The management of chronic osteoarticular pain in the outpatient setting: results of an ASON audit.

Unlabelled: The management of patients with chronic osteoarticular pain requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach. Thirty specialists (orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, physiatrists), members of the National Association of Osteoarticular Specialists (ASON), attended a specific training course in the use of a standardized medical record designed for the management of osteoarticular pain in outpatients. An audit on 888 medical records was later conducted and it showed that use of this instrument led to an improvement in the diagnostic-therapeutic approach.

Suboptimal methotrexate use in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Italy: the MARI study.

Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX) is the first choice in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the doses and regimens vary significantly. For this purpose, we conducted an observational study on the use of MTX for RA in Italy (MARI study).

Methods: The MARI study included 1,327 RA patients on MTX treatment for at least 12 months, at 60 Italian rheumatology units.

[Multidisciplinary care pathway to manage osteoarticular chronic pain. ASON proposal].

As recognized by law no. 38 of March 15, 2010 patients with chronic pain should have access to an appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic path with continuity of care. In addition to clinical guidelines it is necessary to implement a multidisciplinary care to manage patients with osteoarticular chronic pain to start an early analgesic treatment and to optimize the health system resources.

[Informed consent forms in medical practice: the results of a knowledge survey].

"Federico II" University of Naples Hospital Management's Staff considered 47 informed consent forms in order to evaluate quality and quantity of the information transmitted to patients. Every form, distinguished by procedure (surgical, pharmacological, anesthesiologic or related to blood transfusions) was evaluated for the accuracy and validity of information related to: diagnosis, prognosis, diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities, expected benefits, adverse-side effects, iatrogenic risks, privacy policy on personal data. The forms were judged by information completeness criteria "conformed" or "not conformed" with standards.

A comparison of different culture media for the membrane filter quantification of Aeromonas in water.

A comparative assessment of culture media for the membrane filter enumeration of Aeromonas spp. in water was performed, testing the effects of different incubation conditions (aerobic and anaerobic), temperatures (30 and 37 degrees C) and times (24 and 48 h). Different water samples seeded with test suspensions of Aeromonas spp.