Thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery: brief review and meta-analysis.

Background: About 10% of women in childbearing age are positive for thyroid antibodies. The presence of such antibodies has been associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes, in particular miscarriage and pre-term delivery, even though the strength of these associations varies widely from one study to another.

Aim: To evaluate from the available data of the literature, the association between thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery.

Thyroid antibody positivity in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes.

Context: Thyroid antibody positivity during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes including spontaneous miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, and preterm delivery.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether thyroid antibody positivity in the first trimester of pregnancy in euthyroid women was associated with maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.

Design: The present trial is a component of a prospective trial published in 2010 that evaluated screening for thyroid disease during pregnancy and the impact of levothyroxine therapy in women who were thyroid peroxidase positive with a TSH above 2.

Hypothyroxinemia and pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate the peer-reviewed literature on iodine deficiency and hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy.

Methods: We review published studies on isolated hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy, methodology of free thyroxine (T4) assays, impact of iodine deficiency on free T4 levels, and status of ongoing prospective randomized trials of isolated hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy.

Results: Hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy is common.

Juxta-anastomotic stenosis of native arteriovenous fistulas: surgical treatment versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Purpose: Juxta-anastomotic stenosis (JAS) is a complication of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). Both surgical revision (SR) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) may correct JAS. In this study we compare the results for SR treatment versus PTA.

Increased pregnancy loss rate in thyroid antibody negative women with TSH levels between 2.5 and 5.0 in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Context: The definition of what constitutes a normal TSH during pregnancy is in flux. Recent studies suggested that the first trimester upper limit of normal for TSH should be 2.5 mIU/liter.

Serum proteomic profile of cutaneous malignant melanoma and relation to cancer progression: association to tumor derived alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activity.

Currently clinical outcome in melanoma is not predictable by known serum biomarkers. The only reliable tool for the diagnosis of this tumor is the histopathological assay after surgical removing. We used a proteomic approach in order to identify novel non-invasive serum biomarkers of melanoma.

Gross hematuria due to acquired haemophilia in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) is a rare inherited disease; acquired haemophilia, caused by factor VIII inhibitors, is a rare autoimmune disorder. Both diseases cause bleeding manifestations. We report a case of a young woman affected by hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia who was admitted to our unit because of gross hematuria.

Endothelial effects of antihypertensive treatment: focus on irbesartan.

The endothelium is characterized by a wide range of important homeostatic functions. It participates in the control of hemostasis, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, platelet and leukocyte interactions with the vessel wall, regulation of vascular tone, and of blood pressure. Many crucial vasoactive endogenous compounds are produced by the endothelial cells to control the functions of vascular smooth muscle cells and of circulating blood cells.

Selenium and thyroid autoimmunity.

The trace element selenium (Se) occurs in the form of the amino acid selenocysteine in selenoproteins. Selenoproteins exerts multiple physiological effects in human health, many of which are related with regulation of reduction-oxidation processes. In fact, the selenoenzyme families of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TRx) display the ability to act as antioxidants, protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Innate and adaptive immunity in patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an autosomal recessive syndrome characterised by chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) and multiple endocrine failures. While the spectrum and modalities of autoimmunity are the main objects of current research into APECED, unequivocal data on the efficiency of immune responses to infectious agents are still elusive. The in vitro ability of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes to phagocytise and kill bacteria and fungi, and the degree of activation of lymphocytes cultured with mitogens and Candida albicans were investigated by flow cytometry in 11 APECED patients and healthy subjects.

Morphological MRI and 3D Myelocisternography MRI in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. A Report of Four Cases.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a polyhedric syndrome whose common denominator is postural headache. We describe four cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, their clinical-iconographic aspects, and emphasize the use of morphological MRI in the diagnosis and follow-up of this condition. In addition, we propose 3D myelocisternography MRI as a further contribution in cerebrospinal fluid losses causing postural headache.

Modified transmanubrial osteomuscular sparing approach for resection of T1 vertebral tumor.

We report a technical modification of the classic transmanubrial osteomuscular sparing approach described by Grünenwald and Spaggiari for the treatment of a T1 vertebral tumor. The goal of the surgical treatment for spinal tumors of the cervico-thoracic area is to excise the vertebral tumor, reconstruct the spinal column, and place an internal fixation device to achieve immediate stabilization. The procedure was necessary for treating a patient who presented with an invasion of T1 vertebral body by multiple myeloma with initial neurological symptoms of epidural spinal cord compression.

Early experiences of intraoperative ultrasound guided angioplasty of the arterial stenosis during upper limb arteriovenous fistula creation.

