The effects of oral supplements with Sambucus nigra, Zinc, Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122), Arabinogalactans, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C in otitis media with effusion in children: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of oral supplements with immune-stimulating molecules (Sambucus nigra, Zinc, Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122), Arabinogalactans, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C) to reduce the inflammation of the upper airway tract and improve the outcome of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomized controlled trial. One-hundred ninety-eight children (CI 95%: 12-96 months) were divided into four groups. Group 1 (48 subjects) received 10 ml of oral supplements (OS) with immune-stimulating molecules for three months (20 days consecutively, then 10 days of suspension - the therapeutic scheme was repeated three times); Group 2 (54 children) underwent treatment with 10 ml of OS for 90 consecutive days; Group 3 (48 subjects) received 15 ml of OS for 45 consecutive days; a control group (48 children) underwent the standard treatment for rhinitis and OME. Outcome measures included otoscopy, tympanometry, fibroendoscopy, and the pure tone audiometry (PTA) at T0 (before treatment), T1 (45 days after treatment), and T2 (90 days after treatment). RESULTS: All children treated with OS showed a reduction of Upper Airway Infection (UAI) episodes and OME compared to the control group independent of the administration method and posology. The three groups treated with OS showed statistically significant differences between T0 and T2 for otoscopy, tympanometry, fibroendoscopy, and PTA. In Group 2, the otoscopy and the tympanometry scores improved at T1. Group 2 and 3 had better PTA results than Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: OS with immune-stimulating molecules should be considered as a supporting therapy in children affected by recurrent episodes of UAI associated with OME due to their capacity to improve the immune response and reduce the inflammatory phenomena. OS can improve the fibroendoscopic findings by restoring middle ear ventilation, in addition to their ability to reduce inflammation in the middle ear.

Pre-treatment with Melamil Tripto® induces sleep in children undergoing Auditory Brain Response (ABR) testing.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that tryptophan and vitamin B6 used in conjunction with melatonin induce sleep more effectively than melatonin alone. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of different dosages and timings of administration of a solution containing melatonin, tryptophan, and vitamin B6 for inducing sleep in children undergoing ABR testing. METHODS: 294 children scheduled for Auditory Brain Response (ABR) evaluation were administered a solution containing melatonin, tryptophan, and vitamin B6 to induce sleep before the exam. Two different administration timings (pre-treatment and single shot treatment) and three dosages (0.5 ml in pre-treatment, 1.5 ml in pre-treatment, and 3 ml in single shot) were tested. The following parameters were evaluated: time needed for the subject to fall asleep before ABR testing, subject sl'eep features during ABR testing (quality, stability, duration), recorded ABR quality (including presence of abnormalities in amplitude and latency), subject waking up modality, and time needed for the subject to wake up at the end of the ABR exam. RESULTS: Quality of ABR signals was similar across treatments, and subjects responded in a similar manner in terms of time needed to wake-up and wake-up modality. However, pretreatment with the 1.5 ml dose induced sleep faster than the two other dosages, and the length of the induced sleep was longer than that induced by pre-treatment with 0.5 ml. In general, the pre-treatment with 1.5 ml led to a shorter ABR exam, because reduces the time for inducing sleep, allows a long sleeping phase with a good quality, without variation in the wakening up times. CONCLUSIONS: Melamil Tripto® is an alternative to sedative drugs for inducing sleep in pediatric subjects undergoing ABR testing. A pre-medication with 1.5 ml of MT 1 week before ABR testing further improves the strength of the solution.

Sinuclean Nebules treatment in children suffering from otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an ear disorder defined by the presence of fluid in the middle ear without signs or symptoms of acute infection. The current randomized, double-blind, controlled study aimed to evaluate whether Sinuclean Nebules treatment, administered by nasal douche (Rinowash), could induce ear healing better than isotonic saline in children with OME. METHODS: The study was randomized, double-blind, and controlled. Group A (30 children) was treated with Sinuclean Nebules 45 and Group B (31 children) was treated with isotonic saline; both compounds were administered by nasal nebulization with Rinowash nasal douche twice/day in the morning and in the evening for 10 days, followed by a one-week suspension, and after by a second course as the first. Tympanogram and audiometry were performed at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: Considering the global evaluation of the treatment: in Group A, 28 (93.3%) patients had complete resolution and 2 (6.7%) had partial resolution; in Group B, all patients had failure of treatment. There was a significant difference between groups (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The current randomized-controlled study demonstrated that Sinuclean Nebules was effective and in the treatment of children with OME.

Surgical strategies in cervico-mediastinal goiters.

