Antidepressant and antipsychotic use in an Italian pediatric population.

Background: The safety and effectiveness of psychotropic drug use in the paediatric population is widely debated, in particular because of the lack of data concerning long term effects.In Italy the prevalence of psychotropic drug prescriptions increased in the early 2000s and decreased afterwards. In such a context, a study with the aim to estimate the incidence and prevalence of psychotropic drug prescription in the paediatric population and to describe diagnostic and therapeutic approaches was performed.

Impact of Italian legislation regulating assisted reproduction techniques on ICSI outcomes in severe male factor infertility: a multicentric survey.

Background: In 2004, a law regulating assisted reproduction techniques (ART) was passed in Italy. The new rules allow for the formation and transfer of a maximum of three embryos at one time, whereas embryo selection and embryo storage are prohibited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of these restrictions on ICSI outcome in couples affected by severe male factor infertility.

[Blastocystis hominis in Canavese: a retrospective study of samples received for fecal parasitological examination at the Ivrea- Castellamonte Hospital over 42 months].

In the last ten years the interest in the controversial Blastocystis hominis microorganism of the intestine has greatly increased. The authors conducted a retrospective study of feces for parasitology investigations at the Ivrea-Castellamonte hospital. These investigations lasted 42 months (1/1/1988-31/6/1991) and the authors focused their attention on samples with 5 or more Blastocystis hominis at the microscopically examination with a 40X phase objective.

[Isolation of anaerobes during a 30-month observation at a hospital microbiology laboratory].

The authors evaluate retrospectively the results obtained from the research of anaerobial bacteria on 1313 samples received at the Microbiology Laboratory of the "Ospedale Civile di Ivrea" over a period of 31 months (6/1/86-12/31/88). From this evaluation, high percentages of detection of anaerobic bacteria are emerging in the following infections: appendiculare abscesses (60%), intestinal operations (71%), wounds (57%), tubovarian abscesses (100%), as well as thoracic empyema (50%). Also relevant are the isolations from skin and subcutaneous tissues: breast infections (50%) preputial infections (60%), perineal and perirectal abscesses (60%).

Adenine nucleotides and some related enzyme activities (adenylate kinase and phosphoglycerate kinase) in normal and abnormal human semen.

Adenine nucleotides (ATP and ADP) and enzyme activities of Adenylate Kinase (AK) and Phosphoglycerate Kinase (PGK) were assayed on semen samples from normal and infertile men. In accordance with the values obtained, samples could be classified into two groups: one group with levels of either adenine nucleotides and enzymes assumed as normal; a second group with high levels of all the parameters. The latter group comprised the samples with low sperm density (less than 40 million/ml).

Considerations on tubal sterility of presumed psychogenic origin.

The Authors evaluate a certain number of patients presenting primary or secondary infertility, in the search of any emotional problem which could be responsible for it. While it is hard to demonstrate the psychological origin in some cases of infertility and to quantify its real incidence, the Authors point out the importance of ruling out any psychological factor at the beginning of the work-up for the infertile couple and particularly while ascertaining the tubal patency through the hysterosalpingography, a diagnostic technique which can be very stressing for women.

[Behçet's syndrome. Description of a clinical case].

We present a case of a young man hospitalized for a fever and bipolar aphtous. The absence of typical ocular lesions, the delayed occurrence of thromboflebitis, arthritis, abnormal skin reactivity, as well as the presence of splenomegaly and limphoadenopathy, induced us to consider a large variety of infection disease before the diagnosis of Behçet's Syndrome. The complete remission has been achieved with corticosteroids and Laevamisole (150 mg/weekly).