Thoracic non-traumatic cardiovascular diseases: current perspective and multi-detectors Computed Tomography protocols optimization in the emergency setting.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the most common causes of access to the Emergency Department and among the leading causes of death worldwide. Accurate diagnostic algorithms are mandatory to ensure a rapid life-saving treatment. However, non-specific clinical presentation and unnecessary referrals to other subspecialties may lead to misinterpretation of the diagnosis and delays. In recent years, the development of imaging technologies has allowed Computed Tomography (CT) to play a prominent role in the concepts of CVD rule-in and rule-out. An optimization strategy for CT protocols is needed to reduce variability and improve image quality. A correct diagnostic suspicion is crucial, as different districts (i.e., heart, aorta and pulmonary circulation) may require different investigation techniques. Additionally, the CVD pre-test probability assessment is highly correlated with CT accuracy. The purpose of this narrative review is to analyze the current role of CT in the approach to the CVDs in the ED, and to analyze the main strategies of CT optimization.

Frequency of awake bruxism behaviours in the natural environment. A 7-day, multiple-point observation of real-time report in healthy young adults.

The aim of this study was to assess awake bruxism (AB) behaviours in a sample of healthy young adults using a smartphone-based application for a real-time report (ie, ecological momentary assessment [EMA], also called experience sampling method [ESM]). Forty-six dental students used a smartphone application that sent 15 alerts at random intervals during the day for 1 week to collect AB self-reports. They had to answer on time by tapping on the display icon that refers to their current condition of jaw muscles: relaxed; teeth contact; teeth clenching; teeth grinding; jaw clenching without teeth contact (ie, bracing). The average frequency of relaxed jaw muscles, as a percentage of answers over the 7 days, was 71.7%. Teeth contact (14.5%) and jaw clenching (10.0%) were the most frequent AB behaviours. No significant gender differences were detected. Interindividual differences were quite relevant, but the overall frequency was in general only moderately variable from day-to-day. Coefficient of variation (CV) was low for the condition "relaxed jaw muscles" (0.44). At the individual level, teeth contact was the most prevalent behaviour, with a 39.1%-52.2% proportion of subjects reporting it at least once a day. During a 7-day observation period, the frequency of real-time report of AB behaviours in a sample of healthy young adults was 28.3%. The low daily variability in the average frequency value for the relaxed jaw muscles condition suggests that EMA may be a reliable strategy to get deeper into the epidemiology of oral behaviours. This investigation introduced EMA principles to the study of AB and provided data on the frequency of AB behaviours in young adults that could be compared to populations with risk/associated factors and possible clinical consequences.

Giant osteoid osteoma of ethmoid sinus: role of functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

A case of giant ethmoid osteoma treated by functional endoscopic sinus surgery is described. The tumour was closely adherent to the surrounding anatomical structures--lamina papyracea, cribriform plate, spheno-ethmoidal recess--and protruded into the nasopharynx. Complete removal of the tumour, under general anaesthesia, using intranasal drill and diode L.A.S.E.R, was achieved. The principal aspects in favour of this surgical technique vs. open procedures (fronto-basal craniotomy, supraciliar and coronal approach) are discussed. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is herewith concluded to be a convenient and safe technique with advantages over the open procedures, widely used in the past. The reduced morbidity, length of hospital stay and better cosmetic results are distinct advantages of this technique that has the potential to become the treatment of choice for selected ethmoid tumours, such as giant osteoma, described in the present report.

Carrot cells contain two top1 genes having the coding capacity for two distinct DNA topoisomerases I.

Five DNA topoisomerase I cDNA clones were isolated from a carrot (Daucus carota) cDNA library and two classes of nucleotide sequences were found. One component of the first class, pTop9, perfectly matches the open reading frame of pTop28, a truncated top1 cDNA previously described, and extended it by 594 nucleotides (top1alpha). A member of the second class, pTop11, contains an open reading frame 2727 bp long (top1ss) with a coding capacity for a second putative DNA topoisomerase I of 101 kDa. Both pTop9 and pTop11 clones are full length cDNAs. The two deduced amino acid sequences share a relevant similarity (89%) only at the C-terminal domain, whereas the similarity is reduced to 32% in the N-terminal region. Southern blot analysis and PCR amplification of genomic DNAs from carrot pure lines suggested the presence of two distinct loci. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of two distinct transcripts of 3.0 and 3.2 kb in both cycling and starved cell populations. Three fusion peptides corresponding to the N-terminal domain of the alpha and ss forms and from the common C-terminal domain of carrot topoisomerases I were overexpressed in E. coli cells and used to raise antibodies in rabbit. Immunolocalization seems to suggest the presence of two topoisomerases I in carrot nuclei.

Pharmacokinetics of oral cephalosporins: cephradine cephalexin.

A crossover experiment was utilized to compare the pharmacokinetics of a 1-g dose of cephalexin tablets, cephalexin capsules, or cephradine capsules in nine normal human volunteers. These antibiotics were administered as three formulations: two 500-mg capsulin every 6 hr for five doses, and one 1000-mg tablet of cephalexin every 6 hr for five doses. Pharmacokinetic parameters in the experimental groups showed no statistical differences (p greater than 0.1), indicating that these drugs are equivalent pharmacokinetically.