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Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is a key factor of lifestyle behavior enhancing general health and fitness, especially in people after total hip or knee replacement (THR and TKR). Orthopaedic surgeons can play a primary role in advocating the benefits of an active lifestyle. Aim of the study was 1) to assess the attitude of orthopaedic surgeons towards PA for people after THR/TKR and 2) to compare the attitude between a Northern European (the Netherlands) and a Southern European (Italy) country and analyze which factors influence the attitude towards PA. Methods: A cross-cultural study. An (online) survey was distributed among orthopaedic surgeons in Italy and the Netherlands. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare surgeons' and clinics' characteristics, and questionnaires' scores, respectively. A linear regression analysis was conducted to assess which surgeon characteristics influence attitude towards PA. Results: A cohort of 159 surgeons (103 Italians and 56 Dutch) was analyzed. The median score of overall orthopaedic surgeons' attitude towards PA was positive (57 out of 72). Dutch surgeons showed a more positive attitude compared to Italian surgeons (p < 0.01). Main difference was found in the "Physical activity concern" factor, where Italian surgeons showed more concern about the negative effects of PA on the survival of the prosthesis. The regression analyses showed that "Country" and "Type of clinic" were associated with the surgeons' attitude. Conclusions: Overall, the orthopaedic surgeons' attitude towards PA for people with THR and TKR was positive. However, Dutch surgeons seem to be more positive compared to the Italian. The country of residence was the item that most influenced attitude. Further investigations are needed to untangle specific factors, such as cultural, socioeconomic, or contextual differences within the variable "country" that may influence orthopaedic surgeons' attitudes towards PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Regular physical activity (PA) is considered important after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). Objective was to systematically assess literature on recommendations given by healthcare professionals to persons after THA and TKA and to provide an overview of existing interventions to stimulate PA and sports participation. Methods: A systematic review with a narrative synthesis including articles published between January 1995 and January 2021 reporting on recommendations and interventions. The PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases were systematically searched for original articles reporting on physical activity and sports recommendations given by healthcare professionals to persons after THA and TKA, and articles reporting on interventions/programs to stimulate a physically active lifestyle after rehabilitation or explicitly defined as part of the rehabilitation. Methodological quality was assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The review was registered in Prospero (PROSPERO:CRD42020178556). Results: Twenty-one articles reported on recommendations. Low-impact activities were allowed. Contact sports, most ball sports, and martial arts were not recommended. One study informed on whether health-enhancing PA recommendations were used to stimulate persons to become physically active. No studies included recommendations on sedentary behavior. Eleven studies reported on interventions. Interventions used guidance from a coach/physiotherapist; feedback on PA behavior from technology; and face-to-face, education, goal-setting, financial incentives and coaching/financial incentives combined, of which feedback and education seem to be most effective. For methodological quality, 18 out of 21 (86%) articles about recommendations and 7 out of 11 (64%) articles about interventions scored yes on more than half of the MMAT questions (0–5 score). Conclusion: There is general agreement on what kind of sports activities can be recommended by healthcare professionals like orthopedic surgeons and physiotherapists. No attention is given to amount of PA. The same is true for limiting sedentary behavior. The number of interventions is limited and diverse, so no conclusions can be drawn. Interventions including provision of feedback about PA, seem to be effective and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The withdrawal of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with SLE and secondary aPL syndrome (SAPS) who become seronegative has not been clearly investigated to date. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of aPL seroconversion and the prognosis of SLE patients with SAPS who withdrew OAC after aPL negativization. Methods We retrospectively analysed data of all SLE patients (ACR criteria) with SAPS (Sydney criteria) prospectively followed-up in our clinic. aPL seroconversion was defined as negativization of lupus anticoagulant, aCL, and anti-β2glycoprotein-1 antibodies on two or more consecutive measurements, at least 12 weeks apart. OAC discontinuation was defined as the definitive withdrawal of all anticoagulants. Results Fifty-five out of 513 (10.7%) SLE patients had vascular SAPS. Sixteen patients (29.1%) became aPL seronegative during follow-up. Immunosuppressive therapy predicted aPL negativization (odds ratio 5.211, 95%CI 1.341, 20.243), whereas APS diagnosis prior to that of SLE (odds ratio 0.078, 95%CI 0.008, 0.799) and triple-positive profile (odds ratio 0.264, 95%CI 0.115, 0.609) were negative predictors of aPL negativization. OAC was discontinued in 13/55 patients (23.6%), after a median follow-up of 45 months (range 1–276) from aPL seroconversion. SLE-related modifiable risk factors for thrombosis were observed in 10/13 patients (77%) at the time of the thrombotic event. No thrombotic recurrences were observed during a mean follow-up time of 44 (19) months from OAC discontinuation. Conclusions Our results suggest that OAC can be safely discontinued in SLE patients who became persistently seronegative for aPL, at least when aPL-related thrombotic events occurred in presence of other thrombotic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The interpretation of data obtained in a movement analysis laboratory is a crucial issue in clinical contexts. Collection of such data in large databases might encourage the use of modern techniques of data mining to discover additional knowledge with automated methods. In order to maximise the size of the database, simple and low-cost experimental set-ups are preferable. The aim of this study was to extract knowledge inherent in the sit-to-stand task as performed by healthy adults, by searching relationships among measured and estimated biomechanical quantities. An automated method was applied to a large amount of data stored in a database. The sit-to-stand motor task was already shown to be adequate for determining the level of individual motor ability. Methods The technique of search for association rules was chosen to discover patterns as part of a Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) process applied to a sit-to-stand motor task observed with a simple experimental set-up and analysed by means of a minimum measured input model. Selected parameters and variables of a database containing data from 110 healthy adults, of both genders and of a large range of age, performing the task were considered in the analysis. Results A set of rules and definitions were found characterising the patterns shared by the investigated subjects. Time events of the task turned out to be highly interdependent at least in their average values, showing a high level of repeatability of the timing of the performance of the task. Conclusions The distinctive patterns of the sit-to-stand task found in this study, associated to those that could be found in similar studies focusing on subjects with pathologies, could be used as a reference for the functional evaluation of specific subjects performing the sit-to-stand motor task.

Objectives Patients with SLE are often exposed to prolonged immunosuppression since few data on flare recurrence in remitted patients who discontinued immunosuppressants are available. We aimed to assess the rate and predictors of flare after immunosuppressant withdrawal in SLE patients in remission. Methods SLE patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2018 (according to the ACR criteria), ever treated with immunosuppressants and currently in follow-up were considered. Immunosuppressant discontinuation was defined as complete withdrawal of any immunosuppressive drug. Reasons for discontinuation were remission, defined as clinical SLEDAI-2K = 0 on a stable immunosuppressive and/or antimalarial therapy and/or on prednisone ⩽5 mg/day, or poor adherence/intolerance. Flares were defined according to the SLEDAI Flare Index. Predictors of a subsequent flare were analysed by multivariate logistic regression. Results There were 319 eligible patients out of 456 (69.9%). Of the 319 patients, 139 (43.5%) discontinued immunosuppressants, 105 (75.5%) due to remission, 34 (24.5%) due to poor adherence/intolerance. The mean (s. d.) follow-up time after immunosuppressant withdrawal was 91 (71) months (range 6–372). Among the patients who discontinued immunosuppressants, 26/105 remitted (24.7%) and 23/34 unremitted patients (67.6%) experienced a flare (P < 0.001) after a median (range) follow-up of 57 (6–264) and 8 months (1–72), respectively (P = 0.009). In patients who discontinued immunosuppressants due to remission, maintenance therapy with antimalarials (OR 0.243, 95% CI 0.070, 0.842) and the duration of remission at immunosuppressant discontinuation (OR 0.870, 0.824–0.996) were independent protective factors against disease flare. Conclusion SLE flares are not uncommon after immunosuppressant discontinuation, even in remitted patients; however, antimalarial therapy and durable remission can significantly reduce the risk of flare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]