Heterotopic hip ossification resection: monocentric experiences of associated factors, outcomes, and complications.

PURPOSE: The exponential increase in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has led to acute and chronic surgery-related complications. Common chronic and local complications are represented by hip ossification (HO). The aim of our study was to assess the clinical and radiological correlates of patients undergoing surgical removal of heterotopic ossifications after THA and the possible association between HO and prosthetic joint infection. METHODS: Data of 26 patients who underwent surgical removal of periprosthetic calcifications after THA from 2000 to 2022 were analyzed and compared with characteristics of 156 subjects without HO. RESULTS: The preoperative radiographs of patients showed a high-grade Brooker, 3 or 4, later reduced to 1 or 2 in the postoperative radiographs. Ten (38.5%) patients underwent radiotherapy prophylaxis, administered as a single dose 24 h before surgery. In 19 (73%) patients, pharmacological prophylaxis with indomethacin was added in the 30 postoperative days. Only one patient who underwent radiotherapy had a recurrence, while new ossifications were found in three patients without prophylaxis (11.5%). Intraoperative cultures were performed for suspected periprosthetic infection in 8 study group patients. In logistic regression, the presence of HO was significantly and inversely associated with the ASA score (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09-0.82; P = 0.021) after adjusting. CONCLUSION: Surgical HO removal in symptomatic patients with high-grade disease produces good clinical and radiographic results. Radiotherapy was a good perioperative and preventive strategy for recurrence, also associated with NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors.

Simultaneous vs staged bilateral hip arthroplasty: monocentric analysis of satisfaction rate and complications.

PURPOSE: Interest in bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been increasing over the past decade. This study aims to compare postoperative local and systemic complications, hospital readmissions, and satisfaction assessment in patients undergoing simultaneous versus staged bilateral THA. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted among patients who underwent simultaneous or staged bilateral THA between 2017 and 2020. Data on perioperative parameters, local and systemic complications, and 30-day hospital readmissions were collected. Patient satisfaction was assessed using Forgotten Joint Score (FJS). The comparison of continuous variables with normal distribution of variance was performed by ANOVA; for variables with abnormal distribution, the nonparametric test Mann-Whitney U was adopted. The distribution of dichotomous variables was analyzed by chi-square test, and statistical significance was calculated by Fisher exact test. RESULTS: The study included 199 patients, of whom 156 underwent staged and 43 simultaneous bilateral THA. A total of 44 patients developed complications (21 systemics, 12 locals, and 20 postoperative anemia). There were no significant differences regarding local (simultaneous 5% vs. staged 6%; p = 0.999) or systemic complications (simultaneous 14% vs. staged 10%; p = 0.408). Only the incidence of postoperative anemia was significantly higher in simultaneous group compared with staged group (p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in FJS between the two groups (p = 0.258). CONCLUSION: No differences in local or systemic complications nor readmission rates were observed following simultaneous or staged bilateral THA. Simultaneous bilateral THA is non-inferior to staged implants in terms of safety and patient satisfaction.

Dementia, osteoporosis and fragility fractures: Intricate epidemiological relationships, plausible biological connections, and twisted clinical practices.

Dementia, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures are chronic diseases, often co-existing in older adults. These conditions pose severe morbidity, long-term disability, and mortality, with relevant socioeconomic implications. While in the research arena, the discussion remains on whether dementia is the cause or the consequence of fragility fractures, healthcare professionals need a better understanding of the interplay between such conditions from epidemiological and physiological standpoints. With this review, we summarized the available literature surrounding the relationship between cognitive impairment, dementia, and both low bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fractures. Given the strength of the bi-directional associations and their impact on the quality of life, we shed light on the biological connections between brain and bone systems, presenting the main mediators, including gut microbioma, and pathological pathways leading to the dysregulation of bone and brain metabolism. Ultimately, we synthesized the evidence about the impact of available pharmacological treatments for the prevention of fragility fractures on cognitive functions and individuals' outcomes when dementia coexists. Vice versa, the effects of symptomatic treatments for dementia on the risk of falls and fragility fractures are explored. Combining evidence alongside clinical practice, we discuss challenges and opportunities related to the management of older adults affected by cognitive impairment or dementia and at high risk for fragility fracture prevention, which leads to not only an improvement in patient health-related outcomes and survival but also a reduction in healthcare cost and socio-economic burden.

