A modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT) program improves paretic arm use and function in children with cerebral palsy.

AIM: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT) is a rehabilitation intervention put forward by Taub and colleagues for sensorimotor disorders in children with hemiparesis, comprising consisting of the restraint of the unaffected arm and concurrent intensive training of the affected arm for six hours/day for two weeks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified CIT program (mCIT) characterized by restraining the unaffected hand with a cotton mitten during daily activities and a reduced intensity training program for two h/week for five weeks. METHODS: Ten children (age: 1-9 years) with hemiparetic cerebral palsy were enrolled in a randomized, cross-over study in which the effects of a mCIT and a conventional physiotherapy program were compared. The amount of use and the functional performance of the affected arm were evaluated by means of two specifically devised tests (Use and Function Test). A further test evaluated functional performance during bimanual tasks. These measures showed a good inter-rater and inter-session reliability. All tests were administered before, at the end and four weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Significant differences between the two therapeutic approaches were evidenced in both affected arm use (P=0.008) and function (P=0.018). These improvements maintained at the follow-up (Use Test P=0.07; paretic arm function P=0.012). Bimanual function performance showed a trend towards improvement in both post-treatment and follow-up testing. The conventional physiotherapy group did not show any improvement in any outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS: The mCIT program proposed in the present study showed to be a promising rehabilitative procedure in children with congenital arm paresis after cerebral palsy.

Early and delayed orthotic treatment in congenital metatarsus varus: effectiveness of two types of orthoses.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early or delayed orthotic treatment of congenital metatarsus varus and evaluate the efficacy of static vs dynamic anti-varus orthosis. METHODS: Twenty-five children (14 males, 11 females), of 81.3 days of age (range 1-189) (41 feet affected) were selected among 88 patients referred to our rehabilitation department for foot deformity. Children were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (dynamic or static orthosis) according to a simple randomization scheme. Patients were evaluated at diagnosis (T1), at the end of treatment (T2) and at a follow-up performed at least 2 years after the end of treatment (T3). Primary outcome was measured using the Bleck scale. The IOWA functional rating system questionnaire was performed at follow up evaluation. RESULTS: The Bleck scale showed that both static and dynamic orthoses were effective and that the best results were achieved with early treatment. The IOWA questionnaire showed that no child had residual deformities that interfered with daily activities. Nonetheless, the dynamic orthosis group had better scores in 4 sub-items related to parental satisfaction, foot function, heel position, and foot passive motion. CONCLUSIONS: Both static and dynamic orthoses are useful for correction of congenital metatarsus varus. Optimal results are achieved with early treatment.

Expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in human adipose tissue: a role for TNF-alpha?

Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plasma levels, responsible for reduced fibrinolysis, are associated with animal and human obesity and with increased cardiovascular disease. The expression of PAI-1 has been found recently in animal and human adipose tissue. Factors and mechanisms regulating such an expression remain to be elucidated. In omental and/or subcutaneous biopsies from obese non-diabetic patients, incubated in Medium 199, we have confirmed that human adipose tissue expresses PAI-1 protein and mRNA; furthermore we have demonstrated that such an expression is clearly evident also in collagenase isolated human adipocytes and that it is stimulated by incubation itself and enhanced by exogenous human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (h-TNF-alpha). Since human adipose tissue produces TNF-alpha, to further characterize the relationship of PAI-1 to TNF-alpha, human fat biopsies were also incubated with Pentoxifylline (PTX) or Genistein, both known to inhibit endogenous TNF-alpha through different mechanisms. PTX caused a dose-dependent decrease of basal PAI-1 protein release, reaching 80% maximal inhibitory effect at 10(-3)M, the same inhibitory effect caused by Genistein at 100 microg/ml. This was associated to a marked inhibition of PAI-1 mRNA and of endogenous TNF-alpha production. Furthermore, when human fat biopsies were incubated in the presence of polyclonal rabbit neutralizing anti-human TNF-alpha antibody (at a concentration able to inhibit 100 UI/ml human TNF-alpha activity), a modest but significant decrease of the incubation induced expression of PAI-1 mRNA was observed (19.8+/-19.0% decrease, P = 0.04, n = 7). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that PAI-I expression is present in human isolated adipocytes and that it is enhanced in human adipose tissue in vitro by exogenous TNF-alpha. Furthermore our data support the possibility of a main role of endogenous TNF-alpha on human adipose tissue PAI-1 expression. This cytokine, produced by human adipose tissue and causing insulin resistance, may be a link in the clinical relationship between insulin-resistance syndrome and increased PAI-1 plasma levels.