Diagnostic accuracy of antiendomysial antibodies biopsy test for celiac disease in clinical practice.

Background: The diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) is still challenging and tests that show an activation of the immune system against gluten are required. IgA antiendomysial antibodies detection in the supernatant of intestinal biopsies by immunofluorescence technique (AEA-biopsy) is a promising diagnostic tool. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AEA-biopsy in a pediatric population with suspected CD.

Real-Life Use of Biosimilars in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nation-Wide Web Survey on Behalf of the SIGENP IBD Working Group.

Objective: The aim was to assess the awareness and real-life use of biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among the members of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP).

Methods: An anonymous web survey involving all SIGENP IBD units which can prescribe biosimilars was conducted between July 1st and December 1st, 2020. The questionnaire included 18 questions addressing the most relevant aspects of biosimilars in pediatric IBD, i.

Parental Psychological Factors and Quality of Life of Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objectives: Parents have a central role in the management of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Alterations in parental psychological well-being may affect the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between maternal and paternal distress, anxiety, depression and pain catastrophizing and the HRQoL of patients with IBD.

The Role of Distress and Pain Catastrophizing on the Health-related Quality of Life of Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be particularly challenging during the pediatric age with a relevant impact on patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Disease activity accounts for only a small part of the variability in HRQoL, and psychological factors can play a significant role. We aimed to evaluate the impact of patient's distress and pain catastrophizing on children and adolescents with IBD.

Densities, distribution and phenotypic expression of T cells in human fetal skin.

T cells are present in normal adult human skin, but their occurrence in fetal skin is unknown. T cell and Langerhans cell (LC) populations were studied using single or double immunohistochemical staining on cryostat-section. Skin samples taken from different body regions of 17 fetuses ranging from 18 to 30 weeks estimated gestational-age (w-EGA), were examined.

Density and proportions of the epidermal T cell population in human sun-exposed skin differ from those in sun-protected skin: preliminary immunohistochemical study.

Epidermal T cells, which are found in clinically normal human skin, show topographic differences in density and proportions; however, the mechanisms and the biological consequences of such differences are still unknown. In a previous work, we showed that epidermal T cells are altered in number and composition after a single exposure to solar-simulated radiation (SSR). The purposes of the present investigation were, first, to compare the density of epidermal T cells and the proportion of T cell subpopulations in habitually sun-exposed versus sun-protected sites; second, to determine the effects of repetitive exposures to SSR on the latter cell populations.

[The sentinel lymph node biopsy. Evolution and convalidation of the technique].

Background: Sentinel node biopsy is a minimally invasive technique alternative to routine axillary dissection in breast cancer staging. This technique selects women with positive nodes who may benefit from axillary dissection, avoiding unnecessary operations in negative node biopsies.

Aims: In this article we report a 5 year multi disciplinary experience in sentinel node biopsy involving the General Surgery Unit of Imola Hospital in collaboration with Radiologist, Pathologists and Specialists in Nuclear Medicine.

[Lichen sclerosus in children with phimosis].

Aim: Lichen sclerosus, also known as lichen atrophicus, balanitis xerotica obliterans and kraurosis vulvae, is a chronic limphocytes-depending dermatitis predominantly found in the anogenital area of any age group, sex or race. It is most commonly found in Caucasian women: the female to male ratio ranges from 6:1 to 10:1. The real incidence of the disease observed in the literature depends remarkably on the age and sex group studied.

[Autopsy today: an obsolete practice or an instrument for improving the quality of health care?].

Introduction: Autopsies are a fundamental moment of clinical audit that have been progressively decaying.

Materials And Methods: The autoptic rates of 6 hospitals of Piedmont Region (1639 autopsies, years 1995-97) were calculated. The Positive Predictive Value and Sensitivity (indicators of concordance between clinical and autoptic diagnosis) were calculated for each diagnosis; all discrepancies were classified as type I (adverse impact on patient's survival) and type II (uncertain impact) clinical errors.

[Thymoma: diagnosis and surgical treatment].

Thymoma is the most common primary neoplasm of the tymus. The majority of thymomas are encapsulated masses and exhibit benign behavior. Less frequently they may be invasive, or rarely they may metastasize to distant sites.

[Gastric volvulus in childhood].

Gastric volvulus in children might be observed both as an acute form, characterized by gastric necrosis with sudden perforation and patient's death and as an idiopathic or chronic form with a less severe insurgence that causes epigastric pain, vomit and gastric distension. The latter could resolve spontaneously but recurs frequently. The acute form rises in newborns and toddlers and is often associated with a diaphragmatic defect; the idiopathic forms are correlated on the opposite to a fixation deficit of the stomach which is held in place by the gastro-colic, gastro-hepatic, gastro phrenic and gastro-splenic ligaments.

[Cystic lymphangioma: a case report of abdominal location].

