Topical Treatment of Localized Neuropathic Pain in the Elderly.

The prevalence of neuropathic pain in the older population has been reported to be very high and is most commonly localized to a circumscribed area. Treatment failure is frequent in neuropathic pain and is accompanied by central side effects with recommended oral drugs acting on the central nervous system. A number of topical pharmaceuticals are available on prescription and also sold over the counter.

Electrochemical Skin Conductance and Quantitative Sensory Testing on Fibromyalgia.

Background: An impairment of the peripheral nervous system has been suggested in fibromyalgia (FM). Noninvasive distal electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) has been studied little so far when combined with quantitative sensory testing (QST) in patients with FM.

Methods: This study (clinicaltrials.

Being a first-time father. Their experiences and meanings: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

Introduction: Becoming a first-time father is an important change in the life of men and families. Studies on the subject show that these kinds of changes have the power to put life into perspective. Being an involved father has a deep meaning for the child and the family.

Comparison of intrafollicular sperm injection and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of subfertility.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of intrafollicular sperm injection (IFI) versus intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of subfertility.

Methods: 38 couples suffering primary or secondary subfertility contributed a total of 47 IUI or IFI cycles, 26 by IUI and 21 by IFI. Folliculogenesis, ovulation triggering, and IUI or IFI were performed.

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts type 1 (MLC1) due to a homozygous deep intronic splicing mutation (c.895-226T>G) abrogated in vitro using an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide.

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by early onset macrocephaly; developmental delay; motor disability in the form of progressive spasticity and ataxia; seizures; cognitive decline; and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings. Mutations in two genes, MLC1 (22q13.33; 75 % of patients) or HEPACAM (11q24; 20 % of patients), are associated with the disease.

ERK1 and ERK2 are involved in recruitment and maturation of human mesenchymal stem cells induced to adipogenic differentiation.

Adipocytes' biology and the mechanisms that control adipogenesis have gained importance because of the need to develop therapeutic strategies to control obesity and the related pathologies. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), undifferentiated stem cells present in the bone marrow that are physiological precursors of adipocytes, were induced to adipogenic differentiation. The molecular mechanisms on the basis of the adipogenesis were evaluated, focusing on the MAPKinases ERK1 and ERK2, which are involved in many biological and cellular processes.

Adrenomedullin and nitric oxide synthase at the maternal-decidual interface in early spontaneous abortion.

Objective: To investigate local and systemic nitric oxide (NO) and adrenomedullin (AM) production in spontaneous abortion.

Study Design: Plasma samples and placental specimens were collected from 25 women with spontaneous abortion (6-12 weeks of gestation) and 25 women who underwent voluntary pregnancy termination. NO and AM levels were assayed in plasma; placental NO isoenzymes (inducible NOS and endothelial NOS) and AM distribution and localization were determined by immunohistochemistry.

Ontogenetic localization and distribution of S-100beta protein in human placental tissues.

Objective: To investigate whether S-100beta, a brain-specific protein found in amniotic fluid and fetal circulation, is present in fetoplacental tissues throughout gestation.

Methods: S-100beta protein localization and concentration were assessed in placentae, fetal membranes, and cord vessels. Tissues were obtained from 40 pregnant women at different gestational ages: first trimester (n = 10), second trimester (n = 10), early third trimester (n = 10), and late third trimester (n = 10).

New placental factors: Between implantation and inflammatory reaction.

The trophoblast invasion is a dynamic changes in cell-cell and cell matrix interaction and it create in the endometrio a reaction similar to the inflammatory reaction. In the recent past most of the investigator in this field had focus on the mediator of this process especially on cytokine and on vasoactive agent. We have studied the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), adrenomedullin (AM), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and S-100 protein.

Adrenomedullin is increased in the fetoplacental circulation in intrauterine growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery waveforms.

Objective: To examine whether adrenomedullin, a novel vasoactive peptide produced by the placenta, participates in the uteroplacental hemodynamic alterations in intrauterine growth restriction, we studied the correlation between adrenomedullin levels and fetoplacental blood flow.

Study Design: Maternal and umbilical blood samples were collected in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler findings and in control pregnancies. Adrenomedullin levels were measured by means of a specific radioimmunoassay, and flow velocimetry waveforms were recorded from uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries.

Changes in plasma adrenomedullin levels during the menstrual cycle.

We investigated whether the levels of adrenomedullin, a novel peptide produced by several tissues, including the pituitary gland, change during the ovarian cycle. We studied 13 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. Plasma samples were collected at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of the ovarian cycle and assayed for adrenomedullin 1-52 using a specific RIA.

[Clinical considerations on oligohydramnios].

Background: Oligohydramnios represents a physiopathologic process, associated to a high rate of pregnancy complications and increased fetal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to determine whether amniotic fluid ultrasound evaluation is a useful parameter to identify pregnancies at risk for fetal distress.

Methods: 91 pregnant women with oligohydramnios were followed, and fetal conditions monitored with cardiotocography and ultrasounds.

Category-specific semantic disorders in Alzheimer's disease.

A striking dissociation between the inability to identify living things plus food, along with a preserved ability to identify inanimate objects has been observed in patients who are recovering from herpes simplex encephalitis. In order to find out if a similar dissociation is also present in Alzheimer's disease (where the suspected initial site of parenchymal atrophy involves the same areas affected by herpes simplex virus), we carried out five experimental linguistic tasks to compare Alzheimer's patients' performance therein with that of vascular dementia patients and controls. Our results indicate a constant parallel between the category-specific semantic impairment of Alzheimer's patients and that described in patients recovering from herpes simplex encephalitis.

[Bone mineral content and quantitative computerized tomography].

Many methods are used to determine bone mineral content (BMC). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) appears to be the most reliable method also because it allows the trabecular and the cortical bone to be measured separately. QCT is usually performed on the first four lumbar vertebral bodies.

Digoxin clearance and glomerular filtration rate.

The authors have studied the correlation between digoxin clearance and glomerular filtration rate. This correlation was better than between digoxin clearance and creatinine clearance without reducing the error of a programed therapy.

Digoxin and congestive heart failure.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the absorption of digoxin in alcoholic solution in normal subjects and in patients on congestive heart failure whose water and electrolyte balances were determined. While the parameters of the distribution kinetics were not significantly different between the two groups, the areas under the serum concentration curve resulted increased in the patients on congestive heart failure indicating a more efficient absorption respect to the normal subjects.