Relational variables in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: an effectiveness study.

This study examined associations between specific elements of therapeutic relationships and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) outcomes. Notably, we focused on therapists' subjective experiences during their first clinical interaction with patients, countertransference patterns and therapeutic alliance evaluated early in treatment, in relation to patient symptom changes at the end of STPP. Twenty clinicians completed the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale to evaluate patients' (=32) symptom severity at the beginning and end of STPP.

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound evaluation after breast autologous fat grafting combined with platelet-rich plasma.

Background: Breast lipofilling is a fairly simple and safe procedure if it is performed by experienced surgeons.

Methods: The authors evaluated the radiologic findings from 24 breasts (15 women) subjected to a lipofilling procedure (two sessions) for corrective surgery or cosmetic reasons. Mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed before the first lipofilling session (T0) and 12 months after the last session (T12); ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were used 3 months after the first session (Ti) and 3 and 6 months after the last session (T3 and T6).

An Unusual Case of Mammary Paget's Disease Diagnosed Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

Mammary Paget's disease is a rare presentation of breast cancer. At clinical examination, it is characterized by skin lesions of the nipple-areola complex, almost always a sign of malignancy. In fact, it is often associated with an underlying mammary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma.

A Rectourethral Fistula due to Transrectal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment: Diagnosis and Management.

Colovesical fistula (CVF) is an abnormal connection between the enteric and the urinary systems. The rectourethral fistula (RUF) is a possible but extremely rare complication of treatment of prostate cancer with "transrectal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment." We present a case of CVF due to HIFU treatment of recurrent prostate cancer.

Brain hemodynamic changes associated with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency are not specific to multiple sclerosis and do not increase its severity.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and cerebral hemodynamic parameters and to disclose any possible involvement in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The diagnosis of CCSVI was assigned by using specific color Doppler ultrasonographic criteria.

Differences between proximal versus distal intraorbital optic nerve diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging properties in glaucoma patients.

Purpose: To analyze in vivo the diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) properties of the intraorbital optic nerve at two different levels: Proximal to the optic nerve head (ONH) and distal to the ONH at the level of the orbital apex in glaucoma patients.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were examined. The categorization into early and severe glaucoma was performed by Hodapp's classification.

Impaired anti-platelet effect of aspirin, inflammation and platelet turnover in cardiac surgery.

A reduced platelet inhibitory response to acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) has been associated with an increased risk of graft thrombotic occlusion after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We performed a prospective, observational study of 18 patients on 100 mg/day ASA before and after CABG. We assessed antiplatelet response to ASA and its relationship with platelet turnover, inflammatory markers, and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) levels.

High frequency tendon reflexes in the human soleus muscle.

Tendon reflexes have been often used in studies of the human nervous system in health and disease. They have been investigated either in response to single tendon taps or to long duration vibrations. Tendon reflexes are described here in response to a high frequency vibration burst (3 cycles of a 100 Hz sine wave) applied to the Achilles tendon of standing subjects, either in quiet stance or during a forward leaning posture.

Alterations in cell adhesion molecules and other biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is considered a hyperinsulinemic and inflammatory state closely associated to endothelial dysfunction causing an increased incidence of ischemic cardiovascular events and high mortality. The main objective of the present study was to determine whether leukocitary and soluble cell adhesion molecules were altered in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison with control subjects. Cell adhesion molecules, mainly of leukocitary location, have been not previously evaluated in specifically designed cross-sectional studies involving male patients with metabolic syndrome.

Endothelial and leukocyte adhesion molecules in primary hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia is known to be associated to functional impairment of the endothelium and, consequently, to higher risk of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, some crucial steps in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque are still unknown in primary hypertriglyceridemia. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression of soluble and leukocyte-associated cell adhesion molecules in a group of patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia, both including (n=50) and excluding (n=24) subjects with metabolic syndrome, in comparison with control normotriglyceridemic individuals (n=30).