Clinical and Personal Predictors of Helmet-CPAP Use and Failure in Patients Firstly Admitted to Regular Medical Wards with COVID-19-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (hCPAP-f Study).

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 is substantially different from ARDS caused by other diseases and its treatment is dissimilar and challenging. As many studies showed conflicting results regarding the use of Non-invasive ventilation in COVID-19-associated ARDS, no unquestionable indications by operational guidelines were reported. The aim of this study was to estimate the use and success rate of Helmet (h) Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in COVID-19-associated ARDS in medical regular wards patients and describe the predictive risk factors for its use and failure.

Predictive Factors for Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke in the REAL-World Clinical Practice.

Background: Few data exists on predictive factors of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in real-world acute ischemic stroke patients. The aims of this study were: (i) to identify predictive variables of HT (ii) to develop a score for predicting HT.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data of patients with acute ischemic stroke consecutively admitted to our Stroke Unit along two years.

Age-related burden and characteristics of embolic stroke of undetermined source in the real world clinical practice.

Few data are available on age-related burden and characteristics of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) in the real world clinical practice. The aim of our study was to provide information about it. We retrospectively analyzed data of patients consecutively admitted to our Stroke Unit along 1 year (2017, November 1st-2018, October 31st).

A stepwise multiple regression model to assess the odds ratio between myofascial pain and 13 occlusal features in 238 Italian women.

Objective: To quantify the relative risk of multiple occlusal variables for muscular disorders of the stomatognathic system.

Method And Materials: Thirteen occlusal features were clinically assessed by the same three operators: partial unilateral posterior reverse articulation, anterior open occlusal relationship, vertical anterior overlap (normal value < 4 mm), complete unilateral posterior reverse articulation, anterior overjet (normal value < 5 mm), incisor midline discrepancy (normal value < 2 mm), Angle Class I canine and molar relationship; plus dynamic occlusion features such as length and symmetry of retruded contact position-intercanine position (RCP/ICP) slides (normal value < 2 mm), occlusal guidance patterns, and mediotrusive and laterotrusive interferences. The sample consisted of 156 women with only muscular disorders according to the Group I Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders and 82 healthy women (control group).

Ventriculostomy-related infections: a critical review of the literature.

Objective: To provide a critical evaluation of the published literature describing risk factors for ventriculostomy-related infections (VRIs) and the efficacy of prophylactic catheter exchange.

Methods: A MEDLINE literature search was performed, and data were extracted from studies published from 1941 through 2001.

Results: Published criteria for diagnosing VRIs are highly variable.

Quantification of the relative risk of multiple occlusal variables for muscle disorders of the stomatognathic system.

Statement Of Problem: There is no consensus on the association between occlusion and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the relative risk of multiple occlusal variables for muscle disorders of the stomatognathic system.

Material And Methods: Eight occlusal features: retruded contact position (RCP) to maximum intercuspation (MI) slide length, vertical overlap, horizontal overlap, unilateral posterior reverse articulation, anterior open occlusal relationship, incisor dental midline discrepancy, mediotrusive interferences, and laterotrusive interferences, were clinically assessed by the same trained operator.

Mood spectrum in patients with different painful temporomandibular disorders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate for difference in the prevalence of mood disorders between patients with different painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD). After a sample size necessary for the study was calculated, 60 patients with a painful TMD were selected and divided into the following groups: myofascial pain (n=20), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain (n=18), combined myofascial and TMJ pain (n=22). Two distinct comparison groups were selected: subjects with a nonpainful TMD (n=25) and TMD-free subjects (n=29).

Prevalence of bruxism in patients with different research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) diagnoses.

The relationship between bruxism and temporomandibular disorders is complex and is not yet clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of clinically diagnosed bruxism in 212 patients with different Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) diagnoses, as compared with that in 77 sex- and age-matched TMD-free subjects. A significant association between bruxism and temporomandibular disorders emerged (p < 0.

Ventriculostomy-related infections: a critical review of the literature.

Objective: To provide a critical evaluation of the published literature describing risk factors for ventriculostomy-related infections (VRIs) and the efficacy of prophylactic catheter exchange.

Methods: A MEDLINE literature search was performed, and data were extracted from studies published from 1941 through 2001.

Results: Published criteria for diagnosing VRIs are highly variable.

Amphotericin B-resistant Aspergillus flavus infection successfully treated with caspofungin, a novel antifungal agent.

Invasive aspergillosis is uncommon in immunocompetent hosts but is the second most common opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised patients. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of life-threatening aspergillosis during the past 2 decades, and the morbidity and mortality of these infections despite antifungal therapy remain unacceptably high. We describe a patient with amphotericin B-resistant Aspergillus flavus successfully treated with caspofungin, an agent belonging to a new class of antifungal drugs.

Susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes from throat cultures to macrolide antibiotics and influence of collection criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of resistance to erythromycin and to the three other macrolide antibiotics most extensively used in Italy (azithromycin, clarithromycin and roxithromycin) among clinical strains of Streptococcus pyogenes freshly isolated from throat cultures of pediatric patients in an area of Central Italy. METHODS: Two sets of isolates were examined. The strains of the first set (n=100) were collected according to a protocol admitting only throat swabs from untreated patients with symptoms of acute pharyngotonsillitis.