Development of a clinical score system for the diagnosis of photoallergic contact dermatitis using a consensus process: item selection and reliability.

Background: Photoallergic contact dermatitis (PACD) is an uncommon condition, and there is a lack of validated criteria for its diagnosis.

Objective: To identify a set of relevant criteria to be considered when suspecting a diagnosis of PACD and to assess the reproducibility of these criteria.

Methods: This was a diagnostic item selection and reliability study performed between July 2012 and October 2012.

Preliminary results on clinical effects of probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 in children affected by atopic dermatitis.

Goals: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an intake of Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 (DSM 22775) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.

Background: AD is an inflammatory and pruritic chronic relapsing skin disorder with multifactorial etiopathology. Some evidence suggests that probiotics may improve AD by modulating the immune system and the composition of intestinal microbiota.

Allergological and toxicological aspects in a multiple chemical sensitivity cohort.

Background: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition characterized by an exaggerated response to toxicants. We ascertained the prevalence of allergy to metals and toxicological aspects in MCS patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 41 patients with MCS.

A case of mandible osteonecrosis after a severe periimplant infection.

The term osteonecrosis has been applied to describe the presence of a persistent inflammation of the mouth, osteomyelitis, delayed healing of extraction sockets, development of sequestra or presence of fistulae from the mouth to the lower skin. Here, we document a case of mandible osteonecrosis that developed in a patient after a severe periimplant infection. Osteonecrosis, severe inflammatory osteolysis, and heavy bacterial colonization were found.

A rare case of rynopharyngeal melanoma.

Primary mucosal melanomas (MM) of the head and neck region constitute 0.5-2% of all malignant melanomas. The rynopharynx is a region that is less often involved by malignant melanomas.

A case of lipoma of lateral anterior neck treated with surgical enucleation.

Lipoma arise in almost 50% of all soft tumours. The neck lipomas are rare tumours that may present as painless masses with slow growth, in the lateral portions of the neck. Some lipomas, such as the one studied in our case, grow deep in the subcutaneous tissue, in close contact with muscles.

A case report of haemorrhagic-aneurismal bone cyst of the mandible.

Haemorrhagic-aneurismal bone cysts (HABCs) are quite rare, benign, non-neoplastic, expansive, and vascular locally destructive lesions. They are generally considered sequelae of an earlier trauma causing an overflow of blood into the bone. HABCs are classified as pseudocysts and they should be differentiated from true cysts because their treatment is different.

Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Italian version of the Foot Function Index in patients with foot and ankle diseases.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate the Foot Function Index (FFI) into Italian, to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of FFI.

Methods: The Italian FFI was developed according to the recommended forward/backward translation protocol and evaluated in patients with foot and ankle diseases. Feasibility, reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)], internal consistency [Cronbach's alpha (CA)], construct validity (correlation with the SF-36 and a visual analogue scale (VAS) assessing for pain), responsiveness to surgery were assessed.

Current strategies of tissue engineering in talus chondral defects.

Due to the nature of articular cartilage of being poorly vascularized the capabilities of self repair are limited. Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation is a modern technique which has been developed after the high success rates obtained by microfracturing and drilling techniques which promote the release of growth factors and the infiltration of bone marrow derived cells in the lesion. In order to increase the concentration of bone marrow derived cells appropriate devices, the scaffolds, are necessary.

Starting with ultrasonography decreases popliteal block performance time in inexperienced hands: a prospective randomized study.

Background: The widespread of hallux valgus surgery in a day care setting enhanced the role of regional anaesthesia in the last few years. Sciatic nerve block at popliteal fossa has been shown to provide safe and effective analgesia. Our purpose was to compare the success rate and performance time of popliteal block during resident's training for regional anaesthesia by using nerve stimulation (NS) or combined nerve stimulation and ultrasound (NS + US).

Selection of patients with Tourette syndrome for deep brain stimulation surgery.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging therapeutic option for severe resistant Tourette syndrome (TS). To date, about 100~cases have been reported in the scientific literature. Different clinical guidelines have been proposed for this procedure from both USA and European centres.

