[Somatropin therapy in Italy during 2019-2022: prevalence and incidence rates estimated by data from the national register and regional health sources.].

Introduction: The availability of epidemiological data relating to the therapy with somatropin (recombinant Growth Hormone, rGH) is scarce and mostly limited to specific clinical conditions. In Italy, the National Register of rGH users (Registro nazionale degli assuntori dell'ormone della crescita - Rnaoc) has been established since 2004 as recommended by the Italian medicine agency (Aifa). However, prevalence (P) and incidence (I) estimates in the Italian population are lacking.

Somatropin therapy in italian adults with growth hormone deficiency.

Background: In adult population, Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is a complex clinical condition with heterogeneity of causes and duration. Growth Hormone (GH) replacement therapy has beneficial effects entailing a chronic and expensive use. Therefore, entity, appropriateness and standardization of GHD treatment need to be accurately analysed.

Obesity and Monitoring Iodine Nutritional Status in Schoolchildren: is Body Mass Index a Factor to Consider?

The frequency of overweight (OW) and obese (OB) children has increased worldwide, particularly in economically developed countries. No studies have been conducted to verify whether the increasing frequency of OW and obesity in schoolchildren may affect the evaluation of iodine nutritional status in populations. The aim of this study was to verify whether urinary iodine concentration (UIC), thyroid volume (TV), and thyroid hypoechoic pattern may be affected by body mass index (BMI) in schoolchildren.

Newborn Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism: the Benefit of Using Differential TSH Cutoffs in a 2-Screen Program.

Context: Analysis of a 2-screen program for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was performed using differential dried-blood spot thyrotropin (bTSH) cutoffs of 10 mU/L at first screening (all infants) and 5 mU/L at second screening (selected infants).

Objectives: This work aimed to characterize CH infants identified by the second screening and compare infants with bTSH of 5.0 to 9.

Practical tools to identify short children born small-for-gestational-age eligible for rhGH treatment according to Italian regulation.

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is an approved and effective treatment for short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Prevalence of children eligible for treatment as SGA is reported to be 1:1800. The latest data from the National Registry of Growth Hormone therapy (RNAOC) showed that the number of children treated with SGA indication is still small (prevalence 0.

Neonatal Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism: What Can We Learn From Discordant Twins?

Context: Newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) adopting rescreening in at-risk neonates.

Objectives: To estimate the concordance rate for CH in twin pairs discordant at the first screening; to verify whether long-term follow-up of healthy cotwins belonging to CH discordant pairs may be useful to diagnose thyroid hypofunction during development; to evaluate the importance of genetic and environmental influences on liability to permanent and transient CH.

Design And Patients: Forty-seven screening discordant twin pairs were investigated.

The Italian Registry of GH Treatment: electronic Clinical Report Form (e-CRF) and web-based platform for the national database of GH prescriptions.

Background: In Italy, the utilization and the reimbursement of Growth Hormone (rGH) therapy by the National Health System (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) are regulated by the "Note #39" included in the "Notes for the use of drugs" by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), which are published in the Official Gazette, thus having the force of law. The "Note #39" establishes the diagnosis for which the reimbursement is granted and confirms the assignment of the national health surveillance on the use of GH therapy to the Italian National Institute of Health, requesting its computerization.

Aim: The aim of this work was to realize a dedicated electronic Clinical Report Form based on the mandatory data requested by the Note #39 and allowing the online reporting of the rGH prescriptions by the regional accredited centers.

[Results of open repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurisms in patients unfit for endovascular treatment].

Introduction: Purpose of the study was to assess how the introduction of endovascular treatment has affected mortality and morbidity of the traditional surgery for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Patients And Methods: From January 2002 to December 2009 we treated 230 patients with AAA (mean age 71.6; 121 male 70.

Exposure to indoor allergens and association with allergy symptoms of employees in a work environment.

Exposure to indoor allergens is an important risk factor for sensitisation and respiratory allergy. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the levels of mite, cat and latex allergens in dust collected from an indoor workplace and to assess whether the exposure to these allergens was associated with the allergy symptoms reported by employees. Sixty dust samples were collected.

Heritability and shared genetic effects of asthma and hay fever: an Italian study of young twins.

A number of studies have provided evidence of a significant familial aggregation for both asthma and hay fever, and have reported a substantial comorbidity between the two conditions. However, far fewer, especially in Italy, have aimed at clarifying the origins of such comorbidity. The main aims of the present study were (a) to estimate heritability of asthma and hay fever, (b) to measure the association between asthma and hay fever at the individual level, and (c) to assess the extent to which genetic and environmental factors, shared by the two conditions, mediate this association.

The Italian Twin Register: new cohorts and tools, current projects and future perspectives of a developing resource.

Since its start as a database of "possible twins", the Italian Twin Register has developed remarkably in terms of twin approach and recruitment, data-management tools, the cohorts enrolled, and the breadth of information gathered, making the Italian Twin Register a valuable resource for genetic epidemiological research. The Italian Twin Register is a random population of twins at both the national level and within targeted geographical areas or birth cohorts. Further, the Register is linked with disease records and has recently implemented a web-based method for volunteer twin recruitment specifically designed to promote the Register and to disseminate information on genetic epidemiology.

Use of slow-release melatonin in treatment-resistant depression.

Objective: To examine antidepressant augmentation with and hypnotic effects of slow-release melatonin (SR-melatonin) in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Design: Open-label trial.

Setting: Tertiary care outpatient depression clinic.