Polypharmacy is a determinant of hospitalization in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are at a higher risk of hospitalization and recurrent hospitalizations, with consequent complications. Polypharmacy is associated with several adverse outcomes, including hospitalization, increased length of hospital stay, and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate among patients with PD the association between the number of medications and incident hospitalizations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed the data of 165 patients with Parkinson's disease attending a geriatric Day Hospital who were enrolled in a cohort study and followed for a median of two years. RESULTS: Over the follow-up, 46 participants (46%) were hospitalized at least one time; multiple admissions were observed in 12 subjects (7%). The median number of agents was 5 (4-7). In Cox regression, the number of drugs was associated with increased hospitalization rates (HR=1.23; 95% CI=1.06-1.43), also after excluding non-neurological medications (HR=1.18; 95% CI=1.01-1.38). Using Poisson regression, polypharmacy (i.e., use of >5 drugs) predicted the number of repeated hospitalizations (IRR=2.62; 95% CI=1.28-5.36; p=.008). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with PD, the number of daily medications is associated with increased risk of hospitalization; an increasing number of drugs is associated with increasing number of hospitalizations.

Prehabilitation and heart failure: perspective in primary outcomes, a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Prehabilitation, intended as a multidisciplinary approach where physical training is combined with educational and counselling training, in cardiology could optimizing care, and has been shown to be able to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of a prehabilitation program in elderly patients (over 65) with chronic heart failure and to evaluate functional and quality indices of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is randomized, single blind controlled trial. Fourteen older adult patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned into the study or the control group. Patients in the study group underwent physical training organized into 10 twice-weekly meetings, nutritional and lifestyle counseling. RESULTS: In the Study Group, the quality of life improved significantly (EQoL-5D), and between the two groups there is a statistically significant difference in the motor dimension of SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Because of our preliminary results, prehabilitation program should be included among the management strategies of in elderly patients with chronic heart failure to better manage their disease and to improve their Quality of Life.

Effects of aging and life-long moderate calorie restriction on IL-15 signaling in the rat white adipose tissue.

OBJECTIVE: Phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated as a factor contributing to insulin resistance. Administration of IL-15 reduces adipose tissue deposition in young rats and stimulates secretion of adiponectin, an insulin sensitizing hormone that inhibits the production and activity of TNF-α. We aimed at investigating the effects of age life-long moderate calorie restriction (CR) on IL-15 and TNF-α signaling in rat white adipose tissue (WAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six 8-month-old, 18-month-old, and 29-month-old male Fischer344´Brown Norway F1 rats (6 per group) were either fed ad libitum (AL) or calorie restricted by 40%. The serum levels of IL-15 and IL-15 receptor α-chain (IL-15Rα) were increased by CR controls regardless of age. An opposite pattern was detected in WAT. In addition, CR reduced gene expression of TNF-α and cytosolic IRS1 serine phosphorylation in WAT, independently from age. RESULTS: IL-15 signaling in WAT is increased over the course of aging in AL rats compared with CR rodents. Protein levels of IL-15Rα are greater in WAT of AL than in CR rats independently from age. This adaptation was paralleled by increased IRS1 phosphorylation through TNF-α-mediated insulin resistance. Adiponectin decreased at old age in AL rats, while no changes were evident in CR rats across age groups. CONCLUSIONS: IL-15 signaling could therefore represent a potential target for interventions to counteract metabolic alterations and the deterioration of body composition during aging.

A new model of multidimensional discharge planning: continuity of care for frail and complex inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Delays in patient discharge can adversely affect hospital and emergency room productivity and increase healthcare costs. The discharge should be structured from the hospital admission towards the most appropriate environment. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the Unit, named "Continuity of Care Center" (CCC), to guarantee a safest and fastest hospital discharge in frail patients and to test the effect of our team-approach on hospital outcomes (length of stay and hospital mortality). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study carried out in an acute care hospital with 1,558 beds and is equipped with 41 operating theaters. We collected data from October 2016 to June 2019. RESULTS: The time of patient discharge had an important reduction: 15.5±30.8 in the first 3 months vs. 11.0±20.1 in the last 3 months considered. The median of the time of discharge in all 12 months considered was 12 day. The length of stay presented an important reduction from 33.3±47.5 during the first 3 months vs. 28.8±39.5 in the last 3 months of activity of CCC; and a significant reduction of hospital deaths was recorded from 20% during the first 3 months to 14% in the last 3 months of activity of CCC. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate a constant decrease in patient discharge time and length of hospital stay, with a consequent significant reduction of healthcare costs. According to the estimates of Italian Health Ministry concerning Latium region, every hospitalization day has a mean cost of € 674.00. Thus, the CCC activity has contributed to a reduction of approximately 12,832 days of hospitalization, in the considered period, with an estimated hospital saving of € 8,648,761.

