Airway inflammation in professional divers: FeNO as a marker.

Purpose Of The Research: The aim of this present study is examine the airway inflammation using the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), to detect differences in FeNO measurements in comparison with spirometry and evaluate the use of this technique in health surveillance programs, also in order to determine the suitability to the specific task.

What Was Done: Between November 2009 and February 2010 we recruited 74 volunteers, all professional divers from the Italian National Fire Services Department. A clinical-medical history questionnaire was administered, with guidance; then the study protocol was applied.

Surgical treatment of chordee without hypospadias.

Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the efficacy of the surgical techniques commonly used in three types of chordee without hypospadias (Devine and Horton classification).

Methods: Twenty-six patients, ranging in age from 3 to 14 years, had chordee without hypospadias and underwent Nesbit dorsal plication (9 cases out of 12, type III), associated extensive mobilization of the urethra (10 cases out of 10, type II), and vascularized neourethra (3 cases out of 4, type I).

Results: Eleven subjects undergoing follow-up investigation for the milder forms of chordee were satisfied with the outcome achieved; there was no impediment of any kind in the sex lives of 5 adult subjects.

[Rare anorectal malformations. Intermediate-type anal agenesis with a rectocutaneous fistula].

A case of anal agenesia with recto-cutaneous fistula is presented. The recto-cutaneous fistula in an intermediate or high anomaly seldom noticed so that it is not included in the common classifications. The surgical approach performed by us was that described by Mollard.

[Unusual anorectal anomalies. A clinical contribution].

Anorectal malformations (ARM) include a spectrum of anomalies which have been subdivided as "high", "intermediate" and "low"; a fourth group, defined as "miscellaneous", collects the forms which are most rarely observed. It is important, for a specialist, to know the last ones under the diagnostic and/or therapeutic profile. In this paper, the various problems observed in five cases of ARM considered particularly rare are analysed: a case of anorectal agenesia with recto-cloacal fistula and short uro-genital sinus; a rectal atresia with normal anal canal; a case of anorectal stenosis; an incomplete anal membrane; an anal agenesia with scrotal fistula.