Prevalence and co-occurrence of unhealthy lifestyle habits and behaviours among secondary school students in Tuscany, central Italy.

OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy habits acquired during adolescence may persist in adulthood and eventually increase the risk of chronic illnesses. STUDY DESIGN: We reported on a survey conducted in 2013-2015 among secondary school students in Tuscany, central Italy. METHODS: We compared the prevalence of self-reported lifestyle characteristics and overweight/obesity between genders and age groups (14-16 vs 17-21 years). We partitioned each gender- and age-specific stratum into groups based on cigarette smoking and engagement in sport activities, and compared the prevalence of other unhealthy lifestyles across groups using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Overall, 2167 students (53.3% males, mean age 16.8 years) were included. Males were more frequently overweight/obese than females. Cigarette smoking increased with age and did not differ by gender. Males were more likely to engage in sport activities, drink alcoholic beverages and adopt other unhealthy lifestyle habits, whereas females reported a more frequent use of painkillers. Cigarette smoking was the single lifestyle characteristic most consistently associated with other unhealthy habits. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and patterns of co-occurrence of unhealthy lifestyle habits varied by gender and age group among secondary school students in Italy. Our findings should be taken into account when planning public health initiatives aiming to combat obesity and tackle unhealthy lifestyles among secondary school students in Italy.

Total thyroidectomy in Basedow-Graves' disease treatment: our experience.

In the present study the authors, after a short historical description of the Basedow-Graves' disease, describe their case-study gathered over the last five years. They mention the most widely accepted hypothesis regarding disease's etiology, strongly linked to autoimmune disorders, and the role that some viral agents (Coksackie B and HTLV-II) may have in initiating autoantibody production and T cells activation in genetically predisposed individuals. Basic and clinical aspects of the diagnosis and disease treatment, highlighting the use of thyroidectomy, are addressed. They conclude that total thyroidectomy represents today the treatment of choice, which, after appropriate preparation to reach the euthyroidism condition, can ensure a successful cure.

Neutrophil-rich gastric carcinomas: light and electron microscopic study of 9 cases with particular reference to neutrophil apoptosis.

The authors report 9 cases of gastric carcinomas characterized by a prominent neutrophilic infiltration of the stroma. These tumors (8 of intestinal type, 1 of diffuse type) showed a pushing growth pattern. Metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes was seen in 5 cases. The metastatic foci were associated with heavy neutrophilia as well. There was no histologic evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas various degrees of multifocal intestinal metaplasia were present in the background mucosa. Based on histologic and histochemical results, there were no apparent causes due to other infectious agents responsible for the neutrophil-rich gastric carcinomas. Some of intraepithelial and stromal neutrophils exhibited apoptotic changes, such as chromatin condensation and cell shrinkage, and were TUNEL-positive. Electron microscopy disclosed apoptotic neutrophils in cytoplasmic vacuoles of tumor cells, a finding suggestive of neutrophil-tumor cell phagocytosis (cannibalism). Different stages of neutrophil apoptosis were also shown by electron microscopy and the ultrastructural findings were compared to those described in experimental models, both in vivo and in vitro.

Unilateral synchronous breast tumors. Rare association of myofibroblastoma and osteosarcoma.

The authors describe the case of a patient with two particularly rare contiguous tumors, myofibroblastoma and osteosarcoma, in the same breast. Rare does not mean untreatable, and the chance of recovery is no less than with more common tumors. However, rare tumors do present a significant problem for pathologists due to diagnostic difficulties, and so an exact prognosis is not always possible.

Indications for and limits of conservative surgery in breast cancer.

