Anna Valenzano

Gait and balance impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) severely compromise mobility and independence. This exploratory randomized pilot study evaluated a multimodal Adapted Physical Activity (APA) protocol, a tango-based program (Riabilitango^®, RT), and standard care regarding walking distance, static postural stability, joint range of motion, and plantar-load redistribution. Twenty-seven participants with PD (Hoehn and Yahr 1–3) were allocated to APA (n = 10), RT (n = 10), or Control (n = 7). The active groups completed 24 supervised sessions over 12 weeks. Static postural stability and treadmill-based walking distance were evaluated at baseline and post-intervention. Both active interventions showed favorable static sway profiles compared to Control, though between-group differences were non-significant. Crucially, APA demonstrated a significantly greater post-intervention improvement in walking distance than RT and Control. Exploratory analyses linked APA walking gains to adaptations in joint mobility and plantar-load redistribution. In conclusion, multimodal APA showed the clearest functional signal for improving walking distance in PD, whereas Riabilitango^® offered a complementary profile focused on sensorimotor integration and balance. These preliminary pilot findings warrant confirmation in larger prospective trials.

Background: In Parkinson’s disease (PD), gait and balance impairments severely reduce patient independence. This exploratory study compared a multimodal Adapted Physical Activity (APA) protocol, a tango-based program (Riabilitango®, RT), and standard care (Control), while examining how joint constraints and plantar load distributions affect dynamic locomotor outcomes. Methods: Twenty-seven participants (Hoehn & Yahr stage 1–3) were divided into APA (n=10), RT (n=10), and Control (n=7) groups for a 3-month supervised intervention (24 sessions). Blinded assessors evaluated static balance and walking performance on a WalkerView™ treadmill at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Results: At T1, both active groups showed large effect sizes for reduced static sway versus Control, though differences were not statistically significant. Notably, the APA cohort demonstrated a substantial, significant increase in dynamic gait distance (d=2.17 vs. Control; d=1.50 vs. RT), whereas RT showed no significant walking improvements. APA also minimized the impact of joint range of motion constraints and suggested superior active postural-load regulation. Conclusions: While both interventions benefited static posture, APA was uniquely effective in improving walking distance, likely due to task-specific behavioral adaptations countering rigidity.

(1) This systematic review evaluates the role of structured exercise within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, a multidisciplinary approach designed to reduce surgical stress and enhance recovery. Prehabilitation, primarily through controlled physical activity, is a fundamental component of ERAS, preparing patients, both physically and mentally, for major surgery. (2) A systematic search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Wiley databases to identify relevant studies published up to January 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta-analyses reporting postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and overall recovery. (3) A total of 64 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings consistently demonstrate that structured exercise interventions—such as aerobic activities, resistance training, and flexibility routines—were associated with postoperative complications, shorten hospital stays, and enhance functional recovery. These interventions improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and psychological well-being. (4) Despite potential limitations in the systematic search, as heterogeneity of protocols, publication bias, language restrictions, the evidence supports the integration of structured exercise as a cornerstone of ERAS prehabilitation. Future research should focus on standardizing exercise protocols and exploring personalized strategies to optimize surgical outcomes across diverse patient populations.

Spirulina, a filamentous microalga, is used all over the world as a nutraceutical dietary supplement. Recent studies have focused on examining its chelating activity and antioxidant properties, especially as a candidate for protection against neurotoxicity caused by heavy metals. The MTT test and LDH assay were used to examine the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells for 24, 48, and 72 h, to Cd, Hg, and Pb, individually or in combination with Spirulina, and the effects of necrotic cell death. In comparison to the control group, the viability of SH-SY5Y cells decreased after 24 h of exposure, with Cd being more toxic than Hg and Pb being less lethal. The effects of heavy metal toxicity on cell survival were ranked in order after 72 h under identical experimental circumstances as follows: Hg, Pb, and Cd. The viability of the cells was then tested after being exposed to Spirulina at doses of 5 at 50 (%v/v) for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. SH-SY5Y cells that had been treated with mixtures of heavy metals and Spirulina underwent the same assay. Cell viability is considerably increased by using Spirulina treatments at the prescribed periods and doses. Instead, the same procedure, when applied to SH-SY5Y cells, caused the release of LDH, which is consistent with the reduction in cell viability. We demonstrated for the first time, considering all the available data, that Spirulina 5, 25, and 50 (%v/v) enhanced the number of viable SH-SY5Y cells utilized as a model system for brain cells. Overall, the data from the present study provide a first insight into the promising positive role of Spirulina against the potentially toxic effects of metals.

