Development of the Italian version of the trunk impairment scale in subjects with acute and chronic stroke. Cross-cultural adaptation,reliability, validity and responsiveness

Purpose: To cross-culturally adapt and psychometrically analyse the Italian version of the Trunk Impairment Scale on acute (cohort 1) and chronic stroke patients (cohort 2).

Methods: The Trunk Impairment Scale was culturally adapted in accordance with international standards. The psychometric testing included: internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), inter- and intra-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change), construct validity by comparing Trunk Impairment Scale score with Barthel Index, motor subscale of Functional Independence Measure, and Trunk Control Test (Pearson’s correlation), and responsiveness (Effect Size, Effect Size with Guyatt approach, standardized response mean, and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves).

Results: The Trunk Impairment Scale was administered to 125 and 116 acute and chronic stroke patients, respectively. Internal consistency was acceptable (α?>?0.7), inter- and intra-rater reliability (ICC >?0.9, Minimal Detectable Change for total score <?1.6 in cohort 1 and <?1.1 in cohort 2) were excellent. The construct validity showed acceptable correlations (r?>?0.4) with all scales but the motor Functional Independence Measure in cohort 2. Distribution-based methods showed large effects in cohort 1 and moderate to large effects in cohort 2. The Minimal Important Difference was 3.5 both from patient’s and therapist’s perspective in cohort 1 and 2.5 and 1.5 from patient’s and therapist’s perspective, respectively, in cohort 2.

Conclusion: The Trunk Impairment Scale was successfully translated into Italian and proved to be reliable, valid, and responsive. Its use is recommended for clinical and research purposes.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Trunk control is an essential part of balance and postural control, constituting an important prerequisite for daily activities and function.

• The TIS administered in subjects with subacute and chronic stroke was reliable, valid and responsive.

• The TIS is expected to help clinicians and researchers by identifying key functional processes related to disability in people with subacute and chronic stroke.

     

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Correction in Newborn Rabbits with Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type I

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Differences in Treatment and Outcome of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Stage I and II in the EURECCA Pancreas Consortium

Background

The EUropean REgistration of Cancer CAre (EURECCA) consortium aims to investigate differences in treatment and to improve cancer care through Europe. The purpose of this study was to compare neo- and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) and outcome after tumor resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma stage I and II in the EURECCA Pancreas consortium.

Methods

The eight, collaborating national, regional, and single-center partners shared their anonymized dataset. Patients diagnosed in 2012–2013 who underwent tumor resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma stage I and II were investigated with respect to treatment and survival and compared using uni- and multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses. All comparisons were performed separately per registry type: national, regional, and single-center registries.

Results

In total, 2052 patients were included. Stage II was present in the majority of patients. The use of neo-ACT was limited in most registries (range 2.8–15.5%) and was only different between Belgium and The Netherlands after adjustment for potential confounders. The use of ACT was different between the registries (range 40.5–70.0%), even after adjustment for potential confounders. Ninety-day mortality was also different between the registries (range 0.9–13.6%). In multivariable analyses for overall survival, differences were observed between the national and regional registries. Furthermore, patients in ascending age groups and patients with stage II showed a significant worse overall survival.

Conclusions

This study provides a clear insight in clinical practice in the EURECCA Pancreas consortium. The differences observed in (neo-)ACT and outcome give us the chance to further investigate the best practices and improve outcome of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

     

Gout drugs use and risk of cancer: A case-control study

Objective

Firm conclusion about whether short and long-term gout medications use has an impact on cancer risk remain inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between gout drugs use and risk of cancer.

Type 2 alveolar epithelial cell-derived circulating extracellular vesicle-encapsulated surfactant protein C as a mediator of cardiac inflammation in COVID-19

Inflammation Research - Among the countless endeavours made at elucidating the pathogenesis of COVID-19, those aimed at the histopathological alterations of type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT2)...     

