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Il contributo descrive il ruolo, la struttura, i metodi didattici, i principali progetti e successi della Clinica Legale dell'Università degli Studi di Palermo di cui le autrici sono co-fondatrici.

Neurophysiological testing of the pelvic floor is recognized as an essential tool to identify pathophysiological mechanisms of pelvic floor disorders, support clinical diagnosis, and aid in therapeutic decisions. Nevertheless, the diagnostic value of these tests in specific neurological diseases of the pelvic floor is not completely clarified. Seeking to fill this gap, the members of the Neurophysiology of the Pelvic Floor Study Group of the Italian Clinical Neurophysiology Society performed a systematic review of the literature to gather available evidence for and against the utility of neurophysiological tests. Our findings confirm the utility of some tests in specific clinical conditions [e.g. concentric needle electromyography, evaluation of sacral reflexes and of pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials (pSEPs) in cauda equina and conus medullaris lesions, and evaluation of pSEPs and perineal sympathetic skin response in spinal cord lesions], and support their use in clinical practice. Other tests, particularly those not currently supported by high-level evidence, when employed in individual patients, should be evaluated in the overall clinical context, or otherwise used for research purposes.

Cellulite is a chronic disorder especially affecting females. It is the result of multiple alterations of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, including increased capillary permeability, adipocytic hyperplasia and hypertrophy as well as fluid stasis in the interstitial spaces. The correct management approach should be able to improve microcirculation and stimulate lipolysis, modifying the primary pathogenetic factors of the disease. However, in order to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic response, it is important to identify and to treat cellulite at its early reversible stages (stages I e II). A pilot multicentric study on 336 women aged 30 to 50 years aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a new cosmetic treatment for cellulite increasing lipolysis and cutaneous elasticity is presented. © Copyright 2007, CIC Edizioni Internazionali.

BACKGROUND:New chemotherapic agents and new protocols in oncology have led to an increasing survival rate in patients affected by tumors. However, this increased use has been accompanied by a growth in the incidence of cutaneous side effects and a worsening of patients' quality of life. Appropriate management of skin toxicity associated with chemotherapic agents is therefore necessary for suitable drug administration and to improve quality of life and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We have clinically examined 100 patients affected by cancer, determining type, frequency, treatment, and evolution of side effects related to chemotherapy. RESULTS: The prevalent cutaneous side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy are skin rash, xerosis, pruritus, paronychia, hair abnormality, and mucositis. The clinical cases are reported in detail. CONCLUSION: Oncological therapies have become more selective and have low systemic toxicity because of their high specificity, but cutaneous side effects are common and may worsen the quality of life of these patients.