True amplification of spin waves in magnonic nano-waveguides

Magnonic nano-devices exploit magnons - quanta of spin waves - to transmit and process information within a single integrated platform that has the potential to outperform traditional semiconductor-based electronics. The main missing cornerstone of this information nanotechnology is an efficient scheme for the amplification of propagating spin waves. The recent discovery of spin-orbit torque provided an elegant mechanism for propagation losses compensation. While partial compensation of the spin-wave losses has been achieved, true amplification - the exponential increase in the spin-wave intensity during propagation - has so far remained elusive. Here we evidence the operating conditions to achieve unambiguous amplification using clocked nanoseconds-long spin-orbit torque pulses in magnonic nano-waveguides, where the effective magnetization has been engineered to be close to zero to suppress the detrimental magnon scattering. We achieve an exponential increase in the intensity of propagating spin waves up to 500% at a propagation distance of several micrometers.

Non-hermiticity in spintronics: oscillation death in coupled spintronic nano-oscillators through emerging exceptional points

The emergence of exceptional points (EPs) in the parameter space of a non-hermitian (2D) eigenvalue problem has long been interest in mathematical physics, however, only in the last decade entered the scope of experiments. In coupled systems, EPs give rise to unique physical phenomena, and enable the development of highly sensitive sensors. Here, we demonstrate at room temperature the emergence of EPs in coupled spintronic nanoscale oscillators and exploit the system's non-hermiticity. We observe amplitude death of self-oscillations and other complex dynamics, and develop a linearized non-hermitian model of the coupled spintronic system, which describes the main experimental features. The room temperature operation, and CMOS compatibility of our spintronic nanoscale oscillators means that they are ready to be employed in a variety of applications, such as field, current or rotation sensors, radiofrequeny and wireless devices, and in dedicated neuromorphic computing hardware. Furthermore, their unique and versatile properties, notably their large nonlinear behavior, open up unprecedented perspectives in experiments as well as in theory on the physics of exceptional points expanding to strongly nonlinear systems.

Multilayer spintronic neural networks with radiofrequency connections

Spintronic nano-synapses and nano-neurons perform neural network operations with high accuracy thanks to their rich, reproducible and controllable magnetization dynamics. These dynamical nanodevices could transform artificial intelligence hardware, provided they implement state-of-the-art deep neural networks. However, there is today no scalable way to connect them in multilayers. Here we show that the flagship nano-components of spintronics, magnetic tunnel junctions, can be connected into multilayer neural networks where they implement both synapses and neurons thanks to their magnetization dynamics, and communicate by processing, transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals. We build a hardware spintronic neural network composed of nine magnetic tunnel junctions connected in two layers, and show that it natively classifies nonlinearly separable radiofrequency inputs with an accuracy of 97.7%. Using physical simulations, we demonstrate that a large network of nanoscale junctions can achieve state-of-the-art identification of drones from their radiofrequency transmissions, without digitization and consuming only a few milliwatts, which constitutes a gain of several orders of magnitude in power consumption compared to currently used techniques. This study lays the foundation for deep, dynamical, spintronic neural networks.

Antiferromagnetic magnon spintronic based on nonreciprocal and nondegenerated ultra-fast spin-waves in the canted antiferromagnet α-Fe2O3

Spin-waves in antiferromagnets hold the prospects for the development of faster, less power-hungry electronics and promising physics based on spin superfluids and coherent magnon condensates. For both these perspectives, addressing electrically coherent antiferromagnetic spin-waves is of importance, a prerequisite that has been so far elusive, because, unlike ferromagnets, antiferromagnets couple weakly to radiofrequency fields. Here, we demonstrate the detection of ultra-fast nonreciprocal spin-waves in the dipolar exchange regime of a canted antiferromagnet using both inductive and spintronic transducers. Using time-of-flight spin-wave spectroscopy on hematite (α-Fe2O3), we find that the magnon wave packets can propagate as fast as 20 kilometers/second for reciprocal bulk spin-wave modes and up to 6 kilometers/second for surface spin-waves propagating parallel to the antiferromagnetic Néel vector. We lastly achieve efficient electrical detection of nonreciprocal spin-wave transport using nonlocal inverse spin-Hall effects. The electrical detection of coherent nonreciprocal antiferromagnetic spin-waves paves the way for the development of antiferromagnetic and altermagnet-based magnonic devices.

