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A case of a young man (36 years old) suffering from a progressive bulbo-pontine palsy, bilateral central deafness and respiratory failure, clinically known as Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome (BVVL) is reported. The illness occurred at 24 years and, after a period of quiescence of 12 years, led to a serious dependence from mechanical ventilation. In tyhis report the most important points of view about resuscitation and intensive treatment, such as neuromuscular failure and locked-in condition, are discussed.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of second surgery in the combined and multidisciplinary treatment of mullerian ovarian cancer. A retrospective study was carried out in 86 consecutive patients with advances stages of mullerian ovarian cancer (stage 3-4) referred to the Division of Gynecological Surgical Oncology of the Oncological Reference Centre at Aviano for continuation of treatment following initial surgery and chemotherapy performed in various peripheral institutions. Second surgery only revealed 11.6% of complete endocelomatic pathological responses (10 patients) to earlier treatments; among the 76 patients with persistent disease it was possible to achieve optimal redebulking in 50 (65.8%) (31 R0 and 19 R1 after second surgery), whereas it was not possible to perform adequate second surgery in 26 (34.2%). The impact of second surgery on the probability of survival (mean survival rate) was highly significant in the 50 patients in whom it was possible to perform adequate second surgery compared to the non-operated group (14.34 months versus 6.10, chi square = 12.671, p = 0.0004). The authors underline both the prognostic value of lymph node status with increased mortality among patients with positive retro-peritoneal lymph nodes (LN+), and the value of retroperitoneal re-evaluation in predicting endo-peritoneal recidivation in patients with free abdomen who subsequently relapsed.

In man, cholesterol esterification is controlled by lecithin:cholesterol-acyl-transferase (LCAT), which is a key-role enzyme of lipid metabolism. Though LCAT is synthesized by the hepatocytes, its activity seems to be linked to the kidney: in fact, LCAT activity is lowered in uremic and anephric subjects, and probably also in long-term haemodialysis patients. On the contrary, in successfull renal allografts we found fully restored LCAT activity. But physiopathological mechanisms underlying relationships between LCAT and kidney are still unclarified.

Oedema due to postoperative or post-traumatic infection or injury is noted in odontostomatological patients and its symptoms require prompt treatment. A new anti-inflammatory drug (Carudol) was experimented in association with antibiotics in two groups of patients, one admitted for diseases of the mouth, the other for surgery. Either 300 mg capsules or 425 mg suppositories were used. The results obtained were significant when compared to those offered by other anti-inflammatory drugs.