Deep brain stimulation for treatment of refractory Tourette syndrome: long-term follow-up.

Background: Eighteen patients with severe and refractory Tourette Syndrome underwent bilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation. The surgical procedures and stimulation processes of the cohort were reported in 2008; the 2 year follow-up was reported in 2009. The aim of the research is the assessment of long-term outcome (5-6 years) on tics, obsessional behaviours, anxiety, mood, and on the overall general health of the patients and their general satisfaction.

Effect of subtalar arthroereisis on the tibiotalar contact characteristics in a cadaveric flatfoot model.

Previous studies reported the effect of flatfoot deformity on tibiotalar joint contact characteristics. The lateral shift of the load which occurred in flatfeet may be responsible for degenerative changes in the ankle joint. The purpose was to assess the pattern of joint contact stress of the tibiotalar joint in intact, flat, and corrected specimens with subtalar arthroereisis.

Photoletter to the editor: Exfoliative cheilitis associated with titanium dental implants and mercury amalgam.

Exfoliative cheilitis is an uncommon chronic inflammatory condition that generally affects the vermilion of the lips. Its cause is still largely unknown an there is no effective treatment. Here we report of a case of exfoliative cheilitis possibly caused by mercury-containing dental amalgam in close proximity to dental titanium implant in a 41-year-old woman.

Clinical evaluation of photoprotective effect by a topical antioxidants combination (tocopherols and tocotrienols).

Background: Vitamin E is among the earliest recognized antioxidants. Recent findings suggested that tocotrienols have superior activity than tocopherols. Moreover, vitamin A is well-known in dermatology for its actions, including the ultraviolet radiation absorbing property.

Metal sensitivity in patients with orthopaedic implants: a prospective study.

Background: Sensitization to orthopaedic implant materials is an unpredictable event that might affect implant performance.

Objectives: In candidates for hip or knee joint prosthesis implantation, to evaluate preoperative assessments for identifying patients with metal sensitivity, to determine the percentage of patients who developed metal sensitivity at 1 year after prosthesis implantation, and to examine the clinical relevance of patch tests and lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT-MELISA®) for the evaluation of metal sensitization.

Patients And Methods: A total of 100 patients referred for total hip or total knee arthroplasty were assessed preoperatively and then at 1 year post-implantation by means of patch tests with the metals present in the implant alloys.

Masseteric-facial nerve anastomosis for early facial reanimation.

Objective: Early repair of facial nerve paralysis when cortical neural input cannot be provided by the facial nerve nucleus, is generally accomplished anastomozing the extracranial stump of the facial nerve to a motor donor nerve. That is generally the hypoglossus, which carries a variable degree of morbidity. The present work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the masseteric nerve as donor for early facial reanimation, with the advantage that harvesting is associated with negligible morbidity.

Computer planning and bone density evaluation of jaws reconstructed with bone grafts from living donors.

Bone augmentation to reconstruct atrophic jaws provides the base for sufficient functional and aesthetic implant-supported oral rehabilitation. Although autografts are the standard procedure for bone grafting, the use of homolog bone provides a reasonable alternative because it is safe, cheap, and available in adequate amount. Five patients were grafted with femur bone derived from living donors, and in 2 of them, 16 implants were inserted after 6 months.

Deep-planes lift associated with free flap surgery for facial reanimation.

Between April 1999 and April 2008, 37 patients with long-standing facial paralysis underwent a one-stage facial reanimation with neuromuscular free flaps: 28 patients (group A) underwent flap transposition only; 9 patients (group B) underwent a deep-planes lift (DPL) composed of the superficial muscoloaponeurotic system + parotid fascia at the time of facial reanimation. The postoperative and final results were compared between groups A and B, following the classification of Terzis and Noah (1997). Before the onset of contraction, only group B patients (100%) showed good or moderate symmetry at rest, while none of the patients of group A had a symmetric face.