Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Sarcopenia is a significant concern in stroke rehabilitation, with a high prevalence reported in acute stroke patients. This study examines the effect of sarcopenia on rehabilitation outcomes in acute stroke patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with acute stroke patients admitted within 90 days of onset to the rehabilitation hospital. ⋯ The presence of sarcopenia was a critical predictor of poorer outcomes in muscle strength, balance, ambulation, and activities of daily living. Given these findings, specific rehabilitation strategies targeting sarcopenia are needed to improve recovery in stroke patients. Future research should include larger sample sizes, longer follow-ups, and sarcopenic patient-specific rehabilitation programs.
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Background and Objectives: Diabetic foot sepsis (DFS) accounts for approximately 60% of hospital admissions in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Individuals with DM are at risk of severe COVID-19. This study investigated factors associated with major amputation and mortality in patients admitted with DFS during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the rate of major amputation and mortality in patients with DFS. The in-hospital mortality was higher in patients above 60 years of age who tested positive for COVID-19. The Random Forest algorithm of ML can be highly effective in predicting major amputation and death in patients with DFS.
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Background and Objectives: Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is gaining popularity worldwide, leading to a potential increase in the number of pin tracker-related complications. This study determined the effectiveness of periarticular pin tracker placement in the distal femur and proximal tibia through a single main incision during robotic-assisted TKA over a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 149 TKAs was performed in 108 patients using the triathlon posterior-stabilized total knee prosthesis with a robotic-assisted system at our hospital from December 2023 to February 2024. ⋯ Results: The mean Knee Society knee score improved from 42.5 preoperatively to 76.3 points at the final follow-up, whereas the mean Knee Society function score improved from 43.1 preoperatively to 78.1 points at the final follow-up (both p < 0.05). No patient experienced any minor or major complications related to the use of pin trackers in the distal femur and proximal tibia. Conclusions: This periarticular technique that uses pin trackers in the distal femur and proximal tibia through a single main incision could be a useful option for orthopedic surgeons while performing robotic-assisted TKA.
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Background and Objectives: Atherosclerosis, driven by dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress, is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates the effects of vigorous-intensity bodybuilding exercise (VIBBE) on atherosclerosis biomarkers-including paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE) activities-and lipid profiles in male bodybuilders who do not use anabolic-androgenic steroids. Comparisons were made with individuals engaged in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MIAE), as well as overweight/obese sedentary (OOS) and normal-weight sedentary (NWS) individuals. ⋯ Conclusions: Vigorous-intensity bodybuilding exercise improves certain lipid parameters compared to sedentary obese individuals but does not significantly enhance antioxidant enzyme activities or further improve lipid profiles beyond those observed in normal-weight sedentary men. Conversely, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise significantly enhances PON1 and ARE activities and improves lipid profiles, offering superior cardiovascular benefits. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating moderate-intensity aerobic exercise into physical activity guidelines to optimize cardiovascular health by balancing improvements in lipid metabolism with enhanced antioxidant defences.
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Observational Study
Rehabilitation for Patients with COVID-19-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome During Quarantine: A Single-Center Experience.
Background and Objectives: In this study, we evaluated clinical factors associated with implementing a rehabilitation program for patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) during the quarantine period. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the National Designated Isolated ICU, a dedicated COVID-19 center with 18 beds, from 30 December 2020 to 30 May 2022. One hundred and fifty-four patients (mean age: 67.3 ± 13.4 years; male: 59.7%) were enrolled. ⋯ One-year cumulative mortality rates for patients with 0 to 3 factors were 66.7%, 50.8%, 38.9%, and 15.4%, respectively, with a significant difference among them (log-rank, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Three clinical factors associated with implementing a rehabilitation program during the quarantine period for COVID-19-associated ARDS patients were identified. The program was feasible and beneficial, particularly for younger patients with lower illness severity and fewer comorbidities on the day of MV.