Left inferior frontal cortex can compensate the inhibitory functions of right inferior frontal cortex and pre-supplementary motor area.

Right-IFG and pre-SMA are associated with inhibitory responses. We used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to explore whether the contralateral homotopic regions can functionally replace them. An adolescent, with an extensive traumatic lesion of the right cerebral hemisphere having occurred 5 years earlier, performed a motor response inhibition task (Go/Nogo), which was properly accomplished and associated to activations in the left-IFC, precuneus and occipital cortex.

Body image and awareness in patients with advanced-stage melanoma.

Background: Body image (BI) is a very important aspect to be taken care of, especially in cancer patients.

Methods: We administered the Body Image Scales, with a specifically created semi-structured questionnaire which includes items that investigate the level of awareness and the degree of acceptance of the disease of the patient, was administered to patients giving their written informed consent to participate to the study.

Results: The results show that our population sample got an average score of 17.

Acute electrocardiographic differences between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare ECG findings between anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) in a similar sample of postmenopausal women.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, 27 patients with TC were retrospectively enrolled and matched with 27 STEMI patients with the same age and sex taken from the prospective database of our laboratory.

Results: The absence of abnormal Q waves, the ST depression in aVR and the lack of ST elevation in V1 were significantly associated with TC (respectively: 52% vs 18%, p=0.

Can presence of a dog reduce pain and distress in children during venipuncture?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention as distraction for reducing children's pain and distress before, during, and after standard blood collection procedure. Fifty children (ages 4-11 years) undergoing venipuncture were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG; n = 25) or to the control group (CG; n = 25). The blood collection procedure was carried on the children in the EG arm in the presence of a dog, whereas no dog was present when venipuncture was conducted on children in CG.

Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer's disease in day care.

Background: Preliminary studies suggest beneficial effects of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), but data are inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the effect of AAA with dogs on cognition, BPSD, emotional status and motor activity in severe Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Ten patients attending an Alzheimer Day Care Center (ADCC) participated in a repeated measures study, which included: two weeks' pre-intervention, three weeks' control activity with plush dogs (CA), and three weeks' AAA.