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome mimicking musculoskeletal shoulder pain: A case report during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome or neuralgic amyotrophy is a peripheral neuropathy typically characterized by an abrupt onset of pain, followed by progressive neurological deficits (e.g. weakness, atrophy, occasionally sensory abnormalities) that involve the upper limb, mainly the shoulder, encompassing an extensive spectrum of clinical manifestations, somehow difficult to recognize. This case report describes the proper management of a 35-year-old, bank employee and sports amateur who reported subtle and progressive upper limb disorder with previous history of neck pain. SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era made patient's access to the healthcare system more complicated. Nevertheless, proper management of knowledge, relevant aspects of telerehabilitation-based consultation for musculoskeletal pain, advanced skills, tools and technologies led the physiotherapist to suspect an atypical presentation of Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. Further, neurologist consultation and electromyography suggested signs of denervation in the serratus anterior and supraspinatus muscle. Therefore, an appropriate physiotherapist's screening for referral is conducted to correct diagnosis and thorough treatment.

Binding events through the mutual synchronization of spintronic nano-neurons

The brain naturally binds events from different sources in unique concepts. It is hypothesized that this process occurs through the transient mutual synchronization of neurons located in different regions of the brain when the stimulus is presented. This mechanism of 'binding through synchronization' can be directly implemented in neural networks composed of coupled oscillators. To do so, the oscillators must be able to mutually synchronize for the range of inputs corresponding to a single class, and otherwise remain desynchronized. Here we show that the outstanding ability of spintronic nano-oscillators to mutually synchronize and the possibility to precisely control the occurrence of mutual synchronization by tuning the oscillator frequencies over wide ranges allows pattern recognition. We demonstrate experimentally on a simple task that three spintronic nano-oscillators can bind consecutive events and thus recognize and distinguish temporal sequences. This work is a step forward in the construction of neural networks that exploit the non-linear dynamic properties of their components to perform brain-inspired computations.

Evidence for spin current driven Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons

The quanta of magnetic excitations - magnons - are known for their unique ability to undergo Bose-Einstein condensation at room temperature. This fascinating phenomenon reveals itself as a spontaneous formation of a coherent state under the influence of incoherent stimuli. Spin currents have been predicted to offer electronic control of Bose-Einstein condensates, but this phenomenon has not been experimentally evidenced up to now. Here we show that current-driven Bose-Einstein condensation can be achieved in nanometer-thick films of magnetic insulators with tailored nonlinearities and minimized magnon interactions. We demonstrate that, above a certain threshold, magnons injected by the spin current overpopulate the lowest-energy level forming a highly coherent spatially extended state. We quantify the chemical potential of the driven magnon gas and show that, at the critical current, it reaches the energy of the lowest magnon level. Our results pave the way for implementation of integrated microscopic quantum magnonic and spintronic devices.

Effectiveness of Blue light photobiomodulation therapy in the treatment of chronic wounds. Results of the Blue Light for Ulcer Reduction (B.L.U.R.) Study

BACKGROUND

Lower limb ulcers not responding to standard treatments after 8 weeks are defined as chronic wounds, and they are a significant medical problem. Blue light (410-430 nm) proved to be effective in treating wounds, but there is a lack of data on chronic wounds in clinical practice. The study's purpose was to determine if Blue Light photobiomodulation with EmoLED medical device in addition to Standard of Care is more effective compared to Standard of care alone in promoting re-epithelialization of chronicwounds of lower limbs in 10 weeks.

