Could seasonal allergy be a risk factor for acute rhinosinusitis in children?

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of acute rhinosinusitis in children with grass pollen induced rhinitis during the period of grass pollinosis.

Methods: Children with nasal symptoms from grass pollen induced rhinitis but without rhinosinusitis symptoms were selected. Their parents were asked to complete a diary during pollen exposure to report nasal symptoms and drugs used daily.

Thromboelastography-based anticoagulation management during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a safety and feasibility pilot study.

Background: There is no consensus on the management of anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO is currently burdened by a high rate of hemostatic complications, possibly associated with inadequate monitoring of heparin anticoagulation. This study aims to assess the safety and feasibility of an anticoagulation protocol for patients undergoing ECMO based on thromboelastography (TEG) as opposed to an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)-based protocol.

Breastfeeding Determinants in Healthy Term Newborns.

Breastfeeding is the normative standard for infant feeding. Despite its established benefits, different factors can affect breastfeeding rates over time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate breastfeeding determinants in healthy term newborns during the first three months of life.

Predictive value of EEG for febrile seizure recurrence.

Objective: To define the role of the EEG in predicting recurrence of febrile seizures (FS) in children after a first FS.

Methods: Children with a first simple or complex FS who underwent EEG at our hospital were retrospectively enrolled. EEG recordings were classified in three groups: normal, abnormal (slow activity or epileptiform discharges), and pseudo-petit mal discharge (PPMD) pattern.

Electrical impedance tomography in children with community acquired pneumonia: preliminary data.

Background: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive pulmonary function test that provides spatial and temporal information of changes in regional lung ventilation. We aimed to assess the feasibility of EIT as a supplementary tool in the evaluation of community acquired pneumonia in children. Furthermore, we performed a prospective evaluation of regional lung ventilation changes during a six-month follow-up period.

Randomized, multicenter trial of lateral Trendelenburg versus semirecumbent body position for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Purpose: The lateral Trendelenburg position (LTP) may hinder the primary pathophysiologic mechanism of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We investigated whether placing patients in the LTP would reduce the incidence of VAP in comparison with the semirecumbent position (SRP).

Methods: This was a randomized, multicenter, controlled study in invasively ventilated critically ill patients.

Health significance and statistical uncertainty. The value of P-value.

Background: The P-value is widely used as a summary statistics of scientific results. Unfortunately, there is a widespread tendency to dichotomize its value in "P<0.05" (defined as "statistically significant") and "P>0.

Differences between peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: We examined characteristics of peritoneal (PEM) and pleural (PLM) mesothelioma in Lombardy, Italy.

Methods: From the Lombardy Mesothelioma Registry we selected PEM (N=300) and PLM (N=5011) cases diagnosed in 2000-2014. We investigated asbestos exposure and presence of asbestosis or pleural plaques.

Treatment planning of damaged teeth: to recover or to extract?

Background: Planning the treatment of a compromised tooth is challenging but the choice should refer to evidence-based criteria. The literature proved that patient-related factors influence the treatment plan, but what happens when the patient is a dentist? Aim of the study was to observe whether the dentist goes for the same option suggested to a patient in a hypothetical scenario.

Methods: One hundred volunteers were interviewed singularly in a quiet ambient.

A Single-Center Experience with Very Low Birth Weight Infants and Focal Intestinal Perforation: Comparison of Primary Anastomosis versus Stoma Opening.

Introduction:  We present a single-center experience with very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with focal intestinal perforation (FIP), comparing the results of primary anastomosis (PA) and stoma opening (SO).

Materials And Methods:  Clinical records of VLBW infants with FIP who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2015 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the procedure performed: limited bowel resection and PA or SO.

FarmaREL: An Italian pharmacovigilance project to monitor and evaluate adverse drug reactions in haematologic patients.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reduce patients' quality of life, increase mortality and morbidity, and have a negative economic impact on healthcare systems. Nevertheless, the importance of ADR reporting is often underestimated. The project "FarmaREL" has been developed to monitor and evaluate ADRs in haematological patients and to increase pharmacovigilance culture among haematology specialists.

