Acute abdomen in post- Covid 19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. A case report.

Aim: As more data about coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been gathered it has become evident that children who have had or have been exposed to COVID-19 can develop a rare complication; multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We report the case of a 9-year-old boy, who was brought to the emergency room with suspected acute abdomen and was diagnosed with MIS-C.

Methods: The patient had had a positive molecular test for COVID-19, 25 days earlier and fever that started 4 days prior to presentation, He tested negative for COVID on arrival at the emergency room.

Possible Uses of Plants of the Genus in Oral Medicine.

Among the many plants used in traditional medicine we have the plants of the genus , which are present in the Mediterranean area in North Africa and South East Asia, and have been used by indigenous peoples until recently for various pathologies, including: Psoriasis, alopecia areata, acne, burns, nephrolithiasis, toothache, and local inflammation. The scientific literature over the last five years has investigated the various effects of the metabolites extracted from plants of the genus , paying attention to the diuretic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, and it also has begun to investigate the antitumor properties on tumor cell lines. Studies have been identified through bibliographic research on electronic databases.

Lean thinking in the hospital setting - Results of a systematic review of literature.

Aim: The aim of this study was to review experiences of use of the Lean methodology in the hospital setting and assess the impact of the interventions in terms of time of processes, productivity, effects on staff and patientd satisfaction.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL databases were searched to identify studies evaluating the lean methodology. Two reviewers screened the citations identified and extracted data according to the PRISMA methodology.

Highly-integrated programs for the prevention of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents: results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Since overweight and obesity has become epidemic in children and adolescents, the aim of this study was to determine the role of highly-integrated programs in preventing and reducing prevalence of children and adolescent obesity and overweight, even evaluating if this approach has properly been effective in communities with different determinants as in the Pacific Area.

Methods: According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of literature was conducted and a meta-analysis was performed to compare obese/overweight prevalence between the intervention and the control group.

Results: We identified 23 studies describing 14 programs.

Current usefulness of aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the head and neck diagnosis.

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a well established and widely used method for both a preliminary and sometime final non-invasive pathologic diagnosis. FNAC is a simple and inexpensive diagnostic tool and should represent the standard of care in developing and resource-poor countries while maintaining its diagnostic usefulness in developed and advanced ones.

Methods: The concordance between preoperative FNAC and final histology was evaluated in 168 patients operated on at the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, "A.

The effect of multifactorial lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials conducted in the general population and high risk groups.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature mortality and disability accounting for one third of all deaths worldwide with considerable impacts on economics and on the quality of life. The evidence suggests that a multifactorial lifestyle intervention might have a role in the CVDs risk reduction, especially in the risk populations, nonetheless the effects on modifiable CVDs risk factors have not been completely explored. Our work aimed at evaluating the impact of multifactorial lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular risk modification, both in the general and risk population.

Does public reporting influence quality, patient and provider's perspective, market share and disparities? A review.

Background: Public reporting (PR) of healthcare (HC) provider's quality was proposed as a public health instrument for providing transparency and accountability in HC. Our aim was to assess the impact of PR on five main domains: quality improvement; patient choice, service utilization and market share; provider's perspective; patient experience; and unintended consequences.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, ISI WOS, and EconLit databases were searched to identify studies investigating relationships between PR and five main domains, published up to April 1, 2016.

Hospital efficiency: how to spend less maintaining quality?

Introduction: The recent global economic crisis is pushing governments worldwide to obtain a more explicit and urgent rationing of resources. The purpose of this study is to provide, through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a methodological framework useful for investigating technical efficiency of hospital care.

Methods: To validate such framework, we compared 50 Italian public hospital trusts (AOs) to identify relative efficient using inputs and outputs from national databases.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the Italian population towards Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and HPV diseases and vaccinations: A cross-sectional multicentre study.

Objectives: This study addressed knowledge of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and human papillomavirus (HPV), and attitudes and behaviours towards vaccines against them.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional, multicentre study.

Methods: Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 530 adults who accessed four Departments of Prevention of the Italian National Health Service in 2013.

