European Journal of Translational Myology

Ejtm3 experiences after ChatGPT and other AI approaches: values, risks, countermeasures

2025-01-30T13:44:23+00:00

We invariably hear that Artificial Intelligence (AI), a rapidly evolving technology, does not just creatively assemble known knowledge. We are told that AI learns, processes and creates, starting from fixed points to arrive at innovative solutions. In the case of scientific work, AI can generate data without ever having entered a laboratory, (i.e., blatantly plagiarizing the existing literature, a despicable old trick). How does an editor of a scientific journal recognize when she or he is faced with something like this? The solution is for editors and referees to rigorously evaluate the track records of submitting authors and what they are doing. For example, false color evaluations of 2D and 3D CT and MRI images have been used to validate functional electrical stimulation for degenerated denervated muscle and a home Full-Body In-Bed Gym program. These have been recently published in Ejtm and other journals. The editors and referees of Ejtm can exclude the possibility that the images were invented by ChatGPT. Why? Because they know the researchers: Marco Quadrelli, Aldo Morra, Daniele Coraci, Paolo Gargiulo and their collaborators as well! Artificial intelligence is not banned by the EJTM, but when submitting their manuscripts to previous and to a new Thematic Section dedicated to Generative AI in Translational Mobility Medicine authors must openly declare whether they have used artificial intelligence, of what type and for what purposes. This will not avoid risks of plagiarism or worse, but it will better establish possible liabilities.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of generic tacrolimus (Suprotac®) compared to reference tacrolimus (Prograf^®) in kidney transplantation: a phase IV study

2025-01-21T13:42:47+00:00

Transplant recipients are given an immunosuppressive regimen such as tacrolimus to prevent organ rejection. Suprotac^® is a generic tacrolimus that is utilized in kidney transplantation regimen in Iran. This post-market study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Suprotac^® in comparison with Prograf^®. In this two-armed, open-label, parallel, active-controlled, and cohort study, de novo kidney transplant recipients aging 18 to 65 years were prescribed Suprotac^® or Prograf^® as part of the immunosuppressant protocol. The primary outcome was comparing the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at month 12. The secondary outcomes were the assessment of patient and graft survival, acute rejections during hospitalization, tacrolimus dose, trough concentration, and Trough Concentration/dose (C/D) ratio, and Adverse Events (AEs) during the study period. A total of 201 patients were enrolled in this study. At discharge, the eGFR was lower in the Suprotac® group compared to the Prograf® group (51.70 ml/min/1.73m² and 57.48 ml/min/1.73m², respectively; p=0.042). However, at month 12, there was no significant difference in mean eGFR between the two groups (58.94 ml/min/1.73m² and 59.78 ml/min/1.73m², respectively; p=0.772). Other outcomes, including patient and graft survival, acute rejection during hospitalization, tacrolimus dose, trough concentration, and C/D ratio, and overall incidence of AEs were similar between the two groups (p >0.05). The efficacy and safety profile of the generic tacrolimus were shown to be comparable to the reference tacrolimus at month 12.

New horizons for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment through PosturalSpine^® D’Amanti Method

2025-01-21T13:09:59+00:00

The aim of the study is to compare improvement outcomes in patients (aged between 8 and 18 years old) with idiopathic scoliosis treated with a traditional technique with those treated with an innovative method. The study included 17 participants allocated into two groups: experimental (n=8) and control (n=9) groups. The first group was treated with a new method with PosturalSpine® D’Amanti method, twice a week for 30 min per session while the second group was treated with kinesitherapy and traditional tools three times week for 45 min per session. The two groups are similar in the anthropometric characteristics, in baseline Risser index and in the Cobb angles average and no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. After one year of motor intervention, both treatment groups showed improvements in the progression of scoliotic curves and the PosturalSpine® group showed a significantly higher improvement than the control group. Our results therefore suggest that this new specific method with PosturalSpine® D’Amanti method could play a significant role in improving adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared to traditional exercises.

