Showing papers by "Marco Rabuffetti published in 2022"
TL;DR: In this article , three sugar-based surfactants (6-O-lauroyl, 6O-palmitoyl, 6-O -stearoyl-1-Obutyl glucopyranosides) have been prepared by a lipase-catalyzed esterification of isomeric mixture of n-Butyl glucosides.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors evaluated the smoothness of voluntary head rotations in cervical dystonia patients and compared it with the control group by measuring the angular jerk and arc length of the spectrum of angular speed.
Abstract: Abstract Smoothness (i.e. non-intermittency) of movement is a clinically important property of the voluntary movement with accuracy and proper speed. Resting head position and head voluntary movements are impaired in cervical dystonia. The current work aims to evaluate if the smoothness of voluntary head rotations is reduced in this disease. Twenty-six cervical dystonia patients and 26 controls completed rightward and leftward head rotations. Patients’ movements were differentiated into “towards-dystonia” (rotation accentuated the torticollis) and “away-dystonia”. Smoothness was quantified by the angular jerk and arc length of the spectrum of angular speed (i.e. SPARC, arbitrary units). Movement amplitude (mean, 95% CI) on the horizontal plane was larger in controls (63.8°, 58.3°–69.2°) than patients when moving towards-dystonia (52.8°, 46.3°–59.4°; P = 0.006). Controls’ movements (49.4°/s, 41.9–56.9°/s) were faster than movements towards-dystonia (31.6°/s, 25.2–37.9°/s; P < 0.001) and away-dystonia (29.2°/s, 22.9–35.5°/s; P < 0.001). After taking into account the different amplitude and speed, SPARC-derived (but not jerk-derived) indices showed reduced smoothness in patients rotating away-dystonia (1.48, 1.35–1.61) compared to controls (1.88, 1.72–2.03; P < 0.001). Poor smoothness is a motor disturbance independent of movement amplitude and speed in cervical dystonia. Therefore, it should be assessed when evaluating this disease, its progression, and treatments.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a correlation analysis was made to investigate a linear relation between gait parameters and CKD severity, which suggests that the treatment of renal disease should include cognitive aspects in addition to metabolic and functional factors.
Abstract: Instrumental gait analysis in nephrology is widely neglected, although patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) show brain changes due to cerebrovascular disease and metabolic disorders that can potentially influence gait quality. Our study assesses the association between CKD stages and gait parameters, to understand the prevalent status of brain related gait parameters (i.e. variability) and of performance related parameters (i.e. gait speed, stride length). We hypothesize that gait changes are detectable already in early stages of CKD.Forty-five participants distributed in 5 CKD severity groups underwent an instrumental gait analysis via a triaxial accelerometer affixed to the lower trunk under single- and dual-task conditions. In addition to spatio-temporal parameters, variability and dual-task cost of gait were extracted. A battery of clinical assessments was conducted with the aim of helping to better explain the findings of the gait analysis. A correlation analysis was made to investigate a linear relation between gait parameters and CKD severity.Statistically significant correlations (Pearson correlation coefficient) with CKD severity were found for gait speed (p < 0.01, r = -0.55, 95% CI [-0.73;-0.30]), stride length ( p < 0.01, r = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.62;-0.12]), step length (p < 0.01, r = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.63;-0.13], coefficient of variance (CV) of step length (p = 0.01, r = 0.36, 95% CI [0.08;0.59]), gait regularity (p < 0.01, r = -0.38, 95% CI [-0.61;-0.10]), dual-task cost of gait speed (p < 0.01, r = 0.40, 95% CI [0.13;0.62]) and dual-task cost of stride time (p = 0.03, r = 0.32, 95% CI [0.03;0.57]). Adjustment for age and gender confirmed all results except for gait regularity. With increasing severity of renal failure, Handgrip strength, Time for the Expanded Timed Get Up and Go test, executive functions, haemoglobin, and haematocrit, worsen.The correlation of CKD severity with spatio-temporal parameters (performance indices mainly relatable to peripheral functionality) and with variability of gait (related to central factors) supported by the results of the clinical assessments, suggests that gait disturbance in CKD patients is not only due to metabolic factors that lead to muscle wasting, but also to brain changes that affect motor control. This suggests that the treatment of renal disease should include cognitive aspects in addition to metabolic and functional factors.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors quantify physical activity levels in non-disabled people with multiple sclerosis and compare the time spent daily at different PA levels (No activity (NPA), Light PA (LPA), Moderate PA (MPA), and Vigorous PA (VPA) with healthy subjects (HS).
