Use of the Drospirenone-Only Contraceptive Pill in Adolescents with Endometriosis.

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a progestin-only pill containing 4 mg drospirenone (DRSP) as a hormonal therapy for the management of endometriosis-associated symptoms in adolescents and young adults.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all adolescents who were prescribed DRSP continuously (without placebo) for treatment of endometriosis at a single pediatric tertiary care center between 2019 and 2022.

A fully automated method for accurate measurement of geometrical distortion in magnetic resonance imaging of a 3D-lattice phantom.

This paper describes an automated method for extracting the apparent positions of fiducial points from 2D or 3D images of a phantom. We consider a 3D-lattice phantom for two main reasons: first, ease of manufacture and isotropy of its structure with respect to coordinate projections; second, a connected structure allowing to uniquely assess the adjacency relationship between fiducial points even if geometric distortions arising from main magnet inhomogeneity and gradient fields non-linearity is severe as observed in open-bore systems. In order to validate our proposed method and compare different choices for the parameters of our phantom (i.

Image-based MRI gradient estimation.

In order to reduce geometric distortion phenomena in MR images, every MRI system main magnet undergoes a shimming process. Since this process aims at optimizing magnetic field homogeneity within a so-called uniformity sphere, image quality outside this sphere is neglected. Since the fields vary smoothly in space, MR signal-to-noise ratio is still non-zero just outside the uniformity region, but correction of MR image distortion fails due to lack of magnetic field knowledge outside it.

A systematic review on external ear melanoma.

Background: External ear melanoma accounts for only 1% of all cutaneous melanomas, and data on its optimal management and prognosis are limited.

Aim: We aim to review the literature on external ear melanoma to guide surgeons in the treatment of this uncommon and peculiar pathology.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of English language studies on ear melanoma published from 1993 to 2013 was performed using the PubMed electronic database.

Twelve years of experience treating Spigelian hernia.

Background And Aims: A Spigelian hernia (SH) is an acquired ventral hernia that most commonly occurs in the Spigelian belt. Patients may experience pain or a bulge in the abdominal area, but in most cases there are no symptoms. If left untreated the hernia may become strangulated, which could lead to bowel obstruction.

Clinical and radiological outcome after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: comparison of different grafts. preliminary single-center experience.

Endovascular repair (EVAR) represents a useful and validated alternative to conventional surgery in selected patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) because it is associated with a significantly lower long-term AAA-related mortality. Data regarding a series of 91 patients (88 men, 3 women, median age 71 years, range 65-82 years) is reported. The patients were divided into three groups, according to the type of implanted stent (Endurant, Excluder and Talent).

Complementary and integrative treatments: allergy.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global disease affecting hundreds of millions internationally. Substantial pharmacologic gains have been made in the treatment of allergy, including antihistamines, steroids, and leukotriene inhibitors. Pharmacology and immunotherapy are the 2 primary choices in an otolaryngologist's armamentarium of allergy treatment.

Use of N-acetylcysteine during liver procurement: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Antioxidant agents have the potential to reduce ischemia/reperfusion damage to organs for liver transplantation (LT). In this prospective, randomized study, we tested the impact of an infusion of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) during liver procurement on post-LT outcomes. Between December 2006 and July 2009, 140 grafts were transplanted into adult candidates with chronic liver disease who were listed for first LT, and according to a sequential, closed-envelope, single-blinded procedure, these patients were randomly assigned in a 1/1 ratio to an NAC protocol (69 patients) or to the standard protocol without NAC [71 patients (the control group)].

Incomplete Horner syndrome: Report of a case and description of the sympathetic nervous system anatomy involved in Horner syndrome.

Horner syndrome, in which ptosis, miosis, and anhidrosis occur concomitantly, can arise from injury to the sympathetic nerve pathways anywhere from the brain to the end organs. Incomplete Horner syndrome lacks the sign of anhidrosis. We present a case of incomplete Horner syndrome caused by internal carotid artery dissection and provide a road map of the cervical sympathetic nerves involved in Horner syndrome to explain its etiology.

Endothelin receptor A -231 G>A polymorphism: no linkage to primary pediatric headache.

Objective: To assess whether the biallelic -231 G>A polymorphism of the endothelin type A receptor (EDNRA) gene, previously shown to be a marker of increased risk for developing migraine, has a role in the susceptibility to primary pediatric headache.

Background: Several studies suggest that endothelin has a role in migraine. A recent association study has shown that the biallelic -231 G>A polymorphism of the EDNRA gene is associated to migraine in an elderly population.

Genetic risk factors in primary paediatric versus adult headache: complexities and problematics.

Numerous candidate genes for migraine have been proposed on the basis of their possible functional role in its pathogenesis. Genetic polymorphisms have been evaluated in association studies, some of which have been suggested to be susceptibility markers for adult migraine. To date, however, none of the identified polymorphisms in adult migraine susceptibility have been investigated in children, raising the possibility that they may not be necessarily involved in paediatric migraine susceptibility.

Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on photodynamic therapy in a murine tumor model.

We previously reported that the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cell culture was enhanced by ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a nontoxic bile acid. In this study, we examined the ability of UDCA to promote tumor control by PDT in the mouse, using the radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumor and the photosensitizing agent tin etiopurpurin (SnET2). These experiments revealed that the addition of UDCA to a PDT protocol promoted inhibition of tumor growth, a phenomenon unrelated to either altered SnET2 biodistribution or the level of vascular shutdown during irradiation.

[Lead poisoning in the newborn and infants: an epidemiological study in an area of Northern Italy].

Objective: Lead crosses the placenta and can cause permanent neurological impairment by prenatal poisoning. Blood lead levels higher than 10 mcgr/dl in children age 1 to 2 years may be toxic. In 1991 the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) published "Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children" with the new guidelines defining the value of 10 mcgr/dl as the security limit.

In vivo and in vitro photodynamic studies with benzochlorin iminium salts delivered by a lipid emulsion.

Benzochlorin iminium salts (BIs) are hydrophobic photosensitizers based on an octaethylbenzochlorin nucleus that absorb in the near-IR region of the visible spectrum. In these studies the photodynamic activities of the zinc, copper and metal-free BI derivatives were compared in vivo in C3H-HeJ mice bearing a mammary adenocarcinoma tumor line. In vitro studies were also performed with the radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumor line.

Purpurins and benzochlorins as sensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Purpurins and benzochlorins are hydrophobic second generation photosensitizers, which have sizable absorption in the 650-780 nm range and exhibit photodynamic activity against tumors after visible light treatment. This review summarizes the published data regarding these compounds: from the spectroscopic, photophysical and photochemical characteristics to the in vivo and in vitro photodynamic inactivation of tumors and normal tissue effects. Some mechanistic studies using both the Sn-etiopurpurin and/or the Cu-benzochlorin derivatives are also reviewed.

Photodynamic therapy of tumors: effects of hematoporphyrin derivative on normal rat intestine.

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) is a complex mixture of dicarboxylic porphyrins in addition to dimers, oligomers and aggregates of variable sizes. The ability of this mixture (and enriched preparations thereof) to be retained by tumors and to sensitize them to destruction by light has led to worldwide studies of the treatment modality called photodynamic therapy (PDT). Understanding how PDT affects normal tissues surrounding the tumor is of crucial importance.

Dietary modifications versus dicyclomine hydrochloride in the treatment of severe infantile colics.

This study examined 120 infants, aged 3-12 weeks, with severe colics and compared the results of a specific hypoallergenic diet (group A) with those of pharmacological treatment (group B). Non-breast-fed group A infants received soy milk and if unresponsive, hydrolyzed milk formulas; mothers of breast-fed infants received a diet without cow's milk, eggs or fish. Breast-fed and non-breast-fed group B infants received dicyclomine hydrochloride 3 mg/kg/day.

Spectroscopic studies of tin ethyl etiopurpurin in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.

Tin ethyl etiopurpurin is a promising second generation photosensitizer for photodynamic treatment of cancer. This compound is only poorly soluble in aqueous media and, therefore, needs a delivery system for administration to animals. Successful tumor eradication has previously been reported, following light exposure of rats previously administered with the purpurin formulated as a Cremophor El emulsion, in dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline liposomes or with gamma cyclodextrins.

Binding of drugs to human plasma proteins, exemplified by Sn(IV)-etiopurpurin dichloride delivered in cremophor and DMSO.

1. The mode-delivery-effect upon the binding of Sn(IV)-etiopurpurin dichloride (SnET2) in human plasma has been studied by ultracentrifugation, combined with absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. SnET2 was delivered to plasma either in Cremophore EL (CRM) or in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

The role of lipoproteins in the distribution of tin etiopurpurin (SnET2) in the tumor-bearing rat.

The role of plasma lipoproteins in the distribution of the photosensitizing agent tin etiopurpurin (SnET2) was examined in male rats bearing the N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2- thiazolyl1bdformamide-induced tumor. Treatment with 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol resulted in the depletion of total plasma cholesterol by > 70% and a corresponding decrease in plasma lipoproteins. To both control and estradiol-treated animals, a therapeutic dose (1.

The distribution of the tumour photosensitizers Zn(II)-phthalocyanine and Sn(IV)-etiopurpurin among rabbit plasma proteins.

Zn-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and Sn-etiopurpurin (SnET2) incorporated in unilamellar liposomes or solubilized in a Cremophor-EL emulsion have been incubated in vitro with rabbit plasma or intravenously administered to rabbits. Ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analysis of the plasma showed that ZnPc and SnET2 are mainly released to lipoproteins; within the lipoprotein family, both dyes are preferentially bound by low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins. The amount of dye bound with these two lipoprotein classes was related to their relative concentration in the plasma; in most cases a larger amount of photosensitizer was bound to HDL as compared to LDL on a protein concentration basis.