A case of cystic lymphangioma is reported, located on the mesentery of the jejunum in a fifty-seven year old patient. The lymphangioma is an extremely rare disease and it is often located in the neck and arm pit. An intra abdominal and mediastinal location takes place in just 5% of the examined cases.

Indications for bladder augmentation in the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

Objective: To determine whether bladder augmentation has a role in avoiding urinary diversion in patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC), whether it can improve the lifestyle in patients who have previously undergone diversion or improve the result of any single surgical step in the staged functional reconstruction of the bladder in these patients.

Patients And Methods: From 1970 to 1991, 85 patients were treated for EEC. Between 1981 and 1991, 12 bladder augmentations were performed in 11 patients (seven girls and four boys) with bladder exstrophy, male epispadias (one case) and cloacal exstrophy (one case).

Solitary polyp of posterior urethra in children: report on seventeen cases.

Seventeen cases of a solitary polyp of posterior urethra in children (ages ranged between 4 months and 12 years) are presented. All patients were treated endoscopically using a 10 Fr. pediatric cystoscope, equipped with a straight ahead lens, and a Bugbee 3 Fr.

Cosmetic reconstruction of the mons veneris and lower abdominal wall by skin expansion as the last stage of the surgical treatment of bladder exstrophy: a report of three cases.

The results of the correction of the medial scar depression and diastasis of the pubic hair of the mons veneris in three postpuberal female patients operated on for bladder exstrophy are reported. The reconstructive surgery is carried out using skin expanders. The expanded skin is utilized to create two dermoadipose flaps to fill the medial depression, to outline again the public hair areas, and to allow sutures without tension.

[Further experience with the use of gastrointestinal segments in bladder reconstruction in the complex of exstrophy-epispadias].

It is a matter of discussion if bladder augmentation should or should not utilize in the treatment of exstrophy-epispadias complex. When staged functional bladder reconstruction is adopted in the most difficult cases, or when one desires to avoid early and/or subsequent urinary diversions, sometimes a bladder enhancement could be necessary. The indications should be: a progressive damage to the upper urinary tract, after bladder closure at birth, due to a very small, no compliant detrusor plate (this is a rare condition: only one case in our series); a bladder capacity < or = 80 mls at the time of bladder neck reconstruction (this is a frequent but questionable condition: three cases in our series); a progressive damage of the upper urinary tract after bladder neck reconstruction (this is an unexpected, but not rare condition: 3 cases in our series); during every undiversion procedure (bladder augmentation is nearly mandatory during undiversion in cloacal or bladder exstrophies previously diverted: 4 cases in our series).

[Foreign bodies in the alimentary tract. Surgical treatment].

Gastro-intestinal foreign bodies are a by no means rare event in surgery and in the USA mortality is about 1500 people per annum. The surgical treatment of foreign bodies in the alimentary tract is reported here. Certain cases of voluntary ingestion in mental patients are reported, comparing personal experience with the data reported in the literature.

[Bronchogenic cysts of the mediastinum].

The case of a bronchial cyst found on the mediastinal carina whose early symptoms resulted from compression of the airways is reported. The clinical, pathogenic and diagnostic aspects of these often congenital cystic malformations of the mediastinum are discussed.

[Evaluation of the operative risk of gastric tumor surgery at an advanced age. Retrospective study].

A retrospective study was carried out in 41 over-70 year-olds who had been operated on for gastric cancer in 1984-86 at the General Surgery Division of Imola to see if age is an unfavourable prognostic factor in this situation. Age was not decisive in surgical results. Operative mortality is correlated with the degree of operative risk expressed on the basis of an analysis of the patient's biological state prior to the operation and of the specific and aspecific effects of surgery.

[Cancer of the colorectum in the aged. Clinical considerations with reference to our case series of 65 operated cases during the triennial, 1984-1986].

Starting from the note that in industrialised countries colorectal tumours are an increasingly serious problem, especially in the elderly, and after some epidemiological remarks, a personal series of 65 consecutive operations on over--70s in a three-year period is considered. Personal statistics are analysed following careful assessment of risk factors and the immediate and long-term surgical results, also examined on the basis of reported data. It is noted, first, that age is never an absolute contraindication to surgery; second that early diagnosis is basic for the achievement of an improved prognosis: proof of this lies in the excessive number of emergency operations for occlusion or perforation.

[Valves of the anterior urethra without diverticulum. Description of 3 cases].

Anterior urethral valves are rare entities, especially in case they are not associated to urethral diverticulum. Because of their obstructive effects on the urinary tract, they must be searched in case of clinical evidence of lower obstructive uropathy. Three cases of anterior urethral valves without urethral diverticulum are herein reported.

[Ureteral ectopy. The residual stump syndrome].

Anatomy and symptoms of ureteral ectopy in childhood can greatly vary. In most cases the site of ectopies in the urethral tract, so that a complete excision of the distal ureter is difficult and may cause damage to the sphincteric structures. When lower ureterectomy is performed below iliac vessels, symptoms secondary to residual ectopic ureter are rare.