[The experience of coma patients and their relatives].

This article describes the experience of patients (8) who have come out of coma , using a method combining qualitative evaluation and semi-structured interview. The experience of the family members who acted as care-givers is also taken into consideration. Given the context, data saturation was not observed, and 8 interviews were obtained.

Correlation between MRI findings and long-term outcome in patients with severe brain trauma.

Our aim was to relate MRI findings in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to clinical severity and long-term outcome. We studied 37 patients with severe TBI, who were submitted to clinical assessment for disability and cognition and to MRI 60-90 days after trauma. Clinical assessment was also performed 3, 6 and 12 months later.

Increased plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic hormone in myotonic dystrophy.

Atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) concentrations were measured in 16 patients affected with myotonic dystrophy (MyD) undergoing 24-hour Holter ECG and in 15 age-matched normal subjects. Although the MyD patients did not show overt left ventricular function impairment, their plasma ANH levels were found to be higher (183.76 +/- 113.

Malignant cardiac involvement in a family with myotonic dystrophy.

Background: In patients with myotonic dystrophy, histopathological and electrophysiologic abnormalities of cardiac conduction system may lead to sudden cardiac death due to atrioventricular block or to ventricular electrical instability.

Methods: Four members of a family affected by myotonic dystrophy are reported, which underwent a cardiological examination including invasive electrophysiological study and prolonged follow-up. Other 3 members of the same family had died suddenly.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome in skiers. Case report.

We describe a case of tarsal tunnel syndrome recently observed in a skier. It is the second case to be reported. Our aim is to stress the relevance of this syndrome to foot pain in these athletes.