A contaminated regression model for count health data.

In medical and health research, investigators are often interested in countable quantities such as hospital length of stay (e.g., in days) or the number of doctor visits.

Parsimonious hidden Markov models for matrix-variate longitudinal data.

Hidden Markov models (HMMs) have been extensively used in the univariate and multivariate literature. However, there has been an increased interest in the analysis of matrix-variate data over the recent years. In this manuscript we introduce HMMs for matrix-variate balanced longitudinal data, by assuming a matrix normal distribution in each hidden state.

Dichotomous unimodal compound models: application to the distribution of insurance losses.

A correct modelization of the insurance losses distribution is crucial in the insurance industry. This distribution is generally highly positively skewed, unimodal hump-shaped, and with a heavy right tail. Compound models are a profitable way to accommodate situations in which some of the probability masses are shifted to the tails of the distribution.

Clinicoradiographic data and management of children with Chiari malformation type 1 and 1.5: an Italian case series.

Introduction: The widespread use of imaging has increased Chiari malformation (CM) diagnosis. CM shows clinical heterogeneity that makes management controversial. We aimed to evaluate the occurrence and clinical and radiographic presentation of children with CM-1 and CM-1.

Primary Prophylaxis for Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Children With Biliary Atresia and Portal Hypertension Candidates for Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Cirrhosis for biliary atresia (BA) is associated with risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GB) from gastroesophageal varices due to portal hypertension. Primary prophylaxis of GB is controversial in children who are candidates for liver transplantation (LT). The aim of the study was to define the management of gastroesophageal varices and to identify the benefit of primary prophylaxis for GB in BA children waiting for LT.

Safety of Oats in Children with Celiac Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term validity and safety of pure oats in the treatment of children with celiac disease.

Study Design: This noninferiority clinical trial used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design extended over 15 months. Three hundred six children with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of celiac disease on a gluten-free diet for ≥2 years were randomly assigned to eat specifically prepared gluten-free food containing an age-dependent amount (15-40 g) of either placebo or purified nonreactive varieties of oats for 2 consecutive 6-month periods separated by washout standard gluten-free diet for 3 months.

New surgical intervention for the weakening of the inferior oblique muscle: equatorial scleral anchor.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a new surgical technique in reducing inferior oblique muscle overaction.

Methods: Anterior transposition and myectomy of the inferior oblique muscle represent the gold-standard treatment in dissociated vertical deviation, including cases in which a simultaneous inferior oblique muscle overaction is also present. A new surgical procedure that consists of suturing the muscle to the sclera at the Gobin point with tendon sparing using a micro-incision to minimize the related tissue trauma and induce a faster recovery was developed.

Helicobacter pylori infection and atopic diseases: is there a relationship? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To review and conduct a meta-analysis of the existing literature on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), atopy and allergic diseases.

Methods: Studies published in English assessing the prevalence of atopy and/or allergic diseases in patients with H.

Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review of the literature.

Ocular allergy represents one of the most common conditions encountered by allergists and ophthalmologists. Allergic conjunctivitis is often underdiagnosed and consequently undertreated. Basic and clinical research has provided a better understanding of the cells, mediators, and immunologic events, which occur in ocular allergy.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy in pediatric oncology patients: a review of experience with 829 patients (899 biopsies).

The authors review their 20-year (1985-2004) experience with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in 829 children (all but 1 younger than 18 years), from whom 899 samples were obtained. All patients presented with clinical data suggesting malignancy. The procedure followed standard methods (22- to 24-gauge needle; mean of six alcohol-fixed and/or air-dried, H&E- or Giemsa-like-stained smears/procedure; leftover clots processed as a biopsy).

Fetal rhabdomyomatous nephroblastoma: report of 14 cases confirming chemotherapy resistance.

The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience with 14 cases of fetal rhabdomyomatous nephroblastoma (15.6% of all renal tumors seen in the 1984-1998 period), analyzing the diagnostic and treatment approach as well outcome. Mean age at presentation was 27 months; 10 (71%) patients were younger than 36 months (5 of these were less than 12 months) at diagnosis.

