Cervical cancer screening in the Ferrara Local Health Authority catchment area.

Since 1996, the Emilia-Romagna Region has been promoting screening programmes for cervical cancer, selecting resident women aged 25-64 as a target population. This analysis concerns a second round of screening performed in the city of Ferrara and its province. A total of 103,971 women were invited to be screened, but only 55.51% of them arrived on the day of the scheduled screening. We therefore decided to investigate the reasons for this lack of participation using preliminary findings from the local screening program registry. These indicated that non-attendance was related to variables such as area of residence and age, and significant differences were observed between localities, with a consistently greater participation in industrial neighbourhoods and their surroundings than in rural areas. In order to elucidate these observations further, a cross-sectional survey, placing special emphasis on setting, area of residence, age and level of education, was performed by structured telephone questionnaire, in order to identify the reasons behind non-attendance. Approximately 94% of the contacted women agreed to be interviewed, thereby demonstrating that a telephone interview is a valid means of collecting data in such cases. It should be noted that, among the women unwilling to respond to the questionnaire, a marked increase in percentage was observed for those resident in rural areas, of whom approximately 50% fell into the under-40 age group. The results of the survey indicated, as demonstrated by several previous studies, that age and the area of residence are both determining factors in the decision or not to participate in a screening programme. It was also observed that women who had completed the lower and upper secondary school education were shown to pay greater attention to health matters than those who had not.

Esthetic double-structure fixed partial dentures.

A new technical procedure for fixed partial dentures and single inlays allows the use of a metal supporting structure with independent ceramic coverage. The advantages of the technique are the bonding of metal to beveled dentinal margins with conventional cement and the acid-etched resin composite cementation of the ceramic, which permits more conservative preparation of the teeth. The complexity of the structure, the laboratory costs, and the doubling of the cementation procedures are the main disadvantages of the technique.

[Bridge supports on horizontal selfthreading parapulpar pins and slices]. / Appoggi di ponti su slice e perni parapulpari autofilettanti orizzontali

A new technique for the construction of small bridges consisting of the attachment of braces to live teeth by means of horizontal parapulpar pins and slices is described.

Artificially produced urinary incontinence preparatory to enterocystoplasty of the small tuberculous bladder associated with severe renal insufficiency due to vesico-ureteric reflux. Long-term results.

The small contracted tuberculous bladder is often associated with vesico-uretenic reflux which, from the resultant ureteric and pelvic dilatation, is responsible in many cases for severe renal insufficiency which contraindicates entercystoplasty. In order to improve kidney function and consequently render plastic enlargement of the bladder feasible, it may be useful to induce complete incontinence of urine by means of wide TUR of the bladder neck extending to the external sphincter. By eliminating back pressure in the urinary tract, incontinence produces a regression of this dilatation and improved renal function. Following enterocystoplasty perfect continence is restored.

Temporary intranasal prosthesis for a surgical defect of septum and columella.

A temporary intranasal prosthesis for the treatment of a surgical defect of the septum and columella after resection for a neoplasm has been described. The prosthesis is applied as soon as possible after surgery, which will limit complications during healing. Silicone elastomer is used because its softness does not produce decubitus ulcer, and it will accurately fit the surgical defect. The prosthesis can be relined easily during the postoperative period.