MITEx: A Portable Hand Exoskeleton for Assessment and Treatment in Neurological Rehabilitation.

This work describes the design and preliminary characterization of a novel portable hand exoskeleton for poststroke rehabilitation. The platform actively mobilizes the index-metacarpophalangeal (I-MCP) joint, and it additionally offers individual rigid support to distal degrees of freedom (DoFs) of the index and thumb. The test-bench characterization proves the capability of the device to render torques at the I-MCP level with high fidelity within frequencies of interest for the application (up to 3 Hz). The introduction of a feed-forward friction compensation at the actuator level lowers the output mechanical stiffness by 32%, contributing to a highly transparent behavior; moreover, the functionality of the platform in rendering different interaction strategies (patient/robot-in-charge) is tested with three healthy subjects, showing the potential of the device to provide assistance as needed.

Transcultural Adaptation of and Theoretical Validation Models for the Spanish Version of the Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk Scale: Protocol for a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of validated instruments means providing health professionals with reliable and valid tools. The Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) scale has proven to be valid and reliable in supporting the nursing evaluation of suicide risk in different languages and cultural environments. OBJECTIVE: The aims of our study are to translate and adapt the NGASR scale for the Spanish population and evaluate its psychometric properties in patients with suicide risk factors. METHODS: The translation, adaptation, and modeling of the tool will be performed. The sample will include 165 participants. The psychometric analysis will include reliability and validity tests of the tool's internal structure. The tool's reliability will be assessed by exploring internal consistency and calculating the Cronbach α coefficient; significance values of .70 or higher will be accepted as indicators of good internal consistency. The underlying factor structure of the Spanish version of the NGASR scale will be assessed by performing an exploratory factor analysis. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sample adequacy and the Bartlett sphericity statistic will be calculated beforehand. For the latter, if P is <.05 for the null hypothesis of sphericity, the null hypothesis will be rejected. RESULTS: Participants will be recruited between April 2022 and December 2022. Our study is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2023. CONCLUSIONS: We hope to find the same firmness that colleagues have found in other countries in order to consolidate and promote the use of the NGASR tool in the Spanish population. The prevention and treatment of suicidal behavior require holistic, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive management. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/39482.

Assessment of nutritional risk in persons with mental health disorders admitted to the acute psychiatric inpatient unit: an Italian study.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders can impact on several aspects of the person and therefore also on nutritional models; the literature shows that psychiatric persons are at risk of malnutrition, but the available studies are limited, particularly in Italy. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition by defect and metabolic syndrome in inpatients in an acute Psychiatric unit. To evaluate the characteristics and food habits of the sample. METHODS: Assessment of the risk of malnutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale) and Metabolic Syndrome (APTIII criteria) by administering a new scale to all persons aged 18+ at admission in two inpatient units of a major teaching hospital in Milan, Italy. FINDINGS: One Hundred one people were enrolled; 29.70% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition by defect; Major Depressive Disorder, serum levels of albumin below range and low levels of appetite were significantly associated with malnutrition. 11.88% was suffering from Metabolic Syndrome, which was significantly associated with Psychotic Disorder, high levels of appetite and junk food consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlighted the relevance of malnutrition in the psychiatric population and suggest the need for a systematic evaluation, in every clinical context as well as the key role of nurses.

[Assessment and Management of the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 of Healthcare professionals in Italian Prisons]. / Valutazione e Gestione del Rischio di esposizione al COVID19 degli Operatori sanitari che operano nei penitenziari italiani: uno studio osservazionale.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a relevant health impact in a large part of the planet and there are several studies aimed at understanding its diffusion; however, to date, the problem has not been explored in the correctional setting, with particular concern for the Italian context. AIM: To assess and investigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in nurses working in the Italian prison system. METHODS: A multicenter observational descriptive study was conducted, enrolling a convenience sample composed of nurses registered with SIMSPE onlus (Italian Society of Penitentiary Medicine and Health), working in any Italian prison facility at the time of the survey. RESULTS: 204 nurses participating in the survey (response rate 49.27%). Most nurses working in prisons (92.65%) were exposed to the risk of Covid-19 virus infection, since they came directly into contact with positive patients (90.69%) and in situations where they were exposed during care procedures in which aerosol was produced by the patient (56.21%). The number of nurses who "always" complied with safety rules for prevention of infection did not differ significantly (p >0.05 for each comparison) in situations involving or not involving aerosol exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the relevance of these issues in the Italian prison context and the need for further investigation. The knowledge of the dimension of this phenomenon, unexplored before this study in this context, represents the first step to be able to identify organizational strategies to manage it effectively or, if possible, to prevent it.

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) scale.

AIM: People with mental disorders have higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. Assessment of risk factors can help nurses reducing suicidal risk. The Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk scale (NGASR) has proven valid and reliable in supporting the nursing evaluation of suicidal risk in different studies. The aim of the study was to examine the psychometric properties of the NGASR in the Italian population. METHODS: We translated the scale and administered it to a sample of 121 patients admitted to acute psychiatric wards. RESULTS: The Content Validity Index-Scale (CVI-S) was 96.7%, the correlation with the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) score was high (r=.98, p<.001). Inter-rater reliability (rho=.97, p<.001), and test-retest stability (p=.96) were satisfactory. Factor analysis pointed out 5 factors and the 15 items of the NGASR-ita explained 61.29% of total variance. Of the 121 subjects assessed upon admission, 25.62% had average or higher suicidal risk. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The use of valid screening tools in support of Suicide risk assessment is recommended. The NGASR-ita is a valid and reliable tool, suitable for nursing assessment of suicidal risk in the acute psychiatric setting.