Possible Strategies to Optimize a Biomarker Discovery Approach to Correlate with Neurological Outcome in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study.

The lack of reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers for spinal cord injured (SCI) patients is a severe obstacle in development and testing of new therapies, and it also impairs appropriate rehabilitation care. The sparse available data on the biochemical composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during the acute and/or chronic phase of the lesion provide, up until now, inconsistent results. In this pilot study, we then explored the possibility of combining a multi-parametric and bioinformatic analysis of CSF for its biological properties tested on different cells types, suitable for investigating inflammation and re-myelination.

Validation of the Italian version of the Critical Pain Observation Tool in brain-injured critically ill adults.

Background And Aim: Pain in intensive care units (ICUs) is a frequent and often undermanaged problem. Brain-injured patients are often unable to reliably self-report their pain, calling forth the need to use behavioural scales such as the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT). This study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Italian CPOT use with brain-injured ICU adults.

Pharyngo-oesophageal perforation following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: management and results.

Objectives: Pharyngo-oesophageal perforation is a rare, life-threatening complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery; its management remains poorly defined. We reviewed our experience to understand the treatment of this dreadful complication.

Methods: Data regarding the demographics, clinical course, diagnosis, management and outcomes of 15 cases of pharyngo-oesophageal perforations in 14 patients were collected during the period from 2003 to 2016.

Pulmonary function and expiratory flow limitation in acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective: To identify the nature of the changes of respiratory mechanics in patients with middle cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and their correlation with posture.

Design: Clinical trial.

Setting: Acute SCI unit.