Ricerc@Sapienza

Introduction: Robot-assisted therapy is an emerging approach that performs highly repetitive, intensive, task oriented and quantifiable neuro-rehabilitation. In the last decades, it has been increasingly used in a wide range of neurological central nervous system conditions implying an upper limb paresis. Results from the studies are controversial, for the many types of robots and their features often not accompanied by specific clinical indications about the target functions, fundamental for the individualized neurorehabilitation program.

Over the last decades, virtual reality (VR) emerged as a potential tool for developing new rehabilitation treatments in neurological patients. However, despite the increasing number of studies, a clear comprehension about the impact of immersive VR-treatment on balance and posture is still scarce. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of VR cues on balance performances of subjects affected by stroke, age-matched healthy subjects, and young healthy subjects.

Introduction: Healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable to third-party workplace violence. The experience of work-related stress, by threatening the psychological balance of healthcare workers, making them less effective in man-aging the relationship with patients and their family members, may significantly contribute to third-party violence.

Unwanted sexual attention (UWSA) and sexual harassment (SH) are prevalent experiences for women in working life and often accompanied by poor health. Despite increasing numbers especially of young people working in insecure and irregular employment settings, there is little empirical evidence if such precarious arrangements are associated with UWSA or SH. To investigate this, we used a representative sample of the European working population consisting of 63,966 employees in 33 countries who participated in the European Working Conditions Survey in 2010 or 2015.

Background Approximately two-thirds of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) need long-term intravenous immunoglobulin. Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) is an alternative option for immunoglobulin delivery, but has not previously been investigated in a large trial of CIDP. The PATH study compared relapse rates in patients given SCIg versus placebo. Methods Between March 12, 2012, and Sept 20, 2016, we studied patients from 69 neuromuscular centres in North America, Europe, Israel, Australia, and Japan.

Several morphological phenotypes have been associated to RYR1-recessive myopathies. We recharacterized the RYR1-recessive morphological spectrum by a large monocentric study performed on 54 muscle biopsies from a large cohort of 48 genetically confirmed patients, using histoenzymology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural studies. We also analysed the level of RyR1 expression in patients' muscle biopsies.

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are genetic disorders due to mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in the neuromuscular junction structure and function. CMS usually present in young children, but perinatal and adult onset has been reported. Clinical presentation is highly heterogeneous, ranging from mild symptoms to severe manifestations, sometimes with life-threatening respiratory episodes, especially in the first decade of life. Although considered rare, CMS are probably underestimated due to diagnostic difficulties.

Background: Malignant Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor are a relatively uncommon entity affecting patients whose prognosis is quickly and relentlessly dismal. Since the ‘50s Spinal Cordectomy’ has been advocated for the surgical management of these conditions, but to date, no standard operative protocol has been reported yet. Objective: Although apparently “easy”, burdened by virtually no further risk for the neurological function in paraplegic or severely paraparetic patients, SCt conceals notable pitfalls and surgical problems that are to date not yet completely discussed.

Background: In patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, the
regular treatment options, such as medication, surgery, and/
or vestibular rehabilitation, do not always suffice. Therefore,
the focus in this field of vestibular research shifted to electri-
cal vestibular stimulation (EVS) and the development of a
system capable of artificially restoring the vestibular func-
tion. Key Message: Currently, three approaches are being
investigated: vestibular co-stimulation with a cochlear im-

Summarizing, the results of this study suggest that vitamin K deficiency is frequently observed in COVID-19 patients and that the deficit is greater in males than in females. In addition, in male patients, vitamin K deficiency is associated with a greater IL-6 level in the general circulation. In conclusion, we propose that vitamin K deficiency could support both cytokine storm Th2 by increasing proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, which is involved in the building up of the inflammatory response recruiting both cellular and humoral components.