Improvements in diagnostic techniques and, above all, breast cancer screening campaigns - essential for early diagnosis - have enabled the objectives of conservative surgery to be pursued: disease control, no or low incidence of recurrences and an excellent esthetic result. However, to reach these objectives, it is essential to ensure a careful evaluation of the medical history of every patient, a detailed clinical examination and the correct interpretation of imaging. Particular attention should be paid to all factors influencing the choice of treatment and/or possible local recurrence: age, site, tumor volume, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, previous radiotherapy, pathological features, and surgical margins. The decision to undertake conservative treatment thus requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pathologists, surgeons and oncological radiologists, as well, of course, as the patient herself.

Liver trauma. Diagnosis and treatment.

The authors summarize the essential steps in liver surgery. Modern imaging techniques are of great help in establishing a circumstantiated diagnosis of post-traumatic lesions of the intra-abdominal parenchymatous organs, and especially the liver. Such diagnosis must always be based on the AAST (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) classification, essential for a correct approach. Each therapeutic choice must be based on a careful clinical evaluation to establish whether emergency exploration of the abdomen or simple patient monitoring is indicated. Organ injuries and consequent hemoperitoneum must be found and quantified. In any case, diagnosis and treatment must only begin once all measures have been taken to ensure the maintenance of vital functions and the normalization of the main blood chemistry parameters.

[Etiopathogenetic and clinical considerations of corpus luteum cysts]. / Considerazioni etiopatogenetiche e cliniche sulle cisti luteiniche del corpo luteo.

The Authors report a case of hemoperitoneum after breaking of luteal cyst of corpus luteum and stress the main characteristics of this pathology. Ovarian cysts are frequently observed in the annexa; they are distinguished in folliculis cysts, luteal cysts, luteal cysts of corpus luteum. Their evolution, influenzed so both by endocrine factors so many from plogistic stimulation, pass through three essential moments: - obliteration for quick cicatrization of the stigma Graafian follicle; - hematic pouring and central softening; - increase of intracavitary fluid that stops with constitution of the fibrous tissue. In the second phase of the menstrual cycle, functional-anatomic changes occur that cause the formation of gravidic corpus luteum or menstrual corpus luteum. The luteal cysts of corpus luteum represent the result of the cystic evolution of the corpus luteum. These cysts are characterized by an intense endocrine activity and can frequently produce a surplus of steroids, particulary of progesterone. They can cause bleeding, often of slight entity but also severe that; these represent a frequent and dangerous complication, especially in women subjected to anticoagulant treatment with warfarin. This drug can determine a raise of intracystic pressure with consequent breaking of the capsule and hemoperitoneum for which is necessary emergency operation like in the case here described.

[Approach to male breast cancer. Our experience]. / L'approccio al cancro della mammella maschile. Nostra esperienza.

Male breast cancer is a rare neoplasia and represents only 1% of all forms of breast cancer. The etiopathogenesis of breast carcinoma is still unknown in both males and females, but an altered hormonal metabolism may play a role in its genesis. The prognosis of breast cancer is slightly worse in males, especially in cases with axillary lymph node metastases. The paper discusses the therapy administered to 8 patients with male breast cancer who were treated by the authors between January 1983 and April 1990.

[Current trends in the treatment of perforated colonic diverticulitis]. / Attualità nel trattamento della diverticolite perforata del colon.

The authors, after having examined the cases of complicated diverticulitis operated between 1985 and 1993, confirm that the surgical treatment for this particular pathology is strictly dependent on the local or general seriousness. In the light of this they consider an operation for resection and anastomosis 1st stage justifiable only in selected cases; colostomy and drainage in particularly serious cases, preferring Hartmann's method of operation for the 3rd and 4th stages of Chappuis and Chon. The results obtained agree in a satisfactory manner with the data in the literature.

[Fluconazole in the therapy of candidiasis in intensive care]. / Fluconazolo nella terapia delle candidosi in terapia intensiva.

The authors studied four patients in ICU suffering from Candida infections who were treated with a new bis-triazole antimycotic, fluconazole. Various parameters of blood chemistry and blood and urine drug levels were monitored. After treatment all microbiological tests had become negative and clinical conditions had improved considerably within 30 to 60 days. No significant side effects were observed.

