Celiac disease and endocrine autoimmune disorders in children: an update.

Celiac disease (CD) is a life-long inflammatory condition of the gut that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals. Several autoimmune diseases (AI) are associated with CD. To date, no conclusive evidence is available that proves if the relationship between CD and AI is mediated by gluten exposure, or if CD and AI could co-occur due to other causes, in particular the loss of the intestinal barrier function and the common genetic background.

Susac's syndrome as HIV-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Susac's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune endotheliopathy of cerebral, retinal and cochlear arterioles. We report of an HIV-infected woman who developed a first SS episode following a spontaneous reduction of plasma viral load and several relapses six years later, following initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins alone did not control the disease, which improved after combined treatment with acyclovir and ganciclovir.

[Risk factors associated with postnatal depressive symptomatology: a study conducted in the Southern Area of the Local Health Unit of Modena].

Objective: postpartum depression is one of the most important and common health problems. The aim of this study is to investigate and determine significant risk factors associated with the development of postnatal depressive symptomatology at 6-8 weeks after childbirth in a sample of Italian women.

Design: retrospective study on risk factors related to the development of postnatal depressive symptomatology at 6-8 weeks after childbirth.

Long-term change in a meso-predator community in response to prolonged and heterogeneous human impact.

Sharks and rays' abundance can decline considerably with fishing. Community changes, however, are more complex because of species interactions, and variable vulnerability and exposure to fishing. We evaluated long-term changes in the elasmobranch community of the Adriatic Sea, a heavily exploited Mediterranean basin where top-predators have been strongly depleted historically, and fishing developed unevenly between the western and eastern side.

Detection of autoantibodies against actin filaments in celiac disease.

Introduction: Serum autoantibodies specifically directed toward intracellular cytoskeletal actin filaments (anti-actin antibodies, AAA) were found to be associated with intestinal villous atrophy (IVA) in celiac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to assess IgA-AAA with a commercial test that uses sections of rat intestinal epithelial cells in a well-selected cohort of patients and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of serum IgA-AAA and the severity of intestinal mucosa damage.

Materials And Methods: Serum samples from 70 CD patients and 150 controls subjects were analyzed retrospectively for the presence of IgA-AAA.

Association between celiac disease and primary lactase deficiency.

Primary lactase deficiency (PLD) is a common inherited condition caused by a reduced activity of lactase. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms C/T(-13910) and G/A(-22018) upstream of the lactase gene are associated with lactase nonpersistence. In celiac disease (CD) patients, lactose intolerance could be due to secondary lactase deficiency and to PLD.

Surgical removal of a third molar at risk for mandibular pathologic fracture: case report and clinical considerations.

Surgical removal of mandibular deeply impacted third molars may be challenging and could be associated with several possible risks. Intra- or postoperative mandibular fracture during or after third molar extraction is a major though rare complication. Before starting the surgical removal of a mandibular deeply impacted third molar, various predisposing factors of mandibular fracture should be considered and kept in mind: adult age, male sex, deep inclusion, tooth ankylosis, and associated bony pathology.

First test on three stitching methods with digital detectors used in radiography.

In medical radiography, a large area of the human body sometimes needs to be investigated by means of X-ray examinations, for example, the lower spine. With computed radiography (CR) cassettes, due to their large surface area, it is possible to make this type of investigation with a single exposure and use of a single cassette. With flat-panel digital detectors (DR detectors), due to their smaller size and their large cost, it is not possible to make the investigation with a single exposure, but multiple exposures are required according to the extent of the surface to be irradiated, with merging of two or more radiographic images.

Perception of forest values in the alpine community of trentino region (Italy).

Values are generally defined as social facts that orientate individual and collective actions, and consequently influence political, economic and social systems. The evaluation of natural resource values is considered an important instrument to support decision making in environmental policy. The forest is an important renewable resource that provides a mix of social, economic and environmental values for society.

Is the screening for celiac disease useful in anorexia nervosa?

The main objective of the study was to prospectively assess if the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is higher than that reported in the general population to require a regular screening program. The study was conducted at the Neuropsychiatry Unit of "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital in Rome from January 2005 to December 2010. All patients with diagnosis of AN according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria were screened for CD.

Clues to apoptosis pathway involvement in hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Objective: The neurotrophin family comprises molecules involved in growth, differentiation, survival, regeneration, normal functions of the neuronal system, and in angiogenesis. We have investigated the expression pattern of neurotrophic signaling molecules in pregnancies complicated by elevated liver enzyme, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Methods: Placentas from normal and pathological pregnancies were collected.

[Neuroimaging and definition of transient ischemic attack].

Aim: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) has to be considered an "alarm bell" of a more or less severe organic or systemic vasculopathy. Positive findings at neuroimaging means tissue damage. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the role of neuroimaging in the management of patients presenting with TIA, and to consider the relative implications.

