Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress is widely recognized as a key contributor to both the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly during acute exacerbations (AECOPD). 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, has been insufficiently investigated as a systemic biomarker in this setting. This study evaluated the relationship between serum 8-OHdG levels, airflow limitation severity, and smoking status in patients hospitalized with AECOPD. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 176 patients admitted for AECOPD and stratified according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages. The study population comprised patients with comparable distributions of age, sex, smoking status, diabetes, cardiovascular comorbidities, and area of residence across GOLD categories. Serum 8-OHdG, leukocyte count, neutrophil percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and procalcitonin were measured. Group comparisons, multivariable logistic regression analyses, and smoking-status subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Serum 8-OHdG levels increased significantly with advancing airflow limitation severity (p = 0.038), with higher concentrations observed in patients with GOLD 4 disease compared to GOLD 1–2 disease (p = 0.023). In multivariable analysis, 8-OHdG was the only biomarker independently associated with GOLD stage (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.12–5.31, p = 0.025). Higher serum 8-OHdG levels were also independently associated with smoking status (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.05–1.37, p = 0.022). Ever-smokers demonstrated significantly higher 8-OHdG concentrations than never-smokers in GOLD 1–2 and GOLD 3 disease, whereas procalcitonin levels were higher among never-smokers with advanced COPD. Conclusions: Serum 8-OHdG levels measured during AECOPD are associated with both airflow limitation severity and smoking status. These findings support the potential role of oxidative DNA damage as a clinically relevant component of COPD pathophysiology and suggest that serum 8-OHdG may represent a useful biomarker for disease characterization in patients experiencing acute exacerbations.

The treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) does not cure the disease, but it is intended to reduce the intensity, duration, and frequency of symptoms. Rehabilitation therapy (RT), including an individualized physical therapy program (PTP) and adapted occupational therapy (OT), has benefits in terms of aerobic capacity, muscle strength, coordination, and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). The primary objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of RT comprising PTP, OT, and drug treatment (DT) versus DT alone in patients with MS. Another objective was to highlight the importance of continuing the PT and OT at home, in the long term, practically for their entire life.Materials and methods: Between 2020 and 2022, a follow-up observational study was conducted that included 77 patients diagnosed with MS, independent in terms of ability to perform ADL, divided into two groups: group A (39 patients who complied with the RT) and group B (38 patients who did not comply). At the beginning and end of the study, the following parameters were assessed: timed walk for 25 feet [Timed 25-Foot Walk test (T25FW test)], dexterity of the upper limbs [9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT)], and cognitive function [Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)].Results: Significant improvement in the experimental group was observed regarding the mobility and the performance of leg function (T25FW, p < 0.05) and finger dexterity (9HPT, p < 0.05) for the dominant hand.Conclusion: The current study proves the importance of combining DT with RT in MS therapy with clear benefits in regaining muscle strength in the lower limbs, thus improving coordination and balance while walking and improving dexterity in the dominant hand.

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are characterized by intensified systemic inflammation, yet the relationship between inflammatory biomarker profiles and underlying GOLD-defined airflow limitation severity remains incompletely understood. This exploratory cross-sectional study investigated inflammatory and hematological biomarkers across the spectrum of stable-state GOLD-defined airflow limitation severity in patients hospitalized for AECOPD. A total of 100 participants were included, comprising non-COPD controls and patients with mild-to-moderate (GOLD 1–2), severe (GOLD 3), and very severe (GOLD 4) COPD (n = 25/group). Absolute leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin, and hemoglobin were analyzed using non-parametric statistics, ordinal logistic regression, and Spearman correlation analysis. Absolute leukocyte counts, CRP, IL-6, and procalcitonin differed significantly across the airflow limitation continuum (p < 0.05). Among all variables examined, CRP was the only biomarker independently associated with increasing GOLD-defined airflow limitation severity (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.31, p = 0.034). Correlation analyses revealed stage-dependent alterations in biomarker interaction patterns, with strong CRP-centered associations observed in GOLD 1–2 progressively weakening in advanced disease stages. These findings suggest that COPD severity is associated not only with quantitative changes in inflammatory biomarkers but also with progressive reorganization of inflammatory biomarker relationships, supporting the potential value of CRP as a complementary marker of disease stratification during AECOPD.

This observational study aims to assess both the posture and muscle tone characteristics of the upper and lower limbs in patients with hemiparesis following a cerebrovascular accident. Measurements will be taken comparatively between the affected and non-affected sides. The study will include patients with both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Assessments will be conducted at months 1, 3, and 6 after the stroke event. In order to ensure the homogeneity of the study group, all patients will follow a physical exercise program tailored to their clinical stage of recovery. Myotonometric evaluation will be performed using the Myoton PRO Digital Palpation Device, which allows the assessment of muscle tone, elasticity, dynamic stiffness, tension state, relaxation time, and deformation ratio during muscle relaxation. Postural assessment will be conducted using the GaitON device by Auptimo. In addition to these instrumental evaluations, the following clinical scales will be applied: the Modified Ashworth Scale, Barthel Index, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and the Modified Rankin Scale. Based on the three successive evaluations (at one, three, and six months after stroke event) we expect that with the spasticity decrease and the improvement of the posture of patients participating in the physical exercise program, both the objectively assessed parameters and the scores obtained from clinical scales will evolve in favor of better functioning.