Topical Tocopherol for treatment of reticular oral lichen planus: randomized, double-blind, crossover study

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study assessed the efficacy of topical tocopherol acetate compared with placebo in easing oral discomfort in patients with reticular oral lichen planus (ROLP)

Do People Keep Socially Unverifiable Promises?

Previous research has suggested that communication and especially promises increase cooperation in laboratory experiments. This has been taken as evidence for internal motivations such as guilt aversion or preference for promise keeping. The original goal of this paper was to examine promises under a double blind payoff procedure to test the alternative explanation that promise keeping was due to external influence and reputational concerns. We find no evidence that communication increases the overall level of cooperation in our double blind experiment. However, our results are due in part to the high level of cooperation that we observe, leading us to conduct additional single blind conditions. Ultimately, we find no evidence that communication or payoff procedures impact aggregate cooperation.Anonymity; experiment; promises; partnership; guilt aversion; psychological game theory; trust; lies; social distance; behavioral economics; hidden action

A double-blind study of the efficacy of apomorphine and its assessment in "off-periods in Parkinson's disease

Five patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with severe response fluctuations were selected for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, concerning the clinical effects of subcutaneous apomorphine and its assessment in `off¿-periods. The study was designed as five n = 1 studies, in which every patient was his own control. The effect of apomorphine was studied by using the Columbia rating scale and quantitative assessments, using tapping, walking and pinboard. There was a significant positive effect of apomorphine, in a mean optimal dose of 2.7 mg, with a mean latency of onset of 7.3 min and a mean duration of response of 96 min. After pretreatment with domperidone, no significant adverse effects were observed. Tapping showed the highest correlation with rigidity and bradykinesia. Walking showed a high correlation with stability and gait. Pinboard testing did not give additional information. The first conclusion was that apomorphine proved to be a significantly effective dopamine agonist, proven now also by a double blind placebo-controlled study. Secondly it was concluded that assessment of clinical effect in parkinsonian patients can be performed best by combining the Columbia item tremor with tapping and walking scores

Effect of meprobamate on the vestibulosensory and vestibular somatic reaction

The influence of meprobamate on the vestibular illusion of counter-rotation, movement coordination and vertical writing was investigated by a double blind trial method and placebo. The results confirm the possibility of the meprobamate application for prophylaxis and correction of vestibular disturbances

Thematic, Programmatic and Methodological Approaches of the Annual Publication

L'articolo presenta le linee teoriche, metodologiche e programmatiche dell'annuario Novecento Transnazionale, rivista accademica di respiro internazionale. Pubblicata annualmente in versione elettronica ad accesso aperto e sottoposta a double blind peer-review. Pubblica contributi di ambito comparatistico letterario, storico artistico e antropologico culturale. Il termine “transnazionale” indica che le forme culturali attuali della contemporaneità non possono essere associate alle dimensioni delle culture tradizionali basate su geografie e lingue specifiche. Il sapere transnazionale fonda il proprio interesse sui processi di delocalizzazione - e quindi - di transnazionalità delle espressioni culturali che i movimenti migratori e le nuove tecnologie della comunicazione hanno reso sempre più evidenti.The article offers a detailed presentation of the theoretical, methodological and thematic perspectives of the annual international academic journal "Transnational 20th Century. Literatures, Arts and Cultures". It is published yearly, open-access and uses double-blind review. Comparative literature, art history and cultural anthropology articles are published. The term “transnational” indicates that contemporary modern cultural structures cannot be related to those of traditional cultures founded on geographical and language-specific contexts. Transnational knowledge takes a special interest in the processes of delocalisation – and therefore in the transnationality of cultural expression, which has become increasingly evident as a result of migratory movements and new communication technologies

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition with simvastatin in acute lung injury to reduce pulmonary dysfunction (HARP-2) trial : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common devastating clinical syndrome characterized by life-threatening respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and multiple organ failure. There are in vitro, animal studies and pre-clinical data suggesting that statins may be beneficial in ALI. The Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition with simvastatin in Acute lung injury to Reduce Pulmonary dysfunction (HARP-2) trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, allocation concealed, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial which aims to test the hypothesis that treatment with simvastatin will improve clinical outcomes in patients with ALI