[Asymptomatic cholelithiasis: indications for cholecystectomy based on the levels of acute phase proteins].

Prophylactic cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones is still controversial. Aim of the study was to assess whether the determination of serum acute phase proteins (APP) could be utilized as a criterion for cholecystectomy, as they are suggestive of the presence in the blood of cytokines released from the inflamed gallbladder wall, even when clinical signs are missing. In 75 cases of gallstones, free from other coexistent inflammatory processes, red cell sedimentation rate, plasmatic cortisol, immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM), electrophoresis of the proteins, CPR, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, alfa-1-antitrypsin and bile culture have been detected.

Retroperitoneal and deep-seated lipoblastoma: diagnosis by CT scan and fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Lipoblastomas are most commonly superficially-located tumors. Our experience with three examples of deep-seated lipoblastomas is reported. The CT scans of all cases showed low-attenuation densities (less than 0 Hansfield units), strongly suggesting fatty composition.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of extrahepatic biliary tree: initial treatment with chemotherapy and conservative surgery.

Background: The very low frequency of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the extrahepatic biliary tree has impeded the development of a standardized form of treatment.

Procedure: Based on the good response of embryonal RMS to chemotherapy, we used a multi-drug protocol as the initial treatment of a 3-year-old girl after obtaining adequate transparietohepatic biliary drainage. The treatment achieved complete remission.

Cytologic characteristics of peripheral neuroectodermal tumors in fine-needle aspiration smears: a retrospective study of three pediatric cases.

Cytologic diagnosis of peripheral neuroectodermal tumors (PNT) on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) smears represents a challenge to the cytopathologist. Usually ancillary studies are used to achieve definitive diagnosis. We retrospectively examined FNA material from three cases of PNT with the aim of identifying their features.

[Nonocclusive intestinal infarct and necrotizing enterocolitis in the adult].

A case of full-thickness necrosis of the small bowel, and colon, which required partial resection of the jejunum and total resection of the ileum and colon is reported. The case gives the chance for a review of the Literature on intestinal necrosis not caused by vascular occlusion. Nonocclusive intestinal ischemia, acute neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and adult necrotizing enterocolitis including the Pig-bel disease, common in Papua-New Guinea, are examined.

[Carcinomas of the right colon. A review of 60 consecutive cases].

Sixty consecutive cases of tumor of the right colon operated upon between 1981 and 1991 are reviewed. Age and sex distribution, clinical findings, preoperative diagnostics and system used staging, TNM classification, surgical management, operative mortality, follow up and survival were analyzed. Results are discussed and compared with published data.

[Spontaneous pneumothorax. The therapeutic directions based on 117 cases].

117 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax are reviewed. The authors report their experience and consider surgical drain to be the best method in most cases to achieve a rapid recovery. Surgical management or conservative approach can also to be used in selected patients.

[Stoma complications. Experience of a care center for enterostomal patients].

Personal experience in an enterostomy centre over a 5-year period is report. The problems deriving from the presence of a stoma are examined with particular emphasis on surgical complications which are grouped into early and late forms.

[Acute cholecystitis. Early diagnostic study using cholescintigraphy with Tc99m-IDA].

34 patients admitted for suspected acute cholecystitis were evaluated using 99mTc IDA cholescintigraphy. The results of these studies are reviewed and compared with other diagnostic tests and the subsequent clinical diagnosis. Cholescintigraphy proved to be a safe, simple, highly accurate and sensitive technique.

[Celiac-mesenteric insufficiency. Apropos of a case of aorto-hepatic bypass].

The Authors report a case of coeliac axis atheromatous obstruction, with superior mesenteric artery steal. The coeliac axis, stopped up the origin was indirectly revascularized by hepatic artery. The early diagnosis of chronic intestinal ischaemia should avoid the intestinal infarction.