METHODS

90 patients affected by multiple or large area ulcers were enrolled. To minimize all variabilities, each patient has been used as control of himself. Primary endpoint was the comparison of the re-epithelialization rate expressed as a percentage of the difference between the initial and final area. Secondary endpoints were: treatment safety, pain reduction, wound area reduction trend over time, healing rate.

RESULTS

At week 10, the wounds treated with EmoLED in addition to Standard Care showed a smaller residual wound area compared to the wounds treated with Standard of Care alone: 42.1% vs 63.4% (p=0.029). The difference is particularly evident in venous leg ulcers, 33.3% vs 60.1% (p=0.007). 17 treated wounds and 12 controls showed complete healing at week 10. Patients showed a significant reduction in pain (p = 2*10-7).

CONCLUSIONS

Blue Light treatment in addition to Standard of Care accelerates consistently the re-epithelialization rate of chronic wounds, especially venous leg ulcers and increases the chances of total wound healing in 10 weeks.

Voltage-Controlled Reconfigurable Magnonic Crystal at the Sub-micrometer Scale

Multiferroics offer an elegant means to implement voltage control and on the fly reconfigurability in microscopic, nanoscaled systems based on ferromagnetic materials. These properties are particularly interesting for the field of magnonics, where spin waves are used to perform advanced logical or analogue functions. Recently, the emergence of nanomagnonics is expected to eventually lead to the large-scale integration of magnonic devices. However, a compact voltage-controlled, on demand reconfigurable magnonic system has yet to be shown. Here, we introduce the combination of multiferroics with ferromagnets in a fully epitaxial heterostructure to achieve such voltage-controlled and reconfigurable magnonic systems. Imprinting a remnant electrical polarization in thin multiferroic BiFeO₃ with a periodicity of 500 nm yields a modulation of the effective magnetic field in the micrometer-scale, ferromagnetic La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ magnonic waveguide. We evidence the magnetoelectric coupling by characterizing the spin wave propagation spectrum in this artificial, voltage induced, magnonic crystal and demonstrate the occurrence of a robust magnonic band gap with >20 dB rejection.

On the importance of primary and community healthcare in relation to global health and environmental threats: lessons from the COVID-19 crisis

In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that primary healthcare systems play a critical role in clinical care, such as patient screening, triage, physical and psychological support and also in promoting good community advice and awareness in coordination with secondary healthcare and preventive care. Because of the role of social and environmental factors in COVID-19 transmission and burden of disease, it is essential to ensure that there is adequate coordination of population-based health services and public health interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the primary and community healthcare (P&CHC) system’s weaknesses worldwide. In many instances, P&CHC played only a minor role, the emphasis being on hospital and intensive care beds. This was compounded by political failures, in supporting local community resilience. Placing community building, social cohesion and resilience at the forefront of dealing with the COVID-19 crisis can help align solutions that provide a vision of ‘planetary health’. This can be achieved by involving local well-being and participation in the face of any pervasive health and environmental crisis, including other epidemics and large-scale ecological crises. This paper proposes that P&CHC should take on two critical roles: first, to support local problem-solving efforts and to serve as a partner in innovative approaches to safeguarding community well-being; and second, to understand the local environment and health risks in the context of the global health perspective. We see this as an opportunity of immediate value and broad consequence beyond the control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

High incidence of postoperative infections after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A need for perioperative anti-infectious strategies

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative infections occur frequently after pancreaticoduodenectomy, especially in patients with bile colonization. Recommendations for perioperative anti-infectious treatment are lacking, and clinical practice is heterogenous. We have analyzed the effects of bile colonization and antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative infection rates, types and therapeutic consequences.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with intraoperative bile culture. Data on postoperative infections and non-infectious complications, bile cultures and antibiotic prophylaxis adequacy to biliary bacteria were collected.