Use of ACE-inhibitors and Quality of Life in an Older Population.

BACKGROUND: Improved ability to treat chronic diseases have increased the interest in measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults. Hypertension and heart failure have been associated with decreased HRQoL. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess the association between health-related quality of life and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in unselected community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: We analyzed data of all 387 subjects aged 75+ living in a rural Italian town, without exclusion criteria. HRQoL was assessed using the Health Utility Index Mark 3, which allows formal cost-effectiveness calculations. The association of the HRQoL score with use of ACE-I was analyzed by multivariable linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: The median HUI3 score was 0.31, and 186 participants (48%) reported a score above the median value. Use of ACE-I was reported by 34 (9%) participants, and confirmed by general practitioners. Use of these agents was associated with significantly better HRQoL (B=.16, 95% CI=.02 - .30; P=.025). Also, use of ACE-I was associated with increased probability of better HRQoL in logistic regression (OR=2.83; 95% CI=1.03 - 7.78; P=.044) after adjusting. No associations were found between the HRQoL score and use of calcium antagonists or beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ACE-I, but not of other antihypertensives, is associated with better HRQoL among community-dwelling older adults. ACE-inhibitors might therefore present with the best cost-effectiveness ratio for the treatment of older populations.

Occurrence of nocturia is not mediated by nocturnal hypoxia length and severity in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND: Nocturia is highly prevalent in subjects with respiratory sleep disturbances (ie obstructive sleep apnea). The aim of our study is to evaluate whether nocturia is associated with intermittent desaturations or hypoxia length and severity in people undergoing polysomnography. METHODS: We recruited 275 consecutive subjects attending the outpatient clinic for respiratory diseases at Campus Bio-Medico Teaching Hospital. Nocturia was defined as a self-reported voiding frequency ≥ two per night. The groups with and without nocturia were compared with parametric and non-parametric tests, as appropriated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of nocturia with patients' characteristics, including oxygen desaturation index (ODI), respiratory efforts (RE) and oxygen saturation below 90% (TST90). RESULTS: Sixty-six (24%) subjects reported nocturia, the median ODI was 15 (8-31), the median RE was 22 (12-38) and the median TST90 was 4.7 (0.3-20.6). ODI and RE were significantly higher in subjects with nocturia as compared with controls. In the multivariable model, ODI was associated with an increased probability of nocturia (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06), and the higher the ODI score, the higher the probability to have nocturia (P for trend = 0.038). No significant association was found between TST90 and the occurrence of nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent desaturations and not hypoxia length and severity, expressed by TST90, are associated with the occurrence of nocturia in subjects complaining sleep disturbances.

Laterality in Parkinson's disease may predict motor and visual imagery abilities.

Experimental evidence suggests that motor imagery (MI) engages the same neural substrates supporting actual motor activities and is likely impaired when such substrates are damaged, as in Parkinson's disease (PD). MI intuitively relies on visual imagery (VI), because mental simulations of physical movements depend on the visual retrieval of these movements. Although VI is generally considered a right hemispheric function, the hemispheric dominance of MI is still in dispute. Disparities in sidedness of motor disturbances are a distinctive feature of PD, and recent findings indicate that such disparities may similarly characterize cognition. Specifically, the deficits observed may depend upon which hemisphere is principally involved. Essentially, MI and VI are cognitive tasks subject to differential impairment and reflecting the prevalence of hemispheric impairment in PD. Motor imagery (assessed by the Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire [VMIQ]) and VI (assessed by the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire [VVIQ] and Test of Visual Imagery Control [TVIC]) were examined in patients with asymmetric PD and in healthy elderly control subjects (HC group). VMIQ scores were similar in PD laterality subsets and the HC group, but VVIQ scores were significantly lower in both PD groups compared with the HC group. TVIC scores were significantly lower in the presence of left motor (right hemispheric) impairment and were predictive of left motor (right hemispheric) impairment. We suspect that MI is strongly reliant on VI and that language may mediate these two functions, to the extent that both are evoked through verbal stimuli. Working memory, both visual and verbal, is also involved in MI and VI tasks. Without due attention to laterality of symptoms, any training incorporating MI and VI may not deliver expected outcomes in the setting of asymmetric PD symptomatology.

