In the last year, Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), a web software based on artificial intelligence has been showing high potential in every field of knowledge. In the medical area, its possible application is an object of many studies with promising results. We performed the current study to investigate the possible usefulness of ChatGPT in assessing low back pain. We asked ChatGPT to generate a questionnaire about this clinical condition and we compared the obtained questions and results with the ones obtained by other validated questionnaires: Oswestry Disability Index, Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and Numeric Rating Scale for pain. We enrolled 20 subjects with low back pain and we found important consistencies among the validated questionnaires. The ChatGPT questionnaire showed an acceptable significant correlation only with Oswestry Disability Index and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. ChatGPT showed some peculiarities, especially in the assessment of quality of life and medical consultation and treatments. Our study shows that ChatGPT can help evaluate patients, including multilevel perspectives. However, its power is limited, and further research and validation are required.

Background: Although treatments using thermal water have yielded beneficial effects in respiratory tract infections, the effects of thermal water under experimental conditions similar to those triggered by SARS-CoV-2 have yet to be evaluated. This study aimed to assess whether thermal water could interfere with the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and host cells and influence inflammatory factors. Methods: Human nasal epithelial primary cells (HNEpCs) were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the presence or absence of thermal water or tap water. Cell viability, cytokine concentration, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 levels, and ACE2 activity were determined in the cell cultures. Results: Exposure of HNEpCs to spike protein increased IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β production, with decreased production observed in the presence of thermal water at an optimal dose. Treatment of cells with tap water did not affect cytokine release in unstimulated or spike-stimulated cells. Spike-protein-stimulated HNEpCs showed reduced levels of ACE2, which were partially restored only in the presence of thermal water. Spike protein did not affect the TMPRSS2 levels of the cell lysates. Stimulation with spike protein induced an increase in the concentration of both receptors in the supernatants, while treatment with thermal water reduced TMPRSS2 levels in both the cells and supernatants. Stimulation with spike protein increased ACE2 activity, which was reduced with thermal water. Conclusions: This study shows the regulatory effects of mineral-rich thermal water on spike-protein-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and the amount and activity of receptors mainly involved in viral entry, suggesting a potential use of this treatment as a support therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus disease (WNND) can cause lasting cognitive and motor impairments, impacting autonomy and quality of life. Given the scarcity of research on the rehabilitative needs of patients with WNV infection, this study aims to fill a critical gap by assessing the rehabilitation needs of a real-world cohort of WNND patients. We retrospectively analyzed WNND patients who received early Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) evaluations during the 2022 outbreak in Veneto, Italy. Data included demographics, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, days at PMR evaluation, and rehabilitation duration until discharge or death, alongside objective examination findings and Barthel Index scores. Among 29 confirmed WNND patients, the median hospital stay was 20 days, with rehabilitation starting after a median of 7 days. Motor weakness affected 48.28% of patients, swallowing issues 6.90%, and respiratory issues 24.13%. A tailored rehabilitation protocol was designed for 96.55% of patients to address functional concerns and prevent complications. Barthel Index scores showed no significant change. Discharge settings were home (58.34%), other departments (25%), and rehabilitation facilities (16.67%). This study highlights the rehabilitation needs of WNND patients, particularly regarding neuromuscular deficits, swallowing, and respiratory issues, stressing the importance of a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy for improved outcomes.

INTRODUCTION. The limitations in mobility frequently encountered by the elderly, often linked to advanced age and concurrent medical conditions, have significant implications for their overall well-being and self-reliance. This decrease in physical activity not only curtails their independence but also elevates the likelihood of prolonged hospitalization and the accompanying complications. AIM. To assess the impact of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program, a 10-exercise protocol consisting of three sessions per week for two months, on the quality of life of elderly individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study involved participants of both genders aged over 65, who were classified as sedentary, engaging in less than one hour of physical activity per week. Participants with recent orthopedic conditions, severe cardiovascular or oncological diseases, and significant neurological disorders were excluded due to their potential to confound the effects of the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program and impact overall health and quality of life. RESULTS. A total of 22 subjects, with a median age of 71.90 years, participated in the study. Elderly individuals engaging in the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program, experienced improvements in their quality of life. These gains were noticeable in the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (p = 0.07) and reached statistical significance in the Mental Component Summary (p = 0.04). DISCUSSION. The observed gains in the quality of life among elderly participants engaging in the home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program are noteworthy. The positive impact on the mental component of the SF-12 is particularly significant, indicating improvements in mental well-being. This aligns with the broader understanding that physical activity in the elderly is intricately linked to various aspects of their health, including mental health. While the preliminary findings suggest positive outcomes, future research with larger and more diverse cohorts could provide a more robust understanding of the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program’s impact. CONCLUSION. Our findings underscore the potential of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program to enhance the quality of life in elderly participants, highlighting the need for further exploration of rehabilitation and prevention strategies in this context.

Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) represents a common presentation of osteoarthritis, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life and daily activities. The 2018 EULAR recommendations underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Yet, the role of balneotherapy (BT) in the HOA therapeutic regimen remains unclear. This review seeks to bridge the gap by exploring recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the potential benefits of BT as a complementary intervention for managing HOA. This scoping review investigates original research articles published between January 2003 and August 2023 through a comprehensive search across MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The findings from this scoping review contribute to the growing corpus of evidence indicating that BT, particularly when employing specific methods like mud packs and mineral-rich baths, presents a promising role in reducing pain and enhancing functionality and quality of life, particularly in the initial phases of the condition. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic efficacy of BT interventions and support their inclusion as a complementary approach in managing HOA and preventing its progression. However, further research and the undertaking of larger-scale trials are imperative to validate these preliminary findings.

Chronic pain is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional condition sustained by interacting cognitive, behavioral, emotional, attentional, and metacognitive processes. Within this framework, physical exercise has gained relevance as a non-pharmacological intervention that may influence psychological mechanisms involved in pain persistence and disability. This narrative review provides an updated synthesis of recent evidence on the effects and mechanisms of physical exercise on cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and metacognitive dimensions of chronic pain. A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published between January 2016 and December 2025. Evidence was synthesized narratively across mechanistic domains, integrating findings from rehabilitation science and clinical psychology. The literature suggests that exercise may act as an active experiential intervention capable of targeting several psychosocial factors in chronic pain. Across studies, exercise was associated with reductions in catastrophizing and maladaptive pain beliefs, improvements in pain self-efficacy, and attenuation of kinesiophobia. Exercise may also modulate attentional bias and hypervigilance, and psychologically informed exercise approaches appear particularly relevant for metacognitive processes, including reduced rumination, increased decentering, and improved non-reactive awareness of bodily sensations. In parallel, exercise shows beneficial effects on emotional aspects of chronic pain, likely mediated by both neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms pathways. Overall, physical exercise should be conceptualized as a comprehensive intervention capable of acting on cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and metacognitive processes that sustain chronic pain. Future research should clarify modality-specific mechanisms, identify moderators of response and incorporate process-based outcomes to support personalized exercise prescriptions.