitation management of amputated patients for COVID-19 acute lower extremity ischaemia is based on a multilevel approach for clinical, functional, nutritional and neuropsychological needs. Based on this limited experience, a dedicated programme for this specific group of patients seems advantageous to warrant the best functional outcome and quality of life.

Uncertain Effectiveness of Prophylactic Anticonvulsive Medication in Predicting Cognitive Outcome of Neurosurgical Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of prophylactic anticonvulsive medication, above all levetiracetam monotherapy, in predicting the cognitive outcome of neurosurgical patients with post-traumatic brain injury, intracerebral hemorrhage, and encephalic tumors. METHODS: We examined data concerning 232 of 327 adult patients admitted to the Neurorehabilitation Department of the San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) after discharge from the Neurosurgery Department. Cognitive status was evaluated by means of the "Mini-Mental State" examination and the Functional Independence Measure at baseline and at the end of a rehabilitation care with an average duration of about four weeks. RESULTS: The vast majority of the patients were treated with levetiracetam. Our data showed a negative role of antiepileptic drugs on cognitive recovery in a cohort of neurosurgical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing thoroughly the effects of antiepileptic drugs in rehabilitation outcome is of fundamental importance. This study represents the only large series analyzing these aspects in the rehabilitation of neurosurgical patients. Antiepileptic drugs should be managed to ensure patients the best possible cognitive outcome. Further evidence from good-quality trials is required to assess the clinical effectiveness of prophylactic anticonvulsive medication in predicting the cognitive outcome of neurosurgical patients who are treated with rehabilitation.

Efficacy of virtual reality to reduce chronic low back pain: Proof-of-concept of a non-pharmacological approach on pain, quality of life, neuropsychological and functional outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain, such as low-back pain, can be a highly disabling condition degrading people's quality of life (QoL). Not every patient responds to pharmacological therapies, thus alternative treatments have to be developed. The chronicity of pain can lead to a somatic dysperception, meaning a mismatch between patients' own body perception and its actual physical state. Since clinical evaluation of pain relies on patients' subjective reports, a body image disruption can be associated with an incorrect pain rating inducing incorrect treatment and a possible risk of drug abuse. Our aim was to reduce chronic low-back pain through a multimodal neurorehabilitative strategy using innovative technologies to help patients regain a correct body image. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic low-back pain were included. Before and after treatment, patients underwent: a neurological exam; a neuro-psychological evaluation testing cognitive functions (memory, attention, executive functions) and personality traits, QoL and mood; pain ratings; sensorimotor functional abilities' testing. Patients underwent a 6 week-neurorehabilitative treatment (total 12 sessions) using virtual reality (VRRS system, Khymeia, Italy). Treatment consisted on teaching patients to execute correct movements with the painful body parts to regain a correct body image, based on the augmented multisensory feedback (auditory, visual) provided by the VRRS. RESULTS: Our data showed significant reductions in all pain rating scale scores (p<0.05); significant improvements of QoL in the domains of physical functioning, physical role functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and social role functioning; improvements in cognitive functions (p<0.05); improvements in functional scales (p<0.05) and mood (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This non-pharmacological approach was able to act on the multi-dimensional aspects of pain and improved patients' QoL, pain intensity, mood and patient's functional abilities.

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Toward a Multimodal Approach.

OBJECTIVES: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is the most common cranial neuralgia in adults, with a slight prevalence in women. Antiepileptic drugs represent the mainstay of the medical treatment, whereas microvascular decompression is the best option in case of neurovascular conflict. Although these treatments showed a good rate of efficacy, they can be contraindicated in some patients and >50% of patients undergoing these treatments will present recurrence of pain in the following months. In this majority of patients, pain becomes chronic and can severely affect their quality of life and cause cognitive disturbances, such as anxiety and depression. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to review the efficacy and safety of current treatment modalities for TN, as well as to propose a multimodal approach for those patients presenting with a chronic form of TN. RESULTS: Current treatment modalities have been reviewed. Actual pain evaluation systems and the neuropsychologic features of TN have been analyzed in order to propose an alternative treatment algorithm. DISCUSSION: Chronic pain can also lead to the misperception of patients' own selves leading to enhanced pain perception and altering therapeutic outcomes. Thus, there is the need to define a personalized multimodal approach of treatment, taking into account other available TN therapies and the neuropsychologic aspect of chronic pain.