AIM: We retrospectively studied clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment and complications of patients with cervico-mediastinal goiter who underwent surgery. METHODS: Sixty-three patients underwent surgical treatment for cervico-mediastinal goiter in the last 10 years. Thirty-two patients (50.8%) had cervico-mediastinal goiter, 24 patients (33.3%) had mediastino-cervical goiter and 7 patients (11.1%) had mediastinal goiter. Forty-seven cases were prevascular goiters and 16 were retrovascular goiters. We performed total thyroidectomy in 25 patients, subtotal thyroidectomy in 31 patients and in 7 cases the resection of residual goiter. In 50 patients we used a cervical approach, in 12 patients the cervical incision was combined with median sternotomy (6 in total) and in 1 patient with transverse sternotomy. RESULTS: Three patients (4.7%) died in the postoperative period (2 cardio-respiratory failure and 1 pulmonary embolism). The histologic study revelead 5 (7.9%) carcinomas. Postoperative complications were: dyspnea in 7 cases (11.1%), transient vocal cord paralysis in 5 patients (7.9%), temporary hypoparathyroidism in 6 patients (9.5%) and kidney failure in 1 case (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Cervicotomy is the approach of choice but in some limited cases (carcinoma, thyroiditis, retrovascular goiter, ectopic goiter) the sternotomy should be performed. Postoperative mortality and morbidity is very low, independent of surgical techniques.

Follow-up of permanent hearing impairment in childhood.

Programmes for early childhood childhood hearing impairment identification allows to quickly start the appropriate hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation process; nevertheless, a large number of patients do not join the treatment program. The goal of this article is to present the results of a strategic review of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats connected with the audiologic/prosthetic/language follow-up process of children with bilateral permanent hearing impairment. Involving small children, the follow-up includes the involvement of specialised professionals of a multidisciplinary team and a complex and prolonged multi-faced management. Within the framework of the Italian Ministry of Health project CCM 2013 "Preventing Communication Disorders: a Regional Program for Early Identification, Intervention and Care of Hearing Impaired Children", the purpose of this analysis was to propose recommendations that can harmonise criteria for outcome evaluation and provide guidance on the most appropriate assessment methods to be used in the follow-up course of children with permanent hearing impairment.

Neonatal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a 3-year experience.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze the feasibility, safety and complication rate of laparoscopic inguinal herniorraphy in babies weighing 5 kg or less. METHODS: Thirty infants weighing 5 kg or less underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair during a 3-year period. Twenty-eight infants were born preterm and the mean body weight at surgery was 3,800 kg. Internal inguinal ring was closed with a non-absorbable purse-string suture. Contralateral processus vaginalis was closed if patent. Feeding was started on the same day and the patient discharged the following day. Follow-up consisted of physical examination at 1 week, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients (27 males, 3 females), 11 had bilateral and 19 monolateral hernia (16 right, 3 left). At laparoscopy, 23 infants needed to have bilateral herniorraphies. The mean corrected gestational age at surgery was 49.1 weeks. The mean operative time for repair was 30 min for unilateral and 41 min for bilateral hernia. There were not intra- or post-operative complications as well as conversions or recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in newborns and in ex-preterm infants is a safe and effective procedure to perform and, perhaps, even less technically demanding than open herniotomy.

Diagnosis and radioguided surgery with 111In-pentetreotide in a patient with paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome due to a bronchial carcinoid.

In a 28-year-old man with Cushing's syndrome, studies investigating a hypophyseal and/or adrenal origin of the disease, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, were negative. In agreement with reports showing somatostatin receptors on the cell membrane of ectopically secreting ACTH tumours, scintigraphy was performed after intravenous injection of 111 MBq 111In-pentetreotide (OCT). The radiolabelled OCT scan showed a small focal area of intense uptake at the inferior lobe of the right lung. Subsequent radioguided surgery located and defined a small mass (1.8 x 1.4 x 1.6 cm). The probe pinpointed the mass to the right inferior chest lobe, with a tumour/normal tissue count ratio of 6:1 and tumour/hilar normal lymph node ratio of 12:1, thus permitting the complete excision of the tumour to exclude lymph node and/or parietal involvement. A lung carcinoid was diagnosed at histology. The patient is still alive and disease-free 24 months after surgery. 111In-OCT was found to be useful for localizing the ACTH-secreting tumour and also permitted rapid non-invasive differential diagnosis between an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma and malignancy causing ectopic ACTH syndrome. This study also showed the clinical usefulness of radioguided surgery in the treatment of bronchial carcinoid.

[Role of the surgeon in the treatment of small cell lung carcinoma]. / Ruolo del hcirurgo nel trattamento del carcinoma polmonare a piccole cellule.

Surgery has never played a precise and well consolidated role in the planned treatment of lung microcytoma (SCLC). The acknowledged therapeutic strategy associates local treatment (radiotherapy) with general treatment (chemotherapy). Exeresis is particularly indicated in limited or peripheral forms, followed by intensive polychemotherapy. Scintigraphy with octreotide may be used for the initial screening of patients with widespread disease. Another minor role played by surgery is in the treatment of neoplastic foci remaining after chemotherapy. In some cases the use of a radioguided method which, after intravenous injection of radiolabeled octreotide, allows the accumulation of somatostatin analog in neoplastic foci to be assayed intraoperatively using a manual probe, might help the surgeon to check the radical nature of the operation. In addition, octreotide can be used as a radiotherapeutic pharmacological agent or to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in microcytoma and other lung tumours with neuroendocrine differentiation.

