Mirror therapy for phantom limb pain in an adolescent cancer survivor.

Aims And Background: Several pediatric tumors require mutilating procedures in order to be treated effectively. Although the pain caused by the surgery is usually of a transient nature, the perception of pain in the amputated limb may persist. This prolonged pain, which is often refractory to pain-killing medication, may severely affect the patient's quality of life.

Oxcarbazepine is effective and safe in the treatment of neuropathic pain: pooled analysis of seven clinical studies.

The results of 7 open-label clinical studies on oxcarbazepine (OXC) in different neuropathic pain conditions, sharing the same protocols, were pooled together in order to evaluate whether the results obtained in the individual trials were confirmed in the pooled analysis of this larger sample, providing more evidence for efficacy and tolerability of OXC in these conditions. Eligible patients (>18 years old) with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain were enrolled in seven open-label trials, consisting of a one-week prospective Screening Phase followed by an eight-week Treatment Phase. Treatment with OXC was initiated at 150 mg/day, and the daily dose was increased by 150 mg/day on a 2-3 day basis to the maximum tolerated dose over four weeks, up to 1800 mg/day.

Discussion on the design of a hip joint simulator.

Hip joint simulators were developed for predicting, by attempting to duplicate in vitro physiological loads and motion, the wear rate that total hip replacements are likely to show in vivo. From a theoretical point of view, loading and motion cycles of hip joints could be closely reproduced by three rotation actuators and three force actuators. However existing devices have been designed assuming that some of these degrees of freedom are negligible, in order to reduce the complexity of the equipment.

Felodipine in chronic stable angina: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

To investigate the antianginal efficacy and tolerability of felodipine, a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, 20 patients with stable exertional angina, not completely controlled by beta-blocker monotherapy, entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Patients on standard beta-blocker therapy, who had at least 3 weekly anginal episodes and a reproducible exercise test (stopped for angina and ECG signs of ischaemia) at the end of 2 weeks placebo treatment, were eligible for the study. They were randomized to one sequence of treatment: felodipine 5 mg twice daily for 2 weeks followed by placebo for a further 2 weeks, or vice versa.

Felodipine ER formulation in the treatment of mild hypertension: efficacy and tolerability vs placebo.

1. Felodipine is a new calcium-antagonist dihydropyridine derivative with a high degree of selectivity for smooth muscle of arteriolar resistance vessels, as opposed to cardiac cells. 2.

[Andersson's phenomenon in HLA-B27 negative ankylosing spondylitis].

A computed tomography (CT) and conventional radiography study is reported in a case of HLA-B27 negative ankylosing spondylitis. The value of CT in comparison with conventional radiography in evaluation of anatomic alterations is determined.

Hemodynamic interactions between diuretics and calcium antagonists in the treatment of hypertensive patients.

To investigate the hypotensive and hemodynamic effects of plain and extended-release (ER) formulations of felodipine added to a diuretic in the treatment of moderate essential hypertension, we studied 18 patients in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), hemodynamics (bioimpedance), foot volume (Archimedes' principle), and symptoms were evaluated after a 1-month placebo washout, after 1-month's treatment with a fixed combination of hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg plus amiloride 5 mg (HA), and then after felodipine 5 mg twice daily (F) or felodipine ER 10 mg daily (FER) (double-blind phase), each given for 2 weeks in a randomized sequence together with the diuretic. All measurements were performed at the end of the dosing interval.

[Radiologic evaluation of ileal reservoirs. Our experience].

A radiological investigation was performed in 25 patients subjected to colectomy, mucosal proctectomy and endorectal ileo-anal anastomosis after the creation of an ileal reservoir. The patients had suffered from ulcerative colitis or familial polyposis. Radiology was of great value in the demonstration of post-operative complications.

[Male transsexualism and hormonal therapy: radiologic pictures of the breast].

Often the male transsexual takes hormonal drugs, sometimes under medical prescription but most frequently by his personal choice. They wish to obtain a development of mammary gland and the disappearance of hair from facial skin. Prolonged hormonal and incorrect treatments, mainly for too high dosage and absence of association with progesterone, assumption of oestrogens, can cause the growth of mammary tumours.

[Radiological characteristics of primary hyperoxaluria with oxalosis].

Oxalosis is a rare disorder, in which there are widely and evenly spread deposits of oxalate crystals in the kidneys with progressive renal failure. An inborn error of metabolism is the cause of oxalosis. The incidence of this disease in boys and girls is practically equal.

[Asymptomatic, right reno-ureteral calculi in a cake kidney].

The primary caudal site of the urogenital anlage in the embryo explains why certain positional anomalies occur during cranial migration and are the outcome of various associated factors. A case of ectopic fusion in the ileo-sacral site known as cake kidney whose peculiarity consists of totally asymptomatic right multiple reno-ureteral lithiasis identified by chance is reported.

[Role of computerized tomography in Poland syndrome].

A morphological CT study in Poland syndrome is presented. The osteomuscular anomalies of the chest, which are not demonstrated by usual x-Ray, are well defined by CT scans. The usefulness of CT in postoperative controls of muscles transfers is stressed.

[A rare case of sirenomelia. Possibility of prenatal ultrasonic and radiologic diagnosis].

A rare case of sirenomelia malformation in a fetus of 33 weeks is reported. Besides typical fusion of the lower extremities, important alterations of the urogenital system and large intestine are present. A review of the literature on the subject is presented.

[Nontraumatic lesions of the knee revealed by standard radiographic examination].

Examination of a series of knee arthrographies and CAT scans reveals the importance of certain signs of "lesions" that are revealed by simple standard radiography.

[Fibromatosis of the mesenterium].

A rare case of mesenteric fibromatosis observed in a 58 year old woman, repeatedly operated in the abdominal area, with a mesogastric-hypochondriac hard-elastic mass, is presented. Being the cause of the affection still unknown, an abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue induced from chemical-physical injuries is considered at the basis of the clinical entity.

Jargonagraphia: clinical and neuropsychological correlates.

Jargonagraphia (i.e., fluent, unintelligible writing with abundant paragraphias and preserved mechanics of writing) is considered to be an infrequent symptom of Wernicke's aphasia.

Subcortical aphasia: two clinical-CT scan correlation studies.

Two clinical-CT scan studies were undertaken in order to investigate the frequency and the characteristics of aphasia following strictly subcortical left hemisphere lesions. In Study 1, all patients whose CT scan, carried out within a given period, showed subcortical lesions in both hemispheres, were evaluated for presence and type of aphasia; conversely, in Study 2 the records of all patients referred to our Aphasia Unit for language evaluation within a given period, were examined for presence of subcortical lesions on the CT scan. In Study 1 aphasia was found in two out of six patients.