Cerebrospinal fluid HIV escape associated with progressive neurologic dysfunction in patients on antiretroviral therapy with well controlled plasma viral load.

Objective: To characterize HIV-infected patients with neurosymptomatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 'escape', defined as detectable CSF HIV RNA in the setting of treatment-suppressed plasma levels or CSF RNA more than 1-log higher than plasma RNA.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Four urban medical centers in the United States and Europe.

The effects of maternal caffeine and chocolate intake on fetal heart rate.

Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of caffeine and chocolate (70% cocoa) on fetal heart rate (FHR).

Study Design: Fifty pregnant women with uncomplicated gestation, matched for age and parity, underwent computerized FHR recording before and after the consumption of caffeine and then, after one week, before and after 70% cocoa chocolate intake. Computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameters were expressed as mean and SD.

Erratum to: Assessment of a combination screening assay for celiac disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13317-011-0020-1.].

The structure of Mediterranean rocky reef ecosystems across environmental and human gradients, and conservation implications.

Historical exploitation of the Mediterranean Sea and the absence of rigorous baselines makes it difficult to evaluate the current health of the marine ecosystems and the efficacy of conservation actions at the ecosystem level. Here we establish the first current baseline and gradient of ecosystem structure of nearshore rocky reefs at the Mediterranean scale. We conducted underwater surveys in 14 marine protected areas and 18 open access sites across the Mediterranean, and across a 31-fold range of fish biomass (from 3.

Unexpected isomerism in "[Pd(2,9-dimethylphenanthroline)X2]" (X = Cl, Br, I) complexes: a neutral and an ionic form exist.

Complexes of composition "[Pd(2,9-dimethylphenanthroline)X(2)]" (X = Cl, Br, I) have long been known and they are used as precursors for the synthesis of other derivatives or as catalysts. In the previous literature, they have invariably been described as neutral square planar complexes, but we have found that a second ionic isomer also exists, having composition [Pd(Neoc)(2)X](2)[Pd(2)X(6)], and that the formation of this isomer occurs under a wider range of conditions than that of the neutral one. Retrospectively, the ionic isomer had surely been obtained in most previous reports even if formation of the neutral one was claimed.

Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in HIV infection despite highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Rhodococcus equi (R.equi) is an acid fast, GRAM + coccobacillus, which is widespread in the soil and causes pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections in immunocompromised people. In the context of HIV infection, R.

Celiac disease in pediatric patients with autoimmune hepatitis: etiology, diagnosis, and management.

Celiac disease (CD) is defined as a permanent intolerance to ingested wheat gliadins and other cereal prolamins, occurring in genetically susceptible people. Persistent elevation of serum aminotransferase activity is expression of liver damage related to CD, which occurs in two distinctive forms. The most frequent is a mild asymptomatic liver injury, with a moderate increase of serum aminotransferase activities and a mild inflammatory portal and lobular infiltrate on liver biopsy (celiac hepatitis), reversible on a gluten-free diet (GFD).

Assessment of a combination screening assay for celiac disease.

Purpose: A serological screening assay for celiac disease (CD), designed to simultaneously detect IgA and IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase (a-tTG) and IgA and IgG deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies (a-DGP), was recently developed. In this study, we establish the performance of this assay.

Methods: We enrolled 41 CD patients and 18 CD patients on gluten-free diets.

Thyroid autoimmunity in children with coeliac disease: a prospective survey.

Background: Thyroid autoimmunity (TA) is often associated with coeliac disease (CD).

Objective: To evaluate, in children and adolescents with CD on a gluten-free diet (GFD): (1) the prevalence of TA; (2) the impact of TA on growth and the need for L-thyroxine (L-T4) treatment, during a longitudinal survey.

Method: Between January and December 2005, 545 patients with CD, prospectively followed up until December 2007, and 622 controls were screened for TA.

Scale for the measurement of attitudes towards alcohol.

Aims: The aim was to analyse the characteristics of, and validate, a new instrument in Italian, 'Scale for the measurement of attitudes towards alcohol'. The instrument is a means for assessing young people's risk profile regarding the use of alcohol and identifying the factors that contribute to determining this attitude.

Methods: The test was initially composed of 60 items divided into three domains and administered to a sample of 41 subjects.

The fate of priority areas for conservation in protected areas: a fine-scale Markov chain approach.

Park managers in alpine areas must deal with the increase in forest coverage that has been observed in most European mountain areas, where traditional farming and agricultural practices have been abandoned. The aim of this study is to develop a fine-scale model of a broad area to support the managers of Paneveggio Nature Park (Italy) in conservation planning by focusing on the fate of priority areas for conservation in the next 50-100 years. GIS analyses were performed to assess the afforestation dynamic over time using two historical maps (from 1859 and 1936) and a series of aerial photographs and ortho-photos (taken from 1954 to 2006) covering a time span of 150 years.