Feasibility and Value of Radiographic Union Score Hip Fracture after Treatment with Intramedullary Nail of Stable Hip Fractures.

Introduction: Given the importance of fracture healing on patient outcome in clinical practice, it is critical to assess fracture healing.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the Radiographic Union Score Hip fracture after treatment with intramedullary nail of stable hip fractures.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively collected the data from the clinical records of our institution of the 47 patientswho had undergone intertrochanteric hip fracture treatment using an intramedullary nail.

Bunionette.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the most recent literature available on the treatment of bunionette (also named tailor's bunion) with percutaneous and minimally invasive techniques. Focusing especially on clinical outcomes, studies related to this type of techniques were examined in order to evaluate the success of this practice that is, fusion rate and complications. The hypothesis is that these techniques are safe and successful procedures.

Outcome of Distal First Metatarsal Osteotomy Shortening in Hallux Rigidus Grades II and III.

Background: Existing techniques for operative treatment of hallux rigidus commonly combine skeletal and soft tissue interventions to obtain long-lasting relief of pain. To date, operative treatments include implant arthroplasty, cheilectomy, various osteotomies, nonimplant arthroplasty, and arthrodesis. We assessed a technique that respects the anatomy and joint function and used a shortening osteotomy of the head of the first metatarsal.

Correction of Hammer Toe Deformity of Lateral Toes With Subtraction Osteotomy of the Proximal Phalanx Neck.

Existing techniques for surgical treatment of hammer toe commonly combine skeletal and soft tissues interventions to obtain a durable correction of the deformity, balance the musculotendinous forces of flexion and extension of the toe, and normalization of the relations between interosseous muscles and metatarsal bones. The most common surgical techniques can provide the correction of the deformity through arthroplasty with resection of the head of the proximal phalanx or arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint. In most cases, these have been associated with elongation of the extensor apparatus, capsulotomy of the metatarsophalangeal joint, and stabilization with a Kirschner wire.

Corporoplasty using buccal mucosa graft in Peyronie disease: is it a first choice?

Objective: To assesses the surgical and functional efficacy of corporoplasty with buccal mucosa graft, patients and partner's satisfaction, and the low cost of this operation. Biocompatible tissues are frequently used during corporoplasty, but they are expensive and often do not match the thickness and elasticity of the tunica albuginea, leading to fibrosis and scar retraction. Buccal mucosa graft is not usually emphasized in many review articles and clinical studies are limited.

Prulifloxacin vs fosfomycin for prophylaxis in female patients with recurrent UTIs: a non-inferiority trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This multicentre, randomised, non-blinded, parallel group study is designed to assess the null hypothesis that a 3-month prophylactic schedule with fosfomycin is not inferior to prulifloxacin in reducing the number of urinary tract infection episodes during and after prophylaxis in female patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-two patients with rUTIs who were candidates for prophylaxis therapy were enrolled and randomised to prulifloxacin (group 1) or fosfomycin (group 2). The prophylaxis regimen included a single dose of fosfomycin (one 3-g cachet) per week, or a single dose (600 mg) of prulifloxacin (one tablet) a week for 12 weeks.

A simple rule to personalize standard dual therapy across all genotypes in naive chronic hepatitis C patients: the TT4 randomized trial.

Background: Rapid and early virological responses to peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin are predictive of sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed at finding a simple rule to determine the shortest duration of dual therapy for all HCV genotypes, obtained by multiplying time to Initial Viral Response, IVR (first undetectable HCV-RNA) by 4 (Tailored Therapy-4, or TT4).

Method: 267 naïve HCV-infected patients with compensated liver disease were randomized (2:1) to the TT4 (n=180) or current standard-of-care (SoC, n=87) and received peginterferon-alpha plus ribavirin.

Changes in female sexual function after pelvic organ prolapse repair: role of hysterectomy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) have an impact on sexuality. Few studies evaluate the impact of hysterectomy on sexual function. We designed the present observational prospective longitudinal cohort study in order to evaluate the impact of uterus preservation after POP repair on sexual function.

