Orofacial myofunctional reeducation: how to handle simple in office cases? / Rééducation myofonctionnelle orofaciale : comment prendre en charge les cas simples in office ?

Introduction: The prevalence of lingual dyspraxia is high but not all patients require management by a physical therapist. The aim of this article is to propose a decisional flow chart separating, via diagnostic criteria, patients who can be managed in office from patients requiring oromyofunctional rehabilitation by an oro-myo-functional rehabilitation (OMR) professional and to provide, if necessary, simple exercise sheets. Material and Method: An expert, a maxillofacial physiotherapist from the Fournier school, has proposed, based on the literature, her experience as a clinician and in consultation with orthodontists, different criteria for the severity of dyspraxia as well as exercises to be implemented for cases that are manageable in the office. Results: The decision tree, diagnostic criteria and exercises are provided. Discussion: The flowchart is based on the literature, mainly on expert opinion given the low level of evidence of published studies. The exercise sheet was created by a physiotherapist from the Fournier school and necessarily reflects this influence. Conclusion: Further studies such as a clinical trial could compare the validity of the WBR indication obtained by an orthodontist using the decision tree with the blinded indication given by a physical therapist. In addition, the effectiveness of in-office rehabilitation could be evaluated using a control group.

Introduction: La prévalence des dyspraxies linguales est élevée mais leur prise en charge par un kinésithérapeute spécialisé n'est pas requise pour la totalité des patients. L'objectif de cet article était de proposer un organigramme décisionnel séparant, via les critères diagnostiques, les patients pouvant être gérés in office des patients nécessitant une rééducation myofonctionnelle orofaciale chez un professionnel de la rééducation myofonctionnelle orofaciale (RMOF) et de fournir, le cas échéant, des fiches d'exercices simples. Matériel et méthode: Une experte, kinésithérapeute maxillo-faciale, issue de l'école Fournier, a proposé, en s'appuyant sur la littérature, son expérience de clinicienne et en concertation avec des orthodontistes, différents critères de sévérité de dyspraxies, ainsi que des exercices à mettre en œuvre pour les cas gérables in office. Résultats: L'arbre décisionnel, les critères diagnostiques et les exercices sont fournis. Discussion: L'organigramme s'appuie sur la littérature, essentiellement sur des avis d'experts compte tenu du faible niveau de preuve des études publiées. La fiche d'exercices ayant été réalisée par une kinésithérapeute issue de l'école Fournier reflète nécessairement cette influence. Conclusion: Des études complémentaires, telles qu'un essai clinique, pourraient permettre de comparer la validité de l'indication de la RMOF obtenue par un orthodontiste à l'aide de l'arbre décisionnel avec l'indication posée en aveugle par un kinésithérapeute. Par ailleurs, l'efficacité de la rééducation délivrée in office pourrait être évaluée à l'aide d'un groupe témoin.

Orofacial myofunctional reeducation: what is the scientific background? / Rééducation myofonctionnelle orofaciale : quelles justifications scientifiques ?

Introduction: In 85% of orthodontic patients, lingual dyspraxias are present and may justify orofacial myofunctional rehabilitation because of their morphogenetic potential. The objective of this literature review is to search for scientific arguments corroborating or not the relationships between dysmorphias and the static, dynamic labio-lingual-jugal balance during functions and parafunctions. Material and Method: A review of the literature was carried out by keywords on PubMed. The search covered the period from 1913 to 2022. A complementary selection of articles or book chapters was made from the references of the included articles. Results: The morphogenetic role of the tongue is mainly involved at rest and during ventilation in all three dimensions. Oral ventilation is associated with many craniofacial dysmorphy. Concerning swallowing, phonation, non-nutritive sucking and temporomandibular joint dysfunctions, it is the combined association of several anomalies that is found in dysmorphia without a causal link being established. Thus, for some, the lingual posture would only constitute an adaptation to a dysmorphia. Discussion: Essentially based on expert opinion, the level of evidence is still insufficient. The authors are confronted with the difficulty of finding adequate, quantifiable and reproducible indicators. Conclusion: This subject, which probably remains neglected because it is interdisciplinary and the result of a historically European reflection, deserves to be further studied.

