Meconium obstruction in absence of cystic fibrosis in low birth weight infants: an emerging challenge from increasing survival

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Meconium abnormalities are characterized by a wide spectrum of severity, from the meconium plug syndrome to the complicated meconium ileus associated with cystic fibrosis. Meconium Related Ileus in absence of Cystic Fibrosis includes a combination of highly viscid meconium and poor intestinal motility, low grade obstruction, benign systemic and abdominal examination, distended loops without air fluid levels. Associated risk factors are severe prematurity and low birth weight, Caesarean delivery, Maternal MgSO4 therapy, maternal diabetes. In the last 20 yrs a new specific type of these meconium related obstructions has been described in premature neonates with low birth weight. Its incidence has shown to increase while its management continues to be challenging and controversial for the risk of complicated obstruction and perforation.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Among 55 newborns admitted between 1992-2008 with Meconium Related Ileus as final diagnosis, data about Low Birth Weight infants (LBW < 1500 g) were extracted and compared to those of patients ≥ 1500 g. Hischsprung's Diseases and Cystic Fibrosis were excluded by rectal biopsy and genetic probe before discharge. A softening enema with Gastrografin was the first option whenever overt perforation was not present. Temporary stoma or trans appendiceal bowel irrigation were elected after unsuccessful enema while prompt surgical exploration was performed in perforated cases. NEC was excluded in all operated cases. Data collected were perinatal history and neonatal clinical data, radiological signs, clinical course and complications, management and outcome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>30 cases with BW ≥ 1500 g had an M/F ratio16/14, Mean B.W. 3052 g, Mean G.A. 37 w Caesarean section rate 40%. There were 10 meconium plug syndrome, 4 small left colon syndromes, and 16 meconium ileus without Cystic Fibrosis. Five cases were born at our institution (inborn) versus 25 referred after a mean of 2, 4 Days (1-7) after birth in another Hospital (outborn). They were managed, after a Gastrografin enema with 90% success rate, by 1 temporary Ileostomy and 2 trans appendiceal irrigation. 25 cases with BW< 1500 g (LBW) had M/F ratio 11/14, Mean B.W. 818 g, Mean G.A. 27 w, Caesarean section rate 70%, assisted ventilation 16/25. There were 8 inborn and 17 outborn. Gastrografin enema was successful in 6 out 8 inborn infants only, all referred within one week from birth. There were 12 perforations mainly among late referred LBW outborn.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Meconium Related Ileus without Cystic Fibrosis responds to conservative management and softening enema in most of mature infants. In LBW clinical course is initially benign but as any long standing bowel obstruction management may present particular challenges. Clinical and plain radiographic criteria are reliable for making diagnosis and testing for Cystic Fibrosis may not be indicated. Enema may be resolutive when performed in a proper environment. Perforated cases may be confused with NEC which is excluded by clinical history, no signs of sepsis, lab signs missing, abdominal signs missing, typical radiological signs missing. The higher complication rate is recorded among cases delivered and initially managed in Neonatal Units without co-located Surgical Facilities. Early diagnosis and aggressive medical therapy may lead to higher success rate and help avoiding surgical interventions. Surgical therapy in uncomplicated cases, unresponsive to medical management, should be minimally aggressive.</p

La prevención de las patologías del asbesto: perspectivas operativas de la cooperación italiana con los países de américa latina

El propósito del presente artículo es valorar la tesis de que el impacto en la salud de la exposición a fibras de asbesto presentes en los lugares de trabajo y en el ambiente, requiere contramedidas basadas en la evidencia científica y la cooperación internacional. La evidencia científica adquirida en el ámbito internacional sobre el asbesto, la experiencia pluridecenal madurada en Italia sobre este tema, así como la conciencia de que la adopción de medidas para combatir los efectos en la salud causados por la exposición a asbesto, deben ser verificadas considerando la especificidad de los diversos contextos nacionales y locales en América Latina. Constituyen la base para la identificación de las cuatro principales directrices de intervención (Promoción del acceso a la documentación sobre el asbesto; Realización de intervenciones para reducir la exposición al asbesto; Vigilancia sanitaria de los sujetos expuestos; Detección del mesotelioma) que pueden ser desarrolladas en el ámbito de la cooperación técnico-científica entre Italia y los países de América Latina. La integración de las capacidades de los investigadores colombianos e italianos permitirá obtener estos resultados, contribuyendo al proceso de eliminación del asbesto, ya en curso en América Latin

Epidemiological patterns of asbestos exposure and spatial clusters of incident cases of malignant mesothelioma from the Italian national registry

Abstract BACKGROUND: Previous ecological spatial studies of malignant mesothelioma cases, mostly based on mortality data, lack reliable data on individual exposure to asbestos, thus failing to assess the contribution of different occupational and environmental sources in the determination of risk excess in specific areas. This study aims to identify territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma through a Bayesian spatial analysis and to characterize them by the integrated use of asbestos exposure information retrieved from the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM). METHODS: In the period 1993 to 2008, 15,322 incident cases of all-site malignant mesothelioma were recorded and 11,852 occupational, residential and familial histories were obtained by individual interviews. Observed cases were assigned to the municipality of residence at the time of diagnosis and compared to those expected based on the age-specific rates of the respective geographical area. A spatial cluster analysis was performed for each area applying a Bayesian hierarchical model. Information about modalities and economic sectors of asbestos exposure was analyzed for each cluster. RESULTS: Thirty-two clusters of malignant mesothelioma were identified and characterized using the exposure data. Asbestos cement manufacturing industries and shipbuilding and repair facilities represented the main sources of asbestos exposure, but a major contribution to asbestos exposure was also provided by sectors with no direct use of asbestos, such as non-asbestos textile industries, metal engineering and construction. A high proportion of cases with environmental exposure was found in clusters where asbestos cement plants were located or a natural source of asbestos (or asbestos-like) fibers was identifiable. Differences in type and sources of exposure can also explain the varying percentage of cases occurring in women among clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates shared exposure patterns in territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma due to single or multiple industrial sources, with major implications for public health policies, health surveillance, compensation procedures and site remediation programs

