Francesca Gimigliano

International classification of functioning, disability, and health core sets for hearing loss: a discussion paper and invitation

Abstract The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has adopted a multifactorial understanding of functioning and disability, merging a biomedical paradigm with a social paradigm into a wider understanding of human functioning. Altogether there are more than 1400 ICF-categories describing different aspects of human functioning and there is a need to developing short lists of ICF categories to facilitate use of the classification scheme in clinical practice. To our knowledge, there is currently no such standard measuring instrument to facilitate a common validated way of assessing the effects of hearing loss on the lives of adults. The aim of the project is the development of an internationally accepted, evidence-based, reliable, comprehensive and valid ICF Core Sets for Hearing Loss. The processes involved in this project are described in detail and the authors invite stakeholders, clinical experts and persons with hearing loss to actively participate in the development process. Sumario La Clasificación sobre Funcionalidad, Discapacidad y Salud de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (ICF) ha adoptado un acercamiento multifactorial de la funcionalidad y la discapacidad, fusionando un paradigma biomédico con un paradigma social de una forma más amplia. En su conjunto hay más de 1400 categorías ICF que describen diferentes aspectos de la funcionalidad humana y existe la necesidad de desarrollar una lista corta de categorías ICF para facilitar el uso de la clasificación en un esquema para la práctica clínica. Es de nuestro conocimiento que actualmente no existe un instrumento de medición estándar que facilite una forma válida y cómoda para evaluar los efectos de la hipoacusia en la vida de los adultos. El propósito de este proyecto es desarrollar un conjunto básico de condiciones de salud ICF para la hipoacusia que sea internacionalmente aceptado, basado en evidencia, confiable e integral. Se describen en detalle los procesos implicados en este proyecto y los autores invitan a las personas interesadas, a los expertos clínicos y a las personas con hipoacusia a participar activamente en el desarrollo de este proceso.

Incidence and costs of hip fractures vs strokes and acute myocardial infarction in Italy: comparative analysis based on national hospitalization records

Objectives As osteoporotic fractures are becoming a major health care problem in countries characterized by an increasing number of older adults, in this study we aimed to compare the incidence and costs of hip fragility fractures in Italian elderly people versus those of major cardiovascular diseases (strokes and acute myocardial infarctions [AMI]) occurring in the whole adult population. Methods We analyzed hospitalization records maintained at the national level by the Italian Ministry of Health for the diagnosis of hip fractures (ICD-9-CM codes 820–821), AMI (code 410), hemorrhagic (codes 430, 431, 432) and ischemic strokes (codes 433–434), and TIA (code 435) between 2001–2005. Cost analyses were based on diagnosis-related groups. Results The incidence of hip fractures in elderly people has increased (+12.9% between 2001 and 2005), as well as that of AMI (+20.2%) and strokes (hemorrhagic: +9.6%; ischemic: +14.7) occurring in the whole adult population; conversely, hospitalization due to TIA decreased by a rate of 13.6% between 2001 and 2005. In 2005, the hospital costs across the national health care system that were associated with hip fragility fractures in the elderly were comparable to those of strokes (both hemorrhagic and ischemic), which occurred in the whole Italian adult population. Moreover, these costs were higher than those generated by AMI and TIA. Rehabilitation costs following strokes reached about 3 billion Euros in 2005, but rehabilitative costs of hip fractures and AMI were comparable (about 530 million Euros in 2005). Conclusion The burden of hip fragility fractures in Italy is comparable to that of AMI and strokes.

Development and validation of the Italian version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III

Purpose. To provide a translation and cultural adaptation of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III scale for Italy (i-SCIM3) and to validate this version of the scale. Method. i-SCIM3 was developed involving a forward–backward translation and administered to patients with spinal cord lesions (SCL) admitted to two centers. Two raters for each center evaluated patients at admission and discharge. Psychometric testing included reliability by internal consistency (Cronbachs α) and test–retest reliability. The validity of i-SCIM3 was assessed by comparing it with the Italian version of Functional Independence Measure™ (FIM™). Results. One hundred three adult patients with SCL (84 males) with a mean age of 50.33 ± 15.35 years were recruited. Seventy-four patients were paraplegic and 29 patients were tetraplegic. The median time elapsed between the two evaluations was 77.5 days (interquartile range, 53–144 days). Internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and test–retest reliability were satisfactory overall, showing values higher than 0.90. The validity of i-SCIM3 was confirmed by the close correlation with FIM results both at admission and discharge (r = 0.91, p < 0.01). The sensitivity to change of i-SCIM3 was similar to that of FIM. Conclusion. i-SCIM3 was found to be a consistent, reliable, and valid scale for use in the clinical setting. It is the first validated scale in Italian for patients with SCL.

