Fluorescein-guided surgery for intradural spinal tumors: A single-center experience.

•Gross total removal has a pivotal role in surgical treatment of intradural spinal tumors.•Sodium fluorescein prevents vascular injuries also preserving pial vessels in posterior myelotomy.•Fluorescence before the durotomy helps to distinguishing tumor from healthy tissue in intradural lesions.

Screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation while monitoring the blood pressure at home: trial of regular versus irregular pulse for prevention of stroke (TRIPPS 2.0).

Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of strokes. Physician screening for AF has been recommended. Home screening for AF may increase the likelihood of detecting asymptomatic AF in patients at risk for stroke because of AF.

Aldosterone receptor antagonists in cardiovascular disease: a review of the recent literature and insight into potential future indications.

Randomized controlled trials demonstrate the efficacy of aldosterone receptor antagonists (spironolactone and eplerenone) as a useful pharmacologic intervention specifically in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV heart failure, in patients with an ejection fraction <40% after myocardial infarction, and most recently in patients with mildly symptomatic heart failure. However, aldosterone receptor antagonists may be beneficial in a broader patient population. Aldosterone receptor antagonists can potentially serve as an antiarrhythmic pharmacologic agent for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, an anti-ischemic medication in coronary artery disease through prevention of myocardial fibrosis and vascular damage, and as an agent in people with asymptomatic and mild heart failure (NYHA classes I and II) and diastolic heart failure.

Apical ballooning syndrome associated with isolated severe hyponatremia: case report and suggested pathophysiology.

An 82-year-old woman who presented to her primary care physician for preoperative evaluation was incidentally found to have severe hyponatremia (sodium = 118 mmol/L). The patient was then admitted for workup and treatment of hyponatremia. On day 2 of the admission, the patient was found to have new T-wave inversions on a telemetry monitor.

Hepatitis E virus infection as a cause of acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries, whereas it is not considered a major health problem in Western World.

Aims: To investigate the spread of HEV and its possible role in causing acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.

Methods: Four hundred and thirty patients observed from April to December 2009 were studied and grouped as follows: 55 individuals with acute hepatitis (AH), 33 of whom cryptogenic; 321 individuals with chronic liver diseases (CLD), (278 Italians and 43 immigrants); 54 individuals without liver disease (control-group).