Effects of different swimming styles on postural assessment in mid-level young swimmers

2024-12-04T11:16:53+00:00

It is well-known that swimming purposes to increase the tonic-postural control. Beyond its physiological advantages, swimming also offers an exclusive platform to explore the complex interplay between body biomechanics and posture. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the effects of main swimming styles on postural balance in young athletes. Forty-one participants, aged between 11 and 15 years old (M= 13, SD= 1.47), were recruited. The training schedule usually consisted of 2/3 h (2.4 ± 0.46) per day (five to six weekly workouts). Measures included a postural assessment to identify the presence of postural deficits and a baropodometric stabilometry to evaluate the center of pressure. Measurements were performed before T0 (baseline), after 6 months (T1), and at the end, after 12 months (T2). Beforehand, all participants undertook identification of the swimming style and pain intensity level. Results showed that Breaststroke and Butterfly athletes had clear improvements in postural balance compared to Backstroke and Freestyle athletes. In conclusion, our results suggest that a detailed knowledge of the different swimming styles plays a significant role in improving balance and postural stability in young athletes, highlighting the fundamental role of the kinesiology in sports traumatology.

Standardised indexes reduce the variability of masticatory muscles electromyographic values

2025-02-25T13:47:06+00:00

In dentistry, Surface Electromyography (sEMG) is currently used in both clinical and research fields to study the electrical activity of the masticatory muscles, such as the anterior Temporals and Masseters, which are easily accessible. Due to biological and technical factors that can alter the capture of the sEMG signal, comparing recordings obtained from the same subject at different days, with electrode replacement, can be challenging, thus complicating inter- and intra-subject sEMG comparisons. In the present study, sEMG activity of the masticatory muscles during maximum teeth clenching was simultaneously recorded using two different electrode configurations (A and B) to simulate different electrodes positioning as may occur between appointments. Raw sEMG signals and standardised indexes based on acquisitions from configurations A and B were compared. The position of the electrodes significantly affected the sEMG raw potentials of the masticatory muscles during maximum teeth clenching, while standardised indexes were not influenced by electrode positioning.

Caring skills in nursing students at a university

2025-03-11T13:22:27+00:00

Caring skills are essential in the training of nursing professionals, because they allow them to learn and gain experience in the quality and compassionate care of future patients. The objective is to compare the Caring Skills (CS) in nursing students according to age range, experience and family environment. A descriptive comparative study was carried out. The sample consisted of 176 nursing students from a Peruvian university. The age range was 18 to 27 years. A patient care skills scale was applied. This scale has three indicators (knowledge, courage and patience) and 37 questions. There were no differences in the three indicators (knowledge, courage and patience) when compared by age range (P>0.05). There were significant differences when compared by age range between students living with family and living alone (P<0.05). There was no difference between students who had experience vs. those who had no experience in patient care (P>0.05). It was determined that age and living with family members are determinant in the CS of nursing students of a Peruvian university. There were no differences between experienced and inexperienced students.

Ultrasound vs. x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression?

2025-02-21T14:56:58+00:00

This retrospective study, utilising prospectively collected data, investigates the use of spine ultrasound as an alternative method for assessing scoliosis, with the aim of reducing radiation exposure. We included 92 patients aged 10 to 16 years with suspected idiopathic scoliosis. Exclusion criteria were weight over 150 kg, metal implants, pre-existing conditions, secondary deformities, and cognitive impairments. Each patient underwent clinical assessment and full spine radiographs, followed by spine ultrasound using the Scolioscan® system. Unprocessed B-mode ultrasound images were analysed using automatic measurements. The correlation between Ultrasound Coronal Angle (UCA) and Radiographic Cobb Angle (RCA) was evaluated at initial and follow-up visits. Strong correlations were found between UCA and RCA, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.786 to 0.903 (p<0.001). The regression formula showed good predictive accuracy for curve progression on follow-up radiographs. The best results were observed in females and in primary thoracic curves (r = 0.936, p<0.001). Although only four patients exhibited true progression (≥5° increase in Cobb angle), changes in scoliotic angles were effectively detected using ultrasound. This study confirms the feasibility of unprocessed spine ultrasound for scoliosis monitoring in clinical settings. Automatic measurements without 3D reconstruction make ultrasound a practical tool for tracking progression. The regression model shows potential for predicting curve progression, although further validation is needed. These findings suggest spine ultrasound could reduce the need for radiographs, benefiting patients by minimising radiation exposure while providing reliable monitoring of scoliosis progression and treatment outcomes.