Effectiveness and safety of Nintendo Wii Fit Plus™ training in children with migraine without aura: a preliminary study

Background Migraine without aura (MoA) is a painful syndrome, particularly in childhood; it is often accompanied by severe impairments, including emotional dysfunction, absenteeism from school, and poor academic performance, as well as issues relating to poor cognitive function, sleep habits, and motor coordination. Materials and methods The study population consisted of 71 patients affected by MoA (32 females, 39 males) (mean age: 9.13±1.94 years); the control group consisted of 93 normally developing children (44 females, 49 males) (mean age: 8.97±2.03 years) recruited in the Campania school region. The entire population underwent a clinical evaluation to assess total intelligence quotient level, visual-motor integration (VMI) skills, and motor coordination performance, the later using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). Children underwent training using the Wii-balance board and Nintendo Wii Fit Plus™ software (Nintendo Co, Ltd, Kyoto, Japan); training lasted for 12 weeks and consisted of three 30-minute sessions per week at their home. Results The two starting populations (MoA and controls) were not significantly different for age (P=0.899) and sex (P=0.611). M-ABC and VMI performances at baseline (T0) were significantly different in dexterity, balance, and total score for M-ABC (P<0.001) and visual (P=0.003) and motor (P<0.001) tasks for VMI. After 3 months of Wii training (T1), MoA children showed a significant improvement in M-ABC global performance (P<0.001), M-ABC dexterity (P<0.001), M-ABC balance (P<0.001), and VMI motor task (P<0.001). Conclusion Our study reported the positive effects of the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus™ system as a rehabilitative device for the visuomotor and balance skills impairments among children affected by MoA, even if further research and longer follow-up are needed.

Incidence of breast cancer in Italy: mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed between 2000 and 2005.

ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the incidence of womens breast cancer in Italy without using statistical approximations.MethodsWe analyzed the national hospitalizations database at the Ministry of Health to calculate the number of major surgeries in Italian women (mastectomies and quadrantectomies) due to breast cancer between 2000 and 2005, overall and by age groups (<44, 45–64, 65–74 and ≥ 75 years old).ResultsOver the six years examined, an overall number of 100,745 mastectomies and 168,147 quadrantectomies were performed. A total of 41,608 major surgeries due to breast cancer were performed in the year 2000 and this number rose to 47,200 in 2005, with a 13.4% increase over six years.Conclusionby analyzing the hospitalizations database concerning major breast surgery, incidence of breast cancer in Italy was found to be 26.5% higher than the official estimations which have been computed using statistical models (namely 47,200 vs. 37,300 cases in year 2005).

Positional abnormalities during sleep in children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: the putative role of kinetic muscular chains.

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) are disorders of breathing during sleep characterized by prolonged partial upper airway obstruction, intermittent complete or partial obstruction (obstructive apnea or hypopnea), or both prolonged and intermittent obstruction that disrupts normal ventilation during sleep, normal sleep patterns, or both. Children with OSAS may sleep in unusual positions, such as seated or with neck hyperextended, even if the neck position is not the only unusual posture or the special sleeping positions that is possible to detect in children with SRBD. We have hypothesized that the assumption of unusual posture during sleep, in particular legs retracting or crossing during sleep, could be a way to enlarge the diaphragmatic excursion and promoting the alveolar gas exchanges avoiding the stress of the antero-lumbar and prevertebral muscular chains in SRBD subjects. We have hypothesized that the assumption of unusual posture during sleep, in particular legs retracting or crossing during sleep, could be a way to enlarge the diaphragmatic excursion and promoting the alveolar gas exchanges avoiding the stress of the antero-lumbar and prevertebral muscular chains in SRBD subjects. We can postulate that the prevertebral and antero-lumbar muscular chains could be oversolicited during the apnoic events, and the assumption of abnormal posture could be interpreted as a way to relax or diminish the strain or muscular stress caused by the apneas. The consequence of this hypothesis could be summarized in the concept that a specific rehabilitation or muscular program to improve the tone of this kinetic chain, could be useful to limit the effect nocturnal or diurnal of this so impacting syndrome.

The contribution of cortical and trabecular tissues to bone strength: insights from denosumab studies.

All materials undergo an aging process which is characterized essentially by changes of the rigidity (stiffness), of the ability to absorb the stresses (toughness) and then ultimately in the mechanical resistance (strength). Both cortical and trabecular bone undergo a continuous process of structural remodeling with the main aim to preserve their biomechanical properties. An imbalance in this process, which promotes bone resorption, results in a quantitative loss of bone tissue and in a qualitative alteration of the skeletal microarchitecture, as you can see in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or bone metastases. Cortical component has a prominent role on strength therefore loss of cortical bone that is prevalent in elderly may explain the higher frequency of fractures of bones composed mainly of cortical bone such as the proximal femur. Remodeling inhibition with denosumab improved structural strength without altering material properties, that can be primarily explained by the combined effects of increased trabecular and cortical bone mass, and reductions in trabecular eroded surfaces and particularly cortical porosity. Denosumab for its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics results in a significant, early and continued increase in BMD with enhanced bone strength improving both cortical and trabecular bone.

