Hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy: prospective evaluation and relation with early hypocalcemia.

Aim: Definitive hypoparathyrodism (hypo-PTH) represents one of the most dangerous complication after total thyroidectomy. Partial or total lesion or accidental removal of parathyroid glands is an unpredictable adverse event, although real incidence is not well defined, such as management of this deficit. We started a prospective evaluation of patients treated with total thyroidectomy in our centre, to identify incidence of hypo-PTH, symptomatic or not, in relation to incidence of early postoperative hypocalcemia in our experience.

Indicators of compliance for developmental follow-up of infants discharged from a regional NICU.

Aim: To identify factors associated with compliance of scheduled outpatient developmental follow-up appointments in an effort to better ensure future care.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study looked at patients born between January 7(th) 2006 and June 30(th) 2007 and discharged from a regional neonatal intensive care unit (RNICU). Discharge summaries were reviewed to attain information regarding 16 patient descriptives and 12 patient morbidities.

Comparison of enrollment in interventional therapies between late-preterm and very preterm infants at 12 months' corrected age.

Objective: To determine the requirement for therapeutic services of late-preterm infants (34 to 36 weeks' gestation) and morbidities associated with their developmental delays compared with their very preterm (<32 weeks' gestation) counterparts.

Methods: We used a retrospective cohort study of former preterm children admitted to the neonatal unit who were evaluated at the Regional Neonatal Follow-up Program of Westchester Medical Center in New York at 12 +/- 2 months' corrected age from January 2005 through October 2006. Logistic regression was used to compare odds ratios between late-preterm and very preterm children who qualified for early intervention services.

Risks for common medical conditions experienced by former preterm infants during toddler years.

Aims: To identify associations between reactive airway disease (RAD), eczema, and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and antenatal/neonatal variables.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort analysis of former preterm (PT) infants evaluated at the Regional Neonatal Follow-up Program in the Lower Hudson Valley Region of New York. Subjects <2 years evaluated between January 2005 and December 2007 were included.

Acute impact of the September 11 tragedy on smoking and early relapse rates among smokers attempting to quit.

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States had widespread behavioral and emotional impacts. At the time of the terrorist attacks, 462 smokers from the Washington, DC, area had been entered into a study comparing scheduled versus ad lib dosing regimens for nicotine inhalers. Mean smoking rates the week following September 11 were only slightly higher than mean smoking rates the week prior to September 11.