9 research outputs found
Analysis of Fluency of Movement in Parkour Using a Video and Inertial Measurement Unit Technology
No full textFluency is a movement parameter combining smoothness and hesitation, and its objective measurement may be used to determine the effects of practice on sports performance. This study aimed to measure fluency in parkour, an acrobatic discipline comprising complex non-cyclical movements, which involves fluency as a critical aspect of performance. Inter-individual fluidity differences between advanced and novice athletes as well as intra-individual variations of fluency between different parts and subsequent repetitions of a path were addressed. Seventeen parkour participants were enrolled and divided into two groups based on their experience. We analysed signals captured from an inertial measurement unit fixed on the back of the pelvis of each participant during three consecutive repetitions of a specifically designed parkour routine under the guidance of video analysis. Two fluency parameters, namely smoothness and hesitation, were measured. Smoothness was calculated as the number of inflexions on the so-called jerk graph; hesitation was the percentage of the drop in the centre of mass velocity. Smoothness resulted in significantly lower values in advanced athletes (mean: 126.4; range: 36-192) than in beginners (mean: 179.37; range: 98-272) during one of the three motor activities (p = 0.02). A qualitative analysis of hesitation showed that beginner athletes tended to experience more prominent velocity drops and negative deflection than more advanced athletes. In conclusion, a system based on a video and an inertial measurement unit is a promising approach for quantification and the assessment of variability of fluency, and it is potentially beneficial to guide and evaluate the training process
Neurophysiological and neuropsychological evaluation of stress on health care professionals during Covid-19 emergency
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRALEQuesto studio valuta l'impatto dello stress sugli
operatori sanitari durante l'emergenza sanitaria causata dal Covid-19.
A tale scopo sono state ricercate eventuali alterazioni nei
parametri EEG e nelle funzioni cognitive, nonché nella
qualità del sonno e nel burnout.This study assesses the impact of stress on healthcare
workers during Covid-19 sanitary emergency. Altered
EEG parameters, cognitive functions, sleep quality and burnout
were researched
‐related early onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: Clinical trajectory and novel de novo mutation
No full textDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathy 45 (DEE45) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants of GABRB1, encoding the beta1 subunit of the GABA type A receptor. Only three infants with DEE45 have been reported so far, and a detailed description of the disease history of these patients is still lacking. We describe the clinical and genetic findings of a 21-year-old woman with DEE45 carrying a novel de novo GABRB1 mutation (c.841A>G, p.T281A). The patient presented at birth with hypotonia and focal apneic seizures evolving in a phenotype of epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures that were refractory to antiseizure medications. Epileptic spasms partially responsive to steroid therapy appeared in the second year of life. Acquired microcephaly, profound mental retardation, and tetraparesis became evident with development. During childhood and adolescence, the epileptic phenotype evolved toward a Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Atypical absence status and clusters of tonic seizures occurred, often triggered by respiratory infections. The main strengths of this work are the identification of a novel pathogenic GABRB1 variant localized in the same transmembrane domain of a previously described mutation and the detailed description of the clinical trajectory of GABRB1-related encephalopathy along 21 years of disease history
Telemedicine for cognitive impairment: a telephone survey of patients’ experiences with neurological video consultation
No full textObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the experience with telemedicine in patients with cognitive impairments and their caregivers.MethodsWe conducted a survey-based study of patients who completed neurological consultation via video link between January and April 2022.ResultsA total of 62 eligible neurological video consultations were conducted for the following categories of patients: Alzheimer's disease (33.87%), amnesic mild cognitive impairment (24.19%), frontotemporal dementia (17.74%), Lewy body dementia (4.84%), mixed dementia (3.23%), subjective memory disorders (12.90%), non-amnesic mild cognitive impairment (1.61%), and multiple system atrophy (1.61%).The survey was successfully completed by 87.10% of the caregivers and directly by the patients in 12.90% of cases. Our data showed positive feedback regarding the telemedicine experience; both caregivers and patients reported that they found neurological video consultation useful (caregivers: 87.04%, 'very useful'; patients: 87.50%, 'very useful') and were satisfied overall (caregivers: 90.74%, 'very satisfied'; patients: 100%, 'very satisfied'). Finally, all caregivers (100%) agreed that neurological video consultation was a useful tool to reduce their burden (Visual Analogue Scale mean & PLUSMN; SD: 8.56 & PLUSMN; 0.69).ConclusionsTelemedicine is well received by patients and their caregivers. However, successful delivery incorporates support from staff and care partners to navigate technologies. The exclusion of older adults with cognitive impairment in developing telemedicine systems may further exacerbate access to care in this population. Adapting technologies to the needs of patients and their caregivers is critical for the advancement of accessible dementia care through telemedicine
How the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped telepsychology: Insights from an Italian survey
No full textThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly boosted the introduction of certain changes in mental healthcare services, consequently driving up the adoption of remote care delivery options. We conducted an online Italian survey to evaluate telepsychology use, attitudes, acceptance, and training needs, as well as to understand patient-professional interactions in video-consultations, aiming to inform future mental healthcare practices and policies. The current study's survey responses were collected using an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire on the ‘REDCap’ platform from 25 October 2022 to 26 July 2023. In total, 128 mental health professionals and 113 patients completed the survey. In our sample, 69 % of patients and 79.7 % of mental health professionals reported having used telepsychology during COVID-19 pandemic; in particular, 84.6 % of patients and 95.1 % of professionals selected video-consultation modality. Data showed that participants expressed high satisfaction with this communication tool. The increase in satisfaction was directly proportional to increase in the quality of interactions and in relation to the quality of the experiences. The critical factors influencing the video-consultation experience include communication style, information completeness, patient-centredness, and the comfort underscoring the central role of the professional-patient relationship, which, substantially, remains a key element in the psychological treatment process. These findings reinforce the need for continued refinement and expansion of telepsychology services, thus highlighting the potential for integrating innovative technologies into mental health practise