Are dietary supplements and nutraceuticals effective for musculoskeletal health and cognitive function? A scoping review

ObjectiveThe aim of our scoping review was to summarize the state of the art regarding micronutrients in order to identify which of them might effectively improve health status in the areas typically impaired in older people: bone, skeletal muscle, and cognitive function.DesignScoping review.MethodsThe Italian Study Group on Healthy Aging by Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements (HANDS) performed this scoping review, based on the following steps: doing a list of micronutrients related with musculoskeletal or cognitive functions, included in dietary supplements and nutraceuticals commercialized in Italy; planning a research on PubMed, according to an evidence-based approach, in order to the most relevant positive study for each micronutrient into each of the three areas involved (bone, skeletal muscle and cognitive function); identifying the micronutrients effective in maintaining or achieving an adequate health status in older people, specifying the effective and safe daily doses, according to the selected studies.ResultsIn literature we found 12 relevant positive studies (1 international society guidelines/recommendations, 1 systematic review, 7 randomized controlled trials, and 3 prospective cohort studies). We showed that only 16 micronutrients resulted to have appropriate scientific evidences in terms of improving musculoskeletal health and/or cognitive function in older people: beta-alanine, calcium, creatine, fluorides, leucine, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K2, and zinc.ConclusionThis scoping review showed that selected micronutrients in adequate doses might have an ancillary role in musculoskeletal health and cognitive functions in older people.

Psychomotor approach in children affected by nonretentive fecal soiling (FNRFS): a new rehabilitative purpose.

Background According to the Rome III criteria, encopresis without constipation was defined as nonretentive fecal soiling (FNRFS) with not yet well understood etiology. Treatment approaches reported in the literature with varying results include biofeedback, hypnosis, reflexology, and Internet-based educational programs. In developmental age, another behavioral treatment could be identified in the psychomotor approach, which is called psychomotricity in the European countries, or is also known as play therapy. The aim of the present study was to verify the safety and efficacy of play therapy plus toilet training in a small sample of prepubertal children affected by FNRFS. Materials and methods Twenty-six patients (group 1; 16 males, mean age of 5.92 ± 0.84 years) underwent a psychomotor approach therapy program in association with toilet training for 6 months, and the other 26 subjects (group 2; 17 males, mean age of 5.76 ± 0.69) underwent the sole toilet training program for 6 months. During the observational time period (T0) and after 6 months (T1) of both treatments, the patients were evaluated for FNRFS frequency and for the behavioral assessment. Results At T0, the FNRFS mean frequency per month for group 1 was 20.115 episodes/month (standard deviation [SD] ± 3.024) and for group 2 was 20.423 (SD ± 1.879) (P = 0.661). At T1 the mean frequency per month was 6.461 (SD ± 1.333) episodes/month and 12.038 (SD ± 1.341), respectively (P < 0.001). Moreover, the delta percent average of the frequency between T0 and T1 was 67.121 ± 8.527 for group 1 and 40.518 ± 9.259 for group 2 (P < 0.001). At T1, a significant improvement in scores on the behavioral scale was identified. Conclusion Our preliminary results show the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, and suggest the positive effect of an additional psychomotor approach, as this holds a new and interesting rehabilitative purpose for children in a toilet training program, even if further research is necessary.

The occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in Italy: a five-year analysis of hospital discharge records.

Background: The incidence and costs of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Europe represent a substantial problem due to population aging. Methods: Between 2001 and 2005, Italian hospitalization records were examined to evaluate hospital admissions and costs of AMI in adults aged ≥45 and in elderly people ≥65 or ≥75. Hospital costs were calculated on the basis of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs). Results: 75,586 men and 43,164 women were hospitalized because of AMI in 2005, showing respectively increases of 17.2% and 29.2% across five years. In the youngest age group (45–64), 29,925 hospitalizations in men and 6443 in women due to AMI were registered during 2005. In the subgroup of patients aged 65–74, 21,621 men and 10,145 women were hospitalized for AMI; in the oldest group (≥75) 24,040 and 26,576 hospitalizations were recorded. The increasing rates across the five examined years were 8.3% and 22.0% in the first age group, 14.3% and 17.4% in people aged 65–74, and 31.8% and 36.3% in the oldest subgroup, respectively in men and women. Among AMI patients aged ≥75, the number of women was always higher than that of men. Overall hospitalization costs due to AMI in Italy were 305 million Euros in 2001 and 370 million in 2005, with an average cost of 3115 Euros per patient in the latter year. Conclusion: Our findings confirm AMI as a leading health problem and a leading cause of health care costs.