The impact of hypofractionation on simultaneous dose-boosting to hypoxic tumor subvolumes.

In a previous study, the dependence of the therapeutic ratio on the number of fractions (n), including both acute and chronic hypoxia, was investigated for homogeneously irradiated tumors. The present study further develops the model to include simultaneous dose-boosting to the hypoxic tumour subvolumes. The acutely hypoxic (ah) tumor subvolume was partitioned into a large number (10(2)-10(3)) of oxygenation subvolumes, modelled through rectangular pO2(t) waves all with the same frequency and fractional time spent below the hypoxic threshold, but with randomly distributed phases.

Usefulness of gait analysis for rehabilitation and follow-up in a patient with neurolupus. A case report.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are very common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can lead to a severe impairment of quality of life. Among neurological manifestations of SLE, altered gait patterns are common but usually not studied. Gait analysis allows us to evaluate the patients' skills, and in this way to plan a specific therapeutic-rehabilitative intervention.

Simple decompression versus anterior submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve in severe cubital tunnel syndrome: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: The authors report the results of a clinical series of selected patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome. The degree of ulnar nerve compression was evaluated by use of a grading system that includes measurements of motor and sensitive function. The submuscular transposition with flexor-pronator mass Z lengthening was compared with simple decompression through a prospective randomized study.

Anterior submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve in severe cubital tunnel syndrome. Personal experience.

Aim: The authors report the results of anterior submuscular transposition, on a clinical series of selected patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome. In these patients, the degree of ulnar nerve compression was valued using a grading system that includes measurements of motor and sensitive function. In this series, a technique of flexor-pronator mass Z-lengthening was adopted.

Does the neuronal plasticity exist in elderly patients? report of an unusual clinical case.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To report complete recovery after paraplegia in an elderly patient after removal of meningioma at C7-T1 level.

Setting: Department of Neurosurgery, Reggio Calabria, Italy.

"Approaches and surgical results in the treatment of ventral thoracic meningiomas. Review of our experience with a postero-lateral combined transpedicular-transarticular approach.".

Background: The surgical treatment of anterior thoracic meningiomas provides a set of technical difficulties: the access is obstructed by the spinal cord posteriorly, thoracic cage and musculature laterally, mediastinum and pleural cavity anteriorly. It is fundamental to avoid any manipulation of the compressed, but also undamaged spinal cord: this shows significant plastic capabilities. Any effort should be directed to maximizing the contribution of the plasticity in order to obtain a good functional recovery.

Posterolateral approach in the treatment of unstable vertebral body fractures of the thoracic-lumbar junction with incomplete spinal cord injury in the paediatric age group.

Objects: Our retrospective study was carried out to demonstrate the value of, indications for, and results of use of the posterolateral approach (PLA) with decompression and instrumental stabilisation in paediatric patients with unstable vertebral body fractures at the thoracic-lumbar junction.

Methods: Fourteen patients aged 7-14 years were operated on from 1990 to 2000. All these patients were admitted with unstable vertebral body fractures at the thoracic-lumbar junction with incomplete spinal injuries and were operated on within 24 h after sustaining the trauma: a PLA was used to achieve unilateral or bilateral spinal canal decompression and instrumental stabilisation with the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation.

Intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and SPECT in the management of patients with SAH Hunt and Hess grades I-II.

The objective of our study was to examine the course of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with SAH Hunt and Hess grades I-II and to analyze the relationship between ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). Twenty-three patients were studied. ICP, arterial blood pressure (ABP) and CPP were continuously recorded.