Elderly onset of primary Sjögren's syndrome: clinical manifestations, serological features and oral/ocular diagnostic tests. Comparison with adult and young onset of the disease in a cohort of 336 Italian patients.

Objectives: To study and compare the clinical and serological features of patients with elderly versus adult and younger onset of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 336 consecutive pSS patients followed at our unit. They were subdivided into three groups according to the age at disease onset: elderly (>65 years), adult (>40 and ≤65 years), and young (≤40 years).

Variability of adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy rates among children of the Veneto Region, Italy.

Background: Despite national guidelines in 2003 aimed at limiting the recourse to tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (A/T), the latter are among the most frequent pediatric surgeries performed in Italy. Aim of the study is to investigate variability of A/T rates among children of the Veneto Region, Italy.

Methods: All discharges of Veneto residents with Diagnosis-Related Groups 57-60 and ICD9-CM intervention codes 28.

Donor site outcome after oral mucosa harvest for urethroplasty in children and adults.

Purpose: We report short and long-term donor site outcomes after oral mucosa graft harvesting for urological reconstruction in a large series of patients including children, and identify possible risk factors for an untoward long-term outcome.

Materials And Methods: A total of 78 patients were evaluated. Short-term outcomes included time to restore normal oral diet, perioral sensory defect/discomfort and jaw opening impairment occurring within 4 weeks of surgery.

Epithelial CXCR3-B regulates chemokines bioavailability in normal, but not in Sjogren's syndrome, salivary glands.

Expression of CXCR3-targeting chemokines have been demonstrated in several diseases, suggesting a critical role for CXCR3 in recruiting activated T cells to sites of immune-mediated inflammation. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a mononuclear cell infiltrate of activated T cells around the duct in the salivary gland. Analysis of minor salivary gland biopsy specimens from 20 healthy subjects and 18 patients with primary SS demonstrated that CXCR3, in particular, the B form of this receptor, is constitutively expressed by human salivary gland epithelial cells.

Serum and salivary neopterin and interferon-gamma in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Correlation with clinical, laboratory and histopathologic features.

Objective: To investigate serum and salivary neopterin and interferon-gamma as possible markers of immune system activation in primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS).

Methods: Serum and salivary neopterin and interferon-gamma concentrations were determined in 30 untreated patients with pSS and matched with several other clinical and laboratory parameters.

Results: The mean concentration of neopterin was significantly higher in pSS patients (8.