Evaluating Semantic Knowledge Through a Semantic Association Task in Individuals With Dementia.

Conceptual knowledge is supported by multiple semantic systems that are specialized for the analysis of different properties associated with object concepts. Various types of semantic association between concrete concepts-categorical (CA), encyclopedic (EA), functional (FA), and visual-encyclopedic (VEA) associations-were tested through a new picture-to-picture matching task (semantic association task, SAT). Forty individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 13 with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD), 6 with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and 37 healthy participants were tested with the SAT.

[Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: anatomy, frequency and surgical considerations].

Aim: Systematic exposure and isolation of the inferior laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery is a secure method to prevent complications. The knowledge of the nerve anatomy and its anomalies is essential to reduce laryngeal nerve injuries. By a re-examination of literature we underline the importance and some particular anatomical aspects of the anomalies which, even if rare, present an incidence of about 1%.

Impact of age on long-term complications after biliopancreatic diversion.

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the importance of age on the mid- and long-term results and complications after biliopancreatic diversion (BPD).

Methods: Our study comprises 132 morbidly obese patients who underwent Scopinaro BPD from February 1995 to April 2001, with follow-up from 24 to 96 months. The patients, 53 males (40%) and 79 females (60%), with mean preoperative BMI 50.

[Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava].

Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava are a relatively rare pathology, usually with an asymptomatic iter. They are usually diagnosed by chance during surgery on the aorta or retroperitoneal structures. From bioptic material their incidence is estimated to be 2-3% and the percentage of intraoperative findings varies in different series between 0.

Bowel obstruction after biliopancreatic diversion: a deceptive complication.

Background: Although obesity surgery is now practiced in most of the world, many general surgeons, faced with an emergency, are not experienced in the diagnostic problems associated with these techniques, or about the most suitable treatment to resolve the acute pathology while preserving the weight loss. The biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), because of its complexity, could cause a delay in the diagnosis and therapy, with possible catastrophic consequences for the patient.

Methods: We report 3 patients with bowel obstruction after BPD.

The use of the Valtrac ring in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, for single, double, and triple anastomoses: a report of 50 cases.

The Valtrac biofragmentable anastomotic ring (V-BAR) technique has been widely used in clinical practice, particularly in anastomoses of the colon. The success of this method encouraged some surgeons to use it also in anastomosis of the small intestine. We are convinced that the method can be used successfully also in anastomosis of the small intestine and the upper gastrointestinal tract, particularly in cases of technically difficult and high-risk anastomoses.