EEG Evaluation of Stress Exposure on Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Emergency: Not Just an Impression
No full textPsychological distress among healthcare professionals, although already a common condition, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect has been generally self-reported or assessed through questionnaires. We aimed to identify potential abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain of healthcare workers, operating in different roles during the pandemic. Cortical activity, cognitive performances, sleep, and burnout were evaluated two times in 20 COVID-19 frontline operators (FLCO, median age 29.5 years) and 20 operators who worked in COVID-19-free units (CFO, median 32 years): immediately after the outbreak of the pandemic (first session) and almost 6 months later (second session). FLCO showed higher theta relative power over the entire scalp (FLCO = 19.4%; CFO = 13.9%; p = 0.04) and lower peak alpha frequency of electrodes F7 (FLCO = 10.4 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) and F8 (FLCO = 10.47 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) in the first session. FLCO parietal interhemispheric coherence of theta (FLCO I = 0.607; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.025) and alpha (FLCO I = 0.578; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.007) rhythms decreased over time. FLCO also showed lower scores in the global cognitive assessment test (FLCO = 22.72 points; CFO = 25.56; p = 0.006) during the first session. The quantitative evaluation of the cortical activity might therefore reveal early signs of changes secondary to stress exposure in healthcare professionals, suggesting the implementation of measures to prevent serious social and professional consequences
The Impact of Telemedicine on Parkinson’s Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian Online Survey
No full textTraditionally, medical care and research in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been conducted through in-person visit. The recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly impacted the delivery of in-person clinical care. We conducted an online survey to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on access to telehealth care, interviewing both PD patients and neurologists. Survey responses were collected from 1 March to 31 May 2021 through an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire, on the ‘Qualtrics’ platform. In total, 197 patients and 42 neurologists completed the survey. In our sample, 37.56% of PD patients and 88.10% of neurologists reported having used alternatives to in-person visits, while 13.70% of PD patients and 40.48% of neurologists used telemedicine. Data showed that respondents were generally satisfied with the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relational dimension between patient and neurologist seems to be the factor that most positively affected the telemedicine experience, contributing greatly to a more patient-centred care. Current findings suggest the need to improve the access to telehealth services for patients with PD. The technology has the potential to improve the care of frail patients, especially when availability of face-to-face visits is limited
The Protective Role of Cognitive Reserve: A Preliminary Study on Parkinsonian Patients Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation
No full textBackground/Objectives: High cognitive reserve (CR) has been shown to have beneficial effects on global cognition, cognitive decline, and risk of dementia in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We evaluated the influence of CR on the long-term cognitive outcomes of patients with PD who underwent subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS). Methods: Twenty-five patients with PD underwent neuropsychological screening using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at baseline, 1 year, and 5 years after bilateral STN-DBS. CR was assessed using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire. According to CR score, patients were assigned to two different groups (LowCR group ≤ 130, HighCR group > 130). Results: Our data showed that patients in the HighCR group obtained a better performance with the MoCA total score at long-term follow-up compared to those in the LowCR group ([mean ± SE] LowCR group: 21.4 ± 1.2 vs. HighCR group: 24.5 ± 1.3, p = 0.05). The cognitive profile of the HighCR group remained unchanged over time. Conversely, the LowCR group had worse global cognition 5 years after surgery (T0: 25.3 ± 0.6 vs. T2: 21.4 ± 1.2, p = 0.02). Cognitive decline was not associated with mood, demographics, or clinical variables. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that higher CR may be protective in PD cognition after STN-DBS. Specifically, a high CR may help cope with long-term decline in the context of surgical treatment. Quantifying a patient’s CR could lead to more personalized medical care, tailoring postoperative support and monitoring for those at higher risk of cognitive decline
Table_1_EEG Evaluation of Stress Exposure on Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Emergency: Not Just an Impression.DOCX
No full textPsychological distress among healthcare professionals, although already a common condition, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect has been generally self-reported or assessed through questionnaires. We aimed to identify potential abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain of healthcare workers, operating in different roles during the pandemic. Cortical activity, cognitive performances, sleep, and burnout were evaluated two times in 20 COVID-19 frontline operators (FLCO, median age 29.5 years) and 20 operators who worked in COVID-19-free units (CFO, median 32 years): immediately after the outbreak of the pandemic (first session) and almost 6 months later (second session). FLCO showed higher theta relative power over the entire scalp (FLCO = 19.4%; CFO = 13.9%; p = 0.04) and lower peak alpha frequency of electrodes F7 (FLCO = 10.4 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) and F8 (FLCO = 10.47 Hz; CFO = 10.87 Hz; p = 0.017) in the first session. FLCO parietal interhemispheric coherence of theta (FLCO I = 0.607; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.025) and alpha (FLCO I = 0.578; FLCO II = 0.478; p = 0.007) rhythms decreased over time. FLCO also showed lower scores in the global cognitive assessment test (FLCO = 22.72 points; CFO = 25.56; p = 0.006) during the first session. The quantitative evaluation of the cortical activity might therefore reveal early signs of changes secondary to stress exposure in healthcare professionals, suggesting the implementation of measures to prevent serious social and professional consequences.</p