RESULTS

Among 129 patients, 53% had a positive bile culture and 23% had received appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis. Postoperative documented infection rate was over 40% in patients with or without bile colonization, but antibiotic therapy was more frequent in positive bile culture patients (77% vs. 57%, P=0,008). The median duration of antibiotic therapy was 11 days and included a broad-spectrum molecule in 42% of cases. Two-thirds of documented postoperative infections involved one or more bacteria isolated in bile cultures, which was associated with a higher complication rate. While bile culture yielded Gram-negative bacilli (57%) and Gram-positive cocci (43%), fungal microorganisms were scarce. Adequate preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis according to bile culture was not associated with reduced infectious or non-infectious complication rates.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy experience a high rate of postoperative infections, often involving bacteria from perioperative bile culture when positive, with no preventive effect of an adequate preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Increased postoperative complications in patients with bile colonization may render necessary a perioperative antibiotic treatment targeting bile microorganisms. Further prospective studies are needed to improve the anti-infectious strategy in these patients.

Influence of flicker noise and nonlinearity on the frequency spectrum of spin torque nano-oscillators

The correlation of phase fluctuations in any type of oscillator fundamentally defines its spectral shape. However, in nonlinear oscillators, such as spin torque nano-oscillators, the frequency spectrum can become particularly complex. This is specifically true when not only considering thermal but also colored 1/f flicker noise processes, which are crucial in the context of the oscillator’s long term stability. In this study, we address the frequency spectrum of spin torque oscillators in the regime of large-amplitude steady oscillations experimentally and as well theoretically. We particularly take both thermal and flicker noise into account. We perform a series of measurements of the phase noise and the spectrum on spin torque vortex oscillators, notably varying the measurement time duration. Furthermore, we develop the modelling of thermal and flicker noise in Thiele equation based simulations. We also derive the complete phase variance in the framework of the nonlinear auto-oscillator theory and deduce the actual frequency spectrum. We investigate its dependence on the measurement time duration and compare with the experimental results. Long term stability is important in several of the recent applicative developments of spin torque oscillators. This study brings some insights on how to better address this issue.

Temporal pattern recognition with delayed feedback spin-torque nano-oscillators

The recent demonstration of neuromorphic computing with spin-torque nano-oscillators has opened a path to energy efficient data processing. The success of this demonstration hinged on the intrinsic short-term memory of the oscillators. In this study, we extend the memory of the spin-torque nano-oscillators through time-delayed feedback. We leverage this extrinsic memory to increase the efficiency of solving pattern recognition tasks that require memory to discriminate different inputs. The large tunability of these non-linear oscillators allows us to control and optimize the delayed feedback memory using different operating conditions of applied current and magnetic field.

AbobotulinumtoxinA: A New Therapy for Hip Osteoarthritis. A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Multicenter Study

Background: Hip Osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and disability. Here we evaluate abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) (AboBoNT-A) injections versus placebo as a novel treatment option to improve hip range of motion, pain and quality of life. Methods: This prospective randomized double-blind multicenter study (EudraCT # 2012-004890-25) recruited 46 outpatients with hip OA who were randomized 2:1 to the Treatment Group (TG; 31 subjects), or the Placebo Group (PG; 15 subjects). The TG received 400 U of AboBoNT-A injected into the adductor muscles, and the PG received placebo solution. The primary endpoints were the difference in Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Visual Analogic Scale for pain (VAS) at Week 4 between groups (TG vs. PG). Secondary endpoints were the change from baseline in HHS, VAS pain, Medical Research Council scale for muscle strength (MRC) and Short Form scale (SF-36) scores. Results: In TG at Week 4, the HHS and VAS score were significantly improved compared to PG, and pairwise assessments showed significant improvements in HSS and VAS pain at each time point compared to baseline for TG. No significant changes were observed in MRC and SF-36 over time, though SF-36 showed a positive trend. There were no significant differences from baseline in the PG. No adverse events were detected in either treatment group. Conclusions: AboBoNT-A injections in hip OA improve range of motion and pain without any significant side effects.