[Treatment of single hepatic metastasis from surgically treated breast carcinoma. (Report of a clinical case and review of the literature)]. / Trattamento di metastasi epatica singola da carcinoma mammario operato. (Presentazione di un caso clinico e revisione della letteratura).

In the natural history of the breast cancer, the liver metastatic location represents a clear element of an advanced stage of the disease, because it is often accompanied to multiple locations in the same organ and/or in different organs and tissues. The finding into two years after the primary intervention, during the ordinary follow-up, of an insulated metastasis in the 3rd hepatic segment in a patient operated for breast carcinoma, and the following surgical treatment of the metastasis, have suggested us to draft this note. The finding of a single metastasis in the liver in patients operated for breast carcinoma imposes a revaluation of the stage of sickness to highlight the contemporary presence of subsequent distance metastatic location; the negativity of the instrumental investigations performed has triggered the question about the type of therapeutic treatment to do to the patient. The range of therapeutic hypothesis spaces from the ultrasound guided mini-invasive techniques (alcoholization, infusion of LAK cells, use of radio frequencies), to the chemotherapy, so general that local one, by means of super selective catheterization of the hepatic artery, up to the, finally, minus usual (in these cases) surgical therapy. In the patient observed we have chosen the surgical treatment, consisting of a segmentary resection, we haven't any complication, neither intra- nor post-operative, and the patient was discharged in 8th day. Our choice of the surgical approach has bean consequence of an attentive evaluation so of the clinical indicators of the patient (good general conditions, bulk of the injury and surgical treatableness) that of the biological parameters of the neoplasm. The results of our experience, in line with whet indicated from the other AA., encourage the choice of the surgical treatment of the insulated hepatic metastasis from breast carcinoma, with the awareness of the concept of "adjuvant" that it necessarily engages in such circumstances, and, however, after an accurate selection of the patients.

[A case of intestinal obstructions caused by a gossypiboma]. / Su un caso di occlusione intestinale da garzoma.

The Authors explain a case of intestinal obstruction due to a gossypiboma. They stress the great importance of the prevention in surgical operations (count of surgical towels, exploration of the surgical site) and the role of the differential diagnosis.

[Use of endoscopic ultrasonography in the staging of esophageal tumors]. / L'impiego dell'ecoendoscopia nello staging dei tumori esofagei.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) was performed in 15 patients with esophageal and cardial carcinoma with the aim to evaluate intramural or extraesophageal invasion and regional lymph node metastases. In 10 patients the Authors correctly evaluated the tumoral depth invasion. In 5 patients mediastinal lymph node metastases were observed. It is concluded that EUS is a useful diagnostic method in the staging of esophageal carcinoma.

[Gynecomastia: diagnosis and therapy update]. / La ginecomastia: attualità diagnostiche e terapeutiche.

The Authors report their experience in the management of gynaecomastia. Physiologic, pathologic and iatrogenic causes of the lesion, as well as possible interfering mechanisms, and diagnostic protocol are examined. When there is no spontaneous regression or when the precipitating factors are eliminated surgery is the therapeutical choice, also because it helps in resolving the related psychological problems affecting these patients.

[Clinical study of residual function and recurrence in patients undergoing partial thyroidectomy for euthyroid nodular goiter]. / Studio clinico della funzione residua e delle recidive in pazienti operati di tiroidectomia parziale per struma nodulare eutiroideo.

The different surgical options for the treatment of non toxic nodular goiter led the Authors to study the residual thyroid function following conservative surgery (subtotal thyroidectomy, lobectomy and enucleation). Follow-up showed an overall recurrence rate of 49%, with a higher rate after lobectomy and enucleation than after subtotal thyroidectomy. On the other hand, subclinical hypothyroidism was higher in patients who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. No significative correlation was found between high plasmatic levels of TSH and recurrences.

