Effects of Extracorporeal Magnetic Stimulation in Fecal Incontinence.

Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a common condition that has devastating consequences for patients' QOL. In some patients, the conventional functional pelvic floor electrical stimulation has been effective but is an invasive and embarrassing treatment. The object of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of functional extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (FMS) in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles without an anal plug and the embarrassment of undressing. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (26 female and 4 males) with FI were enrolled. All patients were assessed during a specialized coloproctology evaluation followed by endoanal ultrasonography and anorectal manometry. All patients underwent an FMS treatment once weekly for 8 weeks. Patients' outcome was assessed by the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CCFIS) and by the fecal incontinence QOL questionnaire (FIQL). Results: After 8 weeks, the number of solid and liquid stool leakage per week was significantly reduced (p<0.05) with a significant improvement of the CCFIS and of the FIQL (p<0.05). Moreover, the authors recorded a missed recruitment of the agonist and antagonists' defecation muscles. Conclusion: FMS is a safe, non-invasive and painless treatment for FI. It could be recommended for selected patients with non-surgical FI to ensure a rapid clinical improvement

A multicenter phase II study of induction chemotherapy with FOLFOX-4 and cetuximab followed by radiation and cetuximab in locally advanced oesophageal cancer

"Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves the survival of patients with oesophageal cancer when compared with surgery alone.. . Methods: We conducted a phase II, multicenter trial of FOLFOX-4 and cetuximab in patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer (LAEC) followed by daily radiotherapy (180 cGy fractions to 5040 cGy) with concurrent weekly cetuximab. Cytokines levels potentially related to cetuximab efficacy were assessed using multiplex-bead assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, at week 8 and at week 17. Primary end point was complete pathological response rate (pCR).. . Results: In all, 41 patients were enroled. Among 30 patients who underwent surgery, a pCR was observed in 8 patients corresponding to a rate of 27%. The most frequent grade 3\/4 toxicity was skin (30%) and neutropenia (30%). The 36-month survival rates were 85 and 52% in patients with pathological CR or PR vs 38 and 33% in patients with SD or PD.. . Conclusions: Incorporating cetuximab into a preoperative regimen for LAEC is feasible; no correlation between cytokines changes and patient outcome was observed. Positron emission tomography\/computed tomography study even if influenced by the small number of patients appears to be able to predict patients outcome both as early and late metabolic response.. . "Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves the survival of patients with oesophageal cancer when compared with surgery alone. Methods: We conducted a phase II, multicenter trial of FOLFOX-4 and cetuximab in patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer (LAEC) followed by daily radiotherapy (180 cGy fractions to 5040 cGy) with concurrent weekly cetuximab. Cytokines levels potentially related to cetuximab efficacy were assessed using multiplex-bead assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, at week 8 and at week 17. Primary end point was complete pathological response rate (pCR). Results: In all, 41 patients were enroled. Among 30 patients who underwent surgery, a pCR was observed in 8 patients corresponding to a rate of 27%. The most frequent grade 3/4 toxicity was skin (30%) and neutropenia (30%). The 36-month survival rates were 85 and 52% in patients with pathological CR or PR vs 38 and 33% in patients with SD or PD. Conclusions: Incorporating cetuximab into a preoperative regimen for LAEC is feasible; no correlation between cytokines changes and patient outcome was observed. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography study even if influenced by the small number of patients appears to be able to predict patients outcome both as early and late metabolic response. © 2011 Cancer Research UK All rights reserved

LIBERTA' DI INSEGNAMENTO, METODO COMPARATO E TUTELA DEI DISABILI

Il volume collettaneo in curatela con una serie di saggi e articoli tratta la tematica della tutela dei diritti dei disabili nel quadro del Diritto Costituzionale italiano e comparat

Handicap e integrazione tra disciplina scolastica e riforme territoriali

IL SAGGIO ANALIZZA LA TUTELA DELL'HANDICAP OVVERO DELLA DISABILITA' NEL CONTESTO ECONOMICO E TERRITORIAL

SULLA DANZA DI MATISSE OVVERO SULLA IRRILEVANZA NORMATIVA DELLE CIRCOLARI AMMINISTRATIVE

COME NEL FAMOSO QUADRO DI MATISSE IL SAGGIO ANALIZZA IL CARATTERE ONDIVAGO DELLE CIRCOLARI NEL SISTEMA DELLE FONTI DEL DIRITT

DPCM E ORDINANZE REGIONALI SERIALI COVID-19 NELLA LEGGE N. 35 DEL 22 MAGGIO 2020 (IL CASO DELLA REGIONE CAMPANIA).

L’obiettivo del lavoro è quello di sottolineare la peculiare originalità delle ordinanze regionali campane Covid-19 nei rapporti propulsivi con i numerosi DPCM che caratterizzano ed hanno caratterizzato nelle prime fasi l’emergenza coronavirus ed incidono, tra dubbi e perplessità, sulla reale configurazione del nostro sistema delle fonti del diritto, ritenuto oramai di stampo policentrico e pluralistico

Una ordinanza regionale Covid 19 come atto di iniziativa (proposta regionale) di DPCM

il lavoro analizza, in estrema originalità, le ordinanze regionali campane in emergenza sanitaria da Covid 19 come atti propositivi di DPC

Per una declinazione al plurale della laicità dello Stato

L'obiettivo del lavoro è quello di auspicare in futuro una rilettura ed una maggiore declinazione al plurale della laicità dello Stato, considerato in una logica di comparazione (la laicità pluralista comparata), per la variegata molteplicità dei simboli ed icone che caratterizzano ed esprimono le numerose e diverse religioni