Guidelines for the management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

The purpose of this document, a result of the harmonisation and revision of Guidelines published separately by the SIMFER, SIOMMMS/SIR, and SIOT associations, is to provide practical indications based on specific levels of evidence and various grades of recommendations, drawn from available literature, for the management of osteoporosis and for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fragility fractures. These indications were discussed and formally approved by the delegates of the Italian Scientific Associations involved in the project (SIE, SIGG, SIMFER, SIMG, SIMI, SIOMMMS, SIR, and SIOT).

Assessment of weight gain during pregnancy: an Italian practical approach.

Aim: Weight increase during pregnancy is an extremely useful parameter since adequate weight gain is associated with better outcomes for the health of both the mother and the baby. On the other hand, if there is an inappropriate change in weight, either too much or too little, both mother and fetus are more greatly exposed to numerous complications with different degrees of seriousness. Therefore it is necessary to rely on appropriate guidelines that provide medical and obstetric personnel with clear directions regarding correct weight gain.

Computer-aided detection of prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in men and is a major cause of mortality in developed countries. Detection of prostate carcinoma at an early stage is crucial for successful treatment.

Material And Methods: A method for the analysis of transrectal ultrasound images aimed at computer-aided diagnosis of prostate cancer is tested in this paper.

Eating disorders and their correlates in high school adolescents of Northern Italy.

Objective: The study investigated eating disordered behaviours and life-habits correlated in a large sample of Northern Italian adolescents of both sexes.

Methods: The study had a cross-sectional design. 2595 students (2,146 responders; mean age 17.

Is a modest weight loss significant in the improvement of dyslipidemic patients lipid profile.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum lipid abnormalities and the relationship with various factors in overweight and obese patients and to assess lipid profile modifications subsequent to weight loss in a subgroup of patients.

Methods: A sample of 110 obese out-patients first and a subgroup of 34 subjects afterwards, was selected at the Human Nutrition Research Centre of the University of Pavia for a retrospective analysis. The subjects recruited were all dyslipidemic, according to the American Clinical Guidelines for the assessment of cardiovascular risk.

Body uneasiness in overweight and obese Italian women seeking weight-loss treatment.

Objective: It is known that the psychopathology of eating disorders is associated with body image disturbances, but little is known concerning the body image of obese subjects. The aim of this study was to assess body uneasiness in overweight and obese women in relation to their age, degree of obesity, the percentage and distribution of body fat mass, and eating disordered behaviours.

Method: The study population consisted of 99 overweight and obese women with a mean age of 34.

[Evaluation of the needs of a population of hemodialysis patients in Rhône-Alpes].

The evaluation of the needs of patients with terminal renal insufficiency is necessary to determine the appropriate care programme. An evaluation of the medical and nursing needs, as well as those related to handicap (a total of 47 items) was undertaken on all hemodialysis patients in the Rhône-Alpes region. Only 34.

Study of the variations of the cesarean sections rate in the Rhône-Alpes region (France): effect of women and maternity service characteristics.

Objective: To analyze the variations of the rate of prophylactic cesarean sections and cesarean sections during labor according to the women's and maternity services' characteristics.

Study Design: The study population was a sample of 8470 women having delivered in one of the 86 maternity services of the Rhône-Alpes region (France) in 1990. The women's characteristics were risk factors for pregnancy or delivery.

The effect of biannual applications of amine fluoride solution on caries incidence in permanent first molars: a 5-year study.

A randomized double-blind clinical trial was undertaken in a non-fluoridated community to assess the effectiveness of a minimal preventive intervention based on biannual applications of an amine fluoride (AmF) solution containing 1% fluoride. A total of 284 schoolchildren aged 6 years were recruited from a primary school in Milan, Italy, and randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The subjects of the experimental group received two applications each year of AmF to the permanent first molars and the control group subjects received similar applications of a placebo solution.

[Management of myocardial infarction in the Rhone-Alps area. Are there many variations in practice?].

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies after myocardial infarction and to examine variations in medical and surgical practice with respect to the severity of disease, status of the hospital and patients' characteristics. The method used was a prospective study with follow-up at 30 days and 18 months. The subjects came from an exhaustive cohort of all patients admitted to hospital for myocardial infarction during the month of April 1991 in 57 public and private hospitals in the Rhone-Alps region (n = 311).

[Assessment of costs of health insurance, substitution therapy in chronic renal insufficiency].

The authors have studied the cost of the different treatments proposed in ESRD to patients attended by the same nephrologic team. For each patient they have isolated two consecutive periods of treatment, each six months apart. Treatment modifications noted between the two periods allowed the patient to be used as his own control.

[Nutrition and health (not only dental)].

A correct alimentary education is a very important way to keep oneself in good health. From this statement, the Authors briefly illustrate the characteristics of a balanced diet and the effects of wrong nutritional habits, which are related to the most common oral diseases, dental caries in particular.

[The echocardiographic examination associated with the cold pressor test or the isometric force test in the evaluation of ischemic heart disease].

Sixteen angina patients were submitted to echocardiographic examination during the cold pressor test and during hand grip. Certain left ventricular function echocardiographic parameters were assessed in these subjects and in a further 14 patients presenting negative histories for cardiovascular diseases who represented the control group. Of the two tests associated with echocardiography, the cold pressor test appeared capable of inducing the more evident changes on left ventricular function compared to isometric effort in subjects suffering from ischaemic cardiopathy.

[Fluoridation of water in Europe. Review of the literature].

The numerous studies proving that fluoride administration, mainly via fluoridated water, is undoubtedly the most reliable, efficient and economic technique for the prevention of dental decay are considered. However we should not underestimate the existence of a certain degree of distrust among the public or certain technical and bureaucratic problems which can interfere with the diffusion of this method. The experiments conducted in some countries where water fluoridation has been introduced are also reviewed.

[Salivary tests and clinical indexes in selection of caries risk groups. Critical review of the literature].

The Authors briefly illustrate some recent findings about the selection of high caries risk groups. The aim of this study is to review some of the main contributes of the literature of the last years. The attention has been mainly focused on the used experimental design.