Sensory processing patterns, coping strategies, and quality of life among patients with unipolar and bipolar disorders.

Objective: To compare sensory processing, coping strategies, and quality of life (QoL) in unipolar and bipolar patients; to examine correlations between sensory processing and QoL; and to investigate the relative contribution of sociodemographic characteristics, sensory processing, and coping strategies to the prediction of QoL.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-seven participants, aged 16-85 years (53.6±15.

Extreme sensory processing patterns and their relation with clinical conditions among individuals with major affective disorders.

Previous studies highlighted the involvement of sensory perception in emotional processes. However, the role of extreme sensory processing patterns expressed in hyper- or hyposensitivity was not thoroughly considered. The present study, in real life conditions, examined the unique sensory processing patterns of individuals with major affective disorders and their relationship with psychiatric symptomatology.

Ultrasound-guided procedures to treat sport-related muscle injuries.

Ultrasound is well known as a low-cost, radiation-free and effective imaging technique to guide percutaneous procedures. The lower limb muscles represent a good target to perform such procedures under ultrasound guidance, thus allowing for clear and precise visualization of the needle during the whole procedure. The knowledge of guidelines and technical aspects is mandatory to act in the most safe and accurate way on target tissues that can be as small as a few millimetres.

The HPA axis in bipolar disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To provide a quantitative and qualitative synthesis of the available evidence on the role of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis in the pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder (BD).

Methods: Meta-analysis and meta-regression of case-control studies examining the levels of cortisol, ACTH, CRH levels. Systematic review of stress reactivity, genetic, molecular and neuroimaging studies related to HPA axis activity in BD.

Interim (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for Early Metabolic Assessment of Response to Cisplatin, Etoposide, and Bleomycin Chemotherapy for Metastatic Seminoma: Clinical Value and Future Directions.

Background: In patients with metastatic seminoma, designing a risk-adapted strategy that may help personalize the burden of treatment and follow-up is required.

Patients And Methods: Patients who were administered cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (PEB) were staged at baseline with computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and serum tumor markers. Restaging was then performed with PET after 2 cycles of PEB (PET2) and with CT after 3 to 4 cycles of treatment.

The role of cognitive dysfunction in the symptoms and remission from depression.

The disability and burden associated with major depression comes only in part from its affective symptoms; cognitive dysfunctions associated with depression also play a crucial role. Furthermore, these cognitive impairments during depression are manifold and multilevel affecting elementary and more complex cognitive processes equally. Several models from different directions tried to evaluate, conceptualize and understand the depth and magnitude of cognitive dysfunctions in depression and their bidirectional interactions with other types of depressive symptomatology including mood symptoms.

FDG-PET/CT to predict optimal primary cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: preliminary results.

Aims And Background: Primary cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has a significant impact on prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Patient selection is important to recognize factors limiting optimal CRS and to avoid unnecessary aggressive surgical procedures. We evaluated the contribution of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the presurgical identification of disease sites that may preclude EOC cytoreducibility.

Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures around the shoulder.

Ultrasound is an established modality for shoulder evaluation, being accurate, low cost and radiation free. Different pathological conditions can be diagnosed using ultrasound and can be treated using ultrasound guidance, such as degenerative, traumatic or inflammatory diseases. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis is the most common finding on ultrasound evaluation for painful shoulder.

The role of ultrasonography in the assessment of peri-prosthetic hip complications.

Purpose: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widespread option for treating hip osteoarthritis. Peri-prosthetic complications after THA represent a common event influencing patient outcome and costs. The purpose of this paper is to report the use of ultrasonography (US) to detect peri-prosthetic complications in symptomatic patients who underwent THA.

NMDA receptor antagonists for depression: Critical considerations.

Background: Research studies suggest that glutamate dysfunction, in particular N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) abnormalities, may be involved in the pathophysiology of major neuropsychiatric conditions. Increased glutamatergic excitotoxic activity may be found in some brain circuits of patients with major depression. According to several published reports, NMDAR antagonists may exert antidepressant activity, but the molecular changes associated with abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission remain unclear.

Effect of performance improvement programs on compliance with sepsis bundles and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Several reports suggest that implementation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines is associated with mortality reduction in sepsis. However, adherence to the guideline-based resuscitation and management sepsis bundles is still poor.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of studies evaluating the impact of performance improvement programs on compliance with Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guideline-based bundles and/or mortality.

The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cognitive performance in treatment-resistant depression. A systematic review.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disabling illness associated with significant functional and psychosocial impairment. Although many psychopharmacological agents are currently available for its treatment, many MDD patients suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Methods: A systematic review of the current literature (Pubmed/Medline, Scopus and ScienceDirect search) has been conducted with the primary aim to investigate the role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving neurocognition in patients with TRD.

Duration of untreated depression influences clinical outcomes and disability.

Background: The duration of untreated depression (DUD) might have a substantial impact on the clinical outcomes; however, there are important knowledge gaps including the effects on disability and potential differences between first-episode and recurrent episodes of depression.

Methods: We recruited 121 outpatients with first episode and recurrent major depression, and conducted prospective clinical assessments over six months. Clinical outcomes included response to antidepressant therapy, remission and changes in disability.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation in rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: what is the evidence? A systematic review with proposals for future reporting.

Objectives: We performed a systematic review of current evidence regarding ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of calcific tendinopathy (US-PICT) in the shoulder aimed to: assess different published techniques; evaluate clinical outcome in a large combined cohort; and propose suggestions for homogeneous future reporting.

Methods: Cochrane Collaboration for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Guidelines were followed. We searched MEDLINE/MEDLINE In-Process/EMBASE/Cochrane databases from 1992-2013 using the keywords 'ultrasound, shoulder, needling, calcification, lavage, rotator cuff' combined in appropriate algorithms.

Second-generation antipsychotics and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: systematic review and case report analysis.

Background: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, severe, idiosyncratic adverse reaction to antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) were originally assumed to be free from the risk of causing NMS, however several cases of NMS induced by SGAs (SGA-NMS) have been reported.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to systematically review available studies and case reports on SGA-NMS and compare the presentation of NMS induced by different SGAs.

Factors associated with hopelessness in epileptic patients.

Aim: To investigate factors related to hopelessness in a sample of epileptic patients, including measures of depression and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Sixty-nine participants were administered the following psychometric instruments: Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and QOL in Epilepsy (QOLIE)-89. Patients were dichotomized into two categories: those affected by epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures vs those having epilepsy with partial seizures.

Hippocampal neurogenesis, neurotrophic factors and depression: possible therapeutic targets?

Major depression is one of the leading causes of disability and psychosocial impairment worldwide. Although many advances have been made in the neurobiology of this complex disorder, the pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. Among the proposed theories, impaired neuroplasticity and hippocampal neurogenesis have received considerable attention.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection to treat de Quervain's disease using three different techniques: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the six-month outcome of three different ultrasound-guided treatments for de Quervain's disease (DQD).

Methods: We prospectively treated 75 consecutive patients (51 females, 24 males, mean age ± standard deviation = 45.3 ± 9.