Gonadotropin therapy for mini-puberty induction in male infants with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a systematic review.

Context: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is defined as an isolated deficiency of gonadotropin hormones. Mini-puberty, a transient postnatal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in healthy infants, provides a window of opportunity to diagnose and treat CHH. Currently, in male infants with CHH, testosterone is used to increase phallus size.

Noonan Syndrome Growth Charts and Genotypes: 15-Year Longitudinal Single-Centre Study.

Introduction: Growth patterns in Noonan syndrome (NS) remain relatively unknown. The objective of this study was to provide growth reference curves for patients with NS and identify correlations between their growth, genotype, and clinical features.

Methods: This was a 15-year-long, monocentric, observational, retrospective, non-interventional study.

Thyroiditis and COVID-19: focus on pediatric age. A narrative review.

Purpose: In light of the growing concern over the possible link between SARS-CoV2 infection and autoimmune diseases, we conducted a review to investigate the impact of the pandemic outbreak on thyroid diseases.

Methods: We carried out a narrative review of all pediatric cases described in the literature, mainly focusing on the possible association of COVID-19 with the incidence of autoimmune and post-infective thyroid diseases (namely Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT), Grave's Disease (GD) and Sub-Acute Thyroiditis (SAT)). We also felt it was necessary to provide a brief review of Non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) because of their overlap with thyroiditis.

Tall stature and gigantism in transition age: clinical and genetic aspects-a literature review and recommendations.

Purpose: Tall stature is defined as height greater than the threshold of more than 2 standard deviations above the average population height for age, sex, and ethnicity. Many studies have described the main aspects of this condition during puberty, but an analysis of the characteristics that the physician should consider in the differential diagnosis of gigantism-tall stature secondary to a pituitary tumour-during the transition age (15-25 years) is still lacking.

Methods: A comprehensive search of English-language original articles was conducted in the MEDLINE database (December 2021-March 2022).

Vitamin D and Bone Metabolism in Adult Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic multisystemic autosomal dominant disorder determining reduced life expectancy due to higher risk of developing benign and malignant tumors. Low levels of vitamin D and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) have been reported in young patients with NF1. However, correlation between vitamin D and NF1 phenotype needs to be elucidated.

Complete Fundus Mobilization Reduces Dysphagia After Nissen Procedure.

Anti-reflux surgery is an effective treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nevertheless, surgery is still indicated with great caution in relation to the risk of complications, and in particular to postoperative dysphagia (PD). To compare the clinical outcomes, with particular focus on the incidence and severity of PD, of laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication (NRF) and floppy Nissen fundoplication (FNF) with complete fundus mobilization, in the surgical treatment of GERD.

Models of community-based primary care for epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: To review systematically community-based primary care interventions for epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries to rationalize approaches and outcome measures in relation to epilepsy care in these countries.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Global Index Medicus, CINAHL, and Web of Science was undertaken to identify trials and implementation of provision of antiseizure medications, adherence reinforcement, and/or health care provider or community education in community-based samples of epilepsy. Data on populations addressed, interventions, and outcomes were extracted from eligible articles.

Therapeutic efficacy of ozenoxacin in animal models of dermal infection with Staphylococcus aureus.

Aim: To assess different concentrations and formulations of topical ozenoxacin using a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus dermal infection for identification of the best formulation for treating patients with impetigo.

Materials & Methods: The efficacy of ozenoxacin formulations was compared with vehicle control, mupirocin and retapamulin ointments in a mouse model.

Results: The most effective concentrations of ozenoxacin for reducing S.

Evaluating the Surgeons' Perception of Difficulties of Two Techniques to Perform STARR for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: A Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Background: After initial enthusiasm in the use of a dedicated curved stapler (CCS-30 Contour Transtar) to perform stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) for obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), difficulties have emerged in this surgical technique.

Objective: First, to compare surgeons' perception of difficulties of STARR performed with only Transtar versus STARR performed with the combined use of linear staplers and Transtar to cure ODS associated with large internal prolapse and rectocele; second, to compare the postoperative incidence of the urge to defecate between the 2 STARR procedures.

Design And Setting: An Italian multicenter randomized trial involving 25 centers of colorectal surgery.

Transverse Perineal Support: A Novel Surgical Treatment for Perineal Descent in Patients With Obstructed Defecation Syndrome.

Background: We hypothesized that pathological perineal descent may be responsible for the failure of operations for obstructed defecation syndrome and that correcting excessive perineal descent may improve the outcome in this group of patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the short-term preliminary results of a novel surgical procedure, transverse perineal support, for the correction of pathological perineal descent.

Design: This was a prospective, uncontrolled, open-label study.

Myoxinol (Hydrolyzed Hibiscus esculentus Extract) in the Cure of Chronic Anal Fissure: Early Clinical and Functional Outcomes.

Objective. This study was designed to evaluate the early results of the topical application of Hydrolyzed Hibiscus esculentus Extract 3% ointment (Myoxinol 3%), a novel local product with Botox-like activity, in the conservative treatment of chronic anal fissure (CAF). Methods.

Role of tridimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-EAUS) in the preoperative assessment of perianal sepsis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of tridimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-EAUS) in the diagnosis of perianal sepsis comparing the results with the surgical findings, considered as reference standard.

