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Biomedical subjects

P Montella

Publications and source records attributed to P Montella.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Long-term treatment with interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis and occurrence of Graves' disease.

Interferon (IFN)-beta has become a widespread therapy for multiple sclerosis. As already reported for IFN-alpha, thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunctions have been observed also in course of IFN-beta therapy. Nevertheless, very few cases of Graves' disease, occurred in such condition, have been reported in literature. We here describe the case of a 40-year-old female affected by multiple sclerosis, who received IFN-beta-1b, 8 million IU s.c. every other day for her condition. After 22 months of cytokine administration, she developed a severe Graves' disease with persistently positive TR-Ab which suggested the withdrawal of the treatment. Our patient had performed a complete thyroid evaluation with normal findings, before and during the first 6 months of therapy. This case suggests that patients undergoing long-term IFN-beta therapy should be monitored for thyroid hormones and antibodies throughout the treatment as thyroidal side effect can be a late event.

Adult↗

Suicide in the literary work of Cesare Pavese.

On the basis of an existential analysis (Daseinanalyse), the authors consider the suicide, at age 42, of Cesare Pavese, one of the most important Italian poets and writers of the post-World War II period. It is found that in his poems, his novels, and particularly his letters and diary the idea of suicide was present in his consciousness since adolescence; year by year it is possible to follow the development of his ideas and fantasies about suicide. Incapable of establishing authentic communication with others, Pavese narrowed his existential horizon to the point of being less and less capable of living in the world and projecting himself into the future. From these considerations it is concluded that Pavese's acute feeling of incapacity caused him to have lasting experiences of failure that brought him to view suicide as the only way to free himself from his own torment.

Adjustment Disorders↗