Appreciation of school deworming program by parents in Ha Giang Province (Vietnam).

School-based deworming programs are one of the most cost-effective public health strategies to reach children with anthelminthics and health education. However, despite their low cost and high health impact, they are not implemented on a large scale. The present survey investigated a school-based deworming program in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, to assess the community perception and support towards these programs. Information from 81 households, 88 primary school students, 25 teachers and 9 people in charge of commune health stations was collected by structured questionnaires. The survey displayed complete satisfaction and a high level of support within all 4 questioned groups. In addition 96.1% of all parents noticed an improvement in their children's health. The great appreciation of the deworming program by the community is an additional argument to convince decision makers to implement and scale up these programs. Even teachers that did not receive any specific training were able to distribute the drug successfully following the page of written instructions accompanying the drug.

[Efficacy of pretreatment with Serenoa repens on bleeding associated with transurethral resection of prostate]. / Effetto del pretrattamento con Serenoa repens sul sanguinamento associato a resezione transuretrale della prostata.

AIM: Aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of a pretreatment with lipidic-sterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) to reduce bleeding during transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: This is a monocentric, randomised versus control group study. We enrolled 108 patients, randomised either in the experimental group or in the control one. Patients in the experimental group received a pretreatment with Serenoa repens (320 mg/die of Permixon) for at least 8 weeks before the TURP procedure. In the control group patients did not receive any medical treatment before the intervention. RESULTS: Out of 108 enrolled patients, 88 were evaluated per protocol. In the pretreated group the perioperative bleeding was significantly lower than in the control one (respectively 124 vs 287 ml) and the need of transfusion decreased remarkably. Moreover, in the pretreated group, the duration of postoperative catheterization (respectively 3 vs 5 days) and the evaluated hematological parameters (red cells 4.5 vs 4 million, hemoglobin 13.4 vs 11.9 g, hematocrit 40% vs 35%) were significantly lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The pretreatment with Serenoa repens, before TURP procedure, improves the efficacy of the procedure itself and reduces the risk of complications, in particular perioperative bleeding and duration of postoperative catheterization.

[Removal of fractured cylindrical implants]. / Rimozione di impianti cilindrici fratturati.

The implant fracture is a rare but significative complication which requires a specific treatment for the surgical removal of the fractured fixture and the modification of the initial prosthetic plan. On the basis of the most recent studies and of a case personally observed in which both the osteointegrated supporting implants of a maxillary overdenture were fracturated, epidemiological, etiopathogenic, diagnostic and therapeutical aspects of this complication are analyzed. Clinical situations most at risk are emphasized, including implant-supported maxillary overdenture, and the major etiologic factors, represented by defects in implant design or material and physiologic or biomechanical overload. The diagnostic criteria are described along with the three therapeutical possible options: 1) removal of the fractured implant, replacement of the implant and refabrication of the prosthesis; 2) modification of the existing prosthesis leaving the fractured portion of the implant in place; 3) modification of the fractured implant and refabrication of a portion of the prosthesis. Three surgical removal technics are then illustrated (block-section, vestibular approach, occlusal approach), with the emphasis on the one choosed in the case examined, in which the ostectomy around the remaining fixture has been carried out with a trephine drill in order to contain the bone loss.

Fungal keratitis due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in an eye previously suffering from herpetic keratitis.

In the case reported, herpes virus I after having caused relapsing keratitis in an eye promoted the formation of a severe corneal ulcer caused by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, a saprophytic mycete found in soil, which only once has been described as the cause of keratitis in man. Scopulariopsis was identified microscopically after culturing the conjunctival secretion on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium, while DNA probe tests confirmed the absence of herpes virus I. Topical and oral administration of miconazole and scraping of the corneal infiltrate dispersed the infection. Subsequently local steroids were given to reduce the neovascularization, and a therapeutic contact lens was applied because of intercurrent corneal thinning. Three months after beginning antifungal therapy, the visual acuity had increased from 1/120 to 1/10. The case described confirms that S. brevicaulis can cause opportunist infections in a cornea previously damaged by a different agent.