安徽省社区卫生服务中心中医药服务现状调查与分析

目的:对安徽省社区卫生服务中心中医药服务现状进行调查,分析存在的问题以期为有关部门制定相应政策提供参考。方法:随机抽取安徽省社区卫生服务中心69家及其服务涵盖居民700例,对社区卫生服务中心中医药服务开展状况、中医师人力资源状况、就诊居民对社区卫生服务中心中医药服务需求状况进行问卷调查。结果:69家社区卫生服务中心相关中医科室设置率为100%;中医师中级及以上职称占48.8%,受教育程度本科及以上学历占37%;有中医药专项经费的占58%。结论:安徽省社区卫生服务中心的中医药服务网络正逐步健全,社区卫生服务中心的中医药服务功能也在逐步完善,但是,在中医师人力资源、资金投入、居民对中医药的认知等方面仍存在一些问题及不足之处。     

Patterns of Co-occurring Modes of Marijuana Use Among Colorado High School Students

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to understand how adolescents concurrently use different modes of marijuana consumption.MethodsUsing data from the 2017 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, we examined how modes of marijuana use (smoking/ingesting/vaping/dabbing/other) co-occur. We estimated the prevalence of all combinations of these modes among adolescents who reported past 30-day marijuana use (n = 3,618). We then estimated the prevalence of any use of each mode by each mode usually used.ResultsForty-one percent reported only smoking, another 10% reported smoking and dabbing, and 9.8% reported smoking and ingesting. Only about 10% used a combination of modes that did not include smoking. Smoking was the most common additional mode for all other usual modes of consumption.ConclusionsSmoking in combination with dabbing and/or ingesting were the most common multimode patterns of use. Nearly all adolescents who use marijuana smoke some or most of the time.     

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms: A series of nine boys with Obsessive-Compulsive Tic Disorder

Tics and obsessions-compulsions are consistent phenotypes of the Obsessive-Compulsive Tic Disorder (OCTD), frequently associated with male gender, sensory phenomena, and impulsive behaviors. These clinical symptoms were reported to influence eating behaviors, but literature also showed that food patterns or dietary supplements could alleviate the clinical spectra, thus suggesting the existence of a bidirectional association. We present a series of 9 boys with OCTD from Italy whose unhealthy food habits were corrected through a nutritional counseling. The education focused on promoting a balanced diet through non-specific Mediterranean dietary advices. After one month, YGTSS (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale) and Y-BOCS (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) scored a significant reduction, but the quality of life diminished. First, we conclude that healthier dietary patterns may be associated with an amelioration of tics and obsessive-compulsive traits in boys who are diagnosed with the same conditions. Second, the impact of nutritional interventions on the quality of patients’ life, especially if underage, should always be considered. Certainly, the treatment of OCTD must be multidisciplinary and should include neuropsychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and nutritionists. The nutritional counseling should be as comprehensive as possible to promote a balanced diet, and inform about nutritional side effects of drugs or potential food-drug interactions.     

科研诚信教育及管理现状调研分析——以医院、医学院校及医学科研院所为例

目的 了解目前医院、医学院校及医学科研院所等机构对科研诚信的教育及管理现状。方法 对40家医院、医学院校及医学科研院所的115名科研和教育管理部门的管理人员进行问卷调查和数据分析。结果 69.57%的管理人员所在单位开设了学术规范、科研诚信的相关课程,71.30%的管理人员所在单位制定了违背学术诚信或道德的相关惩罚条例,59.13%的管理人员表示所在单位能够在发现违反诚信行为后主动采取处罚措施,50%以上的管理人员认为非常有必要颁布相应规章制度、建立科研诚信档案、对严重违反科研诚信者实行一票否决制、在研究人员中开展科研诚信教育,70%以上的管理人员认为依靠制度约束、诚信教育、加大处罚力度、明确责任、监督举报等手段能够较为合理有效地预防违反科研诚信的行为。结论 医院、医学院校及医学科研院所等机构的科研诚信教育和管理力度尚待提高,应进一步加大科研诚信教育、培训和宣传力度,提高科研诚信认知水平和自律意识,制定和完善相关管理制度和监督惩戒机制,净化学术氛围,营造良好学术风气。