Methods: From January 2009 to January 2013, all the patients referred for the assessment and treatment of perianal sepsis with suspected anorectal origin were enrolled in the study. All patients gave informed written consent.

A Prospective Screening of HLA-B*57.01 Allelic Variant for Preventing the Hypersensivity Reaction to Abacavir: Experience from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Infectious Diseases Division at the University Hospital of Salerno.

Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor largely used as part of the antiretroviral therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients. Some individuals (2-9%) who start an abacavir treatment show an immunologic reaction indicated as hypersensitivity reaction syndrome (HSR) that is often responsible for therapy discontinuation and could represent a life-threatening event. Some studies demonstrated a correlation between this adverse reaction and the class I of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele, HLA-B*57.

Alkaloids from marine invertebrates as important leads for anticancer drugs discovery and development.

The present review describes research on novel natural antitumor alkaloids isolated from marine invertebrates. The structure, origin, and confirmed cytotoxic activity of more than 130 novel alkaloids belonging to several structural families (indoles, pyrroles, pyrazines, quinolines, and pyridoacridines), together with some of their synthetic analogs, are illustrated. Recent discoveries concerning the current state of the potential and/or development of some of them as new drugs, as well as the current knowledge regarding their modes of action, are also summarized.

A polypill strategy to improve adherence: results from the FOCUS project.

Background: Adherence to evidence-based cardiovascular (CV) medications after an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is low after the first 6 months. The use of fixed-dose combinations (FDC) has been shown to improve treatment adherence and risk factor control. However, no previous randomized trial has analyzed the impact of a polypill strategy on adherence in post-MI patients.

A single-dose, randomized, double-blind, double dummy, placebo and positive-controlled, five-way cross-over study to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of lorediplon in a phase advance model of insomnia in healthy Caucasian adult male subjects.

Objective: A 5-h phase advance model of insomnia was used to evaluate the efficacy of lorediplon, a new non-benzodiazepine hypnotic.

Methods: Thirty-five male, healthy subjects were included in a five-way randomized cross-over study. During each of the periods, sleep was recorded, and residual effects were measured.

Phallusiasterols A and B: two new sulfated sterols from the Mediterranean tunicate Phallusia fumigata and their effects as modulators of the PXR receptor.

Purification of the apolar extracts of the marine ascidian Phallusia fumigata, afforded two new sulfated sterols, phallusiasterols A (1) and B (2). The structures of the new compounds have been elucidated using mass spectrometry and NMR experiments. The effects of phallusiasterols A and B as modulators of pregnane-X-receptor (PXR) have been investigated.

Meroterpenes from marine invertebrates: structures, occurrence, and ecological implications.

Meroterpenes are widely distributed among marine organisms; they are particularly abundant within brown algae, but other important sources include microorganisms and invertebrates. In the present review the structures and bioactivities of meroterpenes from marine invertebrates, mainly sponges and tunicates, are summarized. More than 300 molecules, often complex and with unique skeletons originating from intra- and inter-molecular cyclizations, and/or rearrangements, are illustrated.

Further investigation of the Mediterranean sponge Axinella polypoides: isolation of a new cyclonucleoside and a new betaine.

An exhaustive exploration into the metabolic content of the Mediterranean sponge Axinella-polypoides resulted in the isolation of the new betaine 5 and the new cyclonucleoside 8. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by spectroscopic methods assisted by computational methods. The analysis also provided evidence that the sponge does not elaborate pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids (PIAs) but, interestingly, it was shown to contain two already known cyclodipeptides, compounds 9 (verpacamide A) and 10.

New bioactive alkyl sulfates from Mediterranean tunicates.

Chemical investigation of two species of marine ascidians, Aplidium elegans and Ciona edwardsii, collected in Mediterranean area, led to isolation of a series of alkyl sulfates (compounds 1-5) including three new molecules 1-3. Structures of the new metabolites have been elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Based on previously reported cytotoxic activity of these type of molecules, compounds 1-3 have been tested for their effects on the growth of two cell lines, J774A.

Five-item score for obstructed defecation syndrome: study of validation.

The use of a dedicated score represents an essential tool for the clinical staging of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), for subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic options, and for the evaluation of the results. This study was designed to develop and validate a new, simple, and disease-specific scoring system for ODS. The questionnaire consists of 5 items: excessive straining, incomplete rectal evacuation, use of enemas and/or laxatives, vaginal-anal-perineal digitations, and abdominal discomfort and/or pain.

PPH-01 versus PPH-03 to perform STARR for the treatment of hemorrhoids associated with large internal rectal prolapse: a prospective multicenter randomized trial.

Purpose: This multicenter randomized study was designed to compare the clinical and functional results of stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) performed with 2 staplers (PPH-01 vs. PPH-03) in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease associated with a large internal rectal prolapse.

Methods: From a total of 937 patients, referred for hemorrhoidal disease in the 20 centers involved in the study, 425 (45.

Improved clinical outcomes with a new contour-curved stapler in the surgical treatment of obstructed defecation syndrome: a mid-term randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stapled transanal rectal resection has become the primary surgical procedure for surgical treatment of obstructed defecation syndrome caused by rectocele or rectal intussusception. The procedure is generally performed with 2 circular staplers. Recently, a dedicated contour-curved stapler was developed.