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Although the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is among the recommended clinical tools to assess gait impairments in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), its standard clinical outcome consists only of the distance walked in 6 min. Integrating a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) could provide additional quantitative and objective information about gait quality complementing standard clinical outcome. This study aims to evaluate the test-retest reliability, validity and discriminant ability of gait parameters obtained by a single IMU during the 6MWT in subjects with mild PD. Twenty-two people with mild PD and ten healthy persons performed the 6MWT wearing an IMU placed on the lower trunk. Features belonging to rhythm and pace, variability, regularity, jerkiness, intensity, dynamic instability and symmetry domains were computed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), while concurrent validity was determined by Spearman's coefficient. Mann-Whitney U test and the Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC) were then applied to assess the discriminant ability of reliable and valid parameters. Results showed an overall high reliability (ICC ≥ 0.75) and multiple significant correlations with clinical scales in all domains. Several features exhibited significant alterations compared to healthy controls. Our findings suggested that the 6MWT instrumented with a single IMU can provide reliable and valid information about gait features in individuals with PD. This offers objective details about gait quality and the possibility of being integrated into clinical evaluations to better define walking rehabilitation strategies in a quick and easy way.

Mastitis is the most common disease affecting dairy goats and causing economic losses. Although it is accepted that increased somatic cell count (SCC) is mainly a response to infection, its reliability for subclinical mastitis detection in goats is controversial. Indeed, many physiological and extrinsic variables can increase SCC, including breed, parity, age, stage of lactation, seasonal variations, and milking methods. In some animals, milk-secreting tissue is present in the wall of the teat and, in some instances, milk can filter through pores in the skin to the udder surface. This condition is known as "weeping teat" (WT). In these animals, mammary tissue might be prone to develop bacterial infections, although limited information is provided. Weeping teat seems to have a genetic background and is reported to be especially found in goat breeds selected for high milk production. Moreover, it is observed a genetic correlation between WT and decreased milk yield as well as increased somatic cell scores (SCS). Since information on this topic is very limited, this study aimed at investigating any possible relationship between WT, high SCC, and the presence of bacteria in goat milk. Alpine goat farms in Northern Italy were selected based on the presence of WT. Each herd was divided into two age-matched groups, identified as case (WT+) and control (WT-). Half-udder milk samples were collected aseptically at three timepoints; bacteriological analysis was performed, and SCC were determined and transformed in SCS. There was a positive association between SCS and the presence of bacteria in milk ( P = 0.037) overall, whereas WT udder defect was associated with positive bacterial culture in just one herd ( P = 0.053). Thus, this herd was further investigated, repeating the sampling and the analysis on the following year. The positive association between high SCS and the presence of bacteria in milk was then confirmed ( P = 0.007), whereas no association with WT condition was found. These results indicate that WT defect is usually unrelated to both the outcome of milk bacterial culture and SCS. As a side outcome, we could confirm the role of bacterial infection in increasing SCS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Gazzola, Minozzi, Biffani, Mattiello, Bailo and Piccinini.)

Background: For some patients, standard optical correction for presbyopia is not satisfactory. Using a specially designed mask, we developed a procedure for correcting presbyopia with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)., Methods: A mask consisting of a mobile diaphragm formed by two blunt blades was used to ablate a 10 to 17 microm deep semilunar-shaped zone immediately below the pupillary center, steepening the corneal curvature in that area. Three eyes of three presbyopic patients were treated, aiming at a near addition of +3.00 D. Follow-up time was 24 months., Results: After an initial regression of 1.00 D during the first 6 months, the presbyopic correction remained stable for the duration of the follow-up period, enabling uncorrected near vision of J3 in all three eyes. Uncorrected distance visual acuity was not altered. Contrast sensitivity (Regan) was slightly decreased only at the 11% level. Videokeratography confirmed corneal steepening in the ablated area., Conclusion: The visual and refractive outcome of excimer laser PRK for presbyopia with the Aesculap-Meditec MEL 60 is promising, especially in view of the 2-year follow-up.

To avoid postoperative "compartmentalization" of the vitreous cavity, which may accelerate the recurrence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and to provide a tamponading effect lasting long enough to allow the formation of a firm chorioretinal adhesion by retinopexy, we managed 11 eyes with giant retinal tears and grade-B PVR with lensectomy, vitrectomy, 5-day internal tamponade with perfluorodecalin (PFD), and postoperative supine positioning until the PFD was removed. Baseline characteristics included myopia (10 eyes; range, 5.00 to 15.00 diopters) and perforating trauma (one eye). All patients underwent PFD/fluid exchange 5 days after surgery. Anatomic attachment of the retina was achieved with two operations (the second one being the removal of the PFD) in 9 (82%) of the 11 eyes (median follow up, 18 months). In eight eyes (73%), there was no evidence of reproliferation; in one (successfully reattached after PFD/fluid exchange), a macular pucker developed. The intraocular PFD used as an internal tamponade appeared to be well tolerated for up to 5 days, as judged by static threshold perimetry in the two patients tested, and by the functional outcomes (64% of the reattached eyes had a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better).