Adecuación de la terapia hidrocinética en el paciente ortopédico-traumatológico: un estudio transversal / Appropriateness of hydrokinesitherapy in the orthopedic-traumatological patient: a cross sectional surve

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hydrokinesitherapy is a rehabilitation method used for the treatment of different types of orthopedic, neurological, respiratory problems, etc. However, the existing literature presents not so much evidence regarding the greater efficacy of water treatment compared to dry treatment in patients with post-traumatic outcomes. Objective: Through the administration of a questionnaire, we tried to investigate the rehabilitation experience of hydrokinetic therapists (trained with the so-called Sequential and Preparatory Approach) in order to understand hydrokinesitherapy areas and methods of proper application based on experts' opinion. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2020 by administering a questionnaire to physiotherapists trained in hydrokinesitherapy according to the Sequential and Preparatory Approach method, with the aim to investigate their opinion on the use of hydrokinesitherapy in patients with various orthopedic-traumatological problems. Microsoft FORMS® platform was used for the administration of the questionnaire. Results: Sixty-two users participated in the study. From their answers emerged that the use of hydrokinesitherapy is not recommended for the treatment of post-traumatic hypersensitization of peri-lesional tissues (hypersensitive scars; general hypersensitization) and neuropathic syndromes (of the upper and lower limbs). Conclusions: The data obtained from administering the questionnaire were not sufficient to create a specific path to define the appropriateness of hydrokinesitherapy for some orthopedic-traumatological problems but could be considered a good starting point on which to build future developments through further studies.

RESUMEN Introducción: La terapia hidrocinética es un método rehabilitador utilizado para el tratamiento de diferentes tipos de problemas ortopédicos, neurológicos, respiratorios, entre otros. Sin embargo, en la literatura existente no abundan evidencias en cuanto a la mayor eficacia del tratamiento con agua en comparación con el tratamiento seco en pacientes con resultados traumáticos. Objetivo: A través de un cuestionario, se intentó investigar la experiencia de rehabilitación de los terapeutas hidrocinéticos (entrenados con el llamado Enfoque Secuencial y Preparatorio) para comprender las áreas de la terapia hidrocinética y los métodos de aplicación adecuados con base en la opinión de expertos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en el año 2020 mediante la administración de un cuestionario a fisioterapeutas formados en la terapia hidrocinética según el método de Abordaje Secuencial y Preparatorio, con el objetivo de averiguar su opinión sobre el uso de la terapia hidrocinética en pacientes con diversos problemas ortopédico-traumatológicos. Se utilizó la plataforma Microsoft FORMS® para la administración del cuestionario. Resultados: Sesenta y dos usuarios participaron en el estudio. De sus respuestas surgió que no se recomienda el uso de la terapia hidrocinética para el tratamiento de la hipersensibilización postraumática de los tejidos perilesionales (cicatrices hipersensibles; hipersensibilización general) y síndromes neuropáticos (de miembros superiores e inferiores). Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos del cuestionario no fueron suficientes para crear una ruta específica que defina la idoneidad de la terapia hidrocinética para algunos problemas ortopédicos-traumatológicos, pero podría considerarse un buen punto de partida para construir futuros desarrollos a través de estudios adicionales.

The Effect of Uterine Adenomyosis on IVF Outcomes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To investigate the impact of uterine adenomyosis on in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) clinical outcomes and also to evaluate the impact of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and surgical treatments. Infertile women with adenomyosis undergoing conventional IVF or ICSI were compared with women without adenomyosis. Fertility outcomes were evaluated in two patients with adenomyosis untreated and treated surgically or medically therapy. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020214586). We consider the live birth rate (LBR) as the primary outcome. The analysis showed that women with adenomyosis had lower LBR (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.92, p = 0.02), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48-0.90), and ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.88) compared to those without adenomyosis, and miscarriage rate was higher in women with adenomyosis (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.33-3.33). Surgical treatment increases natural conception in women with adenomyosis although the paucity of data (only two studies), and conversely, treatment with GnRHa does not increase the IVF outcomes. Women with adenomyosis have decreased IVF clinical outcomes. Pretreatment with the use of long-term GnRHa could not be beneficial, even though only three studies were included in the meta-analysis. The major part of the studies has not divided focal and diffuse adenomyosis, and this represents a relevant source of bias: studies conducted with standardized diagnostic criteria for adenomyosis are still needed to determine if the different clinical presentations of such condition could compromise IVF outcomes.

Vaccine hesitancy among Ukrainian refugees.