Vowel recognition with four coupled spin-torque nano-oscillators

In recent years, artificial neural networks have become the flagship algorithm of artificial intelligence¹. In these systems, neuron activation functions are static, and computing is achieved through standard arithmetic operations. By contrast, a prominent branch of neuroinspired computing embraces the dynamical nature of the brain and proposes to endow each component of a neural network with dynamical functionality, such as oscillations, and to rely on emergent physical phenomena, such as synchronization^2-6, for solving complex problems with small networks^7-11. This approach is especially interesting for hardware implementations, because emerging nanoelectronic devices can provide compact and energy-efficient nonlinear auto-oscillators that mimic the periodic spiking activity of biological neurons^12-16. The dynamical couplings between oscillators can then be used to mediate the synaptic communication between the artificial neurons. One challenge for using nanodevices in this way is to achieve learning, which requires fine control and tuning of their coupled oscillations¹⁷; the dynamical features of nanodevices can be difficult to control and prone to noise and variability¹⁸. Here we show that the outstanding tunability of spintronic nano-oscillators-that is, the possibility of accurately controlling their frequency across a wide range, through electrical current and magnetic field-can be used to address this challenge. We successfully train a hardware network of four spin-torque nano-oscillators to recognize spoken vowels by tuning their frequencies according to an automatic real-time learning rule. We show that the high experimental recognition rates stem from the ability of these oscillators to synchronize. Our results demonstrate that non-trivial pattern classification tasks can be achieved with small hardware neural networks by endowing them with nonlinear dynamical features such as oscillations and synchronization.

Ultra-low damping insulating magnetic thin films get perpendicular

A magnetic material combining low losses and large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is still a missing brick in the magnonic and spintronic fields. We report here on the growth of ultrathin Bismuth doped Y3Fe5O12 (BiYIG) films on Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) and substituted GGG (sGGG) (111) oriented substrates. A fine tuning of the PMA is obtained using both epitaxial strain and growth-induced anisotropies. Both spontaneously in-plane and out-of-plane magnetized thin films can be elaborated. Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR) measurements demonstrate the high-dynamic quality of these BiYIG ultrathin films; PMA films with Gilbert damping values as low as 3 × 10-4 and FMR linewidth of 0.3 mT at 8 GHz are achieved even for films that do not exceed 30 nm in thickness. Moreover, we measure inverse spin hall effect (ISHE) on Pt/BiYIG stacks showing that the magnetic insulator's surface is transparent to spin current, making it appealing for spintronic applications.

Neuromorphic Computing through Time-Multiplexing with a Spin-Torque Nano-Oscillator

Fabricating powerful neuromorphic chips the size of a thumb requires miniaturizing their basic units: synapses and neurons. The challenge for neurons is to scale them down to submicrometer diameters while maintaining the properties that allow for reliable information processing: high signal to noise ratio, endurance, stability, reproducibility. In this work, we show that compact spin-torque nano-oscillators can naturally implement such neurons, and quantify their ability to realize an actual cognitive task. In particular, we show that they can naturally implement reservoir computing with high performance and detail the recipes for this capability.

Approaching soft X-ray wavelengths in nanomagnet-based microwave technology

Seven decades after the discovery of collective spin excitations in microwave-irradiated ferromagnets, there has been a rebirth of magnonics. However, magnetic nanodevices will enable smart GHz-to-THz devices at low power consumption only, if such spin waves (magnons) are generated and manipulated on the sub-100 nm scale. Here we show how magnons with a wavelength of a few 10 nm are exploited by combining the functionality of insulating yttrium iron garnet and nanodisks from different ferromagnets. We demonstrate magnonic devices at wavelengths of 88 nm written/read by conventional coplanar waveguides. Our microwave-to-magnon transducers are reconfigurable and thereby provide additional functionalities. The results pave the way for a multi-functional GHz technology with unprecedented miniaturization exploiting nanoscale wavelengths that are otherwise relevant for soft X-rays. Nanomagnonics integrated with broadband microwave circuitry offer applications that are wide ranging, from nanoscale microwave components to nonlinear data processing, image reconstruction and wave-based logic.

