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R Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to R Ferrari.

503 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The best approach to the problem of whiplash? One ticket to Lithuania, please.

The Quebec Task Force (QTF) on Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD)--1995--sent a clear message that we need to re-evaluate the basis for our treatment strategies, and in particular place more emphasis on research to better define these strategies. Judging by many of the clinical strategies currently in use, the Task Force recommendations seem to have been largely ignored three years later. A further compelling reason to re-evaluate our current practices at this time is the finding of much more rapid recovery rates in some cultures, even with little or no therapy. This commentary is a frank consideration of the therapeutic community's responsibility to not only help solve the dilemma of whiplash, but also avoid contributing to the problem. We thus explore a new biopsychosocial model of whiplash, considering the effects of symptom expectation, amplification, and attribution in chronic pain reporting. Based on that model we propose a treatment strategy, and conclude that such strategies provide the only viable approach to this medicolegal and social dilemma.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent monoarthritis in an 11-year-old boy with occult coeliac disease. Successful and stable remission after gluten-free diet.

A case of occult coeliac disease (CD) presenting with recurrent monoarthritis in a boy aged 11 years is reported. The case is unique due to the association of occult untreated CD and arthritis in childhood. Peripheral or axial arthritis as a first manifestation of occult CD has been described in adult patients, with an interval between the arthritis and CD of up to 15 years. In our case the interval between the appearance of arthritis and the diagnosis of CD was 2 years. The boy was asymptomatic for bowel disease and his nutritional status was normal. The diagnosis of CD was established using anti-gliadin (AGA) and anti-endomysium (EMA) antibody tests and was confirmed by small bowel biopsy. The introduction of a gluten-free diet resulted in the persistent remission of arthritis. As the treatment of CD-associated arthritis is based on dietary therapy, physicians should be alert to the possibility of occult CD in any child with arthritis of unclear origin.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A prospective cohort study of the outcome of acute whiplash injury in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: An earlier pilot study suggested that the late whiplash syndrome is uncommon in Greece. The purpose of the present study is to extend the evaluation to a larger sample, and include the prevalence of specific symptoms in the evaluation. METHODS: In a prospective, cohort study, a total of 180 accident victims were consecutively recruited following Emergency ward presentation. A standard questionnaire asked about neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, limb numbness or pain, and dizziness. Accident victims were followed for 6 months. RESULTS: In the initial 4 weeks after the accident, accident victims reported neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, arm numbness or pain, and dizziness, but at 4 weeks more than 90% had recovered from these, the remainder of the subjects having minor symptoms (not requiring therapy), and returning to their pre-accident state of health (which included minor symptoms). There were no cases of chronic disability. CONCLUSION: In Greece, symptoms after an acute whiplash injury are self-limiting, brief, and do not appear to evolve into the so-called late whiplash syndrome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cross infection due to Salmonella Thompson in a pediatric clinical department].

The Authors have carried out a programmed bacteriological investigation for the detection of Salmonella in 4 Clinical Departments for Children in the Arcispedale S. Anna of Ferrara. The researches, carried out for 7 months on a total of 2161 samples (mainly rectal swabs) have allowed to detect and study, in one Paediatric Department, a "hospital acquired cross-infection" by S. thompson, spreading in the environment and amongst the sanitary assistance staff. The percentage of positivity ranged, in the 4 Departments, from a minimum of 1,05 to a maximum of 5,56 and confirmed the endemic diffusion of Salmonella in the province of Ferrara. The Authors think it highly advisable to carry out systematic researches amongst the patients and the assistance staff in order to avoid "hospital acquired cross-infections" by Salmonella, and the dangerous condition of "chronic carrier".

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of essential thrombocythemia in childhood.

Essential thrombocythemia is a rare myeloproliferative disorder in childhood. For symptomatic patients with platelet counts greater than 1000 x 10(9)/L, cytoreductive treatment is recommended. The authors describe a 5-year-old boy with symptomatic essential thrombocythemia who was treated with anagrelide (Agrylin) for 23 months. He responded well but early on developed anemia. Because anagrelide is thought to specifically inhibit thrombopoesis, anemia is assumed to be a rather rare and late adverse effect. Its early occurence in this patient might indicate an increased vulnerability to anagrelide (Agrylin) in young children.

Anemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New findings on calcium antagonism].

The family of calcium antagonist substances is continuously increasing. Often it is difficult, if not impossible, to have clear, objective criteria to differentiate between the available molecules. We have considered some molecular aspects of calcium channels and of the effects of calcium antagonists which may be relevant for the clinical utilization of these drugs. In particular, differences between L and T type of calcium channels in the myocytes and between VOC and ROC calcium channels in the smooth muscle are described. Then we have considered the main differences in the mechanism of action and clinical use of the three prototypes of calcium antagonists: phenilalkilamines, dihydropyridines and benzothiazepines. Finally, we have synthetically depicted the characteristic of the second generation agents such as nisoldipine, amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine and gallopamil.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sensitivity and specificity of antigliadine antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease in a population of children in Toscana].

The aim of this study was to determine the value of IgA and IgG antigliadin antibody test (AGA) for screening, diagnosis and follow-up of coeliac disease. A rapid, simple, sensitive and accurate immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine AGA IgA and IgG in the sera of patients with untreated coeliac disease (I stage), coeliac patients in gluten withdrawal, healthy controls, children with gastroenterological disorders other than coeliac disease and children with constitutional short stature. In the I stage of coeliac disease the AGA IgA gave a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 97.9%, the IgG assay resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 82.3%. AGA IgG resulted positive in 17.7% of control disease group, but it's interesting to remark that they had a mean level significantly lower than in coeliac patients. On gluten free diet the titres of AGA IgA returned to normal value in three months, while the AGA IgG showed a slower decrease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Appearance of anti-DNA antibodies after treatment with interferon in a patient with chronic type C viral hepatitis].

The development of autoantibodies and autoimmune reactions has been reported during and after interferon (IFN) therapy. We report the case of a 55-years-old woman who developed anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies after a 9 months treatment with alpha-IFN for chronic hepatitis C. Autoantibodies appearance has not modified the response to therapy; no clinical sign of autoimmune disease is appeared in a 5 months follow-up. HLA typing didn't show a genetic predisposition for the development of autoimmune reactions.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