Epidemiological and molecular characterization of HBV and HCV infections in HIV-1-infected inmate population in Italy: a 2017-2019 multicenter cross-sectional study.

HBV/HCV co-infection is common in HIV-1-infected prisoners. To investigate the characteristics of HIV co-infections, and to evaluate the molecular heterogeneity of HIV, HBV and HCV in prisoners, we carried-out a multicenter cross-sectional study, including 65 HIV-1-infected inmates enrolled in 5 Italian detention centers during the period 2017-2019. HIV-1 subtyping showed that 77.

Single-approach vertebral osteosynthesis in the treatment of spinal osteolysis by spondylodiscitis.

OBJECTIVEBoth spontaneous and iatrogenic spondylodiscitis are becoming ever more frequent, yet there are no definite treatment guidelines. For many years the treatment protocol was conservative medical management or surgical debridement with patients immobilized or bedridden for weeks and often resulting in spinal deformity. The eventual development of spinal deformity can be difficult to treat.

Micro-endoscopic-discectomy (MED) for far lateral disc herniation in the lumbar spine. Technical note.

This study describes a new experience of the authors in the treatment of extraforaminal disc herniation via the micro-endoscopic far lateral approach to establish a less traumatic approach to extraforaminal disc herniation with less stay in hospital and less cost. Seventeen patients who underwent surgery for extraforaminal disc herniation were analysed and long-term follow up was done revisiting all of them in hospital. The results of surgical decompression via the micro-endoscopic far lateral approach were good in all patients with minimal discomfort.

The role of decompressive craniectomy in the treatment of uncontrollable post-traumatic intracranial hypertension.

The benefit of decompressive craniectomy for the treatment of uncontrolled post-traumatic intracranial hypertension seems to be encouraging if medical management fails. We present our experience in 22 cases of cerebral edema due to head trauma. The edema alone was rarely the direct consequence of head trauma.

Role of the central endogenous opiate system in patients with syndrome X.

Background: To evaluate the role of the endogenous opioid system (EOS) in abnormal pain perception in patients with syndrome X, we used a neuroendocrine approach, evaluating plasmatic luteinizing hormone (LH) changes after naloxone, a competitive antagonist of opioid receptors able to unblock tonic EOS inhibition on gonadotropin release. Thus LH response to naloxone test indicates the central EOS activity on hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) inhibitory opioid receptors.

Methods: Ten patients with syndrome X, 10 age-matched male patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 10 normal subjects were analyzed.

[Is mammography useful in the detection of breast cancer in women 35 years of age or younger?].

Breast cancer in women 35 years old or younger is unusual. It accounts for 1-3.6% of all breast cancers but is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women 15-35 years old.

[ANP in the cirrhotic patient. A clinical contribution].

Pathogenesis of ascites in patients affected by liver cirrhosis is still debated; humoral and haemodynamic factors can play a role. Plasmatic renin activity (PRA), plasmatic aldosterone (PA), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plasma levels, blood Na, K, urea, urinary K and Na were evaluated in 14 patients affected by liver cirrhosis (11 males and 3 females, aged from 38 to 62 years), 8 of them with ascites. The results were compared with those obtained in a control group poised to age and sex to the experimental group.

[Mandibular fibromyxoma].

Fibromyxoma of the jaw is a rare neoplasm that may have the radiologic pattern of an aggressive lytic process despite its benign biological behaviour. The lesion is most common between the ages of 10 and 50. We report a case of fibromyxoma of the jaw in a 56 years old woman, with histologic and histochemical study.

[Syndrome X and surgical stress. A clinical case].

The syndrome X is a clinical disease characterised by anginous pain with the absence of significant and angiographically visible stenosis of the coronary tree. D. P.

Endogenous opioid system modulation in anginal pain: demonstration of its central activity.

Plasma beta-endorphin levels provide controversial results on the role of endogenous opioid system in modulation of anginal pain. As an alternative, the action of plasmatic luteinizing hormone after administration of naloxone was investigated: naloxone blocks the tonic endogenous opioid system inhibition of gonadotropin release; thus, the level of luteinizing hormone after naloxone administration is an index of central endogenous opioid system activity. Twenty patients with coronary artery disease and positive results of stress tests were selected: 10 had angina (group I) and 10 did not (group II).

