Craniovertebral junction instability as an extension of cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions: case report.

With the increasingly widespread illicit use of cocaine, a broad spectrum of clinical pathologies related to this form of drug abuse is emerging. The most frequently used method of administration of powdered cocaine is intranasal inhalation, or "snorting." Consequently, adverse effects of cocaine on the nasal tract are common.

Rilpivirine: drug profile of a second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase HIV-inhibitor.

Rilpivirine (RPV) is a next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) of the diarylpyrimidine family. RPV can be given once daily, is well absorbed and should be administered with food. It is eliminated mainly by hepatic metabolism.

A survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control strategies in Italy.

Purpose: Data regarding the implementation of state-of-the-art methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control procedures in Italy are lacking. There is a need to evaluate compliance with MRSA recommendations (CR) in Italian hospitals.

Methods: A 67-question closed-answer survey was sent to all Italian hospitals, in order to analyze and evaluate program consistency with CR [hand hygiene (HH), contact precautions, screening of high-risk patients, decolonization, feedback on surveillance data, and antimicrobial guidelines and education programs].

Aetiological diagnosis in acute and recurrent pericarditis: when and how.

The cause of acute and recurrent pericarditis is often a major concern for the clinicians in clinical practice. Several possible causes of pericarditis can be listed, as the pericardium may be involved in a large number of systemic disorders or may be diseased, as an isolated process. The reported diagnostic yield of extensive laboratory evaluation and pericardiocentesis is low in the absence of cardiac tamponade or suspected neoplastic, tuberculous, and purulent pericarditis.