A neurophysiological and genetic assessment of a case of rapidly progressive scoliosis

2024-12-19T11:03:27+00:00

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional spinal deformity characterized by a lateral deviation of at least 10° Cobb, categorized into idiopathic and non-idiopathic forms, caused by identifiable factors like congenital abnormalities, neuromuscular conditions, or genetic syndromes. This case report discusses a 15-year-old girl with growth delay and Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency who experienced rapid scoliosis progression. Initial evaluations were normal, and Electroencephalography (EEG) showed nonspecific alterations, but further assessment revealed a MYH3 gene variant associated with scoliosis, short stature, and distinct facial features. Treatment with a Lyon ARTbrace and tailored exercises stopped curve progression. This case highlights the need for thorough evaluations in atypical AIS cases to uncover potential causes.

OZOILE^®: evaluating its impact and future applications in inflammatory dermatological treatments

2024-12-03T10:48:11+00:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the publication and detailed discussion of therapies for dermatological and inflammatory conditions, as exemplified in the recent article “Onychocryptosis: a retrospective study of clinical aspects, inflammation treatment, and pain management using Ozoile as a hydrogel and cream formulation” by Vincenzo Francavilla et al. This insightful study has provided a comprehensive overview of the management of onychocryptosis, a common and often distressing condition, and has highlighted the innovative use of OZOILE^® in a clinical setting.¹[...]

Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine, March 25-29, 2025, Hotel Petrarca, Euganean Thermae, Italy: Program and Abstracts

2025-03-05T10:34:36+00:00

Medium-sized scientific conferences held in hotels large enough to accommodate all participants increase opportunities for constructive discussion during breaks, and for evenings that bring together young and senior experts of basic sciences and clinical specialties. Time for group discussions offer opportunities for new collaborations and for jobs for young researchers. Since 1991 the Padova Muscle Days have offered collaborative opportunities that have matured into innovative multidisciplinary results to the point that it came naturally for us to underline it with a neologism now included in the title of the 2025 event: "Mobility Medicine". It is a discipline which developed naturally when we brought together fragmented areas of knowledge into one meeting. The Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine 2025 (2025Pdm3) will be hosted at the Hotel Petrarca, Euganean Thermae (Padua, Italy) from 25 to 29 March 2025. The list of unique sessions within the included program and the following Collection of Abstracts testify that it is possible to organize valid countermeasures to the inevitable tendencies towards hyper-specialization that the explosive increase in scientific progress brings. The European Journal of Translational Myology and Mobility Medicine (Ejtm3) will accept typescripts on results presented at the 2025Pdm3. Furthermore, an additional option for publication of full original Articles or Reviews is the Special "New Trends in Musculoskeletal Imaging" of the MDPI Journal Diagnostics, because diagnosis is essential to manage and follow-up neuro- metabolic- muscular- disorder and the decay of performances in aging. We hope that many will share our dreams and we make them come true at the 2025 Pdm3 Conference.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis

2024-11-28T10:54:28+00:00

The relationship between the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene and many pathogenic pathways in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) remains unclear. Given the significance of the topic, we conducted this study to explore the correlation between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and clinical and inflammatory factors in patients suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The current research is a case/control study conducted based on the Helsinki Ethical Principles. RRMS disease was confirmed based on history, clinical symptoms, radiological signs and neurologist diagnosis. The research population consisted of healthy people and patients with RRMS who were referred to Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital between 2021 and 2023. For each person participating in the study (RRMS patient and healthy), five milliliters of peripheral blood containing the anticoagulant EDTA was collected. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using two specific and appropriate oligonucleotide primers. The restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was used, one of the standard methods for identifying polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 23. The odds ratio and 95% confidence limits were calculated. The SNP Analyzer software was used to analyze the allele frequency of each polymorphism in healthy and RRMS individuals and compare the values. Prism version 5 software was used to draw diagrams. In the present study, a statistically significant difference was observed between the percentage of FokI genotypes in RRMS patients and healthy individuals. FokI polymorphism showed a significantly increased risk with an odds ratio of 7.28 in patients with the FF genotype compared to healthy individuals. ApaI, TaqI, and BsmI were not significantly different between the two groups. Based on the findings of the present study, FokI polymorphism showed a significant risk increase in RRMS patients with FF genotype compared to healthy individuals.