Pressure monitoring inside Meckel's cave during percutaneous microcompression of gasserian ganglion.

During percutaneous microcompression of the gasserian ganglion for the relief of trigeminal neuralgia, a computerized technique for monitoring the pressure inside Meckel's cave was employed in 22 patients. A dedicated transducer connected to a computer records the balloon inflation pressure. Its variations are discernible within tenths of a bar and are plotted in relation to time.

Computed tomography of epidural fibrosis after discectomy: a comparison between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

The evaluation of patients with symptoms recurrent after disc surgery is a difficult diagnostic problem. The most common causes are recurrent herniation and postoperative scarring; routine x-ray and myelographic differentiation between herniation and scarring is difficult or impossible. High resolution computed tomography (CT) has shown some results in the evaluation of postoperative patients, but the role of epidural fibrosis in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is not clear.

Isolated fracture of occipital condyle. Case report.

Fractures of the occipital condyle occur very rarely. Plain cervical spine films are not able to detect them. Tomography and CT scan of atlanto-occipital joint are, in these cases, very important.

Computed tomography after lumbar disc surgery: a comparison between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

The evaluation of patients with recurrent symptoms after lumbar disc surgery, is a difficult diagnostic problem. The causes of failure may include recurrent disc herniation, postoperative scarring, arachnoiditis, spinal stenosis, infection and mechanical instability. The most common causes are recurrent herniation and postoperative scarring; the routine x-ray and myelographic differentiation between them is difficult or impossible.

Our experiences in early aneurysm operations: a preliminary report.

Twenty-seven patients affected by ruptured aneurysms and operated on within three days of the first haemorrhage, are presented. At operation 22 patients were graded I-II; a six months follow-up showed a 22% mortality rate. Five patients were graded III-IV at operation and none survived.

Sclerosing orbital pseudotumor.

Sclerosing orbital pseudotumor is a particular type of idiopathic inflammatory process, frequently located at the orbital apex. Both from clinical and from instrumental examination the diagnosis of these forms is difficult. The ineffectiveness of steroid treatment and the progressive visual loss in these patients favors surgical exploration.

Radical excision of a craniobasal tumor involving the middle cranial fossa. Technical note.

Craniobasal tumors affecting the middle cranial fossa are rarely treated radically; the main problem to solve is the presence of important nervous and vascular structures in this region. The Authors report a case of complete removal of a malignant tumor involving the temporal bone and the middle cranial fossa. Surgery was performed by the cooperation of the neurosurgical and the ENT teams.

The posterior approach to cervical rizopathy.

The posterior approach to cervical rizopathy is a widely acquired technique; however only recently it encountered more favorable consideration. After a brief review of the literature, the Authors present some details of surgical approach, discuss its value and its limits with a comment on their own series.

Spontaneous intracerebral hematomas: a new proposal about the usefulness and limits of surgical treatment.

We analyzed the volume of 132 spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hematomas calculated with computed tomographic (CT) scans and related it to the clinical condition of the patients on admission and to the outcome at their discharge from the hospital (1 to 3 months after the ictus). Fifty patients were operated on, and 82 received only medical treatment. In evaluating outcome, we were more interested in survival than its quality.

Posttraumatic intraventricular haemorrhages.

Of a series of 350 patients studied for blunt head trauma by CT scan 10 were found to have an intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH); in 8 cases we could find concomitant CT abnormalities as well as intracerebral contusion or haemorrhage, and in two cases no other CT abnormality was noted. CT scan represents the first reliable and non-surgical tool for identifying this process. Two possible mechanisms that govern the formation of an IVH are postulated: a) an erosion of the ventricular wall by an intracerebral haemorrhage; b) the rupture of subependymal veins deformed by the negative pressure following dilatation of the ventricular wall.

Pituitary abscesses: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of pituitary abscess are reported. Bacteriological and histological findings of both cases are discussed, together with data available from the literature.