Comorbidity decreases survival but it still remains unknown to what extent functional recovery after ischemic stroke is affected. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of the most common comorbidities in patients with...

The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) has established itself as a leading patient-reported outcome measure for assessing both mental and physical components of pain-related disability. The current study aimed to translate the PDQ into Serbian and validate its psychometric properties. Following a standard translation process, a total of 554 chronic pain patients (average age 55.37 ± 12.72 years; 375 (67.5%) females) completed the PDQ-Serb, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), pain intensity rating and a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Responsiveness was examined in a subsample of 141 patients who completed an inpatient rehabilitation program. The internal consistency of the PDQ-Serb was excellent (Cronbach α = 0.92) and test-retest reliability was favorable (ICC = 0.87). Factor analyses found a bifactor model to be the best fit (CFI = 0.97: TLI = 0.96: RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR = 0.03). Statistically significant Pearson’s coefficient correlations (p < 0.001) were found between the PDQ-Serb and ODI (r = 0.786), SF-36 Physical Components summary (r = −0.659), SF-36 Mental Components summary (r = −0.493), pain intensity rating (r = 0.572), and 6MWT (r = −0.571). Significant post-treatment improvements following inpatient rehabilitation were found with the PDQ-Serb (p < 0.001; effect size 0.431) and other clinical variables (p < 0.001; effect sizes from 0.367 to 0.536). The PDQ-Serb was shown to be a reliable and valid self-report instrument for the evaluation of pain-related disability.

Background/Objectives: The number of individuals with lower limb loss (LLL) is rising. Therefore, identifying the walking potential in individuals with LLL and prescribing adequate prosthetic systems are crucial. Various factors can influence participants’ walking ability, to different extents. The aim of the present study was to apply machine learning methods to develop a predictive mode. This model can assist rehabilitation and limb loss care teams in making informed decisions regarding prosthesis prescription and predicting walking ability in individuals with LLL. Methods: The present study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional study encompassing 104 consecutively recruited participants with LLL (average age 62.1 ± 10.9 years, 80 (76.9%) men) at the Medical Rehabilitation Clinic. Demographic, physical, psychological, and social status data of patients were collected at the beginning of the rehabilitation program. At the end of the treatment, K-level estimation of functional ability, a Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and a Two-Minute Walking Test (TMWT) were performed. Support vector machines (SVM) were used to develop the prediction model. Results: Three decision trees were created, one for each output, as follows: K-level, TUG, and TMWT. For all three outputs, there were eight significant predictors (balance, body mass index, age, Beck depression inventory, amputation level, muscle strength of the residual extremity hip extensors, intact extremity (IE) plantar flexors, and IE hip extensors). For the K-level, the ninth predictor was The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Conclusions: Using the SVM model, we can predict the K-level, TUG, and TMWT with high accuracy. These clinical assessments could be incorporated into routine clinical practice to guide clinicians and inform patients of their potential level of ambulation.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the rates of vaccination against COVID-19 infection in psychiatric outpatients and the general population, as well as rates of infected patients. In addition, the level and type of anxiety due to the pandemic were observed in patients with psychotic, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 171 patients with pre-existing mental disorders completed the questionnaire about the doses and types of vaccination against COVID-19. During 2021–2023, patients with different mental disorders, aged from 18 to 80, were included. All patients filled in a self-reported questionnaire including general information (age, sex, marriage, education, working status, comorbid conditions) as well as questions about mental health, receiving vaccination, and the course of COVID-19 infection if it was present. All patients gave informed consent for the interview. Results: Patients with pre-existing mental disorders were more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared with the general population. The Sinopharm vaccine was most frequently applied. In the observed patients, 46.8% were infected, but just 7% had a medium or serious form of infection and were not vaccinated. Conclusions: In our study, the percentage of vaccinated psychiatric patients was greater than that in the general population, except in psychotic patients, who were mostly limited by fear. Such results can be explained by the high percentage of somatic comorbidities in this population and perhaps insufficient information about the positive effects of vaccination.

Introduction/Objective. Neurological impairment and immobility in stroke patients can lead to numerous complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cycling exercises with visual feedback combined with conventional rehabilitation on neurological and motor recovery, balance, walking speed and endurance, and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients after acute and subacute stroke. Methods. A randomized prospective controlled trial was applied to this research. One hundred and twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke patients who received in-hospital rehabilitation were randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment. The experimental group had an extra 30 minutes of cycling exercises for the upper and lower extremities on a stationary ergocycle MOTOmed muvi. Both groups? neurological status, upper and lower limb function, independence in ADL, balance, walking speed, and endurance were observed before and after the rehabilitation treatment. Outcome measures used were the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the Brunnstrom Motor Evaluation Scale (BMES), upper and lower Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the Barthel index (BI), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Results. The neurological recovery on the NIHSS scale, spasticity of the knee extensor measured by the MAS, the BMES and FMA-LE subscale for the affected leg, and the 6MWT presented more significant improvement in the experimental group than in the control group after the treatment (p < 0.05 for all three analyses). Conclusion. Cycling exercises with visual feedback combined with conventional rehabilitation could promote neurological recovery and improve the motor function of the affected leg and walking speed in patients recuperating after acute and subacute stroke.

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent form of arthritis, and the hip is the second most frequently affected joint. The effects of osteoarthritis on the hip joint often lead to marked physical impairment that can contribute to increased disability and dependency in everyday activities. Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative process with progressive loss of articular cartilage, followed by a reparative process such as reactive bone hypertrophy, which causes osteophyte formation and remodelling. The joint responds with subchondral and synovial inflammation. Patients with hip osteoarthritis report pain in the groin area which can develop slowly and worsen over time. With the progression of the disease, the range of motion of the affected hip is reduced, which affects the walking pattern and may cause a limp. Therapeutic options for hip osteoarthritis should be based on the etiopathogenesis of the disease. The approach to treatment for every patient should be multidisciplinary, multimodal and individualised taking into account personal beliefs and preferences, social and psychological factors and prior medical history. It is important to avoid unnecessary delays in referring patients with advanced hip osteoarthritis for surgical treatment, in order to prevent worse outcomes after total hip arthroplasty. The aim of this article is to offer a concise update on etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management options for hip osteoarthritis.