[Role of radio-guided surgery with 111In-octreotide in the treatment of thoracic neoplasms]. / Ruolo della chirurgia radio-guidata con in-octreotide nel trattamento delle neoplasie toraciche.

The study evaluates the role of radio-guided surgery (RGS) with 111In-octreotide in the treatment of lung neoplasms. RGS with octreotide appears to be useful in surgery, above all during the intraoperative staging of the tumour; it can define with greater precision the extent of the resections extended towards the lung wall and ensure a radical approach in minimal lung resections.

[Endoscopic retrograde catheterization of Vater's ampulla in the diagnosis of bilio-pancreatic diseases]. / I1 cateterismo retrogrado endoscopico della papilla di Vater nella diagnostica delle affezioni bilio-pancreatiche

The technique, indications and contraindications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are discussed. Some of the most demonstrative cholangiographic and pancreatographic pictures are described and the reasons that have led to a marked reduction in complications immediately after the examination are analysed. Therapeutical aids for limiting any slight disturbances connected with the examination are also presented. Finally, some morphological data useful for differentiating between inflammatory and neoplastic lesions in the juxta- and intrapancreatic biliary excretory way and the pancreas itself are considered.

[Late physiopathological aspects of the Billroth I gastric resection. Analysis of 109 cases]. / Aspetti fisiopatologici tardivi della resezione gastrica tipo Billroth I. Analisi di 109 casi.

Following an assessment of the long-term results of a homogenous series of 109 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer treated surgically according to the Billroth I technique, a personal opinion on this type of gastric resection is given. It may be considered positive, in the light of the data collected, both clinically and functionally. The need is also stressed for further, broader analysis for the purpose of a precise evaluation of the operation.

Intraoperative detection of lung cancer by octreotide labeled to Indium-111.

The contribution of radio surgery (RGS) using octreotide labeled with Indium-111 (In111) has been studied for surgical treatment of lung cancer. Thirteen patients were administered 111 Mbq of In111 octreotide intravenously. Scintigraphic images were preoperatively taken at 4, 24, and 48 hours after the tracer injection. Pulmonary resection and intraoperative evaluation by RGS technique were then performed to set the section limits. Histological staining of all the resected specimens and resection margins were assessed and their results were used as a confirmation of the RGS intraoperative findings. RGS is a simple method that can help the surgeon in the intraoperative assessment of bronchial, parenchymal, and parietal resection margins. Further research is needed to verify whether this method also may be useful in the intraoperative definition of the extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection.

[The diagnosis of the cardiologic risk in patients destined for lung removal surgery]. / Diagnosi del rischio cardiologico in pazienti destinati a chirurgia di exeresi polmonare.

The expanding role of pulmonary surgery could be expected to lead to an increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality unless surgical risk factors are identified by means of a careful preoperative assessment. A careful and intelligent preoperative evaluation can reduce the morbidity and mortality after lung resection by ensuring the appropriate selection of patients and a rational choice of operative procedure. To evaluate the cardiologic risk in patients undergoing lung resection, 18 of them underwent a diagnostic protocol based on non invasive analysis including ECG, stress test with basal and exercise blood gas analysis, M- and B-mode and Doppler echocardiography. This protocol was able to identify possible cardiologic risk in the perioperative period without applying invasive techniques and with a good cost-benefits ratio.

[The impact on the international literature of the scientific production of Italian researchers in the disciplines "psychiatry" and "psychology". A bibliometric evaluation]. / L'impatto sulla letteratura internazionale della produzione scientifica dei ricercatori italiani, nelle discipline "psichiatria" e "psicologia". Una valutazione bibliometrica.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to present the results of a citation analysis concerned with the impact of Italian researchers and institutions in psychiatry and psychology upon the international scientific community. METHOD: The analysis has been performed using a database of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI): All scientific papers which were published between 1981 and 1998 in psychiatric and psychological journals included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) were considered. The most cited Italian papers, authors and institutions are reported, as well the most frequently utilised journals. RESULTS: Publications concerned with neuropsychology, psychopharmacology and biological psychiatry were the most cited. This prevalence also affected the ranking of the most cited authors, even though, in this case, research groups in disciplines such as clinical psychology and epidemiological psychiatry appeared to be strong. The four most productive Italian Universities were characterized by the presence of both a School of Medicine and a School of Psychology. The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology were the most frequent vehicles of scientific communication. CONCLUSIONS: The results entail important implications for Italian research in psychology and psychiatry. On a general level, these analyses appear to be helpful for monitoring scientific production by granting agencies and for comparing different individual researchers. On a more specific level the analysis has identified the leading trends in research of Italian psychiatry and psychology.