Introduction: Chez 85 % des patients orthodontiques, les dyspraxies linguales sont présentes, pouvant justifier une rééducation myofonctionnelle orofaciale en raison de leur supposé potentiel morphogénétique. L'objectif de cette revue de littérature était de rechercher les arguments scientifiques corroborant ou non les relations entre les dysmorphies et l'équilibre labio-linguo-jugal statique, dynamique lors des fonctions et des parafonctions. Matériel et méthode: Une revue de littérature a été réalisée par mots clés sur les bases de données PubMed (Medline) et EM Consulte. La recherche s'étend sur la période de 1913 à 2022, une sélection complémentaire d'articles ou de chapitres de livres a été effectuée à partir des références des articles inclus. Résultats: Le rôle morphogénétique de la langue intervient essentiellement au repos et lors de la ventilation dans les trois dimensions. Une ventilation buccale est associée à de nombreuses dysmorphies cranio-faciales. Concernant la déglutition, la phonation, la succion non nutritive et les dysfonctionnements des articulations temporo-mandibulaires, c'est la conjugaison de plusieurs anomalies qui est retrouvée dans les dysmorphies, sans que le lien de cause à effet ne soit établi. Ainsi, pour certains, la posture linguale ne constituerait qu'une adaptation à une dysmorphie. Discussion: Essentiellement basé sur des avis d'experts, le niveau de preuves demeure encore insuffisant. Les auteurs se heurtent à la difficulté à trouver des indicateurs adéquats quantifiables et reproductibles. Conclusion: Ce sujet, qui reste probablement délaissé car il est interdisciplinaire et le résultat d'une réflexion historiquement européenne, mérite d'être davantage étudié.

How does firms' broadband adoption affect regional TFP in Italy?

In the literature, the positive effect of ICT on labour productivity and, in general, economic growth is vast and well consolidated. This paper wants to go beyond the general term of ICT and look inside the "black box." In particular, broadband adoption among Italian firms is critical for productivity. Hence, we focus on broadband adoption and internet facilities and how they affect the firms' total factor productivity in the Italian business sector firms at NUTS2 over the period 2003-2018. Italy is indeed still characterized by a robust North-South divide. Our question is: can we exploit the digital advantage for filling the productivity gap? To answer, we are going to use a classical two-stage approach. In the first one, the TFP is filtered out using both a semi-parametric approach and a parametric one (spatial ML). The second step investigates its determinants, using broadband firms' adoption as a covariate in an ECM augmented by spatial spillovers, controlling for competitivity, internationalization, and human capital. Our results show a positive relationship between TFP and broadband adoption (cointegration), including regional spillovers; this positive effect spreads to GVA. Moreover, our results show that digitalization makes Southern regions more resilient to external shocks.

Return to Play after SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Competitive Athletes of Distinct Sport Disciplines in Italy: A FMSI (Italian Federation of Sports Medicine) Study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 can lead to several systemic complications, including myocardial injuries; these might be worsened by heavy physical activity. The optimal approach to cardiac risk stratification following SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes for a safe return to play (RTP) still needs defining. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of abnormal RTP test results, according to the protocol of Italian Federation of Sport Medicine (FMSI), which was endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Health, potentially representing COVID-19-associated cardiac injuries. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study. All consecutive competitive athletes who underwent COVID-19 RTP testing protocol from 1 May to 31 July 2021, across 60 Italian Centers of Sports Medicine, were enrolled in the study. Athletes were tested at least 30 days after negativization of the nasopharyngeal swab (or immediately after negativization in professional athletes or Probable Olympians). A 12-lead electrocardiography at rest and during maximal incremental exercise test with continuous O2 saturation monitoring and an echocardiographic examination were part of the protocol. In athletes with "moderate" disease (NHI classification), 24 h ECG monitoring (to be performed on a training day) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 4143 athletes (67.8% males and 32.2% females) (53% > 18 years, 20% 18-35 years and 16% > 35 years), from more than 40 different sport disciplines, were included in the study. The mean age was 22.5 ± 13.3 years, with ages ranging from 8 to 80 years. Of these athletes, 52.3% were asymptomatic, 46.4% manifested mild symptoms, 1.1% and 0.14% had moderate or severe symptoms, respectively, while critical illness was evident in one athlete. Abnormal echocardiographic findings were detected in 80 cases (1.9%), and pericarditis in 7 cases (0.2%); all were from mildly symptomatic athletes. Arrhythmic events were recorded in 239 athletes, with 224 (5.4%) in the exercise test and 15 (0.4%) during 24 h ECG monitoring. Ventricular arrhythmias were observed in 101 (2.4%) athletes from the total population (mostly isolated or couples of premature ventricular beats): 91 in the exercise test and 10 during 24 h ECG monitoring. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed in 34 athletes; the presence of myocarditis was confirmed in 5 athletes (0.12% of the total population, 14.7% of athletes in which MRI was performed). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, cardiac complications from SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic competitive athletes are rare, and an RTP assessment based on symptoms and ECG-monitored exercise test would ensure a safe RTP in these athletes.

