Neu–Laxova syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Neu-Laxova syndrome (NLS) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome, characterized by severe intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), microcephaly, abnormal brain development, oedema and ichthyosis. It was first reported in 1971 by Neu et al. (Pediatrics 47: 610-612) and since then no more than 60 cases have been reported. A newborn girl delivered from a 29-year-old healthy mother was admitted to hospital with a thick membrane covering her body and dismorphic appearance. The diagnosis of NLS was made according to characteristic features. The syndrome is known to have a poor prognosis and the baby lived for 9 weeks. This case is one of the longest living cases of NLS and the fourth case reported from Turkey.     

Renal Allograft Biopsies with Borderline Changes: Predictive Factors of Clinical Outcome

The clinical outcome and appropriate management for patients showing 'borderline changes' on allograft biopsy after renal transplantation is still controversial. In an attempt to identify predictive factors of clinical outcome of patients with such lesions, we reviewed the clinical course of 91 patients with borderline changes. Multivariate analysis revealed significant and independent effects of histological stage (i + t < or = or > 2) and time to borderline changes (< or = or > 3 months after transplant) on serum creatinine levels at 1 year from borderline changes episodes (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.02) and only a significant effect of time to borderline changes on serum creatinine levels at 2 years (p = 0.005). Renal function at 1 year and 2 years as 5- and 8-year graft survival were not significantly different in the group of patients treated with antirejection therapy (T group, n = 49) compared with the untreated group (UT group, n = 42). This study strongly suggests that borderline changes with histological score (i + t) > 2 and late episodes of borderline changes should be considered to be of poor prognosis.     

Electrophysiological studies of brain plasticity of the motor system

Neurological Sciences - Brain plasticity, intended as the pattern of functional and structural changes in responses to environmental physiological or pathological events, is underlined by several...     

Ketorolac during the induction phase of cyclosporin-A therapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine if the concomitant use of ketorolac 0.4% and cyclosporin-A improves patient comfort during the induction phase in treating chronic dry eye disease. METHODS: Patients (n = 52) with clinically diagnosed dry eye were randomized to receive either cyclosporin-A monotherapy twice-daily (BID) or a BID adjunctive regimen of ketorolac, followed by the instillation of cyclosporin-A 10 min later. Study visits were at baseline, week 2, and week 6. At each study visit, patients underwent an evaluation for corneal staining, Schirmer's scores, and tear break-up time tests. Patients were asked to rate ocular comfort on a 4-point scale and to complete the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). Changes from baseline readings were recorded at week-2 and week-6 visits, and final patient success on treatment regimen was evaluated at week 6. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, the mean ocular comfort score of adjunctive patients improved 2.55 +/- 0.95 points, versus 1.53 +/- 0.91 points for monotherapy (P = 0.309). The adjunctive regimen provided significantly greater corneal staining reductions versus monotherapy, mean reduction in staining of 1.74 +/- 0.9, versus 1.27 +/- 0.56 (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent ketorolac 0.4% use with cyclosporin-A significantly reduced corneal staining and increased comfort in the induction phase.     

Perspectives on Health Among Adult Users of Illicit Stimulant Drugs in Rural Ohio

CONTEXT: Although the nonmedical use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is increasingly common in many rural areas of the United States, little is known about the health beliefs of people who use these drugs. PURPOSE: This research describes illicit stimulant drug users' views on health and health-related concepts that may affect their utilization of health care services. METHODS: A respondent-driven sampling plan was used to recruit 249 not-in-treatment, nonmedical stimulant drug users who were residing in 3 rural counties in west central Ohio. A structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers was used to collect information on a range of topics, including current drug use, self-reported health status, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and beliefs about health and health services. FINDINGS: Participants reported using a wide variety of drugs nonmedically, some by injection. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs in the 30 days prior to the interview. Powder cocaine was used by 72.3% of the sample, crack by 68.3%, and methamphetamine by 29.7%. Fair or poor health status was reported by 41.3% of the participants. Only 20.9% of the sample felt they needed drug abuse treatment. Less than one third of the sample reported that they would feel comfortable talking to a physician about their drug use, and 65.1% said they preferred taking care of their problems without getting professional help. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant drug users in rural Ohio are involved with a range of substances and hold health beliefs that may impede health services utilization.     

Avascular osteonecrosis after hyperthermia in children and adolescents with pelvic malignancies: a retrospective analysis of potential risk factors.

PURPOSE: In children with locally advanced or recurrent malignant tumours, prognosis can be improved by regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) in combination with platin-based chemotherapy. However, because of the increasing number of patients that achieve long-time remission with this therapy, it is necessary to evaluate long-term sequelae of thermochemotherapy. During the years 1993-2004 one has observed avascular osteonecrosis (AON) of the femoral head after RHT in seven children with pelvic germ cell tumours or rhabdomyosarcomas. METHODS: Although AON may develop in patients with malignancies treated with chemo- or radiotherapy alone, RHT might nevertheless contribute to the occurrence of AON. In order to determine potential risk factors for AON after RHT, this study analysed the relationship of AON to the patient's age, medical history and treatment parameters such as thermal dose equivalent and power output. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the present study AON was associated with young age as well as intensity of hyperthermia indicated by high power levels that exceed 20 W per kg body weight and/or application of eight or more heat sessions as well as additional radiotherapy. Based on this observation, it was assumed that an optimized three dimensional thermal field modelling may be helpful to avoid hazardous temperatures in the femoral heads during RHT treatment and to reduce AON of the femoral heads.