Minerva medica
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are serious acute decompensations of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus due to various degrees of insulin deficiency and increased levels of counterregulatory hormones. They are characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperosmolarity in HHS, and by hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis in DKA with major electrolyte imbalance; both can co-exist. Precipitating factors can usually be identified. ⋯ Treatment consists of appropriate rehydration, intravenous insulin therapy and potassium supplementation. Careful monitoring of the patient's clinical and biochemical status throughout treatment is critical. Excess mortality still occurs, particularly for HHS, emphasizing the importance of patient education and regular follow-up to prevent these potentially fatal complications.
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Ultrasonography is the most common noninvasive method for the evaluation of body organs and systems. However, the feasibility and potential advantages of ultrasound scanning by emergency physicians have not yet been fully explored. We therefore wanted to determine the impact of ultrasound scanning by emergency physicians on patient management in the Emergency Department, length of hospital stay, and related costs. ⋯ Ultrasound scanning by emergency physicians can shorten length of hospital stay for emergency patients, reduce recurrence rates for the same pathology and lower patient management costs.
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Review Comparative Study
[Migraine during pregnancy and lactation: treatment of the acute attack and non-pharmacological prophylactic strategies].
Migraine is a typical "women's disease": the fluctuations of sex hormones, in particular estrogens, during woman's reproductive life show a direct and major influence on migraine course. Even if during pregnancy a high percentage of migraineurs report an improvement of symptomatology, it is still controversial how to manage migraine crises occurring during pregnancy, considering that almost all drugs are partially or totally contraindicated during gestation. ⋯ Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of the 2 most important non pharmacological therapies used for migraine prophylaxis, biofeedback and acupuncture, are discussed. For this latter therapy, the personal preliminary positive experience using a predetermined formula of acupoints for the combined treatment of migraine and hyperemesis gravidarum is reported.
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The therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia, characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome in the clonal hematopoietic stem cells, has changed dramatically in the last years with the development of a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase: tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (formerly STI571, [Glivec]). Glivec selectively blocks cellular proliferation and induces apoptosis in Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) cells harbouring the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase. ⋯ More importantly, approximately half of the patients achieved a major cytogenetic response, a result historically associated with improved survival. Furthermore, 21% of patients in accelerated-phase CML and 13.5% of patients in blastic-phase CML (patient populations with typically poor prognosis before the advent of imatinib mesylate) achieved major cytogenetic responses.
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Clinical Trial
Efficacy of anthracyclines and paclitaxel as first line chemotherapy in patients with visceral metastases of breast cancer.
Anthracyclines combined with paclitaxel are one of the most active schedules in patients with advanced breast cancer: response rates range from 40 to 80%, considering all metastatic sites (visceral and soft tissues). We performed a non-randomized phase II trial with anthracyclines/paclitaxel combination to evaluate response and toxicity only in patients with visceral metastases. ⋯ These schedules of anthracyclines and paclitaxel confirmed their efficacy in metastatic breast cancer even in patients with visceral disease. Neutropenia was the main toxicity; grade IV neutropenia was more frequently observed in epirubicin/paclitaxel arm.