Uterus preservation in pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Attitudes to sexuality and the psychological value of reproductive organs have changed in Western countries over the last few decades. Nevertheless, repair of pelvic support defects with concomitant hysterectomy is still considered the standard treatment for pelvic organ prolapse. Over the last 10 years, however, interest has been growing in uterus-sparing surgery, which can be divided into vaginal, abdominal, and laparoscopic procedures.

Percutaneous versus surgical bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit: a cohort study.

Background: To compare the outcomes, as well as the short and long term complications, of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) and surgical tracheostomy (ST) at the bedside.

Methods: From 2003 to 2005, 367 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous tracheostomy in two general ICUs of a community hospital. Short and long term complications, procedural time, duration on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU and in the hospital, and mortality rates were compared to a historical cohort of 161 patients treated with surgical tracheostomy.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes and breast cancer. Regression of paraneoplastic neurological sensorimotor neuropathy in a patient with metastatic breast cancer treated with capecitabine: a case study and mini-review of the literature.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are a rare complication of breast cancer. Nevertheless, they may be clinically relevant leading to neurological impairment. Clinicians should be aware that these neurological disorders could even precede the diagnosis of breast cancer.

The role of hepatic biopsy to detect macrovacuolar steatosis during liver procurement.

The ability to predict graft function before transplantation has proven to be a difficult task, especially for macrovacuolar steatosis that is considered a major cause of posttransplant dysfunction. It is well known that macrovacuolar steatosis greater than 25% influences the short- and long-term outcomes of liver transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed frozen sections from 43 donor livers comparing preoperative laboratory/clinical values, and liver ultrasound of a cohort of donors without (group A, n=21) versus with steatosis of 25% to 35% (group B, n=22) upon liver biopsy performed during harvesting.

Role of transperineal six-core prostate biopsy in patients with prostate-specific antigen level greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal digital rectal examination findings.

Objectives: To define whether six-core biopsies still have a role in patients presenting with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings. Recent studies have suggested that the six-core biopsy is inadequate for the diagnosis of prostate cancer; however, it remains controversial whether an increased number of cores is justified in all patients.

Methods: From June 2002 to February 2005, 122 (18.

Epidemiology of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes in the Italian cardiology network: the BLITZ-2 study.

Aims: Acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation (NSTEACS) represent an increasingly frequent cause of hospital admission. The BLITZ-2 study was planned to survey the epidemiology and management strategies of NSTEACS in the Italian cardiological network.

Methods And Results: The study included 1888 patients with NSTEACS in 275 hospitals in 3 weeks.

Epidemiology of acute myocardial infarction in the Italian CCU network: the BLITZ study.

Aims: A large number of descriptive data on patients with acute myocardial infarction are based on clinical trials and registries on non consecutive patients: these data may give only a partial picture on treatment delay, patient characteristics, treatment and outcome of acute myocardial infarction in the real world.

Methods And Results: The BLITZ survey prospectively enrolled all of the patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted in 296 (87%) Italian Coronary Care Units from 15-29 October 2001. Data on treatment delay, therapeutic strategies, duration of hospitalization and 30-day outcome were collected.

Renal cysts: can percutaneous ethanol injections be considered an alternative to surgery?

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new sclerotization technique with pure ethanol in the treatment of symptomatic renal cysts.

Patients And Methods: Fourteen patients having renal cysts with a meant diameter of 10 (range 5-15) cm were treated. Our technique includes: ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture with an 18-gauge needle, positioning of a 5-Fr catheter, complete cyst fluid aspiration, injection of pure alcohol equal to 15% of the initial cyst volume, and alcohol aspiration after 90 min.

Increased blood volume and CD34(+)CD38(-) progenitor cell recovery using a novel umbilical cord blood collection system.

A major problem with the use of umbilical cord/placental blood (UCB) is the limited blood volume that can be collected from a single donor. In this study, we evaluated a novel system for the collection of UCB and analyzed the kinetics of output of hematopoietic stem cells in the collected blood. Sequential UCB fractions were collected from 48 placentas by gravity following common procedures.