Rejected

Emerging evidence suggests that higher circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers in blood are associated with higher negative affect (NA) and lower positive affect (PA). To our knowledge, the unique associations between NA and PA in daily life and salivary biomarkers of inflammation have not been examined. This study examined these associations in young adults.

Few studies describe the use of adenosine-induced cardiac systole for treatment of cerebrovascular pathologies. We describe a midbrain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treated with transvenous embolization using adenosine-induced asystole to achieve transient systemic hypotension with the purpose of furthering discussion on the technique and operative considerations for adenosine use in endovascular AVM treatments.

Hyperintensities are common in neuroimaging scans of patients with mild acute focal neurology. However, their pathogenic role and clinical significance is not well understood. We assessed whether there was an association between hyperintensity score with diagnostic category and clinical assessments/measures.

Good's syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency phenocopy characterized for thymoma and immunodeficiency. The most frequent clinical presentation is recurrent or opportunistic infections, hematological alterations, and chronic diarrhea. We treated a 66-year-old man who consulted for 5 days of headache and diplopia with right sixth cranial nerve palsy at examination. Patient reported chronic diarrhea and prolonged febrile syndrome accompanied by weight loss of 23 kg in the last year. Exhaustive evaluation revealed Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 meningitis, eosinophilic colitis, and type A thymoma. Severe antibody deficiency (hypogammaglobulinemia) associated with thymoma confirmed the diagnosis of Good's syndrome.

Mutations in gene, encoding merosin, are generally responsible of a severe congenital-onset muscular dystrophy (CMD type 1A) characterized by severe weakness, merosin absence at muscle analysis and white matter alterations at brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Recently, mutations have been acknowledged as responsible of LGMD R23, despite only few cases with slowly progressive adult-onset and partial merosin deficiency have been reported. We describe 5 independent Italian subjects presenting with progressive limb girdle muscular weakness, brain white matter abnormalities, merosin deficiency and gene mutations. We detected 7 different mutations, 6 of which are new. All patients showed normal psicomotor development and slowly progressive weakness with onset spanning from childhood to forties. Creatin-kinase levels were moderately elevated. One patient showed dilated cardiomyopathy. Muscle MRI allowed to evaluate the degree and pattern of muscular involvement in all patients. Brain MRI was fundamental in order to address and/or support the molecular diagnosis, showing typical widespread white matter hyperintensity in T2-weighted sequences. Interestingly these alterations were associated with central nervous system involvement in 3 patients who presented epilepsy and migraine. Muscle biopsy commonly but not necessarily revealed dystrophic features. Western-blot was usually more accurate than immunohystochemical analysis in detecting merosin deficiency. The description of these cases further enlarges the clinical spectrum of -related disorders. Moreover, it supports the inclusion of LGMD R23 in the new classification of LGMD. The central nervous system involvement was fundamental to address the diagnosis and should be always included in the diagnostic work-up of undiagnosed LGMD.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between forward head posture (FHP) and respiratory dysfunctions in patients with chronic neck pain.

Postoperative fluid retention is a factor that causes delay in recovery and unexpected adverse events. It is important to prevent intraoperative fluid retention, which is putatively caused by intraoperative release of stress hormones, such as ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) or others. We hypothesized that intraoperative analgesia may prevent pathological fluid retention. We retrospectively explored the relationship between analgesics and in-out balance in surgical patients from anesthesia records.

Opioids are effective analgesics for acute and palliative pain, but there is no evidence base for long-term pain relief. They also carry considerable risks such as overdose and dependence. Despite this, they are increasingly prescribed for chronic pain. In the UK, opioid prescribing more than doubled between 1998 and 2018.

The genital skin may be affected by a variety of dermatoses, be it inflammatory, infectious, malignant, idiopathic or others. The Red Scrotum Syndrome is characterized by persistent erythema of the scrotum associated with a burning sensation, hyperalgesia, and itching. Its cause is unknown but proposed mechanisms include rebound vasodilation following prolonged topical corticosteroid use and localized erythromelalgia. It is a chronic condition and treatment is often difficult. In this paper, we review the etiology, the physical and histopathological findings, and the management of this condition. We also describe related conditions such as Red Scalp Syndrome, Red Ear Syndrome, and Red Vulva Syndrome. Finally, we summarize the different cases reported in the literature and discuss the features that help in the differentiation of red scrotum syndrome from its mimickers.