Abstract: People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) show low levels of physical activity (PA), however there has been limited research on PA in early diagnosed and no/minimally impaired (<5 years, EDSS≤ 2.5) PwMS. The aims of the study were to objectively quantify PA levels in non-disabled PwMS, to compare the time spent daily at different PA levels (No activity (NPA), Light PA (LPA), Moderate PA (MPA), and Vigorous PA (VPA)) with healthy subjects (HS), and to examine the association of PA with disability, and clinical measures in PwMS.We assessed 58 PwMS (mean age±standard deviation, SD 39.1 ± 10.6years) and 20 HS (mean age±SD 39.3 ± 8.9 years). Demographic and clinical data were recorded at the hospital during the baseline assessment. Subjects wore the wrist GENEActiv accelerometer for 7-days. Data were collected at 100 Hz and summarized into a motor activity (MA) index using 60 s epochs with the following thresholds: MANPA-LPA: 10mG, MALPA-MPA: 100mG, MAMPA-VPA: 350mG.PwMS show higher NPA and lower VPA compared to matched healthy subjects (NPA: Mean±SD, HS: 7.2 ± 0.9 h/day; PwMS: 8.1 ± 1.2 h/day, p<0.01; VPA: HS: 0.78± 0.42 h/day; PwMS: 0.50± 0.40 h/day, p = 0.01), while no between group differences were observed for LPA and MPA (p>0.05). Bivariate analysis showed that higher NPA was associated with fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS score) in PwMS with EDSS 0-1.5 (r = 0.34, p = 0.05). In PwMS with EDSS 2-2.5, NPA was correlated with Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT, r=-0.45, p = 0.02) and CIQ (r=-0.41, p = 0.04), while VPA was more associated with FSS (R= -0.38, p = 0.06).The PA level of PwMS differs from that of healthy subjects even in early diagnosed subjects. In PwMS with EDSS 0-1.5 only, fatigue is associated to prolonged inactive behavior. Conversely, in PwMS with EDSS 2-2.5 both inactivity and vigorous activities are modulated by fatigue, endurance and associated with different level of social participation.
2 citations
TL;DR: The preparation of a new optically active inositol phosphate derivative, 2‐O‐acetyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetra‐o‐benzyl‐d‐myo‐inosityl diphenylphosphate, and its characterization by spectroscopic methods are described.
1 citations
TL;DR: The proposed method, called “social actigraphy”, confirmed that the partner has a relevant effect on one’s PA profile, thus suggesting involving the partner in programs concerning lifestyle changes and patient rehabilitation.
Abstract: (1) Background: Actigraphic methods allow prolonged monitoring of human physical activity (PA) by wearable sensors in a real-life unsupervised context. They generally do not characterize the social context, and nearby persons can have a modulating effect on the performed PA. The present study aims to apply an existing method for bimanual actigraphy to both components of a marital dyad to verify the level of association between the two PA profiles. Other dyad comparisons complete the overall figure. (2) Methods: Seven-day actigraphic recordings collected from both components of 20 married couples of retired, cohabiting, healthy subjects (age ranging from 58 to 87 years) were considered. (3) Results: PA profiles of a marital dyad are significantly more correlated (coefficient: 0.444) than unrelated couples (0.278). Interestingly, participants’ profiles compared with their own recording shifted by 24 h, evidencing an intermediate level of association (0.335). Data from the literature, the high association (0.875) of individual right and left wrist profiles, enforce the analysis. (4) Conclusions: The proposed method, called “social actigraphy”, confirmed that the partner has a relevant effect on one’s PA profile, thus suggesting involving the partner in programs concerning lifestyle changes and patient rehabilitation.
1 citations
TL;DR: Optimized recombinant whole cells of E. coli bearing CYP153A6 were employed for catalyzing the hydroxylation of different monoterpene derivatives in this paper .
Abstract: Optimized recombinant whole cells of E. coli bearing CYP153A6 were employed for catalyzing the hydroxylation of different monoterpene derivatives. In most cases, high selectivity was observed with exclusive hydroxylation of the allylic methyl group bound to the aliphatic ring. In the case of (R)- and (S)-carvone, hydroxylation occurred also on the other allylic methyl group, although to a lesser extent. Biotransformations carried out in fed-batch mode on (S)-limonene and α-terpineol showed that recombinant whole cells retained activity for at least 24 h, allowing for the recovery of 3.25 mg mL-1 of (S)-perillyl alcohol and 5.45 mg mL-1 of 7-hydroxy-α-terpineol, respectively.
TL;DR: In this article , the design and the use as biocatalyst for preparative purposes of two mutants of E. coli γ-glutamyltransferases (GGTs) are described.