Efficacy of balneotherapy on pain, function, and sleep quality in patients with chronic low-back pain: a prospective observational study.

The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of a cycle of sulfate-arsenical-ferruginous mud bath therapy on pain, function, and sleep quality in patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP). One hundred twenty-three patients treated at Levico Spa Center (Italy) with 12 daily local mud packs and generalized thermal baths were included in this experience. General medical assessments were performed before starting the therapy, at the end of the treatment, and 3 months later.

Breastfeeding and presence of the companion of woman's choice during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: regional population-based routine data and best practices at birth.

Objectives: to describe the monthly trend of breastfeeding during hospitalization and the presence of companion of woman's choice during labour and birth, and the key regional responders' perspective of homogeneity/heterogeneity of the presence of the support person, before, during (February-May 2020), and after the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in a few Italian Regions.

Design: two-phase study.

Setting And Participants: data from the italian birth certificate of six Italian Regions between 01.

A novel smartphone App to support the clinical practice of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus: the validation of visual acuity tests.

Unlabelled: This study is aimed at describing the TreC Oculistica novel smartphone App that facilitated the clinical practice of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus during the COVID-19 pandemic and at reporting on the validation of visual acuity tests in a home setting. The Trec Oculistica smartphone App was prescribed to eligible patients at the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Clinic, Ophthalmology Unit of Rovereto Hospital, between September 2020 and March 2022. Four key indicators were identified for monitoring visual and visuo-motor functions remotely: visual acuity, ocular motility, head posture, and color vision.

The role of cardiac imaging before and after left atrial appendage standalone thoracoscopic exclusion.

Aims: To assess the characteristics of left atrial appendage (LAA) stump and left atrial (LA) volume after standalone totally thoracoscopic LAA exclusion in 40 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and contraindications to oral anticoagulation (OAC), using cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).

Methods: Using CCT and TOE, we evaluated correct AtriClip Pro II positioning, the presence and characteristics of the LAA stump and the postprocedural LA volume, at 3 months' follow-up. Stump depth was measured with both CCT and TOE using a new method, based on left circumflex artery (LCX) course.

Changes in volumes and severity of surgical urgencies during the first two COVID-19 pandemic waves in a regional hospital network.

Background and aim This study analyses the impact of the first two pandemic waves on surgical urgencies/emergencies and their consequences on an entire provincial hospital network's surgical activities. Methods  Clinical and epidemiological data of urgent/emergent surgical admissions and interventions in the Autonomous Province of Trento's hospital network were collected from the internal common electronic database. The investigation periods were March-May 2019 (reference period), March-May 2020 (phase-I), June - August 2020 (phase-II), and October - December 2020 (phase-III).

Esiti avversi perinatali correlati all'indice di massa corporea pregravidico.

Background: a high body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of complications and adverse outcomes for both mother and infant.

Objectives: to analyse the main adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with maternal excess weight and obesity.

Design: retrospective epidemiological study.

Characteristics associated with clinical response to Comano thermal spring water balneotherapy in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Several studies have investigated the efficacy of balneotherapy in atopic dermatitis (AD), including a pediatric open randomized clinical trial conducted at the Comano thermal spring water center, which showed a significant reduction in AD severity and an improvement of the quality of life. However, so far many studies on balneotherapy in pediatric AD have included relatively small populations without identifying patients' characteristics associated with their response. The aim of the present study was to identify any features associated with the clinical response to the Comano thermal spring water balneotherapy in a large cohort of pediatric AD patients.

Assessing patients' characteristics and treatment patterns among children with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common immune-mediated skin disease in childhood. Several treatment options for pediatric AD, both topical and systemic, are currently available. We carried out a single-center observational study with the aim of describing characteristics and treatment patterns in pediatric AD patients.

A comprehensive assessment of the impact of a colorectal cancer screening program in a northern Italian area.

Background: The impact of a faecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program in terms of patient prognosis could be affected by lead-time bias, which artificially increases the survival of screen-detected patients due to the early diagnosis.

Aims: To provide a description of the impact of the CRC screening program in the Trentino Region (Italy), including the Cure Fraction (CF), a prognostic indicator not affected by lead-time bias.

Methods: The program started in 2008, inviting the resident population aged 50-69 years.

Validation of the 2WIN Corneal Reflexes App in children.

Purpose: To test the reliability and accuracy of the 2Win Refractometer Corneal Reflexes App (CR App) in detecting manifest strabismus in pediatric patients.

Methods: Prospective study involving 167 children with suspected strabismus (mean age 7.6 years; SD = 3.

Predictive value of the sentinel lymph node procedure in the staging of non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Despite the recent growing interest of the scientific community, there is still no consensus on the actual applicability and effectiveness of sentinel lymph node (SL) procedure in colon cancers. This study aims to quantify feasibility, detection rate, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the SL identified with fluorescent dye in early colon cancers (ECC).

Methods: This study conducted a consecutive sampling of 95 patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer who have been treated with laparoscopic colon resection and complete mesocolic excision after a 25-mg indocyanine green peritumoral laparoscopic injection and SL identification with a near-infrared camera.

A caregiver-reported global severity assessment in pediatric atopic eczema: the Comano score.

Atopic eczema (AE) is the most common inflammatory skin disease in infancy and its prevalence is rising worldwide. It has a wide social impact on the affected children and their families' lives. AE can have a chronic and heterogeneous course, with periods of remission and relapse of the clinical manifestations.

Epidemiology and biological characteristics of male breast cancer in Italy.

Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology of male breast cancer (MBC) in Italy and to describe incidence and survival data in relation to age, morphology, year of incidence, geographic area, and possible association with other cancers compared with female BC.

Methods: Cases were extracted from 40 Italian Cancer Registries. Standardized incidence rates (SIR), age-specific rates, and 5-year survival were calculated.

Comparison of 2Win and plusoptiX A12R refractometers with Retinomax handheld autorefractor keratometer.

Purpose: To test the accuracy and validity of the 2Win and the plusoptiX A12R refractometers in detecting amblyopia risk factors.

Methods: Children were screened using both devices, using two sets of referral criteria each, and underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including cycloplegic refraction. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.