Spin-torque resonant expulsion of the vortex core for an efficient radiofrequency detection scheme

It has been proposed that high-frequency detectors based on the so-called spin-torque diode effect in spin transfer oscillators could eventually replace conventional Schottky diodes due to their nanoscale size, frequency tunability and large output sensitivity. Although a promising candidate for information and communications technology applications, the output voltage generated from this effect has still to be improved and, more pertinently, reduces drastically with decreasing radiofrequency (RF) current. Here we present a scheme for a new type of spintronics-based high-frequency detector based on the expulsion of the vortex core in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The resonant expulsion of the core leads to a large and sharp change in resistance associated with the difference in magnetoresistance between the vortex ground state and the final C-state configuration. Interestingly, this reversible effect is independent of the incoming RF current amplitude, offering a fast real-time RF threshold detector.

Generation of coherent spin-wave modes in yttrium iron garnet microdiscs by spin-orbit torque

In recent years, spin–orbit effects have been widely used to produce and detect spin currents in spintronic devices. The peculiar symmetry of the spin Hall effect allows creation of a spin accumulation at the interface between a metal with strong spin–orbit interaction and a magnetic insulator, which can lead to a net pure spin current flowing from the metal into the insulator. This spin current applies a torque on the magnetization, which can eventually be driven into steady motion. Tailoring this experiment on extended films has proven to be elusive, probably due to mode competition. This requires the reduction of both the thickness and lateral size to reach full damping compensation. Here we show clear evidence of coherent spin–orbit torque-induced auto-oscillation in micron-sized yttrium iron garnet discs of thickness 20 nm. Our results emphasize the key role of quasi-degenerate spin-wave modes, which increase the threshold current.

Spin-orbit interactions allow for pure spin current to be injected into a ferromagnetic insulator from a current-carrying heavy metal, generating torque on the magnetization. Here, the authors evidence magnetic auto-oscillations driven by spin-orbit torque in thin film microdiscs of yttrium iron garnet.

Understanding of Phase Noise Squeezing Under Fractional Synchronization of a Nonlinear Spin Transfer Vortex Oscillator

We investigate experimentally the synchronization of vortex based spin transfer nano-oscillators to an external rf current whose frequency is at multiple integers, as well as at an integer fraction, of the oscillator frequency. Through a theoretical study of the locking mechanism, we highlight the crucial role of both the symmetries of the spin torques and the nonlinear properties of the oscillator in understanding the phase locking mechanism. In the locking regime, we report a phase noise reduction down to -90  dBc/Hz at 1 kHz offset frequency. Our demonstration that the phase noise of these nanoscale nonlinear oscillators can be tuned and eventually lessened, represents a key achievement for targeted radio frequency applications using spin torque devices.

[Use of defibrotide in the treatment of acute superficial thrombophlebitis of the legs]

The efficacy of defibrotide in the treatment of acute thrombophlebitis of the legs has been investigated in 140 patients, randomized into two groups. All patients received defibrotide either alone or as an addition to conventional therapies. Two different schemes of administration were selected and carried out in each group, according to the time of onset of thrombophlebitis. Defibrotide demonstrated a good clinical efficacy in both groups, with a highly significant reduction in those patients receiving defibrotide and conventional therapies. The clinical result were outstanding in two subgroups: extensive thrombophlebitis and brachioaxillary phlebitis.

[Arterio-venous popliteal fistula: a rare late complication of a civilian trauma. A clinical case and review of the literature]

In spite of the relatively high frequency of popliteal injuries following war and civilian traumas, a late development of an arteriovenous fistula can be considered an uncommon complication. We report a case of a chronic arterio-venous popliteal fistula in a young boy, caused five years previously by a blunt trauma, while playing. The tardive onset of symptomatology and the conspicuous enlargement of the vein underline the unusuality of the case. A review of the literature and the technique for fistula repair, using adsorbable suture, are examined.

