The effectiveness of ultrasound examination to assess the healing process of bone lesions of the jaws: a systematic review

Clinical Oral Investigations - To assess the potential of ultrasound examination (USE) as an adjunctive method to conventional radiology to evaluate the healing processes occurring after the...     

Incremental prognostic role of left atrial reservoir strain in asymptomatic patients with moderate aortic stenosis

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Left atrial (LA) mechanics assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) have not been extensively studied and clearly...     

Resting lateralized activity predicts the cortical response and appraisal of emotions: an fNIRS study

This study explored the effect of lateralized left–right resting brain activity on prefrontal cortical responsiveness to emotional cues and on the explicit appraisal (stimulus evaluation) of emotions based on their valence. Indeed subjective responses to different emotional stimuli should be predicted by brain resting activity and should be lateralized and valence-related (positive vs negative valence). A hemodynamic measure was considered (functional near-infrared spectroscopy). Indeed hemodynamic resting activity and brain response to emotional cues were registered when subjects (N = 19) viewed emotional positive vs negative stimuli (IAPS). Lateralized index response during resting state, LI (lateralized index) during emotional processing and self-assessment manikin rating were considered. Regression analysis showed the significant predictive effect of resting activity (more left or right lateralized) on both brain response and appraisal of emotional cues based on stimuli valence. Moreover, significant effects were found as a function of valence (more right response to negative stimuli; more left response to positive stimuli) during emotion processing. Therefore, resting state may be considered a predictive marker of the successive cortical responsiveness to emotions. The significance of resting condition for emotional behavior was discussed.     

Diffuse cystic lung diseases: correlation between radiologic and functional status

BACKGROUND: High-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning plays an important role in the diagnosis of diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLDs). However, its role in the clinical evaluation of patients affected by DCLD has not yet been well-clarified. At present, pulmonary function tests are the only methods available for the evaluation of lung impairment due to these diseases, but their sensitivity and reliability are still limited. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to correlate the quantitative score of cystic-aerial lesions obtained by a HRCT density mask (DM) software with pulmonary function data in DCLDs. METHODS: Spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, 6-min walking test (6-MWT), and HRCT with DM quantitative evaluation were performed in a cohort of 25 patients (lymphangioleiomyomatosis [LAM], 13 patients; Langerhans cells histiocytosis [LCH], 12 patients). Linear regression was used for the statistical analysis. The sum and mean of the air-trapping percentages at three different levels of DM study (ie, aortic arch, left lower lobe bronchus origin, and 2 cm from the diaphragmatic muscle), and various functional parameters and exercise performance values were matched for the analysis. RESULTS: An obstructive pattern was present in 13 patients (52%; LCH group, 8 patients; LAM group, 5 patients). A predominant restrictive pattern was detected only in three patients (12%; LCH group, two patients; LAM group, one patient). Nine patients (36%) walked < 350 m, and 14 of 23 patients (61%) had a significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation during exercise (> 4 U). The results of DM quantitative study (sum and mean) significantly correlated with FVC (r = - 0.56; p < 0.001), FEV(1)/vital capacity (r = - 0.94; p < 0.002), midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow (r = - 0.84; p < 0.05), FEV(1) (r = - 0.82; p < 0.05), and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (r = - 0.82; p < 0.05), bronchial airway resistance (r = 0.79; p < 0.05), and distance walked on the 6-MWT (r = - 0.53; p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found with the results of ABG analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In DCLDs, HRCT scans with quantitative assessment performed by a DM software showed a very good correlation with functional parameters. Therefore, DM could be considered, in combination with a complete functional assessment, in the initial evaluation of patients affected by DCLDs. However, further studies are needed to assess its usefulness in the follow-up of these patients.     

Electrophysiological effects mediated by the stimulation of cardiac β2-adrenoceptors with tulobuterol

Summary We studied the electrophysiological effects of the specific ₂-agonist tulobuterol in the guinea-pig sinus node and in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers. Stimulation of ₂-adrenoceptors by tulobuterol resulted in a slight increase in the rate of firing of the sinus node. In Purkinje fibers, however, automaticity was not affected up to concentrations of 10^–6 M. Consistently, tulobuterol (10^–8–10^–6 M) did not affect the pacemaker current studied under voltage-clamp conditions. In the same range of concentrations (10^–8–10^–6 M) tulobuterol dose-dependently increased the contractile force of driven Purkinje fibers. Tulobuterol, at a very high concentration (10^–5 M), had membrane depressant effects as demonstrated by the block of automaticity induced in the spontaneously beating Purkinje fibers and by the reduction of the maximum rate of depolarization in driven preparations.Our results suggest that stimulation of ₂-adrenoceptors with tulobuterol in sheep Purkinje fibers is associated with an inotropic rather than a chronotropic effect. On the whole, the data confirm the lack of cardiac side effects of tulobuterol.     

Dimensions of psychological dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia: development of an Italian questionnaire

Our objective was to observe whether dysfunctional psychological dimensions of pain could be detected in fibromyalgia patients through the development of a new questionnaire. An original questionnaire composed of 51 items was given to 250 patients (185 females and 65 males, mean age 55±12.8 years) suffering from chronic fibromyalgia according to the criteria of the Multicenter Criteria Committee of the American College of Rheumatology. A Varimax computerized program of factorial analysis with orthogonal and oblique rotation of the axes was used to analyze the data. Five strong independent factors were identified: 1) catastrophizing and 2) external control beliefs (cognitive); 3) alexithymia (emotional); 4) restless behavior (behavioral); and 5) need for support (relational). Our questionnaire is a preliminary development of an Italian language psychological characterization of FM patients which may be a relevant and useful tool for the evaluation of the outcome of clinical/psychological treatment of FM.Abbreviations FM Fibromyalgia