Translational Medicine @ UniSa. Volume 22 (may-aug. 2020)http://elea.unisa.it/xmlui/handle/10556/46222026-04-20T10:55:23Z2026-04-20T10:55:23ZMozart’s or ambient music do not affect autoalgometric pain thresholdVecchione, N.Lorusso, LetiziaViggiano, Andreahttp://elea.unisa.it/xmlui/handle/10556/46362025-04-30T15:33:02Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZMozart’s or ambient music do not affect autoalgometric pain threshold
Vecchione, N.; Lorusso, Letizia; Viggiano, Andrea
Nowadays, researchers and clinicians
are increasingly interested in alternative nonpharmacological treatments, and music therapy
seems to have additional and powerful effects on
different pathologies and pain. However, since pain
is a subjective perception, it is difficult to evaluate if
and which effect music has on it.
In this study, a new device and method have been
introduced to objectively estimate pain threshold and
its changes related to external stimuli. The abovementioned device, called autoalgometer, allows to
evaluate pain threshold changes while listening to
music or other sounds.
In this experiment, the pain threshold was evaluated
in twenty-seven volunteers after listening to one out
of three different soundtracks: white noise, Mozart’s
sonata K448 or Brian Eno’s ambient music.
Compared to staying in silence, listening to the
recordings had no significant effect on pain
threshold, and the results did not show any
significant difference between the experimental
groups.
Probably, the positive effect of music described in
other studies can be ascribed to a psychological
effect, meaning that music can improve subjective
mood and, thus, modify pain perception.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZDietary restriction for the treatment of Meniere’s diseaseDe Luca, PietroCassandro, ClaudiaRalli, MassimoGioacchini, Federico MariaTurchetta, RosariaOrlando, Maria PatriziaIaccarino, IlariaCavaliere, MatteoCassandro, EttoreScarpa, Alfonsohttp://elea.unisa.it/xmlui/handle/10556/46352025-04-30T15:30:48Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZDietary restriction for the treatment of Meniere’s disease
De Luca, Pietro; Cassandro, Claudia; Ralli, Massimo; Gioacchini, Federico Maria; Turchetta, Rosaria; Orlando, Maria Patrizia; Iaccarino, Ilaria; Cavaliere, Matteo; Cassandro, Ettore; Scarpa, Alfonso
Meniere's disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner
ear disorder characterized by spontaneous recurrent
vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL),
aural fullness and tinnitus. Endolymphatic hydrops (EH)
of the inner ear is currently considered the
pathophysiological mechanisms that underlies typical
symptoms of MD. MD diagnosis is based on the criteria of
the Baràny Society. There are many therapeutic options
for MD, but none is considered effective by the scientific
community. The first-line treatment commonly includes
dietary modification, as low salt diet and reduction of
alcohol and caffeine daily intake.
Although some studies showed a positive effect of
these dietary restrictions, even in the prevention of
recurrences, currently there is no uniform consensus on
their usefulness.
New dietary approach, such SPC-flakes, are being
evaluated: further assessments will be needed to validate
their use in clinical practice.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of polyurethane foam dressings as an add-on therapy in the management of digital ulcers in scleroderma patientsRossi, Francesca WandaRivellese, FeliceNapolitano, FilomenaMosella, FrancescaSelleri, CarmineMontuori, NunziaDe Paulis, Amatohttp://elea.unisa.it/xmlui/handle/10556/46342025-04-30T15:32:54Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of polyurethane foam dressings as an add-on therapy in the management of digital ulcers in scleroderma patients
Rossi, Francesca Wanda; Rivellese, Felice; Napolitano, Filomena; Mosella, Francesca; Selleri, Carmine; Montuori, Nunzia; De Paulis, Amato
Digital ulcers (DUs) represent a severe and
common complication occurring in patients affected
by Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), with a consistent
impact on the quality of life and often resulting in
longer hospitalization than unaffected patients.
Conventional treatment of SSc ulcers consists of
both topical and systemic (oral or intravenous)
pharmacological therapies. Several surgical options
are also available, but there is overall a lack of
official guidelines or recommendations.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of
a novel local therapy based on polyurethane foam
dressings, namely the Highly Hydrophilic
Polyurethane Foam (HPF), in addition to the
conventional pharmacological treatment, in a cohort
of 41 SSc patients with at least one active ulcer.
Our results showed that the addition of HPF to the
conventional treatment based on systemic drugs
induced i) a significant reduction in the number of
active DUs (p=0.0034); ii) a significant reduction of
the mean duration of ulcer-related hospitalization as
compared with standard therapy (p=0.0001); iii) a
significant improvement of patients’ Quality of Life,
as evaluated through the Scleroderma Health
Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) (p=0.00011).
Therefore, in our experience, the combined
management of DUs can improve both the onset of
new DUs and DU’s healing thus leading to a better
outcome.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZPleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland and ipsilateral thyroid incidentaloma: report of a rare case with review of literatureCandelori, FrancescaMinni, AntonioGreco, AntonioScarpa, AlfonsoCassandro, ClaudiaCavaliere, MatteoBisogno, AntonellaCassandro, EttoreDe Vincentiis, MarcoRalli, Massimohttp://elea.unisa.it/xmlui/handle/10556/46332026-01-21T09:05:08Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZPleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland and ipsilateral thyroid incidentaloma: report of a rare case with review of literature
Candelori, Francesca; Minni, Antonio; Greco, Antonio; Scarpa, Alfonso; Cassandro, Claudia; Cavaliere, Matteo; Bisogno, Antonella; Cassandro, Ettore; De Vincentiis, Marco; Ralli, Massimo
Background: Pleomorphic adenomas are benign
tumors of the salivary glands that mainly affect the lower
pole of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. The term
"pleomorphic" refers to the epithelial and connective
origin of the mass. The clinical presentation is typically
that of asymptomatic swelling which increases in volume.
Therapy consists in surgical removal of the tumor mass by
parotidectomy with nerve preservation.
Case details: This clinical case describes an
interesting case of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid
gland in a 62-year-old patient. The patient presented with
a long history of an asymptomatic mildly worsening
swelling of the left parotid region. The peculiarity of the
clinical case is the dimension of the adenoma (9x5x9 cm)
and the presence of a thyroid incidentaloma (TI),
consisting of a thyroid multinodular goiter composed of
nodules, the largest of which measured 8 cm in diameter.
This mass dislocated the laryngotracheal axis, compressed
the larynx and caused the reduction of the respiratory
space, making orotracheal intubation difficult and
determining the need to perform a tracheotomy.
Conclusion: Benign pleomorphic adenomas can
potentially reach large sizes if untreated. Socio-economic
problems may be the reason for late diagnosis.
2020-01-01T00:00:00Z