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Vision has been shown to influence body posture. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlations between visual acuity and body postural control both in a standing and seated position. This cohort study included 37 patients examined using Adaptica’s (Italy) Kaleidos and VisionFit. Objective refraction was measured with Kaleidos both in a standing and seated position by the same operator and in the same environmental conditions. The parameters obtained with the device were binocular refraction, monocular refraction, pupil distance, pupil size, head tilt, gaze, phorias, and tropias. The results obtained were then subjectively tested using VisionFit: an electronic trial frame with phoropter functionalities. The study’s outcome revealed that the differences in the visual acuity parameters obtained in standing and seated positions were statistically significant; the Student’s t-test showed a p-value < 0.001 in all parameter averages. Automated refraction is widely being performed and postural control can affect the visual acuity parameters; therefore, it is relevant to consider the possibility of measuring in orthostatism. It might be appropriate to take into account the possibility of measuring in orthostatism and wearing trial frames in orthostatic conditions as well as walking freely around the room, looking outside of a window, sitting, and reading.

Background: it is well known in literature that sedentary lifestyle contributes to worsening people’s health. This issue highlights the need for effective interventions to promote an active lifestyle. Research suggested multilevel intervention strategies to promote adherence to recommended physical activity levels, including the use of social networks that may simplify access to health notions. Being Facebook® the most extensive worldwide social network, this document aimed to analyze the current body of evidence on the role of Facebook® in the promotion of physical activity. Methods: eighteen manuscripts were considered eligible for this systematic review, and it was performed a meta-analysis (PRISMA guidelines) for overall physical activity parameters in eleven out of eighteen studies. Results: significant improvements were detected in the total amount of physical activity. In parallel, an increase in other parameters, such as cardiovascular, body composition, and social support, were found. The aerobic training, with supervised and tailored modalities, showed more considerable improvements. Conclusions: this study showed that Facebook® might be considered a feasible and accessible approach to promoting regular exercise practice and achieving health benefits indicators. Future research on the cross-link between physical activity and social network management could also focus on strength training to verify if a more structured intervention would show an effect.

We evaluated short-term results of patients undergoing to positioning of Argus-T sling for the treatment of post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: 182 patients were treated with Argus-T sling at four institutions from June 2008 to March 2013. The preoperative evaluation included medical history, pad count (1-2 pads: mild SUI; 3-5 pads: moderate SUI; >5 pads: severe SUI), VAS on continence, QoL score scale, physical examination, cystoscopy and urodynamic evaluation. Postoperative evaluation was performed four weeks postoperatively, and late follow-up (FU) was achieved in April 2013. We considered a satisfactory result cured (no pads) and or improved (1-2 pads per day). Results: 21 (11.8%), 96 (52.7%) and 65 patients (35.7%) were affected by mild, moderate and severe incontinence respectively. At the median FU of 22 months the overall satisfactory rate was 86.2%. Satisfactory results were 95% in mild incontinence, 78% in moderate incontinence and 70% in severe incontinence. In cured and improved patients we observed a statistically amelioration of QoL (p<0.0001). Sling regulation was necessary in 42.9% of cases while its removal occurred in 9.3% of cases. Postoperative complications were reported in 14.3% of patients. In patients with previous radiotherapy we observed a satisfactory result in 61.2% of cases. Conclusions: This study represents the first report that shows short-term results of Argus-T positioning in a large population. This device seems to offer good outcomes in patients with mild and moderate SUI while in case of previous radiotherapy it is associated with a low possibility to recover a satisfactory continence.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, and is widely used in clinical practice in many European countries. The clinical efficacy of SLIT has been established in a number of clinical trials and meta-analyses. However, because SLIT is self-administered by patients without medical supervision, the degree of patient adherence with treatment is still a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception by allergists of issues related to SLIT adherence. We performed a questionnaire-based survey of 296 Italian allergists, based on the adherence issues known from previous studies. The perception of importance of each item was assessed by a VAS scale ranging from 0 to 10. Patient perception of clinical efficacy was considered the most important factor (ranked 1 by 54% of allergists), followed by the possibility of reimbursement (ranked 1 by 34%), and by the absence of side effects (ranked 1 by 21%). Patient education, regular follow-up, and ease of use of SLIT were ranked first by less than 20% of allergists. These findings indicate that clinical efficacy, cost, and side effects are perceived as the major issues influencing patient adherence to SLIT, and that further improvement of adherence is likely to be achieved by improving the patient information provided by prescribers.