In recent years the high prevalence of diabetes and atherosclerosis in elderly uremic patients starting hemodialysis (HD) has led to the increase in the risk of vascular access (VA) failure caused by pre-existing arterial diseases, including both VA slow maturation and early failure, and upper limb ischemic symptoms. Recently, in performing radial (R), brachial (B) and ulnar (U) artery (A) percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in HD patients affected by access thrombosis, with insufficient blood flow and severe upper limb ischemia, good outcomes have been reported. Nevertheless, these procedures were performed after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation.

Preoperative integrated imaging in paediatric cochlear implantation.

Sensorineural hearing loss affects one to two children out of 1000 born apparently healthy and 9% approximately of those born with the risk of different pathologies. The origin of premature deafness is unknown in 25% of children whereas it is genetic in some cases. Prevention and early diagnosis, possibly within six to eight months, aim to avoid deafness becoming a cause of disability.

Equine pericardium for dural grafts: clinical results in 200 patients.

Aim: Serous sheets are currently used in Neurosurgery as dural substitute. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the horse pericardium, which has the essential charasteristics of reabsorbable membranes and moreover is BSE-free, is an excellent dural substitute.

Methods: 200 patients, 53 suffering from cranial traumatic conditions and 97 from cranial and craniospinal neoplastic pathologies, underwent a surgical procedure with the application of horse pericardium as a dural prosthesis.

Extra-laryngeal manifestations of gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Of the various otorhinolaryngological disorders for which it has been recognized that gastro-oesophageal reflux is a possible causal or associated aetiological factor, those manifestations localized in the rhino-sinus and auricular district are certainly the "least studied". Herein, therefore, these manifestations are described, focusing on the physio-pathological aspects and the more important pathogenic hypotheses of the cough, as well as other lung manifestations.

Cervical anterior hyperostosis: a rare cause of dysphagia. Report of 3 cases.

Disorders of the cervical spine rarely cause dysphagia and/or dysphonia. Exuberant osteophytosis, secondary to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, also referred to as Forestier's disease, seems to be the predominant cause. Forestier's disease is a non inflammatory enthesopathy, of unknown etiology, ossifying the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine, sparing the discs, and usually affecting older men.

Ultrasound guided brachial arterial angioplasty during the creation of a radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula: a case report.

Unlabelled: To prevent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) early failure, due to radial or brachial artery stenosis, ultrasound guided angioplasty performed while surgically creating the AVF could be an effective procedure.

Case Report: A 76-year-old diabetic male patient, on hemodialysis (HD) for 15 months, presented extensive thrombosis of the radio-cephalic AVF at the right arm, which had lasted for about 10 days. Ultrasound examination showed a 40% brachial artery stenosis with eccentric calcified plaque.

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa outbreak in neonatal intensive care unit: microbiological features, clinical presentation, and analysis of related variables.

Reported here are the features of a Rhodotorula mucilaginosa outbreak that occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit. Over a period of 19 days, clinical and laboratory signs of sepsis appeared in four premature infants carrying indwelling vascular catheters. After bloodstream infection with R.

Cauda equina melanoma presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A case report.

The case of a 57-year-old woman with a primary melanoma of the cauda equina is reported. The peculiarity of the case is the very rare clinical presentation mimicking a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass.

The microsurgical approach to extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations. An analysis of 15 cases.

Aim: Extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations are uncommon, but thanks to recent progress in imaging procedures, they may be easily diagnosed. Several surgical approaches have been described and employed to remove these herniations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical, radiological and surgical features which differentiate the treatment of this type of hernia from the more common surgical approaches to other types of lumbar disc hernias.

Placement of peritoneal dialysis catheter by percutaneous method with the Veress needle.

In our center, a total of 451 peritoneal dialysis catheters were implanted in 424 uremic patients from 1986 to 1999. All catheters were implanted by the percutaneous method of Di Paolo. From 1986 to May 1997 (period A), we inserted 389 catheters using the Weston-Roberts catheter armed with a metallic sharp mandrel for the first access to the peritoneal cavity.

Hypertensive pneumocephalus and nasal fistula in ventriculo-peritoneal shunt: case report and review of literature.

A case of hypertensive endoventricular pneumocephalus associated with rhinoliquorrea raised after about 2 years from the application of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus by stenosis of aqueduct is presented. The causes of such complication and diagnostic possibilities to point out the fistula by CT and ventricular cisternography are to talk over. Even the indication of external CSF drainage or to the repairing treatment will be discussed.