Left inferior frontal cortex can compensate the inhibitory functions of right inferior frontal cortex and pre-supplementary motor area.

Right-IFG and pre-SMA are associated with inhibitory responses. We used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to explore whether the contralateral homotopic regions can functionally replace them. An adolescent, with an extensive traumatic lesion of the right cerebral hemisphere having occurred 5 years earlier, performed a motor response inhibition task (Go/Nogo), which was properly accomplished and associated to activations in the left-IFC, precuneus and occipital cortex. Such functional remodelling is in line with the theory of 'near equipotentiality' of the cerebral hemispheres.

Body image and awareness in patients with advanced-stage melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Body image (BI) is a very important aspect to be taken care of, especially in cancer patients. METHODS: We administered the Body Image Scales, with a specifically created semi-structured questionnaire which includes items that investigate the level of awareness and the degree of acceptance of the disease of the patient, was administered to patients giving their written informed consent to participate to the study. RESULTS: The results show that our population sample got an average score of 17.25 showing precisely problems related to body image. CONCLUSIONS: An adequate psychological support is crucial, as it has been widely demonstrated that body-image-related issues have a negative impact on patients' quality of life, especially in the oncology field. Such support has the aim of dealing with those aspects which can compromise the patients' equilibrium and quality of life.

Acute electrocardiographic differences between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare ECG findings between anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) in a similar sample of postmenopausal women. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2011, 27 patients with TC were retrospectively enrolled and matched with 27 STEMI patients with the same age and sex taken from the prospective database of our laboratory. RESULTS: The absence of abnormal Q waves, the ST depression in aVR and the lack of ST elevation in V1 were significantly associated with TC (respectively: 52% vs 18%, p=0.01; 47% vs 11%, p=0.01; 80% vs 41%, p=0.01). The combination of these ECG findings identified TC with a specificity of 95% and a positive predictive value of 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The ECG on admission may be useful to distinguish TC from anterior STEMI. The combination of three ECG findings identifies patients with TC with high specificity and positive predictive value.

Can presence of a dog reduce pain and distress in children during venipuncture?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention as distraction for reducing children's pain and distress before, during, and after standard blood collection procedure. Fifty children (ages 4-11 years) undergoing venipuncture were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG; n = 25) or to the control group (CG; n = 25). The blood collection procedure was carried on the children in the EG arm in the presence of a dog, whereas no dog was present when venipuncture was conducted on children in CG. In both cases, parents accompanied the child in the procedure room. Distress experienced by the child was measured with the Amended Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress, while perceived pain was measured with a visual analog scale or the Wong Baker Scale (Faces Scale); levels of cortisol in blood also were analyzed. Parental anxiety during the procedure was measured with State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Children assigned to the EG group reacted with less distress than children in the CG arm. Furthermore, cortisol levels were lower in the EG group compared with the CG group. There were no significant differences in pain ratings and in the level of parental anxiety. It appears that the presence of dogs during blood draw procedures reduces distress in children.

Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer's disease in day care.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies suggest beneficial effects of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), but data are inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the effect of AAA with dogs on cognition, BPSD, emotional status and motor activity in severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Ten patients attending an Alzheimer Day Care Center (ADCC) participated in a repeated measures study, which included: two weeks' pre-intervention, three weeks' control activity with plush dogs (CA), and three weeks' AAA. Cognitive function (Severe Impairment Battery), mood (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia; CSDD), BPSD (Neuropsychiatric Inventory; NPI) and agitation (Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory; CMAI) were assessed at baseline and after each period. Observed Emotion Rating Scale (OERS) for emotional status, Agitated Behavior Mapping Instrument (ABMI) and a checklist for motor activity were completed across the study periods, both during intervention sessions and after three hours. RESULTS: Cognition and NPI were unchanged across the study. Declines in the CMAI and CSDD scores after AAA were not significant, while the NPI anxiety item score decreased in comparison with CA (CA 3.1±2.3, AAA 1.5±2.7, p = 0.04). OERS "sadness" decreased (p = 0.002), while "pleasure" (p = 0.016) and "general alertness" (p = 0.003) increased during AAA compared with CA sessions, and observed sadness remained lower after three hours (p = 0.002). Motor activity increased significantly during AAA. CONCLUSION: In this sample of severe AD patients in ADCC, AAA was associated with a decrease in anxiety and sadness and an increase in positive emotions and motor activity in comparison with a control activity.