The Efficacity of the NeuroAssist Robotic System for Motor Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb-Promising Results from a Pilot Study.

The research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the NeuroAssist, a parallel robotic system comprised of three robotic modules equipped with human-robot interaction capabilities, an internal sensor system for torque monitoring, and an external sensor system for real-time patient monitoring for the motor rehabilitation of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The study enrolled 10 consecutive patients with right upper limb paresis caused by stroke, traumatic spinal cord disease, or multiple sclerosis admitted to the Neurology I Department of Cluj-Napoca Emergency County Hospital. The patients were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically before (T1) and after the intervention (T2). The intervention consisted of five consecutive daily sessions of 30-45 min each of 30 passive repetitive movements performed with the robot. There were significant differences (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) between baseline and end-point clinical parameters, specifically for the Barthel Index (53.00 ± 37.72 vs. 60.50 ± 36.39, p = 0.016) and Activities of Daily Living Index (4.70 ± 3.43 vs. 5.50 ± 3.80, p = 0.038). The goniometric parameters improved: shoulder flexion (70.00 ± 56.61 vs. 80.00 ± 63.59, p = 0.026); wrist flexion/extension (34.00 ± 28.75 vs. 42.50 ± 33.7, p = 0.042)/(30.00 ± 22.97 vs. 41.00 ± 30.62, p = 0.042); ulnar deviation (23.50 ± 19.44 vs. 33.50 ± 24.15, p = 0.027); and radial deviation (17.50 ± 18.14 vs. 27.00 ± 24.85, p = 0.027). There was a difference in muscle activation of the extensor digitorum communis muscle (1.00 ± 0.94 vs. 1.40 ± 1.17, p = 0.046). The optimized and dependable NeuroAssist Robotic System improved shoulder and wrist range of motion and functional scores, regardless of the cause of the motor deficit. However, further investigations are necessary to establish its definite role in motor recovery.

Artificial intelligence applications and robotic systems in Parkinson's disease (Review).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder following Alzheimer's disease. Advanced stages of PD, 4 or 5 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale, are characterized by severe motor complications, limited mobility without assistance, risk of falling, and non-motor complications. The aim of this review was to provide a practical overview on specific artificial intelligence (AI) systems for the management of advanced stages of PD, as well as relevant technological limitations. The authors conducted a systematic search on PubMed and EMBASE with predefined keywords searching for studies published until December 2020. Full articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review. To minimize results bias, the reference list was manually searched for pertinent articles to identify any additional relevant missed publications. Exclusion criteria included the following: Other stages of PD than 4 and 5 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale, case reports, reviews, practice guidelines, commentaries, opinions, letters, editorials, short surveys, articles in press, conference abstracts, conference papers, and abstracts published without a full article. The search identified 21 studies analyzing AI-based applications and robotic systems used for the management of advanced stages of PD, out of which 6 articles analyzed AI-based applications for autonomous management of pharmacologic therapy, 5 articles analyzed home-based telemedicine systems and 10 articles analysed robot-assisted gait training systems. The authors identified significant evidence demonstrating that current AI-based technologies are feasible for automatic management of patients with advanced stages of PD. Improving the quality of care and reducing the cost for patients and healthcare systems are the most important advantages.

Intrajejunal vs oral levodopa-carbidopa therapy in Parkinson disease: A retrospective cohort study.

Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is a method of continuous administration of levodopa - the standard treatment in Parkinson disease (PD, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, gait impairment, and bradykinesia), thought to reduce the short-life and pulsatile problems of oral administration. We aimed to study the effects of Levodopa-Carbidopa therapy in 2 separate groups: one with intrajejunal administration of Levodopa-Carbidopa gel and the second with oral therapy.We performed an observational retrospective Romanian cohort study on 61 patients diagnosed with PD patients, with Hoehn and Jahr 3 and 4 stages, recruited from a single regional tertiary center in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between 2009 and 2019.The mean adjusted UPDRS III (and similarly for UPDRS II) improved in the LCIG compared to the oral therapy group with 15.6 (95% CI 12.0-19.2, P < .001), and with 18.4 (95% CI 13.8-22.9, P < .001), stratified for the Hoehn and Jahr stages 3 and 4. There was a 41.7% (10) reduction in dyskinesia, and 29.2% reduction in wearing off/on-off at 1 year in the LCIG group compared to 0% (0) dyskinesia reduction, and 2.7% reduction in wearing off/on-off in the oral therapy group.Continuous intrajejunal infusion of LCIG ensures a significant and clinical reduction in motor fluctuations compared to oral therapy in advanced PD, even after adjustment for important confounders.

Large-Fiber Neuropathy in Parkinson's Disease: Clinical, Biological, and Electroneurographic Assessment of a Romanian Cohort.

(1) Background: Increased attention has lately been given to polyneuropathy in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Several papers postulated that large-fiber neuropathy (PNP) in PD is related to vitamin B12 deficiency and L-Dopa exposure. (2) Methods: Using a cross-sectional, observational study, we evaluated 73 PD patients without a previously known cause of PNP using clinical scores (UPDRS II and III and Toronto Clinical Scoring System), biological evaluation of vitamin B12 and folic acid, and nerve conduction studies to assess the prevalence and features of PNP. (3) Results: The prevalence of PNP was 49.3% in the study group. In the L-Dopa group, the frequency of PNP was 67.3% as compared to PNP in the non-L-Dopa group, where one subject had PNP (χ2 = 23.41, p < 0.01). PNP was predominantly sensory with mild to moderate axonal loss. Cyanocobalamin correlated with L-Dopa daily dose (r = -0.287, p < 0.05) and L-Dopa duration of administration (r = -0.316, p < 0.05). L-Dopa daily dose correlated with the amplitudes of sensory nerve action potentials of the superficial peroneal and radial nerves (r = -0.312, p < 0.05) (r = -0.336, p < 0.05), respectively. (4) Conclusions: PNP is more frequent in L-Dopa-treated patients than in L-Dopa-naïve patients. The results imply that longer exposure to high doses of L-Dopa may cause vitamin B12 and folate imbalance and PNP, secondarily.

Cardiac Changes in Overweight and Obese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and overweight are two pathologies that are more and more frequent in the XXIst century diagnosis and are causing high morbidity and mortality rates in the general population, especially through cardiovascular complications. AIMS: Identification and early diagnosis of cardiac changes in overweight and obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We carried out a sectional, analytical and observational study on 111 subjects: 27 normal weight subjects and 84 overweight and obese patients, which were submitted to a clinical exam, biochemical exams and 2D ultrasound. RESULTS: The presence of diastolic dysfunction is twice more frequent in overweight patients in comparison to normal weight ones (30% vs 15%) and 5 times more frequent in obese patients than normal weight ones (75% vs 15%). The size increase of the interventricular septum is correlated with the body mass index, there being statistically significant differences between normal weight vs overweight vs obese patients, as well as between overweight and obese ones. Within the whole group and within the groups, both the left ventricle mass (g) as well as the left ventricle mass to body surface ratio (g/m²) are statistically significantly higher in patients with present diastolic dysfunction (E/A < 1). This indicates a relation between the presence of diastolic dysfunction, increased left ventricle mass and body mass index (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese patients, unlike normal weight ones, present early cardiac changes, such as: a decrease of left ventricle ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction, thickening of the interventricular septum, increase of the left ventricle mass both per se as well as in ratio to body surface.