Hemispheric integrative therapy in Landau-Kleffner syndrome: applications for rehabilitation sciences

A case study is presented of a 14-year-old right-handed Caucasian female diagnosed with the Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS) at the age 3 1/2 years. Her LKS symptoms presented with abrupt disruption in language after normal development, electroencephalogram (EEG) brain-wave abnormality, seizure activity, inability to read, and impairment in her motor skills. After 11 years of pharmacological and special education interventions with no significant improvement in any measurable area of function, a multimodal approach using techniques purportedly aimed at facilitating inter-hemispheric communication was provided. At completion of the program, EEG was controlled, reading, language, and auditory processing improved and objective behavioral-social measures improved significantly.     

Bone-like polyethelyne burr-hole cover

OBJECTIVE: Several materials are available for covering burr holes but none of them are ideal with respect to biocompatibility, strength and morbidity. With these properties in mind, our objective was to design a porous polyethylene device, which looked like bone and provides protection and cosmesis while being quick and easy to apply. METHODS AND MATERIALS/RESULTS: A burr-hole cover was created to cover small cranial defects and craniostomies. Using high-density polyethylene, this cover was designed to resemble the bony structure of the skull. Its porous architecture allows for tissue ingrowth and bony integration. It consists of a cylinder which fits into the burr hole and a cap which can be sutured or anchored with titanium screws. CONCLUSIONS: The "bone-like" burr-hole cover provides adequate protection, biocompatibility and cosmesis and is simple to use. Alternative implants can be toxic to surrounding tissues, costly and time consuming to apply. This high-density polyethylene cover is compatible with surrounding tissue as well as being of a porous nature and the material it is made from offers high tensile strength for adequate protection.     

Reinfarction as a complication of acute myocardial infarction. PRIMVAC Registry data

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical profile of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who have reinfarction (REAMI) during their stay in the intensive cardiologic care unit (ICCU) is not well known. The aim of this study was to identify factors predictive of REAMI, as well as its global incidence and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHOD: All patients with AMI admitted to the ICCU of 17 hospitals in the Comunidad de Valencia (Spain) in the period 1995-2000 (PRIMVAC Registry) were included. Differential characteristics between patients with or without REAMI were determined, and odds ratios (OR) for possible predictive factors were estimated with their 95% confidence intervals by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 12,071 patients were included. Mean age of the patients was of 65.5 years, the percentage of women was 23.8%, and the incidence of REAMI was 2.8%. The REAMI group was significantly older than the non-REAMI group. Female sex was significantly more common in the REAMI group. More diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were carried out, more drugs were used and there were more complications in the REAMI group. Mortality was significantly higher in the REAMI group (37.8% vs 12.6%). Only age, diabetes mellitus, previous myocardial infarction and the appearance of Q waves in the electrocardiogram were independently associated with the presence of REAMI. CONCLUSIONS: REAMI in the ICCU was associated with high mortality. Some clinical factors present during the first few hours after AMI were associated independently with the appearance of REAMI.