The presence and influence of mild depressive symptoms on post-operative pain perception following primary total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of mild depression on pain perception after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: Hamilton depression (HDRS) and numeric rating (NRS) scales were used to evaluate depression severity and pain perception at various intervals surrounding TKA. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee and pain scores (NRS) in patients with signs of mild depression (HDRS < 20 points) were compared to a control group of patients with no signs of depression (HDRS < 8 points).

Multimodal Analgesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial on Additional Efficacy of Periarticular Anesthesia.

Pain management is a main determinant of functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We performed a randomized, controlled, double blind study to evaluate additive efficacy of periarticular anesthesia in patients undergoing TKA in reducing post-operative pain, operated limb edema and improving post-operative mobility. Patients were randomly assigned to study or control group; all subjects received the same analgesic protocol; before wound closure, the study group received also a periarticular anesthesia (ropivacaine 1% 20 mL).

Mobile smartphone applications for body position measurement in rehabilitation: a review of goniometric tools.

Objective: To provide a systematic review of apps for smartphones validated for body position measurement relevant to physical medicine and rehabilitation. TYPE: Systematic search and review.

Literature Survey: A literature search was conducted on relevant articles indexed by PubMed before April 15, 2014.

Acute compartment syndrome of the arm after minor trauma in a patient with optimal range of oral anticoagulant therapy: a case report.

Compartment syndrome of the arm is a rare event that can be subsequent to trauma or other pathological and physical conditions. At the arm the thin and elastic fascia may allow accumulation of blood more than in other districts, especially in patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy. We describe a rare case of an acute compartment syndrome of the arm after minor trauma with partial biceps brachii rupture in a patient with warfarin therapy and optimal value of INR.

Incontinentia pigmenti: a rare pathology with complex rehabilitative aspects.

Purpose: Incontinentia pigmenti (IP), or Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome, is a rare X-linked dominant genetic disorder with multisystem involvement. To our knowledge, there are no previous reports about rehabilitation in IP adult with intact cognitive development. We report a 20-year-old lady with IP managed and followed into adulthood.

Development and validation of the Italian version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III.

Purpose: To provide a translation and cultural adaptation of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III scale for Italy (i-SCIM3) and to validate this version of the scale.

Method: i-SCIM3 was developed involving a forward-backward translation and administered to patients with spinal cord lesions (SCL) admitted to two centers. Two raters for each center evaluated patients at admission and discharge.

Bisoprolol in the treatment of chronic heart failure: from pathophysiology to clinical pharmacology and trial results.

Clinical trials have consistently shown the benefits of beta-blocker treatment in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). As a result, bisoprolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol succinate are now indicated for the treatment of all patients with chronic HF who do not have major contraindications. Bisoprolol is the first beta-blocker shown to improve survival in an outcome trial.

Worsening renal function in patients hospitalised for acute heart failure: clinical implications and prognostic significance.

Background: Renal function is a powerful prognostic variable in patients with heart failure (HF). Hospitalisations for acute HF (AHF) may be associated with further worsening of renal function (WRF).

Methods And Results: We analysed the clinical significance of WRF in 318 consecutive patients admitted at our institute for AHF.

The role of plasma biomarkers in acute heart failure. Serial changes and independent prognostic value of NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin-T.

Aims: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-proBNP and troponins are useful for the assessment of patients with heart failure. Few data exist about their serial changes and their prognostic value in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods And Results: NT-proBNP and troponin-T plasma levels were measured at baseline, after 6, 12, 24, 48 h and at discharge in 116 consecutive patients with AHF and no evidence of acute coronary syndrome.

Clinical trials update from the World Congress of Cardiology 2006.

This article provides information on trials presented at the World Congress of Cardiology 2006 (WCC-2006). This was a joint meeting of the European Society of Cardiology and the World Heart Federation. Heart failure trials dealing with understudied patient populations (e.

Beta-blocker therapy of heart failure: an update.

The beneficial effects of beta-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure have been consistently shown by multi-center randomised trials. These agents are effective and also relatively well tolerated in the elderly and in patients with diabetes and advanced heart failure--traditionally considered as relative contraindications to their administration. However, the use of beta-blockers in clinical practice remains low.