Evaluation of DNA methylation of inflammatory genes following treatment of chronic periodontitis: A pilot case-control study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of periodontal therapy on DNA methylation in patients with chronic periodontitis as compared to healthy individuals.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients were enrolled into two groups: (i) 10 diagnosed as clinically healthy; and (ii) 10 diagnosed with chronic periodontitis. Clinical measures were recorded and gingival biopsies were harvested at baseline (both patient groups) and at 2 and 8 weeks post-baseline for diseased individuals.

Bioimpedance-based rather than weight-based ultrafiltration prescription for children on maintenance hemodialysis .

The determination of dry weight (DW) in young children on hemodialysis (HD) remains challenging. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a potentially helpful means of estimating the need for ultrafiltration and monitoring body fluids in patients on renal replacement therapy, but its role has not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this paper is to share our experience of prescribing ultrafiltration on the basis of BIA parameters alone.

Liver and Cardiovascular Damage in Patients With Lean Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Association With Visceral Obesity.

Background & Aims: Lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as NAFLD that develops in patients with a body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m. We investigated the differences between lean NAFLD and NAFLD in overweight and obese persons, factors associated with the severity of liver and cardiovascular disease, and the effects of visceral obesity.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 669 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD seen at 3 liver centers in Italy.

Increased risk of placental abruption after solomon laser treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

To evaluate the relative risk of placental abruption in monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and treated with endoscopic laser coagulation of placental vessels (ELCPV). A retrospective analysis from January 2004 and December 2015 of 373 TTTS pregnancies, treated with selective ELCPV until January 2012 (287 cases), after which the Solomon technique was introduced (86 cases), compared with 243 normal MC pregnancies. A significant improvement in perinatal survival was observed after the introduction of the Solomon technique when compared to the selective procedure (77% vs 54%, p < 0.

Temporal trends of PM and its impact on mortality in Lombardy, Italy.

Introduction: Exposure to particulate matter with diameter ≤10 μm (PM) entails well documented adverse effects on human health. In the last decade, concentration of PM in Lombardy (10 million inhabitants), Italy, has been gradually decreasing. We evaluated how the mortality burden due to PM varied in that same period.

Plasmatic extracellular vesicle microRNAs in malignant pleural mesothelioma and asbestos-exposed subjects suggest a 2-miRNA signature as potential biomarker of disease.

Background: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer mainly caused by asbestos exposure and refractory to current therapies. Specific diagnostic markers for early MPM diagnosis are needed. Changes in miRNA expression have been implicated in several diseases and cancers, including MPM.

Pleural malignant mesothelioma in dental laboratory technicians: A case series.

Asbestos was used in dentistry as a binder in periodontal dressings and as lining material for casting rings and crucible. However, until now, only one case of malignant mesothelioma with occupational exposure to asbestos in dental practice has been reported. We present 4 pleural mesotheliomas out of 5344 cases identified in Lombardy, Italy, in 2000-2014.

Urinary 8-Oxo-7,8-Dihydro-2'-Deoxyguanosine in Tunisian Electric Steel Foundry Workers Exposed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

In this study, urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), as biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, was evaluated in Tunisian electric steel foundry workers and was associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. Ninety-three healthy male workers were enrolled in the study; 8-oxodG was assessed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Exposure to PAHs was evaluated by measuring 16 urinary PAHs (U-PAHs) and 8 monohydroxylated metabolites (OHPAHs).

Blood lead levels following consumption of game meat in Italy.

The aim of this study was to measure lead (Pb) levels in blood (Pb-blood) in consumers of game meat, taking into account other possible sources of lead exposure. A spot blood sample was obtained from 95 subjects, and a questionnaire was used to collect general information and data on game meat consumption, hunting, wine drinking and other possible sources of lead exposure. Pb-blood was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Fine airborne particles: when alarming levels are the standard.

Objectives: To quantify the contribution of each individual month to the annual mortality burden attributable to particulate matter (PM) in 2015 in Milan, Italy, after authorities and media considered December 2015 as an outlying month carrying an exceptional population exposure to PM.

Study Design: We used routinely available daily time series of air pollution and mortality to perform an assessment of the impact of PM exposure on population health.

Methods: By combining daily death counts with daily PM levels, as well as the yearly average of the number of deaths with the yearly average of PM concentrations, impact estimates were calculated in terms of deaths attributable (AD) to levels of PM and PM exceeding the daily or the annual European Union (EU) exposure limits.