1,789 research outputs found
Neurological research in Italy in 2003 and 2004
No full textWe quantified Italian researchers' share of the scientific papers published in peer-reviewed medical Journals in the field of neurology in 2003 and 2004. The findings show that Italian researchers' gained an overall 7% share of peer-reviewed articles. This percentage places Italy in fourth place immediately after the United States, Grat Britain and Germany
Upper limb motor training based on task-oriented exercises induces functional brain reorganization in patients with multiple sclerosis
No full textThe aim of this work was to investigate changes in motor performance and in the brain activation pattern during finger movements, following upper limb motor training in multiple sclerosis. Thirty people with multiple sclerosis with mild upper limb sensorimotor deficits were randomly allocated to one of two groups: the experimental group (n = 15) received an upper limb treatment based on voluntary task-oriented movements; the control group (n = 15) underwent passive mobilization of shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers. All participants completed three treatment sessions per week for eight weeks. Before and after the intervention, all participants were evaluated for motor performance by means of Action Research Arm Test, Nine Hole Peg Test, and grip strength by a dynamometer, and for brain activations by functional magnetic resonance imaging during right finger opposition movements. Similar effects on motor performance were found in the two groups. A significant improvement with time was found in both groups at NHPT and in GRIP strength; a similar trend was found at ARAT. However, only the experimental group showed increased lateralization towards more normal brain activation following treatment, with activation clusters mainly located in the left brain hemisphere and right cerebellum. In conclusion, both active and passive interventions were effective in improving motor performance. However, only the treatment based on voluntary task-oriented movements could induce changes in brain activity that may have reflected skill acquisition by the right hand, reducing the activation of compensatory areas and decreasing brain resource demand
Risk of Occupational Accidents in Workers With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the single most important preventable medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and driving accidents. OSA may also adversely affect work through a decrease in productivity, and an increase in the injury rate. Nevertheless, so far, no systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between OSA and work accidents has been performed.
Method: The PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Out of an initial list of 1,099 papers, 10 studies (12,553 participants) were eligible for our review, and 7 of them were included in the meta-analysis. The overall effects were measured by odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs. An assessment was made of the methodological quality of the studies. Moderator analysis and funnel plot analysis were used to explore the sources of between-study heterogeneity.
Results: Compared to controls, the odds of work accident was found to be nearly double in workers with OSA (OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.53-3.10). Occupational driving was associated with a higher effect size.
Conclusions: OSA is an underdiagnosed non-occupational disease that has a strong adverse impact on work accidents. The nearly two-fold increased odds of work accidents in subjects with OSA calls for workplace screening in selected safety-sensitive occupations
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