Longitudinal study of auditory brain-stem response in patients with minor head injuries

In a longitudinal study of 119 patients with minor head injuries, 13 had abnormal auditory brain-stem responses (ABRs) within 48 hours after trauma. At follow-up examination one month later, ten patients had abnormal ABRs. The ABRs remained stable in most patients; in nine patients they normalized. However, in six patients initially normal ABRs became abnormal. This instability limits the medicolegal application of ABR testing after minor head injury.

Lumbosacral herpes zoster myelitis

We present a case of herpes zoster (HZ) with some uncommon features, namely lumbar localization and muscle weakness with a distribution different from the site of cutaneous eruptions and sensory deficits. Spread of HZ virus from sensory ganglion to anterior horn cells seems the only possible explanation of these clinical features. Urinary retention and CSF data confirm the hypothesis of HZ myelitis.

Neuropsychological evaluation of mild head injury

Neuropsychological deficits following mild head injury have been reported recently in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate this issue with a strict methodological approach. The neuropsychological performance of 50 mildly head injured patients was compared with that of 50 normal controls chosen with the case-control approach. No conclusive evidence was found that mild head injury causes cognitive impairment one month after the trauma.

Nocturnal prolactin secretion in carpal tunnel syndrome

The correlation between plasma PRL levels and CTS was investigated in 21 patients in whom a specific causal agent of CTS could not be identified. No correlation between plasma PRL levels and other clinical and neurophysiological data was detected.

[Electromyography and electroneurography in the follow-up study of carpal tunnel syndrome patients]

Electromyography is an useful method for the postoperative follow-up of carpal tunnel syndrome. In patients without sensory and motor signs EMG is able to differentiate those still suffering from subjective symptoms such as pain and paraesthesias.

[Value of neurophysiologic methods in the follow-up of Cloward's multiple cervical vertebral fusion]

In 11 patients suffering from radicular and in some cases also medullary symptoms anterior spinal fusion at 2 or 3 cervical levels was performed. At follow-up radicular pain had disappeared, and no clinical deficits were found with the exception of one previously tetraparetic patient. Neurophysiological studies including needle electromyography, conduction velocity studies and somatosensory evoked potentials showed, however, that denervation potentials persisted frequently in the C7-C8-T1 innervated muscles, while those innervated by the upper cervical roots were normal in all patients. Somatosensory evoked potentials could not detect medullary compression due to "angulation deformity", a frequent complication of multiple spinal body fusion.

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in early evaluation of cerebral concussion

In 37 patients brainstem auditory evoked potentials were recorded within 48 hours from a mild head injury. About half of the patients had at least one abnormal neurophysiological parameter pointing to dysfunction of brainstem structure.

Mixed connective tissue disease (Sharp syndrome): description of two cases

Clinical, neurophysiological, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of two cases of mixed connective tissue disease (Sharp syndrome) are reported.

[Paroxysmal, kinesigenic choreoathetosis. (2 cases in a family)]

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis is a rare disease of unknown origin, considered by some authors a reflex epilepsy, by some an extrapyramidal disorder and related recently to brainstem atrophy. Two patients, father and son, aged 52 and 22 years, are described suffering from this disease starting at age 40 and 13. In both patients the attacks consisted in slow flexion and extention movements starting in the foot and extending to the knee and the arm and were usually monolateral, but in the son some attacks were bilateral causing him to fall and involved also face muscles. In both patients neuroradiological investigations were normal. Neurophysiological studies including blink reflex, short latency somatosensory evoked potentials and brainstem acoustic evoked potentials did not show any involvement of the brainstem. In one case carbamazepine therapy, at low dosage, was tried and cured the patient.