A comparative analysis of Rotterdam score and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting outcomes for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

2025-02-21T14:56:53+00:00

This study aimed to evaluate the role of NLR in predicting outcomes for patients with moderate to severe TBI. A retrospective analysis was conducted from April 2020 to April 2022, including patients aged 16 and older with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 8 or below admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan. Data on NLR and other clinical markers were collected. Rotterdam scores were calculated using CT scan findings. Patients were followed up for six months post-trauma or until death, and associations between NLR and clinical outcomes were analyzed, with significance set at P < 0.05. Among 195 patients, 130 (66%) had unfavorable outcomes at six months. Admission NLR was significantly higher in patients with unfavorable outcomes compared to those with favorable outcomes (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that NLR had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 91% at a threshold of 5.2 for predicting unfavorable outcomes. Elevated admission NLR in patients with severe TBI was linked to unfavorable six-month functional outcomes and mortality. NLR may serve as a readily accessible clinical marker for prognostication in moderate to severe TBI.

Local electrical stimulation: introduction to the problem

2025-02-05T14:42:27+00:00

The term “local electrical stimulation” means the delivery, for therapeutic purposes, of electric current signals in the areola of the projections of acupuncture points. Among the varieties of this effect are electro- and electroacupuncture, as well as transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation. In the case of electropuncture, minimal skin areas are irritated, outside of the damage, by placing the sensors according to the projections of the points. In the electroacupuncture, current signals are sent to steel needles immersed in tissues, ensuring the activation of not only skin afferents, but also deeper afferents. Percutaneous stimulation consists of irritating large areas of the skin with the help of portable devices. The paper reveals the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of these methods, and puts forward an assumption about the prevailing biological significance of low-intensity stimuli. In addition, specific examples of use of local electrical stimulation in a number of pathological conditions are also presented.

Oxy-inflammation in hyperbaric oxygen therapy applications

2025-01-20T11:12:10+00:00

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive method of O2 delivery that induces systemic hyperoxia. Hyperbaric chamber consists of a pressure vessel and a compressed breathing gas supply, which can regulate internal pressure. The chamber delivers 100% O2 to patients according to predetermined protocols and is monitored by trained personnel. HBOT relies on increasing the inspired O₂ fraction (fiO₂) and elevating the partial pressure of O₂ (pO₂). O₂ is typically administered at pressures between 1.5 and 3.0 ATA for 60 to 120 minutes, depending on the clinical presentation. Currently, there are 15 indications for HBOT approved by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society, categorized into three groups: emergency medicine, wound healing acceleration, and antimicrobial effects. The present narrative review aims to elucidate the mechanisms action underlying HBOT, particularly oxy-inflammation, in various pathologies within these categories.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review of an emerging field

2025-02-12T10:17:40+00:00

The intricate relationship between gut microbiota and the brain has emerged as a pivotal area of research, particularly in understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This complex condition is characterized by debilitating fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and a wide array of systemic manifestations, posing significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies highlight the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a crucial pathway in ME/CFS pathophysiology, suggesting that alterations in gut microbial composition may impact immune responses, neurochemical signaling, and neuronal health. This narrative review systematically explores English-language scholarly articles from January 1995 to January 2025, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The findings underscore the potential for targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at correcting gut dysbiosis. As research progresses, a deeper understanding of the microbiota-gut-brain connection could lead to innovative approaches for managing ME/CFS, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals.

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass in treatment of non-ST-segment elevation acute syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis study

2024-11-28T10:54:23+00:00

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) in the treatment of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (NSTE-ACS). A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering studies up to June 2024. Studies comparing PCI and CABG in patients with NSTE-ACS were included, focusing on clinical outcomes such as mortality, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, and the need for repeat revascularization. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software, with the Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects model employed to pool effect sizes and assess heterogeneity. A total of 15 studies met the eligibility criteria, including 48,891 patients. The pooled risk ratio (RR) for mortality showed no significant difference between PCI and CABG (RR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.90-1.19, p=0.28). CABG was associated with a significantly lower risk of subsequent MI (RR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.38-0.61, p <0.01) and the need for repeat revascularization (RR=2.94, 95% CI: 2.30-3.76, p <0.01). Conversely, PCI had a lower associated risk of CVA (RR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.42-0.79, p <0.01). High heterogeneity was observed in mortality outcomes, indicating variability among studies. The findings suggest that while PCI and CABG have comparable mortality risks in NSTE-ACS patients, CABG offers superior protection against myocardial infarction and the need for repeat revascularization, whereas PCI is associated with a lower risk of cerebrovascular accidents. These results underscore the importance of individualized patient assessment in choosing the optimal revascularization strategy, considering patient-specific risk factors and clinical profiles.