Metabolic control in children and adolescents with diabetes: experience of two Italian Regional Centers.

A survey on glycemic control in 201 diabetic children and adolescents, aged 0-18 years, was performed in two Italian Centers for Childhood Diabetes (Chieti and Parma). Mean HbA1c was 7.8+/-1.4 (range 4.8-13.3%; median 7.6%). With progression of diabetes duration, deterioration of glycemic control was observed (r=0.20; p< 0.002), more evident in girls than in boys, with peaks at 14 (8.9+/-2.0 vs 6.9+/-1.7%; p<0.05) and 16 years (9.5+/-1.4% vs 8.1+/-1.1; p<0.02). No differences were found in BMI values in boys or girls, or for insulin doses which were increased significantly in both sexes according to age (r= 0.33, p<0.04). The number of insulin injections did not influence glycemic control. Only one severe hypoglycemic episode was reported during the period of observation. This study demonstrates that modern management, continuous education and patient and family empowerment are effective in attaining excellent glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.

[Nephrogenic metaplasia. A particular clinical and anatomopathologic entity]. / La metaplasia nefrogenica. Una particolare entità clinica ed anatomopatologica.

Two cases of nephrogenic adenoma are presented. The authors consider nephrogenic metaplasia as a reaction to inflammatory agents and point out the importance of differential diagnosis with nephrogenic adenocarcinoma, in which a different surgical procedure is requested.

[Pathology and clinical course of pancreatic pseudocyst]. / Patologia e clinica delle pseudocisti pancreatiche.

According to the literature and the personal experience of the authors there seem to exist many controversies on the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts, partly due to the lack of definitions and to the fact that prognosis is different based upon the pathophysiology of the lesions. We report 4 cases of pancreatic pseudocysts successfully treated with a multidisciplinary approach, stressing the role of pharmacology and of artificial nutrition and endoscopy on the outcome of these lesions.

[Perianal Paget's disease: clinical observation and review of the literature]. / Malattia di Paget perianale: osservazione clinica e rassegna della letteratura.

The authors present a case of PPD, stressing the importance to distinguish "true" PPD from pagetoid spread, for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This distinction is possible by using immunohistochemical stains, with particular regarding Ab-GCDFP-15, considered specific marker for Paget's cell.

Ischemic colitis with chronic stenotic evolution.

The authors describes a case of ischemic chronic stenosis of colon after aneurysmectomy. They consider eziopatogenesis, clinical aspects and differential diagnosis with other causes of large bowel stenosis. They illustrate on therapeutic sequence after examination of recent literature.

[Anorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma: observations on a case and review of the literature]. / I carcinomi neuroendocrini anorettali: osservazione di un caso e rassegna della letteratura.

Carcinoid tumours of the anorectum are rare (0.7% of malignant rectal tumours). Because of this rarity several aspects of the management of these tumours remain controversial. Diagnosis may be delayed because of failure to recognize their morphological characteristics and histological appearance may not reflect their biological behaviour. Immunocytochemistry for neuroendocrine-cells are essential to identify different types of carcinoid tumours and to do differential diagnosis from other malignant tumours. All that allow an exact therapeutic approach to these tumours. The tumours less than cm 1 in diameter can be safely treated by local excision; the tumours more than cm 1 in diameter are treated by radical surgery (AAP).

[Squamous carcinoma of the anal canal and its variations. Personal experience and review of the literature]. / Il carcinoma squamoso del canale anale e sue varianti. Esperienza personale e rassegna della letteratura.

Six cases of anal canal squamous carcinoma are presented. The authors precise the present view about pathological, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical aspects of these lesions. They stress, also, the primary role of embryology and anatomy in the oncogenesis of such tumours; the importance to single out specific population at risk, absolutely different from the typical one for rectal adenocarcinoma and the role of chemoradiation therapy as treatment of choice of these neoplasms. Particular importance is given to modern histologic and histogenetic classification of these tumours, stressing the difficulties to distinguish the various histologic types.

[Nutritional and defunctionalized jejunostomy in the chemotherapeutic treatment of gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Preliminary experience]. / La digiunostomia nutrizionale e defunzionalizzante nel trattamento chemioterapico del linfoma non Hodgkin a sede gastrica. Esperienza preliminare.

The authors propose a jejunostomy on an omega loop distal to the Treitz ligament as a treatment for unresectable gastric lymphomas. The rationale is to provide nutritional support during chemotherapy in a situation when the stomach is defunctionalised. As assessed by clinical, morphological and biological parameters, the association of chemotherapy and jejunostomy may represent a valid therapeutical strategy for patients considered unresectable.

[Tietze's syndrome: importance of differential diagnosis and role of CT]. / Sindrome di Tietze: importanza della diagnostica differenziale e ruolo della TC.

A case of Tietze's syndrome is reported. A 55-year-old woman had experienced left anterior chest pain and tender swelling of the left second costosternal junction for one month. CT showed a focal enlargement of the left second costal cartilage with partial calcification. Six months later a complete recovery was registered and a second CT scan was negative. These clinical and CT findings are consistent with Tietze's syndrome.

[Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms of the anterior tibial artery: a review of the literature and a clinical case report]. / Pseudoaneurismi post-traumatici dell'arteria tibiale anteriore: revisione della letteratura e presentazione di un caso clinico.

The authors after a review of the literature report a case of anterior tibial artery false aneurysm in a seventeen year old male, due to traumatic sprained ankle during a basketball match. Surgical techniques used in repairing the lesion as well as microsurgical technique for the direct suture of the artery, which allowed to resolve the problem, are discussed.

[Juvenile vascular pathology due to homocystinuria. A clinical case report]. / Patologia vascolare giovanile da omocistinuria. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

The authors report a case of juvenile vasculopathy in a homocystinuria patient. They point out that thromboembolism may be the only symptomatic expression of this genetically determined metabolic disease. Diagnostic approach and surgical therapy of the vascular lesions as well as medical therapy to prevent further complications are analysed. The opportunity to perform clinical tests for the diagnosis of homocystinuria in all those young patients presenting vascular lesions without other risk factors is finally stressed.

[Endoscopic surgery of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)]. / La chirurgia endoscopica nell'insufficienza venosa cronica (IVC): risultati preliminari.

The endoscopic technique in chronic venous insufficiency is simple and almost complication free. Our preliminary results due to a good postoperative course and to a quick return to social activity induce the Authors to indicate this type of procedure as the best treatment in chronic venous insufficiency.

[Role of total thyroidectomy in benign multinodular benign goiter]. / Il ruolo della tiroidectomia totale nella tireopatia nodulare plurifocale benigna.

The Authors report a review of the Literature and their personal series to evaluate the role of total thyroidectomy in the surgical management of non-toxic multinodular goiter. On the basis of the data obtained, the Authors consider total thyroidectomy the therapy of choice for this pathology.

[Ambulatory surgery of varices: our experience]. / La chirurgia ambulatoriale delle varici: nostra esperienza.

The Authors, on the basis of their experience with 196 patients aged from 18 to 45, affected by relapsing varicose veins, stress the advantages of the outpatient treatment according to Muller's technique. For these lesions excellent aesthetic and functional results, easy surgical technique, low incidence of complications, prompt resumption to work were registered.