Background: On February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Beyond Poland, Romania, Russia, several refugees reached Italy also. In the past, several factors contributed to low vaccination coverage in Ukraine and the occurrence of epidemic outbreaks. The purpose of our study was to analyze the main characteristics of Ukrainian refugees who accessed the Rozzano Vaccination Center (Italy), and the attitude towards proposed vaccinations. Methods: In March-July 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study on Ukrainian refugees under the age of 18. On the basis of their vaccination certificates or antibody dosages, the doctor proposed to the parents (or legal guardians) any vaccinations to be carried out on the basis of the Italian childhood vaccination schedule. Refused or accepted vaccinations were registered and the data exported for statistical analysis. COVID-19 vaccination was excluded from the analysis. Results: 27 refugees missed the appointment, so 79 Ukrainian refugees have been included in the study. Females represented the 51.90% of patients; the average age was 7.11 (sd 4.92) years. The most refused vaccinations were: HPV, MMR and men C. Significant differences due to age were found for Men C and Chickenpox acceptance. Conclusions: The efforts made to ensure complete care and to promote vaccination among refugees, offering them a complete evaluation of the vaccination status and the possibility of being vaccinated for free, seem to be insufficient to convince most refugees to get vaccinated.

Emerging fungal infections: focus on Saksenaea Erythrospora.

INTRODUCTION: In recent times, improved diagnostic techniques have revealed an alarming number of cases of mucormycosis in immunocompetent individuals. The Saksenaea species, is a rare cause of mucormycosis, and is often associated with skin and subcutaneous infection due to trauma in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent subjects. The purpose of this study was therefore, through a review of the literature, to investigate the problem of infections caused by Saksenaea Erythrospora, evaluating the clinical manifestations of the infection, the triggering factors, the therapies and patients' outcomes, implementing and updating what already reported in literature. METHODS: A research of peer-reviewed literature in the electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus was conducted in the period June 2020-January 2021 using the key word "Saksenaea erythrospora". Studies in Italian, English, French, Spanish focused on cases of Saksenaea erythrospora were included, without time restrictions. Studies that provided ambiguous or insufficient data were excluded. RESULTS: Bibliographic research yielded 23 publications; 7 were included in the review. The studies were published between 2011 and 2015 and involved a total of 11 patients of average age 37.9 years (SD 17.23) hospitalized in several hospitals in: USA, India, Argentina, Colombia, Thailand. 6 patients were women, 5 men. All patients had an almost normal immune status. The causes of the infection were: injections, traumas, surgery. Two patients, despite surgical and medical therapy, died. CONCLUSIONS: Our review partially updated what already published, because only one new study was found. Serious necrotizing infections from Saksenaea erythrospora have been observed in recent years and a early identification and timely management are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. A greater awareness and education about the risks deriving from carrying out surgical procedures abroad, especially in precarious hygiene situations, could be additional effective weapons to reduce the incidence of these infections.

Waiting times for prostate cancer: A review.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common diagnosed cancers in men and the waiting time has become an important issue not only for clinical reasons, but also mostly for the psychological implications on patients. The aim of our study was to review and analyze the literature on waiting times for prostate cancer. In February-March 2019 we performed a search for original peerreviewed papers in the electronic database PubMed (MEDLINE). The key search terms were "prostate cancer AND waiting list", "prostate cancer AND waiting times". We included in our narrative review articles in Italian, English or French, published in 2009-2019 containing original data about the waiting times for prostate cancer. The literature search yielded 680 publications. Finally, we identified 8 manuscripts eligible for the review. The articles were published between 2010 and 2019; the studies involved a minimum of 16 to a maximum of 95438 participants. Studies have been conducted in 6 countries. The waiting times from cancer suspicion to histopathological diagnosis and to treatment had an important reduction in the last years, and this constant decrease could lead to an increase of patients' satisfaction.

Significance of Morphine Concentration in Bile, Liver, and Blood: Analysis of 52 Cases of Heroin Overdoses.

Forensic pathologists are requested to select matrices alternative to blood in cases of toxicological interest in which blood is not available for different reasons. We evaluated morphine concentrations in blood, bile, and liver samples in 52 cases of heroin overdoses, relating them to each other, to understand the information that could be derived from their analysis. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was performed for all the samples positive on screening for opiates. Shapiro-Wilk test, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman test were used for analysis. Linear regression demonstrated that there was not a statistically significant association in morphine concentrations between blood and bile and blood and liver. Mean liver/blood ratio was 2.76, varying from 0.131 to 13.379, and bile/blood ratio was 28.79, varying from 0.28 to 559.16. According to these results, bile analysis is a "screening test"; biliary or hepatic concentration of morphine cannot provide information on hematic concentration at the time of death, having no forensic value taken individually.