Brief dynamic therapy and depression severity: a single-blind, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Brief dynamic therapy (BDT) has been shown to be effective in treating depressive disorders. Nevertheless, whether its effect is related to the severity of depression is still unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the efficacy of BDT is related to severity of depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate unipolar depressive disorders. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial compared BDT with brief supportive psychotherapy (BSP) in 88 outpatients with depressive disorders. Two subgroups of patients were considered for statistical analysis: with mild depressive disorders (HAM-D17 baseline score: 8-13) and with moderate depressive disorders (HAM-D17 baseline score: 14-18). Patients were assessed at start of treatment (baseline-T0), at the end of treatment (T1) and at 6-month follow-up (T2). RESULTS: In the subgroup of patients with mild depressive disorders, no statistically significant differences emerged between the two treatments on all efficacy measures. In the subgroup of patients with moderate depressive disorders, the remission rates of patients treated with BDT were higher than those of patients treated with BSP at 6 month of follow-up (90.5% vs. 34.8%: p<.005). LIMITATIONS: The sample size was relatively small; a longer follow-up period should be considered to assess the efficacy of BDT in terms of prevention of recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of BDT in treating depressive disorders is higher in moderate than in mild depression.

Geriatric ward hospitalization reduced incidence delirium among older medical inpatients.

OBJECTIVES: Most strategies for delirium prevention in older hospitalized patients are common good clinical geriatric care. We investigated whether acute geriatric ward (AGW) hospitalization, compared with acute general medical ward (AGMW) hospitalization,is associated with reduced incident delirium in older medical inpatients. DESIGN: prospective observational study. SETTING: a tertiary care, university hospital in Torino. PARTICIPANTS: consecutive medical patients 70 years or older admitted from the emergency department to an AGW and to an AGMW were included. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline measures included demography, functional and psychocognitive status, comorbidity, physiological and clinical severity of acute illness. Incident delirium was evaluated by qualified psychiatrists according to the Confusion Assessment Method and the Delirium Rating Scale. RESULTS: Delirium occurred in 8 of 121 patients admitted to AGW (6.6%) and in 20 of 131 patients admitted to AGMW (15.2%). After adjustment for significant differences in baseline covariates between groups, AGW hospitalization remained independently associated with less incident delirium (relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.024-0.331, p <0.001). In a multivariable logistic model with delirium incidence as independent variable, AGW hospitalization was independently associated with lower delirium incidence (relative risk 0.039, 95% confidence interval: 0.007-0.214, p <0.001), whereas greater cognitive impairment (p <0.001), higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (p 0.001) and recent stressful events (p <0.001) were associated with increased delirium incidence. CONCLUSION: AGW hospitalization is associated with less incident delirium among older medical inpatients. Despite inherent limitations of observational studies, these hypothesis-generating findings add to previous evidence of potential benefit in delirium prevention from geriatric consultation in several hospital settings.

Time of day affects episodic memory in older adults.

The neuropsychological test scores of 2030 cognitively normal older adults were examined to evaluate performance patterns as they related to time of day (TOD) at which testing was initiated. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association of TOD with scores on seven neuropsychological tests used in the clinical evaluation of dementia. Episodic memory performance was significantly related to TOD, while memory span and verbal fluency were not. Best performance occurred during early morning hours and late afternoon; worst performance occurred mid-day (i.e., noon). These findings may have implications for clinical assessment, the design of research on dementia, and the daily functioning of older adults.