The impact of Public Reporting on clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To assess both qualitatively and quantitatively the impact of Public Reporting (PR) on clinical outcomes, we carried out a systematic review of published studies on this topic.

Methods: Pubmed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were searched to identify studies published from 1991 to 2014 that investigated the relationship between PR and clinical outcomes. Studies were considered eligible if they investigated the relationship between PR and clinical outcomes and comprehensively described the PR mechanism and the study design adopted.

A meta-analysis-derived proposal for a clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytological scoring system to evaluate thyroid nodules: the "CUT" score.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new cancer risk score for preoperative assessment of thyroid nodules (TN) trying to reduce unnecessary thyroidectomies. On the basis of a recent meta-analysis of published literature, we assigned a matching value to the clinical (C) and ultrasonographic (U) features of TN with increased malignancy risk (MR). The created "CUT" score derived from "C+U" score, (CU[1-10] ), along with the five-tiered "T" (T[1-5] ), represents the cytologic result of the fine-needle aspiration.

The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the impact of electronic health record (EHR) on healthcare quality, we hence carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on this topic.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies that investigated the association between the EHR implementation and process or outcome indicators. Two reviewers screened identified citations and extracted data according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Quantification of cancer risk of each clinical and ultrasonographic suspicious feature of thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: In order to quantify the risk of malignancy of clinical and ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules (TNs), we did a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods: We did a literature search in MEDLINE for studies published from 1st January 1989 until 31st December 2012. Studies were considered eligible if they investigated the association between at least one clinical/ultrasonographic feature and the risk of malignancy, did not have exclusion criteria for the detected nodules, had histologically confirmed the diagnoses of malignancy, and had a univariable analysis available.

[Primary aorto-enteric fistula].

Aorto-enteric fistula, i.e. communication between the aorta and the digestive tract, is a clinical condition that usually appears in patients who have already been submitted to aneurismectomy.

Factors affecting Department of Defense patient satisfaction in a military emergency department.

This descriptive, correlational study was conducted to explore factors (nurses and staff, doctors, waiting and convenience issues, and tests and treatments) and specific interpersonal behaviors affecting Department of Defense patient satisfaction in a military emergency department (ED). Data from a random sample of 534 patients using a mail-back questionnaire (N = 178) revealed that military patients who perceived the staff to have treated them courteously, taken their problems seriously, and paid attention to them during their stay were more satisfied with their military ED encounter. Patient satisfaction, expressed as likelihood to recommend the facility, was independent of major demographic characteristics such as age and sex.

Squamous cell tumors and ocular prostheses.

Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma is an infrequent tumor. It has been reported to occur in association with actinic damage and chronic irritation. To the authors' knowledge, however, this tumor has not been reported secondary to poorly fitting ocular prostheses.

Traumatic cataract and Wieger's ligament.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between posterior subcapsular contusion cataract and Wieger's ligament. Two clinical cases of traumatic cataract, occurring in young patients, were analyzed. In neither case was there evidence of penetrating or perforating injuries to the globe.

Herpes simplex blepharoconjunctivitis presenting as complete acquired ankyloblepharon.

Purpose: A 90-year-old woman was referred to us with a 1-month history of progressively worsening blepharoconjunctivitis. She had a complete acquired ankyloblepharon of the right lids, which resulted in the appearance of a right upper lid abscess on computed tomography.

Methods: Blepharotomy with separation and debridement of the lid margins was performed.

Plasmacytoma of the eye and orbit.

Background: Plasmacytomas of the ocular and adnexal tissue are rare. The variation in their clinical manifestations and potential association with multiple myeloma are not well appreciated.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical features and laboratory data of five cases of plasmacytoma involving the eye and orbit.

Effect of Lisuride on serum prolactin levels during puerperium.

A new semisynthetic ergot derivative, Lisuride, has been administered to 40 women who wanted to have lactation inhibited. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the drug's effect on serum PRL levels. Treatment was carried out for 7 days with daily doses of 300 or 600 microgram.