RESUMO
In scientific literature, magnetic fields are used both in basic science and clinical research. They are often used to treat pain and neuro-inflammation disorders thanks to their influence on cellular responses. Our project was born from the regenerative support that we wanted to give to those diseases characterized by neuro-inflammation, nerve lesion, muscles and tissues disorders that can transform the symptom (e.g. neuropathic pelvic pain) in disease. In this study, we examined the action of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on skin lesion regeneration and the repetitive trans-pelvic magnetic stimulation (rTPMS) on patients affected by incontinence and post-surgical problems, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain. In rTPMS for post-surgery urinary incontinence, 40 patients affected by post-surgery urinary incontinence were enrolled. Twenty patients (post-prostatectomy) were treated with rTPMS and 20 with conventional therapies. In PEMF for the regeneration of skin tissue, 50 patients affected by various types of skin lesions (70% low legs vascular lesions) were treated with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) twice per week and subsequently with home treatment (Home Care device) twice per day. In rTPMS study, results were evaluated after 3 months. In 10 patients (7 post prostatectomy, 3 cystourethrocele) which were submitted to 18 sessions, twice a week, an improvement of incontinence in 75% of cases with patient compliance was recorded and the quality of life up to 100% also improved. Utilizing PEMFs for the regeneration of skin tissue, following 3 months of AIMED protocol treatment, we reached a reduction of 50% of lesion area in the 60% of cases; 35% of cases healed completely. The use of rTPMS allows training muscles to adequately respond to inflammatory stimulus that causes muscle accommodation deficits with altered contractility or spastic painful contracture in pelvic district. It also stimulates a series of regenerative phenomena due to the action of magnetic waves at high intensity on cellular membrane and cytoplasm, especially on mast cells, which seem to have a fundamental role in the determination of the pelvic r egion pain. The magnetic fields for the treatment of cutaneous lesions, which are applied cyclically with other operating methods of AIMED protocol, confirmed the literature data, with a treated group of 50 patients. The use of magnetic fields opens new scenarios for regenerative medicine, since the cell could lend itself to a self-healing process if it receives specific information.
RESUMO
In order to evaluate the results of the conservative follow up vs surgical management of infra-inguinal aneurysms, a retrospective review of 23 patients with 28 peripheral aneurysms of the lower limbs was undertaken. Among them, common femoral (5 cases) and popliteal (16 cases) aneurysms were most frequent; superficial femoral (1) and tibial (1) aneurysms were isolated; 5 patients had bilateral aneurysms. The majority of symptomatic aneurysms presented local discomfort (4), acute (4) or chronic (8) ischaemia. Symptoms of nerve (2) or view (1) compression were less common. Duplex or Color-Doppler Scanning, angio-TC and MR confirmed the clinical diagnosis; arteriography demonstrated the number of patent distal vessels. Nine arterial aneurysms were kept under clinical and ultrasonographic observation; three patients were submitted to delayed surgical repair; a major amputation was required and two of these died of cardiac diseases. In the remaining sixteen cases, early elective surgical repair was performed, with resection or ligation of aneurysms. Two cases of acute limb ischaemia were submitted to successful limb-salvage procedures. A primary amputation was necessary in a case with irreversible ischaemia; a lumbar sympathectomy was performed in a patient with a poor run-off. Dacron (5 cases), PTFE (5 cases) or autologous saphenous vein (11 cases) grafts were used. No post-operative complications or limb-loss occurred. Three patients died of myocardial infarction during the follow up period (mean 28 months). Authors' results suggest that early surgical repair of peripheral aneurysms of the lower limbs is the safest and most effective management.