Search

The purpose of our study was to monitor the long-term changes in physical functioning and health-related quality of life in individuals who received outpatient rehabilitation after COVID-19. Individuals referred to outpatient rehabilitation for post-COVID-19 physical therapy were assessed before the treatment, at the end of the treatment, and 2 and 6 months after the end of the treatment. The physical functioning was assessed by Barthel Index, Timed Up and Go test, Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB), Patient-Specific Functioning Scale (PSFS), and EuroQOL 5D-3L. Friedman's test was utilized to assess changes in the assessments. The proportions of individuals showing variation in performance equal to or greater than the absolute minimal detectable change (MDC) value of the SPPB and PSFS were calculated. Forty-four cases were monitored for 7.3-15.6 months. At baseline, they showed substantial independence in activities of daily living, moderate mobility limitations, and below-average health-related quality of life. Their status significantly improved over time (Friedman's test P = 0.002 to <0.001); post hoc analysis confirmed the improvement of mobility and health-related quality of life at 6-month follow-up relative to the baseline. After accounting for MDC values, 55% meaningfully improved on SPPB and 45% on PSFS, although some worsened (11 and 5%, respectively) and the remaining showed no meaningful change. Despite good independence in activities of daily living and perceived health, individuals surviving the COVID-19 may not have fully recovered their premorbid functioning status seven to 15 months after the infection., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The role of bioactive compounds in wound repair is critical. The preliminary work described herein includes the study of the effects of second degree burns in a Rex rabbit model and the action of human umbilical cord cells on the regulation and secretion of bioactive compounds. When applied on blood scaffolds as heterograft matrices, fibroblasts proliferate from these primary cultures and release biologically active peptides under tight control. Our work in progress indicates that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated therapy provides better quality and more efficient burn reepithelialization of injured tissues by controlling the release of these peptides. Improvement of wound aesthetics is achieved in less time than without MSC-mediated therapy. Well-organized epidermal regeneration and overall better quality of reepithelialization, with no rejection, can be demonstrated consistently with periodic biopsies. Our studies indicate that MSCs have the capacity to produce, regulate, and deliver biologically active peptides that result in superior regeneration, compared with conventional treatments., (© 2012 New York Academy of Sciences.)