Inflammation as a mediator of the association between osteoporosis and hearing loss in older subjects: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the aging of populations, the prevalence of hearing loss and osteoporosis is increasing. Previous studies have found an association between these conditions. Nevertheless, the pathophysiologic pathway of such an association has not yet been established. The present study aimed at evaluating the association, if any, of hearing loss with osteoporosis in an older unselected population, and whether this association varied according to inflammatory status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the association of osteoporosis with a self-reported hearing loss in all 310 subjects aged 75+ living in Tuscania (Italy), without exclusion criteria. Bone density was assessed by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound; osteoporosis was defined as a T-score ≤ -2.5 Standard Deviation. RESULTS: Hearing loss was associated with osteoporosis (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.03-3.28; p = 0.40) in multivariable logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders. Analysis of the interaction term indicated that this association varied according to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ERS (p = 0.030), and high-sensitivity C reactive protein, hs-CRP (p = 0.017) but not sex (p = 0.832). Of notice, this association was significant only for higher levels of inflammatory parameters (OR = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.15-6.90; p = 0.023 for the higher ERS tertile; and OR = 3.81; 95% CI = 1.36-10.63; p = 0.011 for the higher hs-CRP tertile vs. lower tertiles). CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is associated with osteoporosis in community dwelling elderly. Such an association seems to depend upon higher inflammation levels.

Occult normal pressure hydrocephalus with parkinsonian symptomatology.

The authors describe a case where a parkinsonian symptomatology is associated with pneumoencephalographic and RISA-cisternographic findings typical of an occult normal pressure hydrocephalus. They discuss their personal contribution in the light of what has been already reported in the literature on the same subject. They conclude that a CSF dynamics disturbance among the possible physiopathogenetic mechanisms of an extrapyramidal syndrome in young subjects should be considered. On the other hand, they also emphasize the possibility that the occult normal pressure hydrocephalus may have syndromical expression which are different from the typical one initially described.

Myelin basic protein and S-100 antigen in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis in the acute phase.

It has previously been demonstrated that both Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) and S-100 are released in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during acute phases of exacerbation of the disease. In order to investigate the pathobiological significance of the release of these two proteins into the CSF, MBP and S-100 were assayed in 10 MS patients during the five weeks following onset of an acute exacerbation. MBP was detectable in CSF during the first three weeks after exacerbation, while S-100 was detectable during the entire period of observation, at least in some of the patients. MBP reached its highest CSF concentrations during the first two weeks while S-100 did so in the third week, decreasing thereafter. This difference in time of presence of MBP and S-100 in the CSF is probably due to the different biological origin, MBP being a marker of myelin sheath injury, and S-100, more probably, of astrocytic activity.

Olivopontocerebellar atrophy: paraneoplastic syndrome of brain tumour?

We describe a patient who, three years after the onset of an olivopontocerebellar atrophy, developed a right cerebral tumour. The cerebellar symptomatology also included, as in other cerebellar patients previously described, a peripheral dysgraphia. Because this deficit of writing is generally reported in patients with right cerebral lesion, the authors hypothesized that functional alterations of supratentorial structures preceding the tumour by years may be able to damage the neural substrates connecting cerebral and cerebellar structures and to produce cerebellar atrophy.

Four year double-blind controlled study of levamisole in multiple sclerosis.

41 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) in the stationary phase entered this four year double-blind levamisole-placebo controlled study. 22 patients were treated with levamisole, 150 or 200 mg once a week for a 4 year period, and other 19 with placebo with the same schedule. Patients were put in one of the two groups at random. The treatment was then stopped for those patients who presented a clear exacerbation before the end of the 4 year trial period, and these cases have been considered as negative. Of the group treated with levamisole 8 patients presented an exacerbation during the observation period, and 14 did not. The group treated with placebo presented 14 subjects who had exacerbations and 5 patients who did not. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. This study demonstrates that levamisole significantly reduced the number of MS patients with acute relapse during the 4 year period of treatment. Nevertheless, not all patients were free from relapse: that could probably suggest that different immunopathological backgrounds may underlie what we usually call MS.