Predictors of respiratory failure in Guillain-Barré syndrome: a 22 year cohort study from a single Italian centre.

Background And Purpose: The study aimed to identify predictors of respiratory failure leading to mechanical ventilation (MV) and tracheostomy in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Methods: Two hundred and thirty adult cases admitted to the Neurology Unit of Modena, Italy, between January 2000 and December 2021 were studied. A cut-off of MV starting within 8 weeks from onset of weakness was used.

Cardiac disorders worsen the final outcome in myasthenic crisis undergoing non-invasive mechanical ventilation: a retrospective 20-year study from a single center.

The study was performed to evaluate the impact of cardiological disorders on the outcome of myasthenic crisis (MC) requiring ventilation. The study includes 90 cases admitted to the Neurology Unit of Modena, Italy (January 2000 - September 2020). All patients were eligible for a non-invasive ventilation (NIV) trial.

Predictors of outcome in patients with myasthenic crisis undergoing non-invasive mechanical ventilation: A retrospective 20 year longitudinal cohort study from a single Italian center.

About 20% of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) may develop myasthenic crisis (MC) requiring ventilation, either invasive (MV) or non-invasive (NIV) and intensive unit care (ICU). NIV failure in patients with MC can occur up to 60% of cases admitted to ICU. Moreover it is not known the outcome of MC receiving NIV.

Predictors of prognosis in type 1 myotonic dystrophy (DM1): longitudinal 18-years experience from a single center.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to identify possible predictors of neurological worsening and need of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in individuals affected by myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was undertaken. Thirty-three patients with genetic diagnosis of DM1 were followed at our Neuromuscular unit in Modena.

A heroin addict with focal weakness.

A 24-year-old female with 5 year history of heroin abuse experienced painless stiffness of elbow joints and weakness of shoulder and upper limb muscles. She was injecting herself 4-6 times daily alternatively in the upper extremities, sparing the lower limbs. Electromyography (EMG) showed myopathic changes in clinically affected and unaffected muscles.

Microwave-treated gelatin microspheres as drug delivery system.

The crosslinking process of natural macromolecules with microwave energy should have the potentiality to overcome the problems due to the toxicity of the residuals of chemical crosslinking agents and moreover of the "in vivo" biodegradation products of the chemical crosslinked macromolecule. To evaluate the effective crosslinking of the gelatin forming the microspheres, the water-soluble fraction at 37 degrees C, the water absorption capability, the free amino and free carboxylic acid groups of the gelatin were determined. The structural change in the gelatin microspheres has been detected by the porosity studies.