The fetus with an abdominal wall defect: management and outcome

Peer Reviewe

Visible Light Communications as a Complementary Technology for the Internet of Vehicles

The paradigm of connected vehicles is moving from research to implementation, thus enabling new applications that start from safety improvement and widen to the so called Internet of vehicles (IoV). The candidate enabling technologies in the radio frequency (RF) bands are cellular and short range technologies. However, the limited bandwidth shared among several applications pushes researchers to look at new technological solutions. To this end, an option is provided by visible light communication (VLC). Based on the use of the light emission diodes (LEDs) that are already available on the majority of vehicles, VLC would enable short range communication in large, unlicensed, and uncongested bands with limited costs. In this work we first highlight the main properties of VLC in vehicular networks and revise the state of the art focusing on both the IEEE 802.15.7 standard and on the performance demonstrated by field tests that have been conducted worldwide. Then, we discuss the limitations of using VLC for pure vehicular visible light networks (VVLNs) and its application as complementary technology, to be implemented with other wireless standards in future heterogeneous vehicular networks. Finally, we show numerical results provided by simulations in a realistic urban scenario focusing, as a case study, on the crowd sensing vehicular network application with VLC added to short range IEEE 802.11p technology. Results demonstrate that the addition of VLC improves the performance of a conventional vehicular network based only on IEEE 802.11p

Preventing posterior sagittal anoplasty 'cripples' in areas with limited medical resources:a few modifications to surgical approach in anorectal malformations

Background: Anorectal malformations (ARM) are the most common neonatal emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Late presentation, lack of pediatric facilities and trained paediatric surgeons influence the outcome of these patients. This study reports a 5-year of experience in the management of ARM at the Orotta Referral Hospital in Asmara (Eritrea) and proposes some modified surgical approaches to minimize the risk of complications and the length of hospital stay. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 38 patients with ARM observed between September 2006 and April 2011. Since 2009 a modification of original posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) was introduced, consisting in a long rectal stump (3 cms) closed and left at the perineal level, to be trimmed after two weeks. This avoided mucous spillage on the wound and prevented contamination. Post-operative course and outcome were evalued in the two group of patients divided according the type of surgical technique (Group A: Standard PSARP; Group B: Modified PSARP). Results: There were 21 boys and 17 girls aged 4 days to 9 years (median age 182 days). Of the 38 patients, 2 infants died before surgery and 3 refused preliminary colostomy. Previously confectioned colostomies often required revision or redoing due to severe prolapse or malposition. When possible, primary sigmoid colostomy was performed. There were 15 patients in Group A and 18 in Group B. Wound infection or disruption were recorded in 7 cases (46%) in Group A and in 2 (11%) in Group B. Late complications were related to anal stenosis, which required long term dilatations. Three cases needed a PSARP redo (2 in Group A, 1 Group B). Conclusions: We believe that our simple modification of original PSARP technique could be of help lowering post-operative complications rate and reducing hospital stay. Family compliance is mandatory for long-term surgical success. A relevant time must be spent in training to stoma care and post-operative anal dilatation

Guidelines on pediatric day surgery of the Italian Societies of Pediatric Surgery (SICP) and Pediatric Anesthesiology (SARNePI)

Abstract The Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP) together with The Italian Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SARNePI) through a systematic analysis of the scientific literature, followed by a consensus conference held in Perugia on 2015, have produced some evidence based guidelines on the feasibility of day surgery in relation to different pediatric surgical procedures. The main aspects of the pre-operative assessment, appropriacy of operations and discharge are reported

Prulifloxacin Effectiveness in Moderate-to-Severe Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis: Α Noninterventional, Multicentre, Prospective Study in Real-Life Clinical Practice—The “AIOLOS” Study

Real-world evidence regarding the effectiveness of prulifloxacin in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the rates and time to symptom improvement and resolution in patients with moderate-to-severe AECB who were given prulifloxacin in the routine care in Greece. This observational, prospective study, conducted in 15 hospital-based clinics across Greece, enrolled outpatients >40 years old, with moderate-to-severe AECB, for whom the physician had decided to initiate treatment with prulifloxacin. Data were collected at prulifloxacin onset (baseline), 7–10 days after baseline, and at least 28 days after therapy completion. Between 23 November 2015 and 27 January 2018, 305 patients (males: 76.4%; mean (standard deviation) (SD) age: 69.7 (9.8) years; Anthonisen type I/II: 94.8%; chronic bronchitis duration >10 years: 24.9%) were consecutively enrolled. At baseline, >80% had increased sputum volume, cough, dyspnoea, and sputum purulence. Prulifloxacin improved symptoms in 99.7% of the patients after a mean (SD) of 5.47 (3.57) days, while symptoms fully recovered after a mean (SD) of 10.22 (5.00) days in 95.4%. The rate of adverse events related to prulifloxacin was 1.3% (serious: 0.7%). In the routine care in Greece, prulifloxacin was highly effective in moderate-to-severe AECB, while displaying a predictable safety profile