[Pseudo-thrombophlebitic syndrome of the leg caused by cyst in the inner popliteal hamstrings. A case report]. / Sindrome pseudo-tromboflebitica dell'arto inferiore da cisti del cavo popliteo. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

The Authors present a clinical case of pseudo-thrombophlebitic syndrome caused by a cyst of the inner popliteal hamstrings. Pointing out anatomic characteristics of the area involved together with the physiopathology and etiology of the formation that fill the space of the inner popliteal hamstrings, in agreement with the observations reported in literature, and intervene in determining a great number of venous blockage observed in the leg. In conclusion, they observe how a correct clinical-anamnestic approach is important in the diagnosis and consequent prompt and aimed therapy, and how this approach should use the modern instruments available today for a definite diagnosis in the presence of a syndrome of venous stasis of the lower limbs.

[Treatment of rectal carcinoma: our experience]. / Trattamento del carcinoma del retto: nostra esperienza.

Authors' experience with 53 patient operated on for adenocarcinoma of the rectum in Oncologic Surgery Department--University of Messina (Italy) was analysed. The development of mechanical devices has allowed surgeons to perform sphincter-saving in patients with medium-lower tumors of the rectum. In this experience abdominoperineal amputation was performed in cases of distal rectal tumors, local transanal excision was performed in 6 cases. There were no statistically significant differences between low anterior resection and abdomino-perineal resection with respect to local (17% vs 16.6%) and distant (16% vs 16%) recurrence.

[Esophageal leiomyoma: ultrasonographic endoscopic diagnosis]. / Leiomioma dell'esofago: diagnosi ecoendoscopica.

Leiomyoma is the most frequent benign neoplasia of the esophagus. It is generally diagnosed, accidentally during a radiologic examination (filling defect with clear and regular margins) or endoscopically (sessile, hemispheric, covered by pink mucosa). Recently, to the above conventional exams, endoscopic ultrasonography has been added allowing to identify the single layers of the esophageal wall, thus furnishing useful informations on the morpho-structural characteristics of the leiomyoma. From October '94 to May '96, at the Endoscopy Service of the Institute of Oncology of the University of Messina, 12 patients, 8 males and 4 females, ranging from 39 to 69 years of age (median age 55.4) underwent EUS for suspect leiomyoma. An Olympus EU-M20 echoendoscope was used with a radial scan transducer of 12 Mhz. In 8 patients the leiomyoma was located in the III mid-esophagus, while in 4 patients the III inferior portion was interested. The Authors observed lesions ranging in size from 0.5 to 2.5 cm. In their experience, a suspect of leiomyoma represents a good indication for an endoscopic ultrasonography, which shows high sensitivity and specificity.

[Sedation in endoscopic diagnosis: rationale of the use of specific benzodiazepine antagonists]. / Sedazione in diagnostica endoscopica: rationale d'uso degli antagonisti specifici delle benzodiazepine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the best clinical use of Flumazenil, a specific antagonist of benzodiazepines, during endoscopic exams. Two-hundred patients were studied: 120 were treated with Flumazenil and 80 with placebo. The patients were prepared for the endoscopic exam with local anaesthesia and i.v. Diazepam administration. Controls performed at the end of the exam and at 5, 30, 120 e 240 minutes from the administration of Flumazenil and placebo, allowed to evaluate the state of awakeness, the level of conscience and the capacity of time-space orientation. Significantly statistical differences between the two groups were obtained at 5, 30 and 120 minutes after Flumazenil administration, while both groups had retrograde amnesia. The drug was well tolerated and there were no undesiderable side effects or reactions. The Authors therefore affirm that Flumazenil, in virtue of its competitive action toward benzodiazepine receptors, interrupts sedation with immediate awakening and improvement of the state of consciousness. Such drug, thus, permits the Day Hospital performance of endoscopic procedures which otherwise would require hospitalization, at the same time allowing the surgeon to use benzodiazepines at doses more adequate for surgical necessities.