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Theodossios BIRBILIS

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Articles signed on MÆDICA, JCM:

Combination of TENS, Lidocaine Injections and Muscle Manipulations as a Therapeutic Method for Cervicogenic Headache – Pilot Study

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MÆDICA - a Journal of Clinical Medicine | Vol. 14, No. 3, 2019
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Combination of TENS, Lidocaine Injections and Muscle Manipulations as a Therapeutic Method for Cervicogenic Headache – Pilot Study

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ABSTRACT

Background: Cervicogenic headache is a chronic cause of pain with a symptomatology varying between neck pain, instability while walking, dizziness, vertigo, ear pain, eye pain, and unilateral tinnitus, which is leading to increased morbidity and use of analgesics. Currently, the contribution of the local infusion of lidocaine in the treatment of cervicogenic headache is very significant.
Methods: In this pilot study, eight patients with cervicogenic headache were examined between February 2017 and August 2017 and treated with a three-scale method combining: 1) transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS); 2) minimally invasive methods of lidocaine injections and nerve blocks; and 3) stretching of the cervical and trapezoidal muscles.
Results: The results show that the combined three-step therapy decreases both pain intensity based on VAS score and constant use of analgesics.
Conclusion: Three-step therapy can be conducted in one session or multiple sessions and appear to constitute a minimally invasive technique that decreases analgesic use, reducing not only their adverse effects and interactions with other pharmaceutics but also the cost of their use.
Keywords: cervicogenic headache, lidocaine, TENS, muscular stretch technique

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First Human Head Transplantation: Surgically Challenging, Ethically Controversial and Historically Tempting – an Experimental Endeavor or a Scientific Landmark?

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MÆDICA - a Journal of Clinical Medicine | Vol. 14, nr. 1, 2019
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First Human Head Transplantation: Surgically Challenging, Ethically Controversial and Historically Tempting – an Experimental Endeavor or a Scientific Landmark?

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ABSTRACT

According to many, head transplantation is considered to be an extraordinary and impossible surgical procedure. However, nowadays, relevant literature and recent advances suggest that the first human head transplantation might be feasible. This innovative surgery promises a life-saving procedure to individuals who suffer from a terminal disease, but whose head and brain are healthy. Recently, the first cephalosomatic anastomosis in a human model was successfully performed, confirming the surgical feasibility of the procedure, but still not the real outcome. Skepticism and several considerations, including surgical, ethical and psychosocial issues, have emerged in the scientific community since this imaginary procedure seems to be more feasible than ever before.
Keywords: first, head, transplantation, human

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The Basic Steps of Evolution of Brain Surgery

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MÆDICA - a Journal of Clinical Medicine | Vol. 12, nr. 4, 2017
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The Basic Steps of Evolution of Brain Surgery

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Objective and conclusion: Neurosurgery is probably the most constantly developing specialty of all times. Its dimension is enormous and its history, Ancient. The evolution of neurosurgery from the Mayan and Egyptian periods to the Renaissance and the 21st century was the result of many physicians and patients whose experiences lead to the revolution of modernization. Today, the field of neurosurgery is continuously expanding, aiming to introduce knowledge and technologies that could provide a new futuristic wave of medicine.
Methods: Given this background, our team selected relevant data from Medline published between 1936 and 2017.
Results: We included 91 articles on this topic, all of them providing enough information about the revolution and progress of brain surgery through the centuries as well as its potential expansion in the future.
Keywords: neurosurgery, futuristic, progress, modernization

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Is there a Role for Spect with 99mTc-Tetrofosmin in the Diagnostic Work Up of a Brain Tumor?

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MÆDICA - a Journal of Clinical Medicine | Vol. 8, nr. 4, 2013

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Is there a Role for Spect with 99mTc-Tetrofosmin in the Diagnostic Work Up of a Brain Tumor?

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Brain MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis of brain tumors. In some cases preoperative MRI cannot predict the grade of malignancy, diagnostic information that could be very helpful to the surgeon. In such cases functional imaging with nuclear medicine techniques may prove quite useful.

We present a case of a 58-year-old man with a brain tumor in the parieto-occipital region. Anatomic brain imaging by magnetic resonance imaging was indicative of a low grade astrocytoma. This was followed by planar imaging and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTctetrofosmin which showed increased radiotracer accumulation in the lesion, suggesting a glioblastoma which was histologically confirmed. We think that in the MRI era sometimes a 99mTc-tetrofosmin brain scan can contribute to diagnostic workup and improve the final management of the patient.

Keywords: brain tumor, SPECT, diagnosis, 99mTc-tetrofosmin

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