The calcium ion (Ca²⁺) has been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), although the role of Ca²⁺ in this disorder is the subject of intense investigation. Serum Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis is associated with the development of insulin resistance, reduced insulin sensitivity, and impaired glucose tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms involving Ca²⁺ ions in pancreatic β-cell loss and subsequently in T2DM remain poorly understood. Implicated in the decline in β-cell functions are aggregates of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a small peptide secreted by β-cells that shows a strong tendency to self-aggregate into β-sheet-rich aggregates that evolve toward the formation of amyloid deposits and mature fibrils. The soluble oligomers of hIAPP can permeabilize the cell membrane by interacting with bilayer lipids. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ca²⁺ on the ability of the peptide to incorporate and form ion channels in zwitterionic planar lipid membranes (PLMs) composed of palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and on the aggregation process of hIAPP molecules in solution. Our results may help to clarify the link between Ca²⁺ ions, hIAPP peptide, and consequently the pathophysiology of T2DM.

Osteoporosis is a common musculoskeletal disorder among the elderly and a chronic condition which, like many other chronic conditions, requires long-term clinical management. It is caused by many factors, including lifestyle and obesity. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method to estimate body composition based on a weak electric current flow through the body. The measured voltage is used to calculate body bioelectrical impedance, divided into resistance and reactance, which can be used to estimate body parameters such as total body water (TBW), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and muscle mass (MM). This study aims to find the tendency of osteoporosis in obese subjects, presenting a method based on hierarchical clustering, which, using BIA parameters, can group patients who show homogeneous characteristics. Grouping similar patients into clusters can be helpful in the field of medicine to identify disorders, pathologies, or more generally, characteristics of significant importance. Another added value of the clustering process is the possibility to define cluster prototypes, i.e., imaginary patients who represent models of “states”, which can be used together with clustering results to identify subjects with similar characteristics in a classification context. The results show that hierarchical clustering is a method that can be used to provide the detection of states and, consequently, supply a more personalized medicine approach. In addition, this method allowed us to elect BIA as a potential prognostic and diagnostic instrument in osteoporosis risk development.

Study purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of physical activity among undergraduates living in ADISU (Agency for the Right to University Study) residences in order to better understand their situations and highlight the differences between male and female students. Materials and methods. Eighty participants between the ages of 18 and 28 were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was given to each participant who was selected for the study in order to gather general data and measure physical activity levels. Results. 60% of the students involved in this investigation are smokers; nonsmokers show a higher average than smokers, which indicates greater physical activity and higher frequency; 52.3% of female students declare not to practice any PA compared to 26.9% of male students; 9.3% of female students declare to practice PA < 1 time per week, while 15.4% of male students declare to practice PA < 1 time per week; 7.4% of female students declare to practice PA 1-2 times per week, while 3.8% of male students declare to practice PA 1-2 times per week; 25.9% of female students declare to practice PA 2-3 times per week, while 23.1% of male students declare to practice PA 2-3 times per week; finally, 3.7% of female students declare to practice PA > 3 times per week, while 30.8% of male students declare to practice PA > 3 times per week. Conclusions. In conclusion, we think that studies like ours are essential for formulating plans to enhance students’ wellbeing and their academic route inside universities.

Agomelatine (AGM) is one of the latest atypical antidepressants, prescribed exclusively for the treatment of depression in adults. AGM belongs to the pharmaceutical class of melatonin agonist and selective serotonin antagonist (“MASS”), as it acts both as a selective agonist of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2, and as a selective antagonist of 5-HT2C/5-HT2B receptors. AGM is involved in the resynchronization of interrupted circadian rhythms, with beneficial effects on sleep patterns, while antagonism on serotonin receptors increases the availability of norepinephrine and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, with an antidepressant and nootropic effect. The use of AGM in the pediatric population is limited by the scarcity of data. In addition, few studies and case reports have been published on the use of AGM in patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Considering this evidence, the purpose of this review is to report the potential role of AGM in neurological developmental disorders. AGM would increase the expression of the cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) in the prefrontal cortex, with optimization of learning, long-term memory consolidation, and improved survival of neurons. Another important feature of AGM is the ability to modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission in regions associated with mood and cognition. With its synergistic activity a melatoninergic agonist and an antagonist of 5-HT2C, AGM acts as an antidepressant, psychostimulant, and promoter of neuronal plasticity, regulating cognitive symptoms, resynchronizing circadian rhythms in patients with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Given its good tolerability and good compliance, it could potentially be administered to adolescents and children.