Modified National Early Warning Score as Early Predictor of Outcome in COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 represented an important challenge to the Italian healthcare system (IHCS). Our main aim was to obtain evidence to support the use of modified national early warning score (m-NEWS) as an interdisciplinary, common, and universal scoring scale to quickly recognize patients with a risk of clinical deterioration before admission and during hospitalization. As a secondary goal, we tried to find a score threshold that can trigger patients' immediate medical review as a part of an optimal triaging protocol for an emergency setting where healthcare resources are overloaded.

The "Pandemic" of Disinformation in COVID-19.

In recent years, mass media and social networks have played an important role in disseminating information regarding public health. During the COVID-19 epidemic, misinformation and fake news have represented an important issue generating confusion and insecurity among the population. In our analysis, we investigate the role of mass media as a critical element during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak that has influenced the public perception of risk.

Blunt rectal trauma Case report and literature review.

Unlabelled: Blunt colorectal traumas are rare clinical entities with a challenging diagnostic and operative management. We describe the case of a 40-year-old man, victim of an accidental fall from a height of four meters who was subsequently diagnosed to have a blunt rectal trauma. A first CT scan showed fracture of the skull and an extensive subcutaneous haematoma of the lower back associated with a fracture of the left transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae.

Cutaneous metastasis from lung cancer. Case report.

Unlabelled: Lung cancer is the most common neoplasm diagnosed worldwide. Metastatic presentation of the disease is frequent. Apart from the usual sites of metastatic disease (bone, adrenals, liver, brain), a particular site for metastases is represented by skin.

Rotational alignment of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty: the anterior tibial cortex is a reliable landmark.

Purpose: to compare the anterior tibial surface curvature, the Akagi's line and the medial third of the tibial tubercle in order to assess which is the most reliable landmark for correct tibial component rotational positioning in total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: three independent investigators reviewed 124 knee MRI scans. The most suitable tibial baseplate tracing for the Nexgen Total Knee System (Zimmer, Warsaw, USA) was superimposed on the scan matching the anterior tibial cortex with the anterior aspect of the baseplate.

Continuous femoral nerve block provides superior analgesia compared with continuous intra-articular and wound infusion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background And Objectives: This prospective, randomized, clinical trial compared pain intensity and analgesic drug consumption after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with patellar tendon under femoral-sciatic nerve block anesthesia in patients who received either a continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) or continuous local anesthetic wound and intra-articular infusions.

Methods: Fifty patients were randomized to CFNB (n = 25) or an ON-Q device (I-Flow Corp, Lake Forest, Calif) (n = 25). All patients received sciatic nerve block (25 mL of ropivacaine 7.

Efficacy of continuous femoral nerve block with stimulating catheters versus nonstimulating catheters for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background And Objectives: This prospective randomized controlled trial investigated the clinical efficacy of stimulating catheters for continuous femoral nerve block in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Methods: Seventy patients were randomized to either a stimulating catheter (SC, n = 35) or a nonstimulating catheter (NSC, n = 35) for femoral nerve block using 25 mL ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL and clonidine 50 microg injected through the catheter.

Local anesthesia for stapled prolapsectomy in day surgery: results of a prospective trial.

Purpose: This article reports the results of a prospective trial of the feasibility of Longo's procedure under local anesthesia in day surgery.

Methods: From April 2002 to May 2003, 66 patients (42 males and 24 females) were enrolled in the study; the mean age was 47.5 (range, 23-65) years.

Morphology of colorectal lymphoid aggregates in cancer, diverticular and inflammatory bowel diseases.

The present study compares the characteristics of colorectal lymphoid aggregates in patients with carcinoma, diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis of the large bowel. A total of 77 patients (41 colorectal cancer, 27 diverticular disease, six ulcerative colitis, three Crohn's disease) undergoing colorectal resection were included. Acetic acid staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining, CD3, CD20, and MIB1 immunostaining were employed in order to assess density, diameter, subepithelial or basal location, cellular profile, and proliferation of lymphoid aggregates in normal-appearing and actively inflamed large bowel.

Constipation, anthranoid laxatives, melanosis coli, and colon cancer: a risk assessment using aberrant crypt foci.

The associations between colorectal cancer (CRC) and constipation, anthranoid laxative use, and melanosis coli are controversial. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are microscopic lesions of the colonic mucosa suspected of being preneoplastic, and their investigation has been advocated to evaluate the cause-effect relationship between putative risk factors and CRC. To this aim, we investigated the relationship between sigmoid cancer (SC) and constipation, anthranoid laxative use, and melanosis coli using ACF analysis as an additional tool of investigation.