The impact of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products in smokers behaviours and knowledge: the first quasi-experimental field trial after the implementation of the tobacco law in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate in the Italian smokers, the effects of implementation of the law about Pictorial Health Warnings (PHWs) on tobacco products. METHODS: A quasi-experimental longitudinal design was conducted between 2016 and 2017. The data were collected before (pre-PHW/Wave 1) and after (post-PHW/Wave 2) the implementation of the law. The adopted questionnaire included impact of advertisement (Label Impact Index, LII), quitting behavior and knowledge of tobacco related diseases. RESULTS: 455 respondents completed both the Waves. 7.7% of smokers declared to have stopped smoking in Wave 2 and 29% of these declared the PHWs as one of the reasons to quit. The knowledge of tobacco related diseases was significantly (p <0.001) increased from Wave 1 to Wave 2 (58% versus 72%), similarly the LII (mean = 26.9, SD = 16.7 and mean = 40.4, SD = 16.2). CONCLUSION: Tobacco addiction is a problem that needs to be addressed from different angles. PHWs confirm their complementary role as a support for smokers along with other strategies such as text warnings and the tobacco quit line of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) reported on the packages. Nonetheless, over the years these measures have been not enough and policy makers should consider more strategies synergistically acting in the fight against tabagism.

Variables Associated with Endometriosis-related Pain: A Pilot Study using a Visual Analogue Scale.

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a complex disease, and pain is an important component of the syndrome. One of the most used methods to assess pain is the visual analogue scale (VAS). The aim of the present research was to study the pain experienced by patients who referred to our unit for endometriosis, using the VAS to understand the variables that could influence it. METHODS: We have conducted a prospective study from February 2012 to December 2016, enrolling 388 patients who referred to a university hospital, in Florence, Italy. We have included in the present study patients during their follow-up for endometriosis; we have also included patients who underwent surgery with a histological diagnosis of endometriosis. We have collected sociodemographic and clinical information regarding age, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, number of pregnancies, and endometriosis staging. Finally, we have administered the VAS for several symptoms. RESULTS: Dysmenorrhea was the symptom associated with the highest perception of pain (mean VAS score of 5.76). The logistic regression showed that the stage of endometriosis could influence the pain associated to constipation and to dysuria. The linear regression showed that age could influence the pain associated to constipation, to dyspareunia, and to dysmenorrhea. A positive correlation was found between dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain (CPP), between dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, and between constipation and dysuria. CONCLUSION: Using a validated method, the VAS, we have studied the pain experienced by a group of patients with a history of endometriosis and observed that smoking habit and BMI did not influence the VAS scores, and that dysmenorrhea was associated with the highest perception of pain.

OBJETIVO: A endometriose é uma doença complexa, e a dor é um componente importante da enfermidade. Um dos métodos mais utilizados para avaliar a dor é a escala visual analógica (EVA). O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi estudar a dor sentida pelas pacientes que se referiram à nossa unidade para endometriose, usando a EVA para entender as variáveis que poderiam influenciá-la. MéTODOS: Realizamos um estudo transversal de fevereiro de 2012 a dezembro de 2016, envolvendo 388 pacientes que se referiram a um hospital universitário, em Florença, Itália. Incluímos nossos pacientes do estudo durante o acompanhamento da endometriose; incluímos também pacientes que se submeteram à cirurgia com diagnóstico histológico de endometriose. Coletamos informações sociodemográficas e clínicas sobre idade, índice de massa corporal (IMC), hábito de fumar, número de gravidezes e estágio da endometriose. Finalmente, administramos a EVA para vários sintomas. RESULTADOS: A dismenorreia foi o sintoma associado à maior percepção de dor (média do escore EVA de 5,76). A regressão logística mostrou que o estágio da endometriose poderia influenciar a dor associada à constipação e à disúria. A regressão linear mostrou que a idade poderia influenciar a dor associada à constipação, à dispareunia e à dismenorreia. Uma correlação positiva foi encontrada entre dismenorreia e dor pélvica crônica, entre dismenorreia e dispareunia, e entre constipação e disúria. CONCLUSãO: Utilizando um método validado, a EVA, estudamos a dor sentida por um grupo de pacientes com história de endometriose e observamos que o hábito de fumar e o IMC não influenciaram os escores EVA, e que a dismenorreia foi associada à maior percepção de dor.

Variables associated with endometriosis-related pain: a pilot study using a visual analogue scale / Variáveis associadas à dor relacionada à endometriose: estudo piloto usando uma escala analógica visual

Abstract Objective Endometriosis is a complex disease, and pain is an important component of the syndrome. One of the most used methods to assess pain is the visual analogue scale (VAS). The aim of the present research was to study the pain experienced by patients who referred to our unit for endometriosis, using the VAS to understand the variables that could influence it. Methods We have conducted a prospective study from February 2012 to December 2016, enrolling 388 patients who referred to a university hospital, in Florence, Italy. We have included in the present study patients during their follow-up for endometriosis; we have also included patients who underwent surgery with a histological diagnosis of endometriosis. We have collected sociodemographic and clinical information regarding age, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, number of pregnancies, and endometriosis staging. Finally, we have administered the VAS for several symptoms. Results Dysmenorrhea was the symptom associated with the highest perception of pain (mean VAS score of 5.76). The logistic regression showed that the stage of endometriosis could influence the pain associated to constipation and to dysuria. The linear regression showed that age couldinfluencethe pain associated to constipation, to dyspareunia,and to dysmenorrhea. A positive correlation was found between dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain(CPP), between dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, and between constipation and dysuria. Conclusion Using a validated method, the VAS, we have studied the pain experienced by a group of patients with a history of endometriosis and observed that smoking habit and BMI did not influence the VAS scores, and that dysmenorrhea was associated with the highest perception of pain.

Resumo Objetivo A endometriose é uma doença complexa, e a dor é um componente importante da enfermidade. Um dos métodos mais utilizados para avaliar a dor é a escala visual analógica (EVA). O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi estudar a dor sentida pelas pacientes que se referiram à nossa unidade para endometriose, usando a EVA para entender as variáveis que poderiam influenciá-la. Métodos Realizamos um estudo transversal de fevereiro de 2012 a dezembro de 2016, envolvendo 388 pacientes que se referiram a um hospital universitário, em Florença, Itália. Incluímos nossos pacientes do estudo durante o acompanhamento da endometriose; incluímos também pacientes que sesubmeteramàcirurgia comdiagnóstico histológico de endometriose. Coletamos informações sociodemográficas e clínicas sobre idade, índice de massa corporal (IMC), hábito de fumar, número de gravidezes e estágio da endometriose. Finalmente, administramos a EVA para vários sintomas. Resultados A dismenorreia foi o sintoma associado à maior percepção de dor (média do escore EVA de 5,76). A regressão logística mostrou que o estágio da endometriose poderia influenciar a dor associada à constipação e à disúria. A regressão linear mostrou que a idade poderia influenciar a dor associada à constipação, à dispareunia e à dismenorreia. Uma correlação positiva foi encontrada entre dismenorreia e dor pélvica crônica, entre dismenorreia e dispareunia, e entre constipação e disúria. Conclusão Utilizando um método validado, a EVA, estudamos a dor sentida por um grupo de pacientes com história de endometriose e observamos que o hábito de fumar e o IMC não influenciaram os escores EVA, e que a dismenorreia foi associada à maior percepção de dor.

A Case of Fatal Cerebral Air Embolism After Blunt Lung Trauma: Postmortem Computed Tomography and Autopsy Findings.

Cerebral air embolism is caused by gas bubbles in the vascular system. These bubbles can cause cerebral ischemia by obstructing encephalic blood vessels. It is frequently associated with blunt and penetrating chest trauma as well as iatrogenic interventions. Lung trauma involving laceration of the respiratory tract, lung parenchyma, and blood vessels may result in direct communication of these structures, driving air or gas into the pulmonary venous system. We report a case of a blunt chest trauma that led to massive arterial air embolism that was possible to recognize with the help of postmortem computed tomographic scan examination.

Suicide behaviour and arsenic levels in drinking water: a possible association?: A review of the literature about the effects of arsenic contamination in drinking water on suicides.

BACKGROUND: A considerable part of the global population is exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water which is the main source of inorganic arsenic(As) exposure in humans. Arsenic exposure interferes with the action of enzymes, essential cations, and transcriptional events in cells throughout the body, and a multitude of multisystemic non-cancer effects might ensue. The aim of our review was to evaluate the effects of arsenic contamination in drinking water on suicides rates. METHODS: A systematic literature search (English written literature) was conducted in electronic databases MEDLINE, SCOPUS. Evidences dating from 1999 till 2016 have been collected. A manual search of reference lists of included studies and review articles was successively performed. All references of the retrieved studies were also reviewed to avoid missing relevant publications. The key search terms included: "arsenic AND water AND suicide". RESULTS: The literature search yielded 13 publications, but we identified 2 manuscripts available for this systematic review. The 2 studies included in the review, were published in 2015 and in 2017 and settled in Italy and Hungary. The levels of arsenic in the waters ranged from 0.016 µg/l to >50 µg/l. The findings of the two studies are conflicting, in fact Pompili et al. reported an apparently beneficial effect of arsenic on suicides rates, with an inverse correlation of arsenic concentration and local suicide rates, in contrast to a positive correlation with natural-cause mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our review led to conflicting results, so the diatribe about the real effects of arsenic intake of suicidal behaviors is still open. Therefore, we